SanTanValley.com

“Today my office became aware of an incident that occurred last night in San Tan Heights.  Neighbors reported what appeared to be raw sewage in the water features outside the residential community.  I am concerned about this issue and have spoken directly with Johnson Utilities in an effort to learn more.  The utility company has assured me that raw sewage was not released and they are working with state environmental officials to resolve the problem.

After more than eighteen years serving on the Pinal County Superior Court bench, Judge Boyd T. Johnson has given notice to the Governor, the Arizona Supreme Court and the Pinal County Board of Supervisors that he is retiring effective June 30, 2013.  Judge Johnson has offered to continue to serve Pinal County and the citizens of this State after his retirement as a Judge when and as needed.

The Pinal County Library District is pleased to announce the availability of Zinio for Libraries, an online newsstand offering access to thousands of magazines and news publications.

“This is the next exciting evolution in bringing the library to your living room,” said Denise Keller, Pinal County Library District Director.  “With this new service, you can access 180 complete digital magazines that can be easily viewed on any internet-enabled device inside or outside the library.”

Animal Care & Control officers seized 26 medium sized dogs and other animals from a home yesterday.  The property was located in rural Pinal County’s Thunderbird Farms area, south of the city of Maricopa near the Ak-Chin Indian Community.  The animals were kept in a double-wide manufactured home on a large rural lot.

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved County Recorder Virginia Ross’ plan to reorganize the Recorder’s office to further streamline voter registration and elections operations.

The biggest change will be hiring of an Elections Technology Manager to replace the previous Elections Director, who resigned to take another job in Pinal County government.  The reorganization plan saves the county over $39,000. 

Starting April 2, Pinal County Air Quality will only issue 3-day open burning permits.  All permits will expire by May 1 and Pinal County will suspend the issuance of open burning permits on April 26.

Burn permits allow for the disposal of plant material by open burning during limited daytime hours.

Pinal County Supervisor Cheryl Chase has been busy meeting with and solving problems for her San Tan Valley area neighbors.  She today announced a meet and greet pet adoption event on Saturday, April 6.

Pinal County Board of Supervisors’ Chairman Stephen Q. Miller testified yesterday at the US House of Representatives during a meeting of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.  He was there to convey the unanimous support of the Board of Supervisors urging approval of HR 687.  Sponsored by Representatives Paul Gosar and Ann Kirkpatrick, this bill would authorize the exchange of conservation land for the purposes of allowing a new form of deep underground copper extraction in Superior.

Campfires, bonfires and fire pits are a central part of fellowship at campsites.  Unfortunately due to the extreme fire risk from repeated years of drought, they are currently banned in unincorporated areas of Pinal County.

“In the past, several Arizona counties have experienced significant forest fires that have stretched not only Arizona’s local emergency responders to the limit but also required significant state and federal resources to respond to the emergency,” said Pinal County Emergency Manager Lou Miranda.