The Navajo County Board of Supervisors declared the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month, courtesy of a proclamation announced on Tuesday.
The initiative follows the month-long push nationwide by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau to encourage communities to play an active role in preventing the epidemic and promoting family well being.
It was presented to county officials by Holbrook City Councilman C.J. Wischmann, who has worked for the past 30 years as a children’s advocate and is now with Buena Vista Children’s Services, a community-based, grassroots, nonprofit organization that offers child abuse prevention awareness, children’s advocacy and child care recruitment services for the Department of Economic Security, Education & Professional Development, in Navajo, Apache and Yavapai counties.
Buena Vista notes child abuse and neglect as a serious problem in Arizona, citing that in 2010 there were 33,669 reports of child abuse and neglect received by Child Protective Services (now known as the Department of Child Safety). Studies also show that nationwide, at least 80 percent of all severe abuse incidents occur among children under age 5.
The councilman acknowledged Navajo County as setting a precedent in working to champion child safety.
“Basically, we would like to recognize that Navajo County has been a forerunner as one of the most involved counties in this initiative. As a councilmember in Holbrook, I also challenge all of the other cities, towns and counties, including Apache County, to do 100 percent recognition of this issue,” said Wischmann.
In other business April 12, the board:
* Approved a contract amendment with the Arizona Department of Health Services for the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Program for Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2019.
* Moved the consideration and possible appointment of White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement District Advisory Committee member Lyn Misener to April 26.
* Heard a presentation by Navajo County Treasurer Manny Hernandez and CEO Bob Moore of Institutional Capital Management, Inc., on the county’s investment portfolio.
* Approved the sale of a decommissioned county vehicle to the Rim Country Senior Center for use in the delivery of Meals on Wheels services for $1.
* Awarded a $30,000, plus applicable taxes, contract to Aecom for Navajo County Emergency Services hazard mitigation plan update.
Also awarded were contracts to BOLD Planning for county Emergency Operations Plan and Continuity of Operations Plan updates, in the amount of $44,800 and $52,800, respectively, plus applicable taxes.
* Recognized Winslow High School sophomore Ahli Foster for winning the AIA Division IV State Wrestling Championship in his weight class.
The board also congratulated Ariana Haven of Cibecue as her local Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot State Champion for the 12 to 13-year-old age group, Kenadi Stuart of Snowflake-Taylor as state champion for the 8 to 9-year-old age group, and Mylee Demuth of Holbrook as state and regional champion for the 11 to 12-year-old age group.
* Recognized Kay Supply and owner Terril Kay for winning the 2016 Small Business Development Center Success Award for Navajo County.
* Approved a proclamation declaring April 10-16 as Navajo County’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
* Approved a proclamation declaring April 2016 Fair Housing Month for Navajo County, as well as the adoption of a resolution affirming the county’s commitment to the principle of fair housing.
* Approved personnel actions.
* Approved the consent agenda, including March 22 regular meeting and executive session minutes, March 31 special meeting minutes, the warrant and voucher report over $1,000 for March, and constable reports for Winslow Precinct No. 2, March; Snowflake Precinct No. 3, February and March; and Show Low Precinct No. 5, March.
Also approved were March reports Holbrook Precinct No. 1, Winslow Precinct No. 2, Snowflake Precinct No. 3, Kayenta Precinct No. 4, Show Low Precinct No. 5, and Pinetop-Lakeside Precinct No. 6 justice courts, the Clerk of the Superior Court and Juvenile Probation.
Eleven back tax land parcels sold over the counter for a total of $2,997.45 were approved.
A special event liquor license for the White Mountain Hospice Foundation Inc. charitable event to be held Aug. 25 at the Gathering Place in Pinetop was approved.
Resolutions cancelling the May 17 elections for the Timberland Acres Domestic Water Improvement District and the White Mountain Lakes Special Road District were approved.
Reissuance of a stale dated check treasurer’s check to Morgan Arizona Land LLC for overpayment of taxes and commercial paper redemptions was approved. The check was never received or cashed. After verification, it was voided and will be reissued.
An application for treasurer’s deeds for the State of Arizona totaling approximately $24,660 was approved.
A contract authorizing an extension of scope of services/change order to Tetra Tech for the Navajo County Pinetop Country Club drainage survey-Tall Pines Drive, and District Housing lease agreement for Red Dog Housing at Piñon School were approved.
A congratulatory letter to newly appointed Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Supervisor Steve Best was approved.
A thank you letter to Gila River Indian Community was approved.
Sympathy letters to Isabel Walker and Mary Bradley for the loss of their loved ones were approved.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 26, at the county complex in Holbrook.
