The Big Park Domestic Wastewater Improvement District provides sanitary sewer service to portions of an unincorporated area in Yavapai County, Arizona known as the Village of Oak Creek and Big Park. The District is a Special Taxing District formed in 1972 under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 48 Chapter 6 as a County Improvement District with the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors sitting as the Board of Directors. On November 10, 1997, due to new legislation, the District was converted to a Domestic Wastewater Improvement District with a locally elected Board of Directors.
The original 1972 wastewater treatment plant located off Jacks Canyon Road was demolished in 1996. The District constructed a new 500,000 gallons per day DAVCO wastewater plant and main liftstation in June 1996, a belt press facility was completed in November 1997, and an ultra-violet disinfection unit was
added to the system in September 1999. In 2012 the District contracted with Sunrise Engineering, Inc. to design a treatment plant modification to replace the aging treatment plant and to allow additional capacity for the current District commitments. A $5.5 million dollar loan was acquired from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to pay for engineering and construction costs. Additional land must be acquired to comply with the setback requirements established by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. This project was completed in December of 2015.
The sewer system consists of approximately 27 miles of sewer lines with 5 lift stations. The main liftstation, located near the corner of Wild Horse Mesa and Hutson Lane, was upgraded and expanded in 2008. A portion of the treatment plant effluent output is delivered to the Oakcreek Country Club Golf Course and the remainder is discharged into an unnamed wash off Jacks Canyon Road.
The Village of Oak Creek
The Village lies cradled by the red rock formations, as well as Wild Horse Mesa and House Mountain. If the view seems familiar, note that this valley, known as Big Park, was the setting for many western movies. This quiet and small residential community was established by farming/ranch settlers in the late 1800s, and today is known for its dining, lodging, shopping, hiking, biking and golf.
Improvement District Services, Inc serves as the District Administrator for The Big Park DWWID
Administrative Office:
3603 Crossings Drive
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 443-9484
Toll Free in AZ (800) 659-7149
Fax (928) 443-9486
Email Jennifer Bartos or Diana King
Monday - Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
IDS is closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Fridays are by appointment only
Occasionally our staff is unavailable due to meetings or unanticipated absences;
calling ahead of your arrival to our office and/or arranging for an appointment is highly recommended.
Holiday Office Closures
New Year's Day, Civil Rights Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve
About Improvement District Services, Inc., our Administrative Arm
Improvement District Services, Inc. was incorporated in July 1998. The officers of the corporation are Jennifer J. Bartos, President/Treasurer and Diana L. King, Vice-President/Secretary. We provide administrative services to special taxing districts and collect Yavapai County assessments.
​
Our staff has over twenty years of extensive experience with a successful track record in providing improvement district administrative services. These services can include a full range of tasks including district management, utility billing, accounting and banking functions, budgets and annual reports, elections coordination, annexations, assessments, customer service, contact with facility management, engineering coordination, planning, public meetings and presentations, and research. We have the qualifications, capabilities, and resources available to perform all of the services needed for improvement district administrative management.
Our office is located in Prescott and is equipped with office equipment and software programs for communication, accounting, utility billing, GIS, assessments and other miscellaneous uses. We provide a statewide toll free phone number for customer convenience. Improvement District Services, Inc. is fully insured and bonded for liability, errors and omissions, and holds a fidelity bond for money handling. Our office currently processes thousands of utility bills and handles over $4,000,000.00 in customer revenues annually.
​
Improvement District Services, Inc. staff has unique experience that has come from working for Yavapai County as Special District staff and with many water and sewer improvement districts. Because of the extent of our experience we are able to manage routine District issues on a daily basis without direction of Board members. When issues do arise that require Board decisions we have the background to submit recommendations to the Board Members based on a vast amount of previous experiences. In most cases this knowledge can save the District in many areas including possible legal fees and penalties.
​
Our office typically serves as the District Office and maintains the current District Records. The majority of the District’s records are considered public information and shall be available for public inspection by appointment. Our office is also available to be used as the District’s Board Meeting location with limited audience size.
​
Our services also include Jennifer Bartos serving as the District Clerk of the Board of Directors. This is a necessary position required by the Arizona Revised Statutes. Jennifer currently sits as the Clerk of the Board for seven Districts and has extensive experience in the duties of this official position.
​
The District’s funds are considered public funds. Our firm is experienced in the necessary steps to handle money in the manner approved by the Arizona State Auditor General’s Office. Our service typically includes signing authority on all bank accounts. Along with this we also encourage the District to have an outside financial review performed annually.
​
Our staff has assisted in writing many District Ordinances. We have found Ordinances to be helpful with conforming building and permit requirements, fees, and other District policies. As administrators we have the knowledge and experience to assist with compiling Ordinances with limited legal review costs.
​
Improvement District Services, Inc. communicates daily with title companies to provide District policy and fee information to potential new buyers. Additionally our staff works directly with Yavapai County and City Offices to ensure that fees are collected prior to the issuance of building permits. Our service typically includes issuing District permits for new construction.
​
The District should maintain a separate clearing account and Yavapai County Treasurer account(s). We recommend that the District maintain an Operation & Maintenance Account (O&M) and a Capital Fund Account with the Yavapai County Treasurer’s Office. The tasks involved in maintaining these additional accounts are usually included in our scope of services.
​
Over the years we have had the opportunity to work with many reliable local engineers, attorneys, CPAs, suppliers and contractors experienced in improvement district and utility system needs. As District Administrators we have the experience to assist the District’s operations by providing recommendations to the Board in selecting reliable resources for many of these necessary outside services.
Related Links:
Yavapai County
Arizona State Legislature Statutes
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Environmental Protection Agency
National Scenic Byways Program
Coconino Forest Service
Village of Oak Creek