Gila County supervisors acknowledge consent for lift station on leased Miami baseball field

GILA COUNTY, Ariz. — The Gila County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to acknowledge a lessee-consent portion of a sewer infrastructure easement that will allow the Tri City Regional Sanitary District to place a lift station on a portion of property the county leases from Freeport-McMoRan Miami Incorporated (FMI).

County staff said the lift station will serve the sanitary district’s sewer installation project and will not interfere with existing activities at the county-leased baseball fields. The board’s acknowledgement is not itself an easement grant; staff characterized the agenda item as an acknowledgement that the county is aware the lift station will be located on leased property.

Staff member Michael said Tri City needs a site to place a lift station and noted the county leases the baseball field property from FMI. Supervisor Humphrey recalled prior review of the project and said little league representatives and mining companies did not oppose the installation; Humphrey said connecting restrooms at the field to sewer is a benefit of the work.

Supervisor Humphrey made the motion “that we acknowledge at least consent portion of the sewer infrastructure easement agreement between the Tri City Regional Sanitation District and Freeport McMoran Miami Incorporated.” Supervisor Klein seconded. The motion was approved by voice vote.

The board did not discuss detailed easement language during the item; staff said the acknowledgement is separate from a formal easement and the location chosen will not affect the baseball fields’ current use. There was no further public comment recorded on the item.

The board’s action is limited to acknowledging the lessee-consent portion; any formal easement, permit or construction work by Tri City Regional Sanitary District would proceed under separate agreements and permitting processes.