“This is the culmination of more than five years of work,” Navajo County Assistant Manager and Economic Development Director Paul Watson related on Tuesday as the Board of Supervisors granted its approval for the county’s emergency dispatch center, which was proposed in 2009.

The agreement unites the law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services of Holbrook, Taylor, Snowflake, Pinetop-Lakeside, Show Low, Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District, Pinetop Fire District, White Mountain Lake Fire District, Pinedale-Clay Springs Fire District, Joseph City Fire District, Sun Valley Fire District, Vernon Fire District and Heber-Overgaard Fire District.

In 2009, officials of the Summit Health Care emergency department expressed concern regarding the lack of communication between the emergency service agencies within Navajo County.

“There was a concern that lives were lost because of that lack of coordination,” said Watson.

The unified dispatch service is built on a dual-location model with satellite centers to tentatively base in Holbrook and Show Low, with the aim of providing the redundancy of critical software and communication resources needed to mitigate crisis issues in the event of an emergency.

County and emergency responder officials noted that there was a general concern among the service agencies that the merger would potentially result in a loss of jobs.

“In drafting our model, there was a commitment made that anyone who is currently employed and qualified would not lose their jobs,” Watson said.

In other action Dec. 8, the board:

* Approved an agreement for child support funds enforcement between the Arizona Department of Security and the Navajo County Attorney’s Office, allocating 66 percent of all operating expenses to run the program, including the attorney, child support enforcement agents, an investigator, Superior Court commissioner and judicial assistant. Navajo County matches 33 percent of these operating costs through the General Fund.

* Tabled consideration and possible approval of an amendment to the existing White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement District Advisory Board By-Laws pending review at the Jan. 12 and 26 regular meetings.

* Heard a presentation by Watson on the history and recent refinance benefits of the Nov. 30 Apache Railway sale.

* Was introduced to 2016 Miss Navajo County, Samantha Edwards. Miss Navajo County’s Outstanding Teen Sophie Owen was represented in absentia.

* Approved the consent agenda, including Nov. 19 Joint Study Session and Nov. 24 meeting minutes, November warrant and voucher report for vendor amounts over $1,000, October and November constable reports for Holbrook Precinct No. 1, and the 2016 Board of Supervisors meeting schedule.

Also approved was the E-Co certifying officer designation for the environmental review requirements of Arizona Department of Housing Community Development Block Grant program funds.

A two-year term for Robinson Honani to serve on the Navajo County Extension Advisory Board (NCEAB) to expire on April 1, 2016, and a three-year term for Allison Hephner to serve on the NCEAB to expire on April 1, 2017, were approved.

An agreement between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, and the cities of Winslow and Show Low, and towns of Snowflake, Taylor and Pinetop-Lakeside regarding Byrne grant funding for fiscal year 2016 was approved.

Thank you letters to Governor Doug Ducey, Senator John McCain, Senator Jeff Flake and Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick regarding their support of the Nov. 30 Apache Railway sale were approved.

A sympathy letter to Kameron Edwards and family was approved.

The next regular board meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the county complex in Holbrook.