As anticipated following his election as Navajo Nation vice president, Jonathan Nez submitted his resignation as the District I representative to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors May 11.

Board members formally accepted Nez’s resignation at the conclusion of the meeting, and held a special presentation to thank and honor him for his service.

The board also accepted Nez’s recommendation for a successor to his position on the board, and appointed Robert K. Black Jr. to serve out the remainder of Nez’s term, which will expire at the end of 2016.

Black was sworn into office immediately following his appointment and will serve as the representative for District I, which encompasses Shonto, Kayenta, Chilchinbeto, Forest Lake, Black Mesa, Piñon, Low Mountain, Blue Gap/Tachee, Whippoorwill Springs, Whitecone, Greasewood Springs, Indian Wells and Sun Valley.

Black is the Community Governance manager for the Shonto Chapter and also served as a Navajo County Planning and Zoning commissioner.

District III Supervisor Jason Whiting, who was appointed to the board in November, was elected by the board to take on Nez’s role as vice chairman of the board.

Nez is the third supervisor to resign within the last eight months in order to take advantage of other opportunities. Former supervisor Sylvia Allen vacated her seat representing District III last October in order to run for the state senate, where she is currently serving. Whiting was selected by the board from a large group of applicants to fill her position following an application and interview process. David Tenney, who represented District IV, resigned in February to accept an appointment by Governor Doug Ducey as the director of the Arizona Residential Utility Consumer Office. He asked the board to appoint Steve Williams to his position and the board accepted his recommendation.

A formal swearing in ceremony was held on May 12 in Fort Defiance, during which Nez was sworn in as vice president of the Navajo Nation.

In other action May 13, the board:

* Proclaimed May 10-16 as National Police Week.

* Awarded a $35,475 contract to Logan Simpson for development of a community wildfire protection plan.

* Approved the acceptance of a $20,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Education to provide support in developing and reviewing schools’ emergency preparedness plans.

* Awarded a five-year contract to Everbridge Inc. for mass notification services for $32,007 for the first year and $25,843 each additional year.

* Approved a $40,000 loan from the county’s improvement district revolving fund to the Timberland Acres Domestic Improvement Water District for the construction of a new well.

* Approved the expenditure of up to $250,000 for the purchase of a rock crusher in partnership with the Navajo Nation.

* Awarded a contract to Sunland Inc. for asphalt pavement overlay material and services.

* Awarded a contract to Contech Engineered Solutions for the supply of culverts and bands.

The next regular board meeting is set for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, at the county complex in Holbrook.