House lawmakers Monday provide water to the Rio Verde area, which Rep. Alexander Collodin (R-Scottsdale) has proposed as an alternative to appease Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert). The Senate threw out the alternative, approving a new measure for

Since Rio Verde was cut off from the Scottsdale water supply on January 1, Congress has tried and failed We have tried many times to find a solution that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.

The most recent bill, Senate Bill 1432, is similar to Corodin’s earlier House Bill 2561, which passed the House in May, but the wording in the bill regarding “wildcat subdivision” and developmental zoning is the Petersen It was a concern for many Republicans, including Mr.

Corodin said he did everything he could to get Petersen to put the bill up for vote. He included the language in a deal with Democrats to get the full support of two-thirds of the House.

“We tried very hard to get it in its current form, including the lot splitting part, and I just happened to think it was a good law and told him so,” Corodin said. “I want my fellow Democrats to know that we have done everything but twist his arm.”

Most of Corodin’s bill remains in Senate Bill 1432. The bill still directs Scottsdale to supply Rio Verde with water for three years through an intergovernmental agreement with Maricopa County. The emergency clause will also take effect immediately.

The bill would create a standpipe district run by a five-person board. One was appointed by House Speaker Ben Thoma (Republican, Peoria), one by Petersen, one by Governor Katie Hobbs, one by Arizona Real Estate Commissioner Susan Nicholson, and one by Arizona Real Estate Commissioner. Water Resources Tom Buschatke.

“There are people who want to create a government agency, and if they are on that board, they will keep the long-term solution on that board at the next meeting. We’re going to be lobbying here for the sake of it,” said Cody Lime, who lives in Rio Verde.

The House emergency clause required 40 votes in favor of the new bill, which passed 40-20 with 22 Republicans and 18 Democrats.

Rep. Gail Griffin (R-Hereford)’s proposal to replace Rio Verde was defeated 15-15 in the Senate on Monday afternoon. The bill, House Bill 2445, had the support of several Rio Verde residents.

Sen. Justin Wadsak (R-Tucson), the original proponent of Senate Bill 1432, allowed Mr. Corrodin’s language to be added to the bill and discussed it with residents in the Senate corridor Monday afternoon. She ended up with the decisive “no” vote to defeat Griffin’s bill. All other Republicans in the Senate voted yes.

Four Rio Verde residents who lobbied in the Capitol to support House Bill 2445 told Wadsak they did not want an intergovernmental agreement to set up a commission to manage the region’s water. Wadsak said he was fighting back against Griffin. “She claimed that Rep. Griffin stole votes from her bill behind the scenes, which is not true,” Reim said, referring to her previous plans for Rio Verde.

Rep. May Peshracai, a Cameron Democrat, said the lack of access to water is not just a problem in Rio Verde. She said many Navajo Nation voters have lived without running water, enduring much longer than the six months that Rio Verde residents have endured.

“You could use that as a reason to vote against it, but that’s not how you lead, it’s not how you treat people who need help,” Peshracai told colleagues on the floor of the House of Commons. “But remember that there are people who need water and cannot get it.”

To find a middle ground, the measure would require the Arizona Department of Water Resources to require that anyone seeking a permit to build six or more homes in an unincorporated actively managed area obtain a certificate of secure water supply. It directs the issue of a report on whether and how to do so. from the department.

Democrats argue that the Rio Verde water crisis was caused by developers circumventing state laws that require residential areas to have access to water for 100 years through wildcat subdivisions. It is defined.

Another Rio Verde bill from Griffin, Hobbes vetoed in May, And the governor cited the lack of language referring to the wildcat lot as one of the reasons for the veto.

Mr. Hobbes has specifically called for a bipartisan solution with an emergency clause to address the subdivision issue, and the only Rio Verde bill remaining in Congress contains two of those three.

Residents worried about the heat in the summer say they expect to be without water for at least two months.

If Corodin’s bill is passed, residents will be committed to appointing the brightest to the Standpipe Board. That means lobbying Thomas, Petersen and Hobbes.

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