Editorial: Vote no on Question 2, the wastewater initiative

Public participation is a good thing and, being in the newspaper business, we’re all for it here at the Green Valley News.

The wastewater initiative, Question 2 on the town of Sahuarita’s March ballot, is backed by Rancho Sahuarita developer Bob Sharpe, who says public participation is key to any expansion of the town’s wastewater plant service area.

We agree, and for the public to be able to participate effectively in town government, residents must receive straightforward information on complicated issues.

However, initiative supporters claim the plant’s service area has tripled, when in fact it was the town’s entire wastewater jurisdiction that expanded, and we believe proponents have misled residents.

All town residents need to hear both sides. Therefore, we have to question why, according to some citizens, Rancho Sahuarita officials at the clubhouse are banning information opposing the initiative.

Meanwhile, homeowners near the plant have had to put up with offensive odors and may fear for their property values.

Clearly, odor control will be installed at the plant, regardless of the results of the initiative. We must point out that it was Rancho Sahuarita Co.’s decision to build the plant without odor control technology and to sell homesites close to it.

Unfortunately, initiative supporters, by saying “small is beautiful,” imply that a larger service area would mean worse odors. In fact, as the plant grows with the population of Rancho Sahuarita, the costs of odor control will be spread among a growing customer base.

The initiative won’t help on odors and could worsen odor problems if the state land next to Rancho Sahuarita develops with a smaller, smelly plant.

The Citizens United for Sahuarita’s Future calls the initiative wasteful and divisive because it creates unequal protection for town residents and could lead to costly litigation if it passes.

We believe town engineers can decide the best way to handle wastewater issues, guided by existing government standards and regulations, plus public input.

Initiatives are a clumsy way to run a town government. Residents have complained about the slow pace of commercial development, but some commercial property in the planned Town Center east of La Villita Road would be subject to future townwide sewer service votes if the initiative passes.

Is that a good signal to send to potential businesses? How can they make timely business plans while awaiting the next sewer service vote?

The town can and should do more to reach out to residents on this issue, much as it has done in recent years on parks and recreation growth and capital improvement planning, with advisory groups and public meetings.

Making the best use of the existing plant, with an eye toward additional plants as Sahuarita continues to grow, make sense to us.

Therefore, No on Question 2 seems the answer that’s in the best interest of Sahuarita residents.