The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 14, during which the board made a proclamation recognizing the month of November as Operation Green Light Salute to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces.
“Too many of our veterans have fought wars for us overseas and when they come back, they have been changed. Usually in not the most positive ways,” said County Attorney Brad Carlyon, citing high suicide rates, substance use and criminal involvement among veterans. “In Navajo County, we are very good at helping to be intermediary to assist our veterans that reach out to any department in the county to let them know where they can get help.” Residents and local businesses are encouraged to participate and show support by displaying green lights from Nov. 4-11.
The board honored recent retirees Lynda Wilson and Deputy Vincent Palazzolo. Wilson worked for the county’s probation department for over 18 years. Wilson was acknowledged by Deputy Chief Probation Officer Jason Cash, who praised her work in both juvenile and adult probation, stating “She’s helped literally thousands of people change their lives. I think it’s impossible to quantify the good Linda has done in our community.”
Palazzolo was thanked for his 12 years of service for the county as well. “He had a career of service,” stated Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse, commending his work in the sheriff’s office in training and managing the county’s search and rescue team. “On behalf of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens you proudly serve, I want to extend my deepest gratitude and congratulations on your retirement. Your 12 years of dedicated service, including 10 as a full-time deputy and two years as reserve deputy.”
In other business, the board:
* Approved Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission BYRNE grant certifications and assurances, which is post-award document certifying and assuring that the county is adhering to federal grant requirements.
* Approved certification of FY 2025 Fill the Gap Revenue.
* Approved an award from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for DUI/impaired driving enforcement overtime and employee-related expenses for the purpose of impaired driving enforcement in the amount of $24,000.
* Approved of award of funds from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in the amount of $11,000 for the purpose of overtime and employee related expenses to the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program.
* Approved contracts signed by County Manager Bryan Layton pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: Contracts for Professional Services with indigent defense attorneys Gavin O’Connor, Joseph Finch and Lee Phillips.
* Approved contracts signed by the county manager/assistant county manager pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: Sentinel Technologies, Inc. contract for Meraki AP’s and Netsync contract for Smartnet renewal. The contract with Sentinel Technologies Inc. for Meraki AP’s is for the purchase of Wireless Access Point hardware to be installed in the Taylor Code Enforcement building, as well as extended support and licensing. The contract with Netsync is for the renewal of existing Cisco support and feature licensing on the Middle-Mile Fiber Network routers.
* Approved engagement letter for the FY 2025 audit.
* Approved the acceptance of the Back Tax Land list and authorization to publish the notice scheduling the 2025 Back Tax Land On-Line Auction to begin Jan. 19 through Jan. 26, 2026.
* Approved the acceptance of the surplus and seized vehicle and equipment list and authorization to publish the notice of the same scheduling the Public Surplus online auction for surplus and seized vehicles and equipment on Oct. 27 through Nov. 3.
* Approved the release of property damage claim on three claims against Navajo County: Patricia Sweet, $1,000; Kaya Rose, $2,022; and Charlotte Yazzie, $275.
* Approved personnel policy update for the sabbatical leave policy addition.
* Approved an amendment to the contract with Show Low Ford for the Vehicle Replacement Plan, extending the contract one additional year to Oct. 21, 2026, and add pricing for the new model vehicles.
* Approved the purchase of Security Operations Center and Identity Protection Services from CrowdStrike in the amount of $86,291. The purchase will increase the oversight of Navajo County’s computer-based resources and improve response times to mitigate any cyber intrusion incidents.
* Approved the four-year plan for ARIZONA@WORK Northeastern Arizona to complete board recertification. This is a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requirement.
* Approved the 2025-2028 ARIZONA@WORK Local Workforce Development Board Memorandum of Understanding/Infrastructure Agreement for all local partners of workforce. Approving this document completes one of the last steps to board recertification.
* Approved board recertification for ARIZONA@WORK Northeastern Arizona Local Workforce Development Board. Recertification is a year behind. However, the team has completed and submitted to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity all forms for recertification. Recertification has been approved by the Local Workforce Development Board. This is the last step before request for approval by the Arizona Workforce Advisory Council.
* Approved sympathy letters for Kymberle O’Farrell, Bencita Bowman, Ivy McCullough, Heather Grigg, Marie Hayes, Julius Ohlson, Mindy Ohlson and Honorable Herman Daniels.
* Approved the county proposal to transfer ownership of the Clay Springs Community Center to the Clay Springs Heritage Foundation (CSHF), an Arizona non-profit, for $1. The CSHF assumes all current and future liability associated with the building and agrees that it must continue to be used for the same purpose it currently is used for at least five years to maintain compliance with Community Block Development Grant requirements. The Show Low Unified School District Board voted on Sept. 11 to not exercise its Right of First Refusal on the property.
Convening as the Navajo County Jail District, the board:
* Approved Inmate Food Services contract amendment extending the contract with Trinity Services Group, Inc. for one additional year to Nov. 3, 2026, and implementing the second year pricing per the contractor’s proposal effective Nov. 4.
Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:
* Approved the termination of contract between Navajo County Public Health Service District, Animal Care & Control, and Pet Allies. The agreement required the contractor to reserve a designated number of kennel spaces each month at a rate of $1,200. The contractor did not consistently maintain the required number of spaces, which has limited the county’s ability to meet service needs as intended under the agreement.
* Approved the Tuberculosis Control Grant contract amendment between Navajo County Public Health Service District and the Arizona Department of Health Services to change the supplier ID on the contract.
* Approved a grant agreement between the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and Navajo County Public Health Services District in the amount of $13,732 for the car seat safety program. Through these resources, the county has built new community partnerships, increased class referrals, purchased car seats for qualifying families and ensured residents complete safety training with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. When a child requires a different seat or does not have one, this funding enables the county to provide it, removing financial barriers for families in need. In a county where poverty rates are high and motor vehicle crashes continue to claim young lives due to lack of restraint or improper use, this program is truly lifesaving.
* Approved contracts signed by County Manager Layton pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: Amendment to the Healthy Forest Initiative Project 22-323. Navajo County Emergency Management is working with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management to complete the Healthy Forest Initiative project 22-323 in a timely and efficient manner. To maximize the award, Navajo County requested to change some of the properties originally listed as many property owners are no longer interested in the program, have sold the property, or have completed the work without grant funds.
