Community meeting focuses on water project

The Sun City Taxpayers Association is having a community meeting from 12:30 to 3 p.m. today to discuss proposed fire flow improvements being considered by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Arizona American Water proposed a cost recovery mechanism to pay for an improvement project in the Sun City Water District that would add 195 hydrants and 44,000 linear feet of 6- to 10-inch pipes to upgrade the system. The improvements would cover an area that includes Youngtown, part of Sun City and a small portion of Peoria. If approved, customers would see an increase on their water bills over a four-year period beginning in 2010 and running through 2013. In 2010, the increase would be 3.5 cents; in 2011, it would be 7.4 cents; in 2012, it would increase 11.4 cents; and in 2013, the increase would be 17.4 cents.

The SCTA, along with the board of directors of the Recreation Centers of Sun City and the Sun City Home Owners Association, has been vocal in opposition to the fire flow project since Arizona American announced its plan.

The community meeting will be in the First Presbyterian Church, 12225 N. 103rd Ave., and will feature representatives from the Residential Utility Consumers Office, who will speak with residents and answer questions about the case.