Eloy City Council Meeting - March 23, 2026

The Eloy City Council convened at approximately 6:20 PM on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Eloy City Council Chambers. The meeting included roll call (all council members present), a moment of silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda featured public comments on the proposed FreePoint Ecosystems plastic recycling facility, approval of the consent agenda, and a business item authorizing Phase 1 of the Battaglia Road Sewer Line Upsizing Project. The meeting adjourned after unanimous approvals.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes – Minutes from the February 9, 2026 and March 9, 2026 Regular Meetings, and the March 16, 2026 Work Session were approved unanimously.
• Contract Extension with Armstrong Consultants, Inc. – A one-year extension for airport engineering, design, and construction management consulting services was approved.
• Asphalt Services Contract with Sunland Asphalt & Construction, LLC – Authorization to utilize Pinal County School Office contract #22-15P-04 for asphalt products and services on Tonto Rd., not to exceed $38,500, as part of the FY2025-2026 Capital Improvement Plan.
• Intergovernmental Agreement with Pinal County for CDL Testing Services – Authorized for Commercial Driver License testing services.
• Motorola Solutions VHF Repeater Replacement – Approval of a proposal at a cost not to exceed $70,000, using Arizona State Contract pricing, for replacement of the Eloy Police Department VHF repeater, as included in the FY2025-2026 CIP.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Deborah Sykes (Eloy resident) – Read a statement on behalf of Kevin Green, a retired Illinois EPA manager. She detailed ongoing air permit violations at FreePoint’s Hebron, Ohio facility, including excess particulate emissions, improper venting, and failure to report malfunctions. She noted that multiple plastic pyrolysis facilities in the U.S. have closed due to technical and economic difficulties (Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Texas). She urged the council to reconsider the FreePoint project and require additional emission controls and continuous monitoring.
• Ralph Anthu (Eloy resident) – Criticized the city for not participating in the March 9 Pinal County Air Quality District hearing on FreePoint’s air permit. He stated that FreePoint’s Ohio plant still has serious environmental issues and has not operated at full capacity after one year. He argued that without continuous monitoring, the city would share responsibility for any health impacts. He claimed over 90% of Eloy residents are unaware of the proposed facility.
• Rochelle Giles (Goodman Schwartz Public Affairs, representing FreePoint Ecosystems) – Provided an update on the air permit modification. She clarified that FreePoint’s Eloy facility holds a Class II minor source air permit under the Clean Air Act, delegated to Pinal County. The permit modification reduces total VOC emissions and adds record-keeping to demonstrate that over 70% of input plastic is recycled. She emphasized that the project complies with regulations from multiple agencies and that FreePoint voluntarily held a public hearing. She offered to host a tour of the Ohio facility for council members and stated that FreePoint is in daily communication with Ohio EPA to resolve issues.
• Sheila Porter (Eloy resident) – Expressed concerns about air pollution from the facility, noting that existing truck idling already causes eye burning at night. She warned about PFAS chemicals leaching into the aquifer, citing PFOS/PFOA contamination as an example. She listed potential health risks including cancers, hormonal problems, lung issues, infertility, and transgenerational effects. She argued that such contamination could lead to land redistribution (citing Michigan and Illinois examples).
• Lenora Noble (Eloy resident) – Asked the council to hold back and investigate further, noting she attended all visioning meetings and moved to Eloy expecting a quiet, farmland community. She urged the council to visit residents and better understand the risks of air quality and incident response. She stated that once the plant is built, it will be there for decades, and cleanup would be costly. She emphasized safety, security, and quality of life.

Discussion Items

• Authorization to Utilize Pinal County JOC Contract with Ellison-Mills Construction, LLC for Phase 1 of the Battaglia Road Sewer Line Upsizing Project – City staff presented the project, which replaces an existing 8-inch sewer line with a 24-inch line along Battaglia Road between 11 Mile Corner Road and Sunshine Boulevard. The current line is near capacity. Phase 1 (design and construction) extends the sewer upgrades on 11 Mile Corner Road approximately 900 feet south to Curry L Street. Phase 2 (Curry L Street to Sunshine Boulevard) will be brought back for future approval. Total estimated cost is $5.5 million ($3 million for Phase 1, $2.5 million for Phase 2, including contingency). Funding will come from a utility obligation bond to be presented in April. Councilmembers expressed support, noting coordination with sidewalk plans.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda – Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Battaglia Road Sewer Line Upsizing Project Phase 1 – Motion to authorize use of the Pinal County JOC contract with Ellison-Mills Construction, LLC passed unanimously (7-0).
• Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote.

Mayor’s and City Manager’s Announcements

• Mayor announced receipt of $295,000 from ADOT for a Safe Routes to School study and $94,000 for a transit feasibility study.
• Joint council/planning and zoning work session on March 11 for the Air Park Master Plan.
• Councilmember attended a senior center event and provided Lions Club vision vouchers.
• City manager reminded residents of the 60-day review period for the General Plan (comments accepted online through March) and invited participation in the General Plan Immersion Lab on Thursday, March 26 (11 AM–6 PM) featuring a virtual reality tour.
• Upcoming events: Pinal County Animal Control Vaccine Clinic (March 28, 7–9 AM) and Eloy Easter Egg Hunt (April 3, 10:30 AM–1 PM at Jones Park).
• A $140,000 grant from APS was received for a downtown gateway project at the former Dust Bowl/Veterans Center site.