Pinal Official explains failure to abide by Open Meeting Law 
August 16, 2001
By J.C. Huntington

ORACLE -- Local residents were surprised when they learned of a public meeting between Pinal County and state officials to address the Pinal County Comprehensive Plan on Thursday. 

While the Arizona Public meeting law requires public meetings be announced  well before the meeting is held,  Pinal County Director of Planning and Development Dennis Cady acknowledged there was no public notice for this meeting and explained the gaff by saying it was "an oversight."

Word of the meeting leaked when Canada del Oro residents heard about the meeting from an Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) employee.

Canada del Oro residents have objected to the fact that ADWR was intending to grant a Certificate of Assured Water Supply (AWS) for a project slated to be built just north of Catalina and had driven to Phoenix to attend a preliminary hearing at the ADWR offices.  

While at the offices of ADWR, the citizens  were told a meeting in Oracle was scheduled for tomorrow and that ADWR  representatives would attend.

Dennis Cady, Director of Pinal County Planning and Development

Word of the meeting quickly spread through email communication and the meeting was well attended.

At the meeting, Cady was asked why the public had not been informed per the requirements of the Arizona Open Meeting Law. 

Cady said the lack of notification  it was an "oversight" and promised that this sort of thing would not happen again.

Linda Stitzer, ADWR Area director for the Tucson Active Management Area, gave a slide presentation  outlining the steps required to obtain a Certificate of Assured Water Supply.