The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 22. During call to the public, Grand Canyon Trust Water Advocacy Manager Michellesey Benally addressed the board to share what she called, “relevant updates on recent legislative developments on rural groundwater management that may impact our region.”
Benally discussed Senate Bills 1520 and 1425, which pertain to basin and groundwater management.
Bill 1520 creates a framework for Basin Management Areas (BMAs) in certain Arizona basins. It establishes councils, public engagement and groundwater management procedures.
Bill 1425 also updates Arizona’s groundwater laws by introducing new definitions and updating requirements for rural groundwater management areas. It also requires enhanced transparency and accountability regarding groundwater management.
“While these legislative efforts focus on southern and western Arizona, initial designation excludes plateau aquifers like here in Navajo County, leaving us without management options should groundwater challenges arise in Northern Arizona.” She noted the direction of local governance in these bills as promising but hopes for representation of rural communities in Northern Arizona in the future. “As these discussions evolve, I encourage the board to be engaged and advocate for inclusive, flexible tools that can address our county’s future groundwater challenges.”
Benally then invited the board to attend the Rural Groundwater Resilience Workshop, hosted by Arizona State University’s Arizona Water Innovation Initiative and Impact Water Arizona. The workshop will be focused on the Little Colorado River Plateau and be held on June 18.
Since Benally spoke during call to the public, the board was not allowed to respond or ask questions but can ask that the item be added to a future agenda for discussion.
The board adopted two proclamations. One declaring the week of May 11-17 as National Police Week in Navajo County and the second declaring May 4-10 as National Correctional Officers Week in Navajo County in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our county and citizens safe. Navajo County residents are invited to attend a ceremony at 6 p.m. May 15 at Show Low City Hall to honor those who died in the line of duty within the county.
In the absence of Supervisor Daryl Seymour, the board:
* Approved tax exemptions filed as a request for redemption of waiver.
* Approved a one-year agreement utilizing Graham County’s cooperative contract to provide banking services to the county with the option to renew for two one-year terms. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. has held the county banking services contract for the past 10 years.
* Passed a resolution approving the Family Counseling Grant budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding of $11,692, with $2,923 in matching funds for a total of $14,615. This is a renewable grant that has been established for over thirty years which pays juvenile counseling for families.
* Approved all properties sold as auctioned on the back tax land online auction and allowed the Clerk of the Board to sell the unsold properties over the counter for the amount due. At the close of the auction, 130 parcels were sold for a total amount of $215,761.
* Approved FY 2024 fund transfers.
* Passed a resolution supporting the Heber-Overgaard Community Food Bank to apply for the 2025 Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation grant opportunity.
* Approved and accepted the FY 2025 Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence (ACESDV) Delta Grant memorandum of understanding. ACESDV and the Navajo County Sexual Assault Response Team will adhere to the Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances: Achieving Health Equity through Addressing Disparities protocol, attend regular training, cross-share and meet monthly for case reviews. ACESDV will compensate Navajo County the $2,000 for the participation of the Victim Services Director, Roxanne Pergeson on the grant program.
* Passed a resolution approving the acceptance of a grant award from the Arizona State Parks Board for Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Law Enforcement and Education Program. This funding will provide for $250,000 in equipment and staffing for OHV law enforcement patrols and education in the State Trust Lands and USFS lands and roads within Navajo, Apache, and Coconino Counties. The grant requires a 10% match, which can be met in existing equipment use and staff time, causing no impact on the NCSO budget. Once the resolution is passed, NCSO will be provided with the grant award agreement which will be presented to the Board of Supervisors.
* Approved the application for Treasurer’s Deed for the Board of Supervisors on behalf of the state. Title searches must be performed on each parcel and each owner must be served with a certified notice. If redemption is not made by law before Aug. 15, the parcels will then be deeded to the State of Arizona and turned over to the Board of Supervisors for auction. Lawyers Title came in with the lowest bid amount of $115 per tax parcel number, which includes an individual limited title report for each tax parcel. Approximately $27,000 to be used for limited title reports conducted by Lawyers Title.
* Approved of the Guardrail Installation, Repair and Supplies contract amendment to extend the contract with Brown and White, Inc. for one additional year from May 28-May 27, 2026. Funds are budgeted in the FY 2025 and 2026 budget under road maintenance.
* Approved contracts signed by County Manager Bryan Layton pursuant to Board of Supervisors resolution: NEOGOV SparkHire contract for $15,567. SparkHire Video Interviewing is a recorded video interview service which will integrate with the county’s existing NEOGOV recruitment processes.
* Passed a resolution authorizing staff to request FY 2026 congressionally directed spending funds for the Navajo County fairgrounds facility renovation. The offices of senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego are accepting requests from Arizona stakeholders for items to be included in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills. In partnerships with community stakeholders, including the Navajo County Fair, Inc. in Holbrook and local municipalities, the county plans to request $3 million from FY 2026 CDS funds for conducting the much-needed facility renovation, increasing the fairgrounds’ safety and longevity and ensuring compliance with fire codes.
* Approved sympathy letters for Representative Myron Tsosie, Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai, Clifton Foster, and Dale and William Flake.
* Awarded PAP, LLC. the contract for a pavement reconstruction project located in the Starlight Ridge Estates subdivision in District-V of the Navajo County for nearly $1.2 million. Four bids were received and PAP, LLC was the lowest responsible, responsive bidder. Funds are budgeted in FY 2025/2026 under the capital improvement projects.
* Approved consideration of attachment D to The Navajo Nation Intergovernmental Agreement for assistance with roadway maintenance materials for the N8065 Road Maintenance Project for $99,952. N8065 is an unpaved roadway which provides access to the Chapter House, businesses and residents, school and other road users. District 1 Special Road Funds/Navajo Nation funds will be used to purchase the materials for this project.
