In a meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 8, the board approved an extension of a contract between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Mutualink, Inc. under a sole source, non-competitive procurement contract.
According to information provided to the board, this agreement will provide a common platform for the Sheriff’s Office to connect directly with multiple public safety partners, regional partners, and schools in real time, creating a robust, dynamic information sharing network where data, voice communications and live full motion video can be shared when it is needed the most. In 2021, Mutualink was selected as the vendor for the pilot program that connected seven area law enforcement agencies and seven school districts in Navajo County. Arizona State legislators have awarded Navajo County Sheriff’s Office an additional $1.2 million to expand the school safety system to more of the schools, districts and law enforcement agencies throughout Navajo County. The statutory requirements of 41-1733 School Safety Interoperability Program require this system to enable multimedia data communications and establish instant direct collaboration with public safety agencies. The system must also allow the integration of panic alert buttons which automate 911 notifications, and push to talk mutual aid groups for instant collaboration, as well as sharing of floor plans and live video. In addition, the system must be certified by the US Department of Homeland Security Safety Act and compatible with the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Interoperable Gateway System for disaster communications. Mutualink, Inc. is the only company that meets and exceeds these technical requirements. Their patented technology integrates directly with disparate radio systems, leverages LTE broadband and creates on-demand push-to-talk interoperability for voice, video and data communications in an emergency while protecting student and staff privacy.
In addition, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office will gain access to the broader network of local, state and federal public safety agencies on the Mutualink Network, including agencies in Gila County, Mohave County, Pinal County, Greenlee County, Graham County and Yavapai County. Because of the cooperative nature of the project, public exigency exists to meet deadlines for hardware lead time and software deployment so that the region may train and exercise the capabilities of the system together in real time.
The board also approved the purchase of four International 10-wheel dump trucks, three with snow plows and cinder spreaders, from RWC Group in the amount of $1.4 million, replacing similar vehicles that have reached the end of useful life. Three of the vehicles being replaced range in age from 27 to 31 years of service and require high levels of maintenance, downtime and costs that are detrimental to fleet and road maintenance operations. The fourth one replaces a unit that has been totaled and is no longer in service. The snow plow and cinder spreader for this fourth unit is still intact and does not need to be replaced.
In other business the board:
* Authorized a board member election for the White Mountain Lake Special Road District and Timberland Acres Special Road District on March 14, 2023 and for White Mountain Summer Home Domestic Water Improvement District on May 16, 2023
* Approved fiscal year 22/23 fund transfers including $2.1 million from the General Fund into the Pension Contingency Reserve Fund and $3,101 from the General Fund into the Family Counseling Grant fund as a grant match. The transfer of $1.5 million from the Navajo County Employee Benefits Reserve into the Navajo County Employee Benefits Trust. Transfers including $1,812 from Immunization Services, $5,573 from Women Infant and Children, $1,054 from Teen Pregnancy Prevention, $11,096 from Child Care Health Consultant, $4,850 from Overdose Date in Action, $3,014 from MCH Healthy AZ Families, $7,822 from COVID 19 Health Disparities and $166 from Vaccination Equity Funding all to the Health District. Funds from the Health District including $15 into Environmental Health and $11,733 to Child Care Health Consultant. Funds from Smoke Free Arizona to Environmental Health in the amount of $6,900. Transfers from the Library District to the ARPA 2020 Library fund totaling $740.
* Authorized acceptance of a constables training grant in the amount of $2,200 for National Constables Training.
* Authorized acceptance of the Back Tax Land List and authorized publishing the notice of the same scheduling the 2022 Back Tax Land On-Line Auction to begin Jan. 16, 2023, through Jan. 23, 2023.
* Authorized an amendment to extend the contract with Arizona Motors Snowflake, Inc. and Show Low Ford for one additional year and setting the price and production year for 2023 vehicles.
* Approved an updated memorandum of understanding from the National Guard. The original MOU stated that the National Guard would treat county information after a cybersecurity review as exempted from public records request. This changed MOU states that once a cybersecurity review is complete and the results are received by the county, the National Guard will remove all county information from its systems.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement amendment regarding the sexually transmitted disease contract between the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Navajo County Public Health Services District (NCPHSD) to allow expenditures to personnel and employee related salary and/or employee related expenses (ERE).
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement amendment between ADHS and NPHSD to replace price sheet approved in the original contract. This contract allows public health nursing to provide HIV prevention services throughout the community. Allowable services include things such as HIV testing, counseling and referrals for treatment. It also allows for partner services and HIV surveillance. The original overall award amount is not changing but the amendment replaces the prior price sheet, allowing for dollars to be spent towards a portion of one public health nurse’s salary/ERE to compensate for their time spent on HIV activities and services.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between NCPHSD and ADHS for $1.6 million in federal funding to expand COVID-19 projects. Contracted backdated to May1, 2021 and contract end date is May 1, 2023. The contract was delayed in state procurement office. Funding allows for salary/ERE for staff performing COVID response activities and projects, training for public health staff to ensure a more well-prepared workforce, medical supplies/test kits, and other infectious disease related response expenses. Some of this work has been ongoing awaiting receipt of this contract from ADHS.
* Approved an award of contract B22-08-030 Legal Service for Public Defenders Office to the Law Office of Michael S. Penrod, PLLC effective Nov. 8. This is a one-year contract to provide legal services for the Navajo County Public Defenders Office with the option to renew up to four additional one-year terms with the concurrence of both parties.
* Proclaimed November 2022 as Native American Heritage Month.
Convening as the Board of Equalization, the board:
* Approved a petition for a review of Notice of Change regarding APN 201-13-006D & 201-13-006E, APN 201-13-006D & 201-13-006E, and APN 212-17-001B & 212-15-002E.
* Upheld the assessor’s decision regarding Petition for Review of Notice of Change APN 207-33-086.
