The Newspaper of Record since 1878

Globe and Miami continue to work out sewer management boundaries

Posted

The City of Globe and the Town of Miami continue to work in concert to finalize their respective sewer management boundaries.

Globe City Manager Paul Jepson, Public Works Director Jerry Barnes and Mayor Al Gameros each spoke to the Miami Town Council on its agenda item “Sewer Service Designated Management Area (DMA) boundaries for the Town of Miami,” at the council’s Feb. 25 regular meeting.

Andrea Robles, with CAG (Central Arizona Governments), was also in attendance.

Describing it as an issue with “a lot of pieces,” Jepson said it is time to straighten out the DMA, namely “who has legislative control over what happens in water and wastewater.”

Jepson said that no changes or modification can be made to the DMA without the approval of CAG’s Environmental Planning Committee (EPC).

The Tri-City Regional Sanitary District (TRSD) has come to an agreement with both Globe and Miami as to where the boundaries should be, he said.

Jepson explained that he, Barnes and Gameros were at the meeting to talk about where Globe is in the process, requesting clarification of the boundaries between Miami and Globe.

He went onto explain that DMA boundaries are totally different than service area.

“You (Miami) currently serve areas within the City of Globe,” Jepson said. “We are happy about that because it would be almost impossible for us to serve those areas.”

Globe is willing to do a long-term agreement — an IGA (intergovernmental agreement) “to continue that relationship,” he said.

Jepson went onto say that the Globe City Council wants to see “the City of Globe DMA mirror the city limits.”

Gameros said, “We are all moving in the same direction,” and it is now to the point where all three entities need to submit applications to CAG for approval to get the boundaries settled.

With the money now available, Globe is suggesting a three-way agreement with CAG, leaving the boundaries the way they were submitted in the last meeting, he said.

Gameros said that doing so would expedite the project.

“What is on the table now is just those DMA boundaries,” he told council. “We need to look in our hearts and, in our minds, and ask ourselves what the right thing is to do.”

Jepson said that Globe is in the process of doing a boundary study — a DMA adjustment — so they are willing to include it, if there is a three-way agreement.

Globe would be able to cover the cost of getting the necessary legal description done, as well as cover the cost of any fees that CAG requires, he said.

Miami Town Councilman Mike Black asked if they had a map showing the area with the boundary lines.

Barnes showed the council the map of Globe’s area along with the one including the exception that TRSD had offered.

“Our map reflects the city boundaries,” Gameros told the council.

Jepson said that one of the maps shows what TRSD agreed to exclude, based on what Globe asked for, and what the Town of Miami and TRSD worked out.

“Those areas are going to be pulled out,” he said. “The only question left is where do we draw that line? Of those two areas, the rest is going to fall to Globe and Miami.”

“We would like to see those lines go on the border line of Globe city limits,” said Jepson, with Barnes explaining that it primarily involves Cobre Valley Plaza (shopping center), Wal-Mart and Cobre Valley Medical Center. Miami Gardens and Miami High School are outside Globe city limits, Barnes said.

Miami Town Manager Joe Heatherly explained that, because of the way the documents are written, if Miami lost Wal-Mart, the hospital and the high school, it would be in default with USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) for its sewer project funding.

Heatherly said that, in working with TRSD, the only thing that Miami gave up was the Cobre Valley Plaza.

Properties not in the Miami town limits would be in the City of Globe DMA, he told the council.

“The City of Globe will give us an IGA stating that they will not go in and serve that area,” Heatherly said.

He suggested that council approve in principle what is being proposed, then let staff come back with an IGA for consideration.

Jepson said that Globe is looking at a 25-year agreement and a discussion ensued as to whether or not it could be longer, such as 40 years.

Miami Town Councilman Don Reiman said that, while right now there is a good relationship between Globe and Miami, “relationships haven’t always been this friendly and they could not be again.”

Barnes said, “DMAs can be for as long as you’d like.”

“We can all work together to make the contract go for the term of the debt,” Gameros said.

Calling Miami “a very efficient and affordable provider,” Jepson said, “We’re very happy to contract with the Town of Miami.”

He also pointed out that Miami owns its infrastructure.

There was also a brief discussion on USDA not allowing TRSD to serve any areas that Miami already serves.

Gameros said that TRSD “thought that they could go in and take it over, but they can’t.”

When it came time for council to vote, Miami Town Attorney Susan Goodwin suggested wording for the motion, saying “…to approve the concepts for the DMA for the Town of Miami and the IGA as presented by the City of Globe tonight, and to request Globe to proceed with preparation of the legal descriptions at its cost.”

The council voted unanimously to approve.