Even as the Safford Council discusses expanding its wastewater services to Pima and Thatcher, the city is taking another look at the impact fees of transportation, sewer and water for the present and future growth in the area.

Reluctant to burden its citizens with the entire cost of expansion, the council authorized the city manager to negotiate with Economist.com to do a study on the impact fees so developers will pay the costs of moving into the city. The Economist has already conducted a study on the other city utilities and will present its findings at the Aug. 28 council meeting.

“The entire principal behind this is not to place the burden on our local citizens,” Safford City Manager Huey Long said. Although the move was approved by the council, the study must be done swiftly because the city has more than 1,000 building permits for single and multi-family dwellings awaiting approval.

“We have about six to 24 months (before) consumation of those projects,” Long said.

The Economist company has assessed almost every city and town in the state, according to the city manager.

“They have an intimate knowledge of rates in and out of the state,” he said.

The study would provide legal certification for the city in the event it is challenged in court on its impact fees.

Dan Jackson, CEO of Economist, assured Long that the study would be finished quickly — especially for water and sewer.

“We’ll be able to establish a fee that is fair to new developers,” Long said.

On the expansion of its wastewater services to Pima and Thatcher, Utilities Director Jay Howe said Pima Manager Vince Kieffer approached the city wanting to know if sewer lines will reach his town in the near future.

“After that, we took a look at Thatcher, and they acted like they wanted to get on board,” Howe said.

The first step for all three municipalities will be a feasibility study.

Safford Mayor Ron Green said Congressman Rick Renzi expressed an interest in helping the city expand its lines to surrounding communities, but Howe said Renzi wants the public to drive the issue.

“This will show the support he’s looking for,” Howe said.

In other matters, the council:

Heard from residents of West Drive who want the end of their street closed off so it becomes a true cul de sac.

Long said the city has to consider legal and property rights and will present the findings of a traffic study to the residents at the already agreed-upon date in September.

Adopted a property tax levy of about 47 cents per $100 valuation with a 6-1 vote.