Lawmaker says state agency holding Pinal water permits ‘hostage’
by Jake Kincaid | Casa Grande Dispatch
Representative Cook
A state legislator representing much of Pinal County sees water as a problem for economic development and is set to take action.
Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, announced plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session to boost Pinal County’s economic development by taking on the Arizona Department of Water Resources, which Cook accused of holding assured water supply permits necessary for development “hostage,” leaving the county at a disadvantage.
A PinalCentral analysis of assured-water supply permit data provided by ADWR supports Cook’s assertion that permits for Pinal County are being delayed longer than for other counties.