By L. Parsons The Navajo County Board of Supervisors resumed in person meetings last week for the first time in over a year. Last April, the board began restricting attendance in the board chambers and moved to Zoom, a video conferencing platform to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Appropriately, the board proclaimed April 27 as “A Day of Remembrance for the Lives Lost to COVID-19.” The proclamation read, “Nearly one year ago, as we were beginning to stand up the Navajo County Emergency Operations Center to address and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we could not have known the toll it would take on our county.” On March 17, 2020, the county confirmed its first COVID positive case and on March 28 of that year, its first death related to the virus. As of last week, 525 Navajo County residents had lost their lives to the virus and complications related to COVID-19. To commemorate the event, the supervisors along with other county staff planted a rose bush in the courtyard at the county complex. Social Media Consultant Alicia Deets handed out white ribbons to county staff as a symbol of remembrance. She said, “While the white ribbons will soon wear away, the white rose bush will stay as a standing beacon of hope. We can weather the barren winter of grief knowing time always brings back a hope of spring, warmth and rebirth. Our future remains as hopeful as spring.” In other matters, the board made many presentations of congratulations to student athletes and performers as well as county employees. Navajo County Clerk of the Superior Court Deanne Romo was among those honored for her 40 years with the county. Romo was hired by the county in the juvenile detention department in 1981. In 2011, she began her elected position as Clerk of the Court. Currently, Romo is the longest serving county employee. Sandra Phillips of Public Works has been with the county for five years, Paul Haney of the probation department has been with the county for 10 years and Sheri Martinez of the Holbrook Justice Court has served Navajo County for 15 years. Each of these employees received the traditional road sign from the board of supervisors and county staff. There was no COVID-19 update on the agenda for the first time in over a year. However, the board did approve an intergovernmental agreement amendment between the county and the Arizona Department of Health Services office of procurement to enhance vaccination capacity in Navajo County. The amendment allows the county to obtain funding from AZDHS as a pass through from the Center for Disease Control. The funds will be utilized for staffing, materials and supplies, equipment and travel related to vaccination efforts of children and adults in Navajo County. In other business, the board: * Approved the purchase of Unitrends Enterprise Backup process from Custom Storage, Inc. in the amount of $329,511 to be divided equally over the next three years. The hardware and software included in the Unitrends process will give the county three layers of security and backup protection for their computer system. * Accepted the distribution of $759,998 for the benefit of public schools and public roads from the National Forest Fund. * Adopted a resolution approving a text amendment to the subdivision ordinance adding language that allows minor administrative corrections to plat applications. * Approved a letter addressed to United States Representative Greg Stanton (D). The letter expresses support for the Arizona Environmental Infrastructure program led by Stanton dedicated to improving water and wastewater infrastructure statewide. Chairpersons from all 15 Arizona counties added their signatures. * Approved fiscal year 2020-21 fund transfers for January through March. * Reappointed Bill Jeffers to serve on the Navajo County Extension Advisory Board for an additional three years. * Approved tax exemption waivers for widowed or disabled persons whose property is exempt from tax. * Approved the sale of 78 back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $37,298. * Approved a request of $1,000 from the county attorney’s Anti-Racketeering Revolving Fund (AARF) for the Rim Rockers Girls basketball team to attend the Native American Basketball Invitational. * Approved a grant application for $25,000 from the Fill the Gap Fund, Local Judicial Collections Enhancement Fund and Supreme Court Field Trainer Grant for essential business processing, system support and onsite training for all Navajo County Courts. No matching funds are required from the county. * Amended a contract with CRM of America, LLC for hauling waste tires to extend the contract for an additional year to June 8, 2022. * Submitted documents required for the State of Arizona to consider recertification of the local workforce development board. * Recognized Mogollon High School Division IV State Wrestling Champions Cael, Malakai and Fisher Porter. * Recognized Show Low High School All-State Choir recipients Josh Kittle and Madison Tayler. * Recognized the Show Low High School stunt team of Marlee Binnie, Melissa McNeil, Bryn Means, Randi Lopez and Chloe Flake as 3A State Champions. * Recognized the Show Low Academic Decathlon team of Branham Carpenter, Andrew Bernier, Graecyn Lewis, Emily Arrazola, Adam Hobbs and Lydia McIntire as 3A State Champions. * Recognized Show Low Division III wrestling state champion Cole Housley. * Recognized Preston Root of the Board of Supervisor’s office, Joshua Smith of Animal Control and Shawna Williams of the Clerk of the Superior Court as employees of the month of March. * Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the Town of Taylor, Town of Pinetop-Lakeside and City of Winslow to conduct city/town elections for a span of four years to expire on Jan. 1, 2025. * Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the Heber-Overgaard, Joseph City and Pinetop-Lakeside sanitation districts to conduct elections for a span of four years to expire Jan. 1, 2025. * Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the Clay Springs-Pinedale, Joseph City, Heber-Overgaard, Timber Mesa and Pinetop fire districts to conduct elections for a span of four years to expire on Jan. 1, 2025. * Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the Porter Mountain, Heber, Three-O-Three, White Mountain Summer Home, Joseph City, Misty Mountain and Overgaard Townsite Domestic Water Improvement Districts to conduct elections for a span of four years to expire on Jan. 1, 2025. * Proclaimed April 11-17 as “National Telecommunicators Week,” May 2-8 as “National Correctional Officers Week,” May 6-12 as “National Nurses Week,” and May 9-15 as “National Police Week.” The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11, in the board chambers located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
