The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, during which the board recognized outgoing elected officials Superior Court Judge Dale Nielson and Recorder Mike Sample.
“These two men have absolutely gone above and beyond to serve the people they represent,” stated Chair Jason Whiting, “It’s an honor to be able to recognize today.”
Sample also spoke, stating “It’s been a pleasure and an honor to be able to work for Navajo County and serve the constituents in the recorders officer for the last four years and also in the Clerk of the Courts office for 10 years prior to that.”
A presentation on Nielson’s nearly 40 years of service was then provided by Judge Michala Ruechel. Nielson began working for the county in 1985 as a juvenile probation officer in Winslow. After completing his law degree, he began his work at the county once again as a deputy county attorney. Nielson worked as a prosecutor, then a Navajo County legal defender. He was later elected to the Navajo County Superior Court and was appointed to the position of presiding judge of the Navajo County court system in Jan. of 2003.
“I have appreciated very much the opportunity to serve in the county as a judge, as a prosecutor, as a defense attorney, as a probation officer. I’ve done just about everything,” Nielson said, “I’ve worked with some wonderful people.”
The board also recognized outgoing officials Assessor Cammy Darris and Treasurer Kari Lopez.
The board received presentations on the 2024 Public Health Employee of the Year Cheryl Waters and county employee’s Julius Ohlson in the Facilities Department and Brandon Andrews in Public Works. Other county employees were awarded for their longevity at the county as well.
The board approved a special use permit to allow for construction and operation of a 199-foot self-support lattice tower and associated facilities, located on 372.64 acres north of Winslow. For the project titled Henley Wireless Communication Facility, District II owned by Gene Hancock.
The board also approved a special use permit to allow for the construction of an event barn, and operation as an event venue for groups of up to 125 people on approximately 5.02 acres in the Pinedale area. A group of residents that live near the proposed site spoke in opposition, to which the board added several stipulations to the approval of the permit.
The presentation to Navajo County Deputy Attorney Joel Ruechel to celebrate his retirement was tabled to a later date.
In other business, the board:
* Authorized acknowledging receipt of the complete Real Property Assessment Roll of Navajo County for the Tax Year 2025 and directed the clerk to accept it for filing.
* Approved annual cost allocation billing. Each special district will be invoiced for their cost allocation. A cost study was prepared by the consulting firm MGT Consulting Group. This report was based on their FY23/24 Cost Allocation Plan, on suggested invoicing costs for the coming year for each special district.
* Approved justices of the peace B.J. Little, Hunter Lewis, Scott Tipton, Robert Higgins, Krista Wilkinson, Susie Nelson, Justices of the peace pro tempore Kathy Swietanski, Rae Lynn Atencio, Jessica Ruddy, Tiffany Hendrickson, Yvonne Hunt, Anna Lesperance. and Pam Turley as juvenile hearing officers to serve in the calendar year 2025.
* Approved the appointment of Michael Penrod as judge pro tempore to serve in the Superior Court in Navajo County for a term beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2025.
* Approved a letter of endorsement to Wecom, LLC doing business as Wecom Fiber for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is including local government letters of support in the scoring criteria for their upcoming competitive process to select the best Internet Service Provider’s (ISP’s) to receive BEAD funds to build and provide broadband services to the unserved and underserved residents of Arizona. Navajo County, along with the cities of Show Low, Holbrook, Winslow and the towns of Pinetop-Lakeside, Snowflake, Taylor, and Northland Pioneer College formed a BEAD Task force for the purpose of assuring county-wide regional success of this program. Navajo County, on behalf of the Task Force, conducted this solicitation open to all ISP’s to present why their firm should be considered as the preferred ISP to build and provide service within Navajo County. The successful ISP or ISP’s most aligned with the county and task force vision and best prepared to successfully deliver on the BEAD program would receive a letter of endorsement for their BEAD application to the ACA.
* Approved an amendment to the Task 1 Pavement Management Program contract. The program is to provide additional documentation and reporting of the counties existing pavement condition. Additional scope of work includes evaluating and processing pavement management strategies. This amendment will increase the contract an additional amount not to exceed $21,866 for a total contract price of $155,771.
* Approved an amendment to the Website Development, Hosting and Maintenance Contract with CivicPlus, LLC to extend the contract term one additional year and increasing the annual billable rates to 3%. Funds are budgeted in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget.
* Approved an amendment to a contract with Jeffery Millett, SEI Real Estate Professionals for professional real estate services to extend the contract for an additional year.
