In the recent Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting, Sheriff David Clouse presented an award and recognition to Deputy Nathaniel Simonson for action taken to abate a threat at Pinion High School earlier in the month.
Clouse said, “One of our overall goals in public safety, is school safety. It is something that we have done a tremendous job with being more visible within the schools and in placing school resource officers in our school sites.” He noted that Simonson, who grew up in Hard Rock and graduated from Pinion High School, now serves the high school there.
According to Clouse, the incident occurred on Dec. 30 of last year the department received information on a potential threat to Pinion High. It was going viral on social media and caused fear among the parents, students and staff. Deputy Simonson took a proactive approach and began to investigate the threat and do an extensive search utilizing technology through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The person making the threats was identified, interviewed and taken in to custody. The threat included a manifesto of targeted students and staff of Pinion High School and evidence was obtained to consider the threat credible.
“Deputy Simonson with very little assistance took the threat to the community. His actions resulted in many lives being saved and the security and safety of the school was restored,” stated Clouse, adding, “Deputy Simonson was able to discover that a firearm was purchased and the threat was credible. During the interview, the suspect did admit he was planning on carrying out the threat on Jan. 2. Nathaniel saved lives that day and we want to recognize him for his dedication to his community that he so obviously loves.”
To follow the presentation, Clouse also recommended the supervisors approve a $150,000 grant from the Arizona State Treasurer’s Office to be used toward school safety efforts in the purchase of Mutuallink, a public safety communications product.
Clouse has chosen to spend those monies to purchase a communications system ensuring a direct link from Navajo County schools to emergency services.
According to Clouse, Mutuallink is the only communications product that meets all of the qualifications for an interoperability system. “Last year, the Arizona Legislature passed a bill containing a school safety grant for which four counties were selected. We were selected. As a rural county, we are trying to find better ways to bring safety to our schools.”
Qualifications for the program were set forth by the legislature and includes being United States Department of Homeland Security certified and compatible with federal emergency management systems for disaster communications.
In other business, the board:
* Authorized letters of sympathy to Tori Gorman, Daryl Seymore, Kathy Swietanski, Mark Lamb, Lorenzo Pena, Brittany Tsosie, Bryanne Johnson, Joshua Reizer, Dennis Warren, Bryan Layton, Alicia Deets, Danny Deets, Deanne Romo, Sandra Wagner and the family of Frankie Perez.
* Approved an amendment to a contract with The Mahoney Group extending their consulting services for employee benefits for one additional year through March 2023.
* Approved a letter written to the Arizona Commerce Authority supporting Sparklight for a project expanding broadband in the Heber-Overgaard area as part of a grant application process.
* Recognized the following employees for their excellence in personal performance: Michelle Johnston of Planning and Zoning, Violet Redbird-Nez of Workforce Operations, Tina Smith of Elections and Michelle Marquardt of Facilities.
* Congratulated the following employees for their continued service to Navajo County: Shirlene Newby, Tylar Tewawina, and Esther Grass for five years; and Brett Johnson, Alysia James, Daniel Deets and Michala Ruechel for 15 years.
* Approved a contract with Brockett Fence, LLC in the amount of $295,000 for supplying barbed wire fencing to Navajo County for livestock protection along North White Antelope Road near Snowflake and Burton Road near Show Low.
* Approved abatement of real property and authorized the Navajo County Attorney to initiate civil enforcement on said property located at 1940 State Route 260 near Overgaard.
* Approved Navajo County’s Community Rating System annual recertification letter. Navajo County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Compliance with this program allows Navajo County citizens to purchase flood insurance underwritten by the NFIP. Navajo County has previously elected to participate in the NFIP program known as the Community Rating System. The Community Rating System allows communities to exceed the minimum NFIP requirements and as a result to enjoy discounts on the flood insurance premiums. The Community Rating System requirements are focused on adopting regulatory requirements for land use and development that exceed the NFIP minimum. Currently, Navajo County’s rating has resulted in a 10% discount in flood insurance premiums. The Flood Control team has prepared the necessary information and is ready to submit for the annual recertification. Our submittal should qualify Navajo County for a continued 10% reduction in Flood Insurance premiums for Navajo County citizens.
The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8, in the board meeting room, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
