There was joy in something called “Dirtville.” You can’t call it Madville. Too dry.

Then, after days of bright optimism, hopes for a quick water solution were dashed in the Rio Valley Foothills (aka Dirtville).

At its February 21 meeting, the Scottsdale City Council voted unanimously on the agenda item “Temporary Water Supply Intergovernmental Agreement,” in what one city council member called “a big step forward,” before the Rio Valley Foothills Residents were cautiously excited.

After giving Scottsdale a huge thank you, Lee Harris said, “We’re county taxpayers, so we want the county to step up to the plate and take care of us.

Cody Reim and Christy Jackman, co-leaders of RVF residents looking for water, were vigilant and grateful. They asked questions about the plan, but they were respectful.

A few days later the gloves came off.

After the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors failed to implement Harris’ proposal (supervisor Tom Galvin openly opposed Scottsdale’s plans), Rio Verde leaders and several others raged against Scottsdale. bottom.

Lyme was particularly resentful and turned the blame on one person.

Calling Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega an “autocratic tyrant”, Lyme said private company EPCOR “has water in CAP and they’re waiting for you to step off your throne and make a deal!

“You might think you’re playing games, but what you’re doing is ruining people’s lives,” Reim yelled at Ortega on Facebook. “You are single-handedly destroying entire communities of Arizona residents.”

After Galvin scoffed at Scottsdale’s proposal, Jackman said it was “exactly the effect the city wanted. Now it’s the prefecture’s fault.”

Like Lime, she mentioned a proposed deal to use EPCOR water treated by Scottsdale, but Scottsdale’s proposal calls for 600 acre feet of water to be treated for the Rio Verde Foothills. subject to acquisition by the city.

“Scottsdale wasn’t even close to a safe deal,” Jackman posted on Facebook. “And their ‘plan’ was contingent on Scottsdale acquiring the water source. Double the usage. Scottsdale will have to reconsider an offer that has been under consideration since September.”

The Rio Valley Foothills, just outside Scottsdale’s northeastern boundary, have lost Scottsdale water after decades of indirect watering. That’s because the city shut down his stand his pipes that supplied water to the water supplier that supplies her more than 500 homes on his county island on January 1.

Scottsdale rejected various plans put forward by Rio Verde residents.

Later, Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays gave a favorable opinion that “the county oversight board has the authority to temporarily supply water to the residents of the county to maintain public health and hygiene.” Afterwards, Scottsdale made a plan, approved it, and, if so, evicted to the county.

Days after telling Courthouse News that he considers some items in the agreement to be “non-starting matters,” County spokesman Fields Moseley told Progress on the county’s March 1 agenda: he said.

“There are no action items associated with the proposed contract from Scottsdale. The Scottsdale proposal is a proposal that will be discussed and negotiated before the Board schedules a vote.”

Galvin told reporters that he had already suggested water utility EPCOR as a source of water, but Scottsdale rejected his plans.

“My solution is better because it’s the cheapest, most affordable, fastest and most appropriate,” says Galvin.

“The only thing I’m grateful for is that[Scottsdale]finally acknowledged that they had to be part of the solution,” Galvin added.

In a letter emailed to Scottsdale officials on February 21, Galvin described the EPCOR plan as “an economic benefit to Scottsdale and no cost to Maricopa County.

“The plan makes sense because there is a record of private water utilities willing and able to participate in interim solutions to water problems.”

Lime and Jackman weren’t the only ones complaining about the city. Other Rio Verde Foothills homeowners took to social media to vent their stress.

After Scottsdale Alderman Barry Graham posted, “The City of Scottsdale played a major role in creating a plan to temporarily restore water flow to the Rio Valley Foothills. I’m proud of you,” Carol Forty retorted.

“You must be kidding me. I still can’t see the water. The county will never sign what Scottsdale has proposed.”

In an email to Progress on February 28, Graham reiterated his position.

“Scottsdale citizens are very generous with water,” said Graham. “The Rio Verde Foothills is an unincorporated area of ​​Maricopa County and is not part of Scottsdale … ​​Scottsdale’s reputation as being a good manager of the residents’ natural resources and a good neighbor to the residents of the Rio Verde Foothills. We hope that you will continue to respect our priorities.”

But Mike Skye saw it through the lens of business rather than neighbors in a Facebook post.

“Well, they played this right!” he wrote. “It’s very clear that Scottsdale has left everything to Maricopa County … Scottsdale has no obligation to even help, so there’s no need to negotiate.”

Karen Pollari Nabity and others have analyzed the Scottsdale plan. Under the plan, the city would need him to find and purchase 600 acre-feet of water, but he would be able to sell no more than 378 acre-feet (126 acre-feet per year for a few years). “It leaves the city at 192 acre feet,” she said.

Progress asked Ortega if he was happy with the county’s response.

“Once Maricopa County is ready to move forward with the deal, city officials will work to acquire additional water resources that will then be processed and made available to county residents in the Rio Verde Foothills region,” Ortega said through a spokesperson. .

“Scottsdale will work with Maricopa County on this solution as soon as possible. Further details will be available once an intergovernmental agreement with Maricopa County is finalized.”

The Rio Verde Foothills water situation was not mentioned at the council’s February 28 meeting.

Ortega fired back at Galvin, claiming that the Scottsdale plan was “comprehensive and intended to protect Scottsdale’s residents, businesses, schools, and essential services.”

The mayor of Scottsdale said Galvin frequently “wants a wholesome bite and doesn’t write anything. Frankly, his approach is annoying.”

“Last year Galvin led the Rio Verde Foothills along the DWID (Domestic Water Improvement District) route. When the RVF asked Scottsdale for DWID approval, we gladly agreed. Galvin reversed course.”

Ortega’s conclusion on the county’s adversaries: “Galvin’s rhetoric is the same one that is suing Scottsdale voters and residents. I didn’t even talk to

“We need to stop trying to get into the Scottsdale water business and let developers build dry parcels in the county.”

Galvin fired back at the mayor.

“My law firm does not represent builders trying to get a drop of water out of a standpipe, but I suspect that Mayor Ortega already knew this.

“Although Mayor Ortega remains committed to making false or misleading allegations against me, I am determined to help my increasingly desperate family get the water they desperately need. We remain committed to resolving this for the City of Scottsdale,” he added.