* Approved certification of the E-12 request for release of funds for the Joseph City Pedestrian Improvement Project. Navajo County received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the Joseph City Pedestrian Improvements project. As part of the CDBG, the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) needs the E-12 Form to be signed by the certifying officer of the responsible entity prior to the release of any funding. By signing this document, it will allow the release of the funds.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Snowflake Taylor Police Department to improve and expand its dispatching radio and communication coverage and capabilities by installing new radio equipment on the radio site and shelter located at the Snowflake water tanks. Snowflake Taylor Police Department agreed to lease the space within the shelter and at the site at the rate of $75 per month, or $900 per year. The term of this IGA shall be from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025, renewable from year to year for an indefinite number of renewal terms.
* Approved a third amendment/addendum to existing agreement between Smith Bagley Inc. doing business as CellularOne of Northeast Arizona and Navajo County to activate a location, the Snowflake water tanks, to the existing agreement. This will help to improve communications coverage. Monthly recurring costs of $50 will be added to the current plan as well as a non-recurring charge of $3,600 which will be due on the service date of this agreement.
* Approved an agreement between Navajo County and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security for cybersecurity products to assist in protecting the Navajo County network.
* Approved a task agreement to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Bureau of Indian Affairs Department of Transportation (BIA)-Navajo Region and Navajo County for the continued funding support of two Navajo County Road Maintenance Equipment Operator.
* Approved contracts signed by County Manager Bryan Layton pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: Contract Amendment Number 2 for professional services agreement with Painted Sky for the Full House Lane Culvert Design; Contract Amendment Number 1 for professional services for the On-Call Traffic Engineering Services; and professional services contract with Speedie & Associates, LLC for construction materials testing and special inspections, code enforcement facility for an estimated project total of $21,845.
* Approved Amendment No. 4 to contract with eX2 Technology, LLC for the design, construction, maintenance and marketing of fiber optic infrastructure to expand the scope of work and increase the contract amount to design and construct the infrastructure needed to connect 13 county-owned facilities to the middle-mile backbone in the amount of $463,570. This item is budgeted in the general fund.
* Approved and accepted a special use permit from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service for the county to use or occupy National Forest system lands in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Broadband Infrastructure Development Project.
* Approved a sympathy letter for Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai.
* Approved personnel policy update for travel policy. This update outlines meal rates for same day travel, and better clarifies the process.
* Approved FY25 budget amendments for the general fund. Budget amendments for reorganization between the county assessor and information technology department, also recognizing additional funding available from the state for reimbursements for the Elections Department.
* Convening as the Navajo County Jail District, the board approved awarding a contract to Wexford Health Services, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $163,054 for Phase I for the Navajo County Jail Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) received a grant from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission dedicated to developing a residential substance use treatment program within the Navajo County Jail that reduces recidivism, improves outcomes for individuals re-entering the community and addresses substance use challenges experienced by individuals experiencing incarceration. To support NCSO jail operations, the grant aims to connect recently incarcerated individuals whom relevant assessments have identified as needing behavioral health interventions for substance use disorders with services offered through a qualified vendor.
* Convening as the Navajo County Flood Control District, the board approved contracts signed by county manager pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: agreement between Navajo County Flood Control District and Ironside Engineering & Development, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $18,800, for consulting and professional services for Pond Road drainage improvements and contract for professional services with Kimley-Horn and Associations Inc., for Woodruff Drainage Evaluation Phase 2.
Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:
* Approved the Opioid Settlement Grant Funding Agreement between Navajo County and Hushabye Nursery, which lays out terms to fund Hushabye Nursery with a one-time $50,000 payment from Opioid Settlement Funding for their project proposal was previously approved.
* Opioid Settlement Grant Funding Agreement between Navajo County and Friends of Navajo County Anti-Drug Coalition Inc., also known as NEXUS Drug Coalition, with a one-time $50,000 payment from Opioid Settlement Funding for their project proposal was previously approved.
* Approved a memorandum of understanding between Navajo County and Navajo County Public Health Services District for Opioid Settlement Funding for the “We Can Save Lives” Naloxone distribution and data collection project. Funding agreement outlining terms and conditions to fund Navajo County Public Health Services District with $100,000 annually for a three-year period (total not to exceed $300,000) payment from Opioid Settlement Funding for their project proposal that was brought before the board and passed at the Nov. 22 meeting.
* Approved an agreement between Navajo County and Navajo County Attorney’s Office outlining terms and conditions to fund Opioid Town Hall Project with Opioid Settlement Funding.
* Approved an MOU between Navajo County and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) outlining the terms and conditions of Opioid Settlement Funding for the Re-Entry Project including a one-time payment of $2,500.
* Approved an MOU between Navajo County and Show Low Police Department outlining the terms of Opioid Settlement Funding disbursement in the amount of $23,550.
* Approved the 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant award in the amount of $271,634 to Navajo County Emergency Management. Emergency Management will utilize these funds to foster community preparedness and resilience for all citizens, stakeholders and staff.
