The Globe City Council approved entering into a contract with EPS Group, Inc. to “produce and seek approval” of a Designated Management Area (DMA) amendment for the city.

By unanimous vote at its Sept. 25 regular meeting, the council approved transferring $50,000 from the enterprise fund to the wastewater expenditures fund, as well as authorizing Globe City Manager Paul Jepson to sign the contract with the Mesa-based engineering and consulting firm.

Prior to vote, Jepson reminded the council of its discussion during executive session at the Sept. 11 meeting.

Needing to amend its current DMA boundary to represent “all areas of the city and service areas,” the city had chosen the EPS Group to conduct the necessary tasks to “produce and seek approval” of its DMA.

There is an estimated cost of between $24,000 and $30,000 “in consulting fees to get this process started,” Jepson said.

Councilman Lerry Alderman called the district he represents – District 6 – “heavily impacted” by this.

As part of the approval, the city will also pay $10,000 to the Central Arizona Government (CAG), as well as an additional $10,000 for modifications to the Town of Miami DMA on behalf of the City of Globe.

Jepson said the City of Globe will “pay Miami’s costs,” after discussions with Miami Town Manager Joe Heatherly.

“We are working with Miami, who is accommodating us,” he told the council. “We need to move forward quickly and get this started.”

Globe Mayor Al Gameros agreed, saying, “This is long overdue.”