By Toni Gibbons The public hearing by the Navajo County Board of Supervisors on a resolution for a special use permit for the installation of a cellular tower in the Aripine area was unanimously approved by the board in spite of the appeal by six citizens, four from the area affected and two from Holbrook, asking that the resolution be denied. The residents cited concerns regarding the impact on their view of the surrounding area, lights on the tower and noise from generators, as well as feeling that there was a need for cell service enhancement there as it is not a dead zone for the residents who live there. Markin Allen Investments (MAI), LLC, requested the permit on behalf of Verizon Wireless Communications. The permit allows for the installation of a 199’ lattice tower and a related, fenced 50’ by 50’ compound containing associated ground equipment. Based on the opposition of area residents, MAI agreed to move the tower to the southern end of the property. The tower will be painted brown and there will be no lights or generators involved. In other business, the board: * Approved the addition to Navajo County policy manual regarding annual leave. * Approved an extension of premises for Overgaard American Legion Post 86 for their Halloween event on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 2068 Lumber Valley Road. * Approved the sale of 11 back tax land parcels in the amount of $3,585. * Approved reissuance of stale-dated checks. Treasurer’s checks were issued as refunds for overpaid property taxes or for investor payments. The checks were voided because they had been outstanding for a year or more. Total amount for all checks is $544. * Approved annual school district boundaries letter. * Approved appointment of Jessica Beach to Northeastern Arizona Local Workforce Development Board. The appointment of Beach is to fill a vacant Apache County business seat and will be in effect through June 30, 2021. * Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Trails Task Force (AZSTTF). The mission of AZSTTF is to identify criminal groups responsible for drug trafficking, money laundering, major crimes and Indian Country crimes falling within the investigative scope of the FBI and NCSO. NCSO and FBI will assume responsibility for all personnel costs associated with the AZSTTF investigations. * Approved a contract between the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Sheriff’s Office for $25,000 for DUI/Impaired Driving Enforcement. Funds will support overtime and employee-related expenses. * Authorized acceptance of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety grant 2019 for $10,000 for the purchase of five radars for the NCSO. * Approved a contract signed by the county manager for professional services between Navajo County and Lorenz Schuerch to serve as a special deputy public defender. * Authorized John Flynn, district administrator of the White Mountain Lakes Fire District (WMLFD), to move forward with consolidation of the WMLFD with Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District. * Approved a license agreement between Navajo County Library District and Scottsdale Public Library to have its Fun with Math and Science curriculum for preschoolers in the county public libraries. The $500 for the licenses is covered by the federal grant award. * Approved an amendment to a contract with the Hopi Tribe Department of Transportation, which provides funding for consultant work to update the environmental documentation and permitting for the Low Mountain Road improvements. Funding is available in the Public Works, District Two Special Projects Road Funds. Expenditures will not exceed $9,800. * Approved a resolution to revert the zone change on a parcel located at 1839 Sponsellor Drive in Pinetop to A-General. * Approved the resolution to revert the zone at the parcel located at 9545 Old U.S. 66 in Goodwater from C-R back to A-General per the conditions not being met as per the recommendation of NCPZC. * Denied the reversion of the zone change on APNs 107-19-001 and 107-19-002A in Joseph City to remove RU-1 zoned with the time stipulation being removed as per the recommendation of NCPZC. * Denied the reversion of the zone change on APNs 103-57-001 through 103-57-047 to remain RU-5 in Winslow zoned with the time stipulation being removed as per the recommendation of NCPZC. * Denied the reversion of the zone change to a parcels located at 1367 Jolly Road, 6229 North Park Drive and 5803 North Park Drive in Winslow to remain RU-1 zoned with the time stipulation being removed as per the recommendation of NCPZC. * Approved Rawlings Specialty Contracting for repairing the White Mountain Lakes boat dock, which will include anchoring the current docking system and replacing cables. Three bids were received with Rawlings being the lowest. The amount requested in the bid was $23,700. The amount budgeted was $25,000.
