FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2025
Town of Parker Faces Millions Of Dollars in Infrastructure Emergency as Joint Venture Collapses;
PARKER, AZ – The Town of Parker is formally notifying residents and stakeholders of a major infrastructure emergency involving the regional sewer system (Joint Venture), jointly managed with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT). The system has deteriorated to a point where immediate, large-scale repairs are necessary, estimated to cost over $20 million. Due to the scope of the damage, repairs are projected to take 18 months from the time construction begins.
No new development can occur in the Town of Parker until this issue is resolved. The Town Council is prepared to adopt a resolution on May 20, 2025, declaring a moratorium that will prevent new sewer system hook-ups. This moratorium will include residential, commercial, and industrial developments and will remain in place until the system is capable of handling additional demand.
“This failure is the result of years of inaction and mismanagement, and we’ve now reached a critical tipping point,” said Town of Parker Vice Mayor Dusty Wooddell. “Our hands are tied—until this is fixed, we simply cannot support any further growth in Parker.”
The Town is taking decisive action to address the crisis and is prepared to move forward with necessary
repairs, emergency planning, and securing funding. However, as this is a jointly managed system, coordination with and
participation from CRIT remains a critical component of any long-term solution. The Town is actively fulfilling its role
under the joint agreement and continues to seek engagement from CRIT to ensure the long-term stability of the sewer system and the health and safety of the community.
The failure to act puts the region at serious environmental risk, particularly the potential contamination of the Colorado River. Such contamination would jeopardize public health, wildlife habitats, agriculture, and downstream communities that rely on this vital waterway.
This is not exclusively a CRIT or a Town of Parker governmental issue," said Town of Parker Mayor Randy Hartless. "It's an issue the entire community shares. It is literally a 'Joint Venture’, and that's how we need to approach this emergency. We cannot afford to work independently of one another. I look forward to making quick progress, because cutting through political red tape is the only way we're going to get this project started, and we need to get it started sooner rather than later”.
“The Town of Parker is doing everything in its power to address this situation swiftly and responsibly,” said Wooddell. “But we cannot do it alone. CRIT must fulfill its obligations under the joint agreement, or we risk long-term harm to our communities.” The Town is actively seeking emergency funding, evaluating legal remedies, and working with engineers to prepare for immediate action once funding is secured. Updates will continue to be shared with residents as the situation evolves.
For more information, including written findings required to justify the building moratorium, please visit the Town of Parker’s website at https://www.townofparkeraz.com/article/2126094
Contact
Nora Yackley, Town Manager