Land considered for trust transfer

More than 670 dusty acres of scrub desert land near Maricopa is quietly undergoing a big change.

The Ak-Chin Indian Community owns the land but requested more than a year ago to transfer it to trust land, which means it would become part of its sovereign nation and the tribe would have ultimate control over it.

It’s called a fee-to-trust transfer and is under consideration by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Such a transaction can impact the city, county and nearby private landowners who lose all claim to zoning ordinances and control over such infrastructure as roads, water and electrical distribution.

“I don’t think people realize what having the land in a sovereign nation means,” said Shirley Ann Hartman, whose family has farmed the area since 1939. The main road to the Hartman land lies roughly in the middle of the 679 acres of the fee-to-trust request.

“This would be for perpetuity; it means a lack of control. It means no property taxes for the city and the county for education,” she said.

Hartman, and her husband McD, said they are happy to have the Community transfer some of the land to trust, but not all. Not that section that impacts them the most. 

The acreage in question is bordered by the Maricopa-Case Grande Highway on the south, Peters and Nall Road to the north, Antone Street on the west and Russell Road on the east.

The couple wrote to the BIA during the public-comment period, but only got a letter acknowledging receipt of their concerns, not any reassurances.

Finally, in mid-October U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl queried the BIA on behalf of the Hartmans. A letter to Kyl from acting Director Michael R. Smith stated: “Mitigation measures will be employed, as appropriate, to diminish any potential impacts that may be adverse or significant, and Ms. Hartman and other interested parties will be kept informed and notified of any additional opportunities to submit comments.”

Then on Oct. 26, the Hartmans heard that Anderson Road specifically was addressed when Community Chairman Louis J. Manuel Jr. said in an email to InMaricopa News, “Anderson Road will not be cut off” per an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Maricopa and the Community.”

“That’s very encouraging,” Hartman said. “I would like more specifics, though. We would love to have more communication with the Ak-Chin Community to our address our concerns.”

Paul Jepson, assistant to the city manager and government affairs liaison, said the city and the Community are working on the “give and take” required when different governmental entities have concerns.