Navajo County Public Health Director Janelle Linn provided an update on the number of COVID cases throughout the county to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors last week.
She said, “COVID case counts continue to surge and our hospitalization and mortality rates, especially off of tribal lands are higher than they have been since the start of the pandemic. We are encouraging people to be aware and be cautious. Last week we had 345 new cases and 25 new hospitalizations. Hospitalizations almost doubled from the week before.”
She stated that last week about 39% of the cases were in people under the age of 40, but some weeks it’s up to 50%. “As of… this morning (Tuesday, Dec. 14) we have already had 117 new cases, six new hospitalizations and two new deaths (in a 24-hour period). Consider taking precautionary measures and be vaccinated. We are also recommending booster doses for everyone, recently it was recommended for teens 16 to 18 as well. The Delta variant continues to be the primary variant in our county, but we continue to see efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death with the vaccine.”
In other business, the board:
* Acknowledged the following individuals for their service to the county and who are retiring: Jane Karges for 30 years; Diana Serna for 23 years; and Norman Brent Turley for 19 years.
* Accepted the retirement of Norman Brent Turley as Public Fiduciary Director and appointed Pamela Phillips as his replacement effective Jan. 1.
* Designated District III Supervisor Jason Whiting as the Navajo County Legislative Policy Committee representative for 2022.
* Approved the sale of a 1998 Ford Taurus to the Navajo County Fair Board for $1.
* Approved a cooperative law enforcement agreement between Navajo County and the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in the amount of $10,000 for cooperative law enforcement efforts through Dec. 31, 2026. The agreement reimburses Navajo County for wages and mileage for patrol on US Forest Service roads and campgrounds.
* Accepted the surplus and seized items list and authorized the publication of the same scheduling the public surplus online auction for Dec. 27 through Jan. 3.
* Accepted the surplus and seized vehicles list and authorized the publication of the same scheduling the public surplus online vehicle auction for Jan. 3 through Jan. 17.
* Approved the annual school district boundaries letter in a routine procedure outlining county wide school districts. In the letter, County Superintendent Jalyn Gerlich stated the district boundaries would remain unchanged.
* Acknowledged receipt of the complete real property assessment roll for the tax year 2022 and directed the clerk to accept it for filing. Each year, the assessor completes the assessment roll showing the ownership of the property for the county board of equalization and the state board of equalization to use for any lawful purpose.
* Approved an agreement with the Arizona State Parks and Trails in which the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office has received approval for the purchase of an off-highway vehicle in the amount of $36,500 for use in performing off highway patrols. The Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Fund will provide $30,000 of the expense with NCSO using general funds to offset the balance of $6,500.
* Approved an agreement between the Petrified Forest National Park and NCSO for cooperative law enforcement efforts for five years.
* Approved a lease agreement for Cellular One of North East Arizona to lease an approximate 421 square foot portion of real property located at 137 W. Arizona St. in Holbrook for $500 per month for five years with an option to extend the lease for five additional periods of five years each.
* Approved the issuance of stale dated checks as refunds for overpaid property taxes or investor payments.
* Appointed Mary Jane Coking of Overgaard, Jerome Andrew Simmer of Show Low, Janell Elizabeth Sterner of Lakeside, John Westing Major of Lakeside, Amy Lynn Cheely of Show Low and Eric Johnson of Holbrook as Republican Precinct Committeemen for their respective precincts.
* Appointed as justices of the peace pro tempore Jannae Hancock, Steven Ballard, Kathy Swietanksi, Rae Lynn Atencio, Tiffany Hendrickson, Yvonne Hunt, Anna Lesperance, Rebecca Taylor, Steven Price, David Widmaier and Paul Julien. And as juvenile hearing officers Fred Peterson, B.J. Little, Shirley Patterson, Robert Higgins, Krista Wilkinson, Susie Nelson, Kathy Swietanski, Rae Lynn Atencio, Tiffany Hendrickson, Yvonne Hunt, Anna Lesperance, Rebecca Taylor, Steven Price, David Widmaier and Paul Julien.
* Approved the sale of one back tax land parcel sold over the counter in the amount of $456.32.
* Adopted a resolution designating County Finance Director Jason Vowell and Ken Maruyama as representative signature certifiers and administrators for applying for the USDA ReConnect Grant.
* Approved an amendment to the contract awarded to Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. The amendment adds mental health care services as well as reduces the monthly cost from $121,129 to $116,656.
* Approved a liquor license application for Ralph Forney at Black Horse Brewery, located at 1058 Burton Road in Show Low.
* Approved an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Health Services tuberculosis control. This is a long standing contract with ADHS to perform tuberculosis control and surveillance. The amendment allows for revision of the line items in the budget to better meet current needs.
* Approved the Navajo County Emergency Management Operations Plan for 2022. This plan is the framework for emergency responders, Navajo County governmental departments and supporting agencies to effectively coordinate and collaborate in a disaster in order to provide a comprehensive response.
* Approved a revision to a memorandum of understanding between the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, Arizona Department of Administration and Navajo County. The revision allows the county to apply for a grant from the Arizona Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $56,684 for cyber security equipment and training.
* Approved the Navajo County Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government Plan for 2022. It provides a framework in which Navajo County Information Technology can plan for and perform their respective essential functions during a disruption, disaster or emergency event.
* Approved a certificate of removal and abatement purging of tax record, penalty and interest on personal property taxes ID 050039901, 050040001, 000008301, 170014101, 040008701, 040009001 and 050039801. After several attempts to locate property owners, it has been determined the property has been abandoned and removed from the tax roll by the assessor’s office.
* Approved a letter of commitment to participation in the Convening Court, Court and Justice Leaders.
* Approved a certification of fiscal year 2021 Fill the Gap allocation funds. This certifies the total revenues received by the justice and superior courts exceed the amount received in fiscal year 1997-98.
* Approved the purchase of Jira software and services from Hyper Velocity in the amount of $38,418 for information technology (IT) to track tickets, equipment and projects. The cost will come from the existing IT budget.
* Approved an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Health Services accepting a grant in the amount of $665,751 with no matching funds required. The grant will be used to further COVID-19 mitigation including prevention, preparedness, response and recovery initiative and school-based health programs.
* Approved an award from the Department of Fire and Forestry Management of the 2021 Health Forest Initiative Grant in an amount not to exceed $269,110. The grant reimburses the county for mitigation of wildfire threats including the thinning of fuels on private property.
* Approved an agreement between the county and Pictometry for a flight of specific areas in the county for the purpose of remote assessing of property. The total cost of the project will be $191,022.
* Approved a task agreement within the intergovernmental agreement between the County and the Bureau of Indian Affairs authorizing funding assistance in the amount of $50,000 from the Navajo Nation HURF (Highway User Revenue Fund) funds for the Chinle and Western agencies to provide aggregate material and heavy equipment parts in preparation for the winter season.
* Approved a task agreement within the intergovernmental agreement between the County and the Bureau of Indian Affairs authorizing funding assistance in the amount of $120,000 from HURF funds for the Fort Defiance and Chinle agencies to provide heavy equipment operators to assist on maintenance of roadways.
* Acknowledged the Snowflake High School football team for winning the 3A State Championship and the Mogollon High School football team for winning the 1A State Championship.
The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the board meeting room, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
