The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded $2.3 million from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance. This grant is designated for the continuation and expansion of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Communication Project.

Lt. Alden Whipple with the Sheriff’s Office spoke to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors during their meeting last week to speak about the grant. The need for these improvements was made very apparent to the county during a 911 outage that occurred four years prior, caused by a damaged fiber optic line. This outage left the county without critical communication capabilities for two to three days, prompting the Sheriff’s Office to seek solutions to prevent future disruptions.

In response to these challenges, the Sheriff’s Office engaged with state and federal officials, including Governor Doug Ducey’s office and Senator Mark Kelly’s office, to secure funding and support. Lt. Whipple detailed how the grant would be utilized to enhance interoperability among various law enforcement agencies within the county.

The funds are set to be used for upgrading existing radio systems, acquiring additional mobile and portable radios and enhancing computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems. “With the funding that we’ve already received and the funding that we’re now getting, we’re going to be able to benefit other entities and agencies in Navajo County,” Lieutenant Whipple stated, outlining the broader impact of the project.

A portion of the grant will be allocated to acquiring mobile cell phone towers that can be deployed rapidly during emergencies. These devices create a mile-wide communication bubble within minutes, ensuring that dispatchers can maintain reliable communication even in remote or affected areas. “We turn them on and within five minutes we have a mile wide cell phone bubble that all of our technology can operate off of, uh, out at these scenes for command posts and stuff like that,” Whipple told the board. This is critical for a county like Navajo County, which is the eighth largest county in the United States and doesn’t have coverage in all areas.

The expansion of radio sites is another critical component of the project. Currently operating with 10 radio sites, up from four years ago, the Sheriff’s Office plans to establish eight more sites to cover additional areas, including tribal regions. This expansion aims to ensure seamless communication across all jurisdictions within the county. Whipple communicated to the board that the Sheriff’s Office is in a much better position from a communications perspective than they were four years ago.

Enhancements to the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) system are also part of the grant’s objectives. These improvements will integrate geo-validation services, enabling dispatchers to identify the nearest available unit and determine the fastest route to an emergency. This not only improves response times but also enhances officer safety by providing real-time location tracking. “It’ll give dispatchers the ability to see where officers are, where the vehicles are, and also have the ability to do quickest routing 911 capabilities,” the presenter explained, emphasizing the operational benefits.

The board members expressed their support and appreciation for the Sheriff’s Office’s efforts in securing the grant. Board member Dawnafe Whitesinger commended the preparedness and vision of the Sheriff’s Office, stating, “As a citizen of Navajo County, I appreciate the preparedness and being able to understand maybe some of the deficiencies that the county has in communication and being able to be ready for those dollars.”

A public hearing was also held, centered around SBA Communications’ proposal to erect a 120-foot monopole communication tower east of Snowflake along the Concho Highway. While SBA Communications presented technical justifications for the tower to address coverage gaps, numerous residents voiced strong opposition based on their belief that it will impact their health as well as cited potential declines in property values. Cody Cooper, the county’s planning manager reminded the board, “the county doesn’t have the ability to review for health [as it relates to wireless towers] due to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. That power is solely vested with the FCC.” The supervisors, after deliberation, decided to table the resolution until the November meeting to allow for a more thorough examination of the additional data and concerns raised by the community.

In other business, the board:

* Approved past meeting minutes and reports from the superior court, constables and justice courts.

* Approved a contract with Johnson Walzer Associates, LLC for limited architectural services to build administrative building public service counters at a cost of $7,500.

* Approved a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the Pinetop Country Club Striping Improvements Project at a cost of $19,825.

* Approved a contract with Johnson Walzer Associates, LLC. for architectural services for the White Mountain Community Center Roofing Replacement Project at a cost of $18,000.

* Approved an amendment to the FY25 budget for the American Rescue Plan Act Funds and the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, amendment is administrative in nature and does not affect the budget set.

* Authorized submittal of the E-11 Environmental Assessment Checklist for the Community Development Block Grant for the Joseph City Pedestrian Improvements project.

* Approved the certification of fiscal year 2024 Fill the Gap revenue.

* Approved a memorandum of understanding between Northern Arizona Council of Governments, and Coconino, Mohave, Navajo and Yavapai counties for the purpose of documenting the roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in the Route 66 Brownfields Assessment Coalition.

* Approved applications for removal and abatement of taxes.

* Approved naming an existing unnamed road in the Linden / Show Low area as Peach Tree Lane.

* Approved a 90-day extension for a special use permit granted to Verizon for the Rainbow Lake Wireless Communications Facility.

* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the Navajo County Community College District and Navajo County on the continued operation of the Northeastern Law Enforcement Training Academy.

* Approved designating $12,400 from the Sheriff’s Office to pay a portion of the Victims’ Rights Program secretary salary.

* Approved a contract extension with Belt Law Firm for an additional year of public defender services.

* Approved poll workers and polling places for the general election and a polling location contingency plan.

* Authorized sympathy letters be sent out on behalf of the county.

* Approved a change order for the Clay Springs Community Center Roof Replacement Project that increases the prices of the project by $19,506.

* Amended two contracts with Arizona Department of Health Services to increase the annual cost of the WIC program from $473,640 to $559,519. All funding comes from the state to provide preventative tobacco services to the county.

*Approved a contract with Bruce Harris & Associates, Inc. to provide professional parcel mapping services at a cost of $806,118.

* Approved a liquor license application for Jonathan M. Neterer for MJ’s Hideaway located at 1896 Silver Lake Blvd., Show Low.

* Approved imposing a lien on the real property of John Phillip Borne in the amount of $1,463.40, to recover the costs to the county associated with the expenses of his indigent burial.

* Approved an amendment to allow for both the removal and addition of tracts, removal of pedestrian/equestrian easements, amending a waterline easement to a drainage easement, adding a private ingress, egress, and utility easement, and a lot line adjustment in the Cobblecreek Subdivision.

* Authorized receipt of a grant from the Arizona Department of Housing in the amount of $203,094 for the Joesph City Pedestrian Sidewalk Improvement Project.

* Approved a contract extension with Victory Heights Road Maintenance District for one additional year and no additional costs to the county.

The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the board chambers located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.