The dump,  used for three decades by the state of Arizona to bury up to 2,000,000 pounds of radioactive and toxic chemical waste, lies directly over the sole water supply for Oracle and SaddleBrooke communities.

       During a Nov. 1, Board of Supervisor's meeting, final approval was granted to Robson Communities Inc. to build a 6,000 plus home, three golf course, development directly adjacent a state owned  Radioactive/Toxic waste dump.

       At the Nov. 1 meeting, concerned  residents  pleaded with county officials to postpone any decision on development at the site until questions related to an apparent cover-up of test results confirming the fact that the landfill has leaked contaminants to groundwater and other issues  where answered. 

       The supervisors asked no questions about the cover-up prior to approving the rezoning requested by Robson Communities Inc..

       A Lobbyist representing Robson Communities Inc. then insulted citizen volunteers requesting the delay in rezoning  by telling the supervisors that the concerned citizens were liars.  The Robson representative then informed the supervisors and citizens that anyone who opposed the Robson Communities Inc. development would be "toast." 

       The supervisors listened politely to the Robson representative, and took no apparent offense at his calling their constituents liars and promising to "toast" them.

       At the end of the meeting, this same lobbyist disclosed an agreement between Robson Communities Inc. and the Pinal County Board of  Supervisors, for a 5.5 million dollar payment in exchange for the rezoning approval.

       Supervisor Lionel Ruiz later admitted that the $5.5 million dollar payment had been agreed to in the mid 90's when Robson first approached Pinal supervisors with the concept of building a retirement community adjacent to a radioactive/toxic waste landfill. 

       Apparently the deal was changed after Robson Communities learned that a referendum opposing the rezoning would be initiated.  Immediately after the supervisors approved the rezoning request, the lobbyist for Robson Communities publicly disclosed the $5.5 million would be paid only if a referendum allowing citizens to review the rezoning for the Robson development did not appear on the ballot. 

       The $5.5 million dollar payment had been kept secret from citizens until the Robson representative disclosed the stipulation that the money would be withheld  unless the referendum was quashed.

       Supervisor  Ruiz is on record as countering local citizens concerns regarding the threat of the radioacive/toxic waste landfill to their drinking water by saying "pollution is everywhere." 

       The citizens proceeded with the referendum process nonetheless and will deliver the petitions with thousands of signatures,  next Monday.

       According to the referendum organizers,  the caravan will depart from Oracle, Arizona, at 9 am, and is expected to arrive at the County Elections office in Florence Arizona at 10:00.  All interested citizens are invited to attend, and toast will be served. 

Click on image for larger view

The ad implores citizens to "Be Informed" and pleads that citizens "Support Pinal County's Future" by not exercising their right to question the decision made by Pinal county supervisors to sanction a development that is to house 12,000 people and three golf courses next to a radioactive/toxic waste dump.

While the ad mentions the $5.5 million dollar deal struck with the Pinal County supervisors years ago, it does not mention the fact that the money will not be paid if voters are allowed to review the supervisors rezoning action.

Volunteers collecting signatures for the referendum reported that they appreciated the Robson advertisement as it contributed to the public awareness of the Page-Trowbridge situation and significantly helped in the collection of signatures requesting that the rezoning be delayed until the landfill was proven to be safe.

Some citizens were reportedly angered by the ad, as they interpreted the "Do Not Sign" imperative, as an arrogant attempt to tell them what to do.

Most people that had read the ad were surprised to find that a development company would choose to build a 6000 dwelling community on land that abuts a radioactive/toxic waste landfill.  A common sentiment was "who the hell would buy a house there?"

Artist's concept of SaddleBrooke Ranch (click on image for larger view)

The message tells citizens that the development will preserve open space by not building houses in washes, and will add safeguards to help protect the water supply from radioactive/toxic chemical waste buried at the the landfill. 

The safeguards refer to the Robson plan to use the wells supplying the SaddleBrooke Ranch with water as an "early warning system" for detecting contaminants that have leaked to groundwater.

Recent tests indicate that the landfill is leaking.

Hello, I'm calling on behalf of Citizens Supporting Pinal County's Future.  We're calling to ask voters to refuse to sign the referendum petition on SaddleBrooke Ranch. 

The petition backers are telling voters that SaddleBrooke Ranch will poison our water.  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

This development will actually add safeguards to our water, prevent over 800 acres of washes and open spaces  [sic], and provide funds for our parks, schools and recreational facilities.

Please call 520-465-6471 for more information.

The images below are facsimiles of the posters.