During the May 20 meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council approved the pursuit of a consensual condemnation action to acquire the Diversified Water Utilities system. Located adjacent to the southeast corner of the Town’s water service area, the Diversified Water Utilities system has excess capacity in its wells, storage and pumping. The excess capacity enhances the Town’s existing water system and being part of the Town’s larger system provides redundancy and increased reliability to Diversified’s customers.

“This is a strategic acquisition that benefits all parties,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney. “In addition to providing additional capacity, infrastructure and price stability for both the Queen Creek and Diversified systems, integration of both systems allows for improved efficiencies and seamless service to all customers. It is important to note that expanding our water service area is not an annexation - the Diversified water service area would remain in unincorporated Pinal County.”

Rates for existing Queen Creek water customers will remain the same. When the Town completes the acquisition of Diversified, rates for current Diversified customers will also remain unchanged.

The Town and the owner of Diversified have agreed to the fair market value for the Town’s acquisition of the utility through a consensual condemnation. This requires the Town to initiate a condemnation and the owner, Diversified, agrees to the transfer of assets through condemnation. The Town is anticipated to take ownership of the Diversified Water Utilities system upon entry of the consensual condemnation judgment by the end of 2020.

For additional information regarding the Town’s Utilities Department, visit QueenCreek.org. To stay updated on activities follow the Town on Facebook.com/QueenCreek and Twitter.com/TownofQC.

Media Contact:

Constance Halonen-Wilson, Public Information Officer

480-358-3195

Constance.Wilson@QueenCreek.org