Safford unveils broad water upgrades, Sanchez pipeline and bond plan

At the work session, the city’s water staff reviewed planned projects and timing for water and wastewater infrastructure, emphasizing design in 2027 and construction in 2028 for many items.

The water presenter (identified in the session as Morgan) described progress on the East Valley Sanchez pipeline, saying preliminary easements covering roughly four miles are secured and additional easements remain under negotiation. He also told council that a previously arranged USDA loan (about $10 million) is in place for part of the Sanchez project but that project costs have risen: "This project has gone up in cost. It's about $3 million higher than what it was originally back in 2016," Morgan said, adding that USDA staff have verbally signaled potential additional loan support but no written commitment yet.

Staff presented a list of priority projects including the 17th Avenue loop (an in‑house $50,000 loop to provide redundant feed to a nursing home), Thunderbird Valley renewals (design this year for construction in 2028 as part of a potential bond program), Main Street water work, and a data‑driven phased program to replace aged mains (1930s–1940s pipe) shown in GIS maps. Morgan also proposed targeted technical upgrades — variable frequency drives at three booster pump sites and a water division facility to centralize training and equipment — aimed at operational resilience.

Council asked about the city’s ability to acquire land and wells quickly; staff said the water fund sets aside approximately $100,000 annually for testing and exploration but that full land acquisition could cost more and would use contingency or additional budget authority when warranted. Staff said several projects will be bonded and that the city is working to finalize financing options before 2028.