By L. Parsons Navajo County Public Health Director Jeff Lee informed the Board of Supervisors last week that Navajo County is trending down in COVID-19 cases. Currently in Arizona, there are 199,273 cases of COVID-19 and in Navajo County that number is 5,523. Lee pointed out, “Thirty or 45 days ago, we were experiencing about 50 to 80 new cases a day in Navajo County. Now that number is averaging about six new cases a day.” “After many, many months, I finally have good news to report. Our sacrifices and actions are paying off. Our numbers over the past couple of weeks have significantly lowered and we are trending in a much more positive direction. This is not time for a victory lap but it is time to pat ourselves on the back a little. I want to thank everyone in Navajo County as we have slowed the spread of COVID in our county.” Navajo County, according to Lee, began trending downward more quickly than other counties. “However, while things are moving in a positive direction, we need to continue taking precautions. Those include wearing a mask, washing your hands, physical distancing and staying home when you’re sick.” Lee continued, “We have seen what even just a small lapse in our actions can cause. In late May and early June, we had a significant rise in cases and put a real strain on the health care system. There is still more to do. “Now is the time to start thinking about flu season and planning for that. The health department along with many of our health care partners are scheduled to receive the flu vaccine in the next couple of weeks. This year, it is crucial that we all get our flu vaccines, we want to avoid another stressor on the health care system and the potential for flu/COVID coinfection,” emphasized Lee. As part of the ongoing COVID-19 response, the board approved an intergovernmental agreement between Navajo County and the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) allowing AZDHS to act as a pass through for a $25,000 grant. The grant will offset the salary of one environmental health investigator. The position will provide technical assistance in response to COVID-19 complaints and referrals during the mitigation of community spread of the disease. A second IGA was approved with AZDHS for a grant in the amount of $2.4 million. The money will be used to maintain the staff of the public health department’s Disease Investigation Division through February of 2021. In other business, the board: * Held an executive session to receive legal advice from the board attorney regarding the case of Transwestern Pipeline Company v. Arizona Department of Revenue, et. al in which Navajo County is a plaintiff. The case is being heard in the Arizona Tax Court. No discussion was held in the public meeting and no action was taken. * Recognized employees of the month of July including Pedro Barajas with Navajo County jail operations; Julianna Davis, Public Works; Christen Haddox, Elections Department; Dustin Kenshol, Facilities Management; and Olivia Todd, Treasurer’s Office. * Approved the purchase of one International 10-wheel dump truck with a snowplow and cinder spreader from RWC Group in the amount of $268,727 to replace a similar piece of equipment that has been in service since 1989. * Approved the purchase of two 1.5-ton pick up trucks with dump beds, plows and cinder spreaders from the RWC Group in the amount of $202,938 to replace two pieces of equipment at the end of their life cycles. * Approved a contract to Sunline Contracting, LLC for pavement markings on county roads. Payment shall be determined based on scope of work on individual jobs. * Approved an IGA for grant funding for Empower Plus 2.0, a nutrition-based training program to provide training to daycare providers in Navajo and Apache counties, including tribal lands. The amount of the grant is to be determined. * Approved an IGA to leverage partnerships between AZDHS and local county health departments by providing block grant funding to support the implementation of health service needs. * Approved a memorandum of agreement between the public health services districts of Navajo and Apache counties for the sharing of registered dietician services. * Approved an IGA amendment to include breastfeeding peer counseling through the Women Infant Children (WIC) Program. * Proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month. This year’s theme is, “Disasters Don’t Wait.” * Granted perpetual easements to Navajo County at Gwin Way and Belinda Ave. as well as Gwin Way and Gwin Place by the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside. * Accepted a grant in the amount of $13,300 from the Office of the Attorney General’s Victim’s Rights Program to the Sheriff’s Office to pay 30 percent of the salary and benefits of the Victim’s Rights Program secretary. * Approved the sale of back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $4,212. * Adopted a resolution designating Jason Vowell as the Navajo County Chief Financial Officer to submit the annual expenditure limitation report. * Approved tax exemption waivers for widows, widowers and disabled persons whose property is exempt from tax. * Approved Justice Court Reports for July from Holbrook, Winslow, Snowflake, Kayenta, Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside precincts. * Approved constable reports for July from Holbrook, Snowflake and Kayenta precincts. * Approved the Juvenile Probation report for July. * Approved the Clerk of the Superior Court report for July. The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, through the video conferencing service Zoom.
