Hearing to Decide if Johnson Utilities and Its Managers Should be Held in Contempt Set for August 24
SanTanValley.com
During the Open Meeting held Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at the Arizona Corporation Commission, the Commissioners asked for a procedural hearing allowing an Administrative Law Judge to decide if Johnson Utilities and its managers could be held in contempt of court. The request was made after Epcor, who had been appointed as an Interim Manager on July 26, 2018, reported that they still had not been granted access to Johnson Utilities’ financial systems or accounts.
Shawn Bradford, Vice President of Corporate Services for Epcor, stated that in good faith Epcor had continued with the necessary steps as requested by the Commission to step in as the interim manger. Epcor signed a consulting agreement with the ACC on August 1, 2018, contracted with a consulting firm by August 9, 2018, toured four wastewater plants, eleven of the 23 lift stations, and began touring the water plants as of August 14, 2018.
After touring the facilities, Bradford had serious concerns about not only the air and water quality for Johnson Utilities customers, but also the safety of the workers working at the utility. Bradford stated that the systems were in such poor shape from long time hydrogen sulfide exposure, the equipment could “actually explode”.