Patagonia Council, County Supes to Discuss South32 Investment Agreement

Meetings scheduled for Wednesday to review 10-page presentation on proposed community investment deal.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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The Patagonia Town Council and Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will hold separate meetings on Wednesday, March 4 to discuss and potentially approve an 'Early Actions Community Investment Agreement' with South32, a mining company, and the City of Nogales. The meetings will include study sessions to review details of the proposed agreement, which is outlined in a 10-page presentation document.

Why it matters

This agreement represents a significant investment and partnership between the local government, a major mining company, and the community. It could have far-reaching impacts on the economic development, infrastructure, and quality of life in the Patagonia region, making it an important issue for residents to stay informed about and provide input on.

The details

The Patagonia Town Council will hold a special meeting at 6:00 pm on March 4 to discuss and potentially approve the agreement, while the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will review it during their 5:30 pm meeting the same day. Presentation materials outlining the details of the agreement are available on the county's website.

  • The Patagonia Town Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 4 at 6:00 pm.
  • The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 4 at 5:30 pm.

The players

Andy Wood

The mayor of Patagonia who called the special town council meeting.

Ron Robinson

The Patagonia town manager who will present details of the investment agreement.

Chris Young

The Santa Cruz County deputy manager who is scheduled to present the agreement to the county supervisors.

John Fanning

The District 3 Santa Cruz County supervisor who will hold a community check-in event in Sonoita on March 2.

South32

A mining company that is party to the proposed investment agreement.

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What they’re saying

“The meeting, which will be open to the public in person and via Zoom, will open with a study session presentation by Town Manager Ron Robinson regarding an 'Early Actions Community Investment Agreement' with Santa Cruz County, City of Nogales and South32.”

— Andy Wood, Mayor of Patagonia (patagoniaregionaltimes.org)

What’s next

The Patagonia Town Council will decide whether to approve the investment agreement with South32 and the county/city at their March 4 meeting. The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will also vote on the agreement during their March 4 meeting.

The takeaway

This proposed investment agreement represents a significant partnership between local government, a major mining company, and the Patagonia community. The public meetings on March 4 will be an important opportunity for residents to learn about the details of the agreement and provide input before key decisions are made.