The Town of Camp Verde is pursuing efforts to take control of the Camp Verde Sanitary District.
The move may be put to the voters in a March 2013 ballot measure, but nothing has yet been set in stone.
The town and the sanitary district have been involved in on-again, off-again talks about the possibility of acquiring the district, which was formed to provide sewer service to the area years before the town incorporated in late 1986.
Efforts to work out the details of taking responsibility for the sanitary district stalled a few years ago. The district started to face myriad problems resulting from construction of a new water treatment plant, financial concerns and a handful of issues involving standards set by the state of Arizona. The Town of Camp Verde also had concerns about an intergovernmental agreement signed with the district.
Earlier this year, the Camp Verde Sanitary District Board voted to have its staff work with the town in exploring the possible handover of the district.
This month, Town Manager Russ Martin brought his recommendations to the Town Council.
Mayor Bob Burnside said he respected Martin for “thinking outside the box” in exploring this potential opportunity for the town. Burnside also said things are different within the sanitary district as opposed to a few years ago.
“The board members of the sanitary district have totally turned the district around,” Burnside said.
For the full story, see the Wednesday, Aug. 29, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.
