During the May 23 meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors, Information Technology (IT) Director Ken Dewitt addressed the topic of expanding broadband Internet availability in Navajo County.
He explained that the lack of broadband infrastructure has a great impact on health care in rural Arizona. Navajo and Apache counties were awarded a $25,875 grant in conjunction with Summit Healthcare from the Arizona Commerce Authority to provide a study as the initial phase in moving forward with broadband expansion to this area.
The proposed plan was that Summit would cover the remaining cost after the grant was depleted. Providers submitted bids and they came in under the grant amount, so this phase will be covered entirely.
Action was taken by the board to award a contract to Vantage Point Consulting to begin a study and plan to implement broadband improvement in an amount not to exceed $26,000.
In other action, the board:
* Approved an agreement with the Hopi Tribe Department of Transportation for the purchase of roadway materials.
* Approved an agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Transportation in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for the purchase and delivery of diesel fuel for road improvement.
* Approved an amendment to the zoning of Homestead Road RV Park in Lakeside, a plot originally zoned for apartment complexes that now houses mobile homes and RVs.
* Awarded a new liquor license to the Circle K convenience store, located at 1581 Mainline Road in Heber, that changes it from a full license to beer and wine only.
* Awarded a new liquor license to JP Petro LLC in Heber and Concho Libre LLC in Lakeside for use during food truck events.
* Approved an application for a Class A Bingo License for Rim Crest RV Park in Lakeside.
* Approved the renewal of an intergovernmental agreement to participate in the White Mountain Special Response Team, a coalition of local law enforcement agencies that specializes in community protection, usually in extreme situations.
Other consent items approved included the appointment of Doris Ann Tyler and Brenda Johnson as Republican Precinct Committee members for their precincts, and a special event liquor license for the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce for the seventh annual High Mountain Music Festival on June 17.
The board also gave recognition to members of the Snowflake High School boys’ track team for winning their third straight state title, Tanner Willis, Jake Hall and Megan Webster of SHS for winning state championships in their track events, and Janessa Johnson of Monument Valley High School for taking home a state championship in discus.
The Snowflake athletes were unable to attend the meeting due to final testing, but were awarded medals by District III Supervisor Jason Whiting, who traveled to the school.
The next meeting of the board will be held on Tuesday, June 13. The public is invited to attend and you may view meeting minutes online at www.navajocountyaz.gov.
