Oct. 22 hearing set on potential wastewater fees

The Town Council has approved a notice of intent to raise monthly sewer plant user fees and voted to schedule a public hearing, which will be at the Oct. 22 Town Council meeting.

The council’s 7-0 vote, taken at the regular Sept. 10 council meeting, was not included in the earlier coverage for space reasons.

The council’s action led to hard feelings on the part of several Rancho Resort residents, who complained loudly that they could not hear a brief presentation by Town Finance Director A.C. Marriotti about sewer finances.

They then met in the lobby with Marriotti and complained that Town Council members did not discuss the matter in any depth, as the agenda item was aimed at scheduling a later hearing for detailed discussion.

The vote came after Marriotti said the current monthly fees would only generate about $790,000 of the $1.4 million needed to operate the plant for a year.

Town Manager Jim Stahle said after the meeting that Marriotti must prepare a financial analysis of the wastewater plant’s operating costs and revenues and make that available 30 days before the town can hold a hearing on rates.

Those rates, unlike sewer hook-up fees, are not limited by an agreement with Rancho Sahuarita, and the town may raise those rates after preparing a financial analysis and holding a hearing.

Old Nogales Highway

In addition, the council has added funds for the Old Nogales Highway overlay project, meaning the project can be done in the current fiscal year, rather than half now and half later, as had been proposed.

This approach will save taxpayers $250,000, Vice Mayor Phil Conklin said.

The council voted 7-0 to add $133,000 to the project, bringing the total to $1.3 million, including both town and outside funding.

The project includes a 2-inch asphalt overlay on the current roadway plus a multi-purpose lane on each side of the road for bikes and other purposes.

The project had placed high on public opinion surveys on capital improvement projects, but the 2007-08 budget only included funds for half the project, so Conklin and council member John Sullivan brought it back before the council.

Meanwhile, Public Works Director Bob Welch discovered that Regional Transportation Authority funds were available to pay $442,000 for bike lanes and reported that the RTA funds, plus the $133,000 authorized by the council, would be enough to complete the roadway to the southern town boundary.

Conklin said cyclists, for the first time, will have connectivity to other Sahuarita and Green Valley bike lanes from Quail Creek, Stonehouse and Madera Highlands when the project is done.

Top housing sales

Meanwhile, Madera Highlands for one month has overtaken Rancho Sahuarita in home sales. In August, there were 31 homes sold in Rancho Sahuarita, while there were 38 homes in Madera Highland.

This is the first time Rancho Sahuarita has been outsold by another developer, “since Rancho Sahuarita opened,” Town Building Official Andy Kelley said.

In other matters:

Town Manager Jim Stahle announced that the owner of the former Titan Car Wash in the Valley Verde Center has applied for building permits, has signed a development plan and has been warned he should clean up the site.

Developer Gary Heinfeld could not be reached for comment.

A development plan filed with the town shows little detail, but indicates there would be a restaurant employing 16 people and a retail space employing 10.

Building Official Kelley said on Sept. 21 the site “is in the plan review process. The plans submitted are for a ‘shell’ building ... essentially only the exterior walls and roof. A restaurant would require more plumbing and mechanical than what is on the plans. Before they put any business in, they would get another permit for a tenant improvement.”

The council approved a contract for $70,000 with the Buxton Co. to conduct market research on the demographics and purchasing habits of residents in an effort to develop a marketing tool known as a Community ID.

The council also approved creation of a new management analyst position in the town manager’s department at a pay grade of 50, meaning salary would be between $46,000 and $60,000, depending on experience.

That employee would help with grant-writing and researching various policy options.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738