In an important announcement during last week’s meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors, Bryan Layton was introduced as the newly appointed county manager. This decision followed an extensive search process that spanned several months and involved multiple rounds of interviews with highly qualified candidates.
Layton’s previous role as the assistant Navajo County manager positions him well for the placement, bringing a wealth of experience and familiarity with Navajo County’s operations and priorities. The selection of Layton marks a significant milestone for the county’s leadership, setting the stage for continued progress and effective governance. The details of Layton’s contract were not available as of press time.
Another notable development discussed during the meeting was Navajo County’s successful grant application for the Affordable Connectivity Outreach grant from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This achievement has paved the way for the establishment of the Navajo County Digital Inclusion Program, which aims to address the issue of affordable broadband access for low-income households in the county.
With a grant award of $215,140, the program will engage in targeted outreach to increase awareness and participation among eligible households. By leveraging federal financial assistance through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Outreach Grant Program, Navajo County is taking proactive steps to bridge the digital divide within its communities.
To ensure the success of the Digital Inclusion Program, the Navajo County Library District has proposed a comprehensive approach by creating a grant-funded position known as the Digital Navigator. This role will collaborate with 10 public libraries in rural and tribal communities to provide digital inclusion services and resources. The program’s primary objective is to enhance computer literacy skills among the target population, which includes seniors, low-income families, and tribal members. Train-the-trainer workshops, computer literacy workshops, and community forums will be conducted to empower county residents in adapting to a post-pandemic society. The program will utilize a hybrid model, combining both in-person and online elements to cater to the changing circumstances of the community.
The grant funding received will cover various aspects, including the salary and fringe benefits of a full-time Digital Navigator, program management, capacity building, and data collection and analysis. Notably, Navajo County is not required to contribute any cost-sharing or matching funds. The grant period extends until March 2025, allowing the County Library District ample time to execute the planned initiatives and make substantial progress in closing the digital divide.
During the meeting, Jayson Vowell and Nicolas from the Auditor General’s Office presented a series of audits conducted on the county. The audits yielded a certified clean report, signifying the county’s trustworthy financial information. It was revealed that Navajo County’s net position has shown consistent growth since 2018, indicating that revenue has consistently exceeded spending—a positive financial trend for the county.
However, the audits also identified four financial statement findings and recommendations for improvement. Firstly, the county’s financial staff had not established written policies and procedures for creating accurate and compliant financial statements according to state and federal standards. The recommendation was to develop these policies and procedures, with notable improvements already made since similar recommendations were issued in 2021.
Additionally, inadequate record-keeping for $35,000 of public funds spent on fuel for county vehicles was identified. The recommendation emphasized implementing better mileage tracking systems and ensuring that county employees do not use personal bank accounts for purchasing fuel, even for county-related purposes.
Another finding highlighted the county’s failure to provide a proposal for spending forest service schools and road cluster funds to its resource advisor and the public within the required 45-day comment period. To address this, the recommendation was to establish written policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the comment period requirement.
Lastly, it was discovered that the county had spent $25,761 from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for unapproved purposes. These expenses were allocated to a third-party nonprofit organization. However, although the nonprofit was supposed to pay those funds and then request reimbursement, instead the invoices were passed directly to the county and then paid. The recommendation called for tightening procedures in accounts payable, including detailed instructions for initiating new vendors, paying only necessary and reasonable costs, verifying all invoices addressed to the county, establishing clear contractual agreements, and collaborating with the state to potentially return unallowable expenditures. The auditors said this is unlikely to happen again on account of the nonprofit being disbanded in 2022.
In other business, in addition to approving meeting minutes and reports the board:
* Approved the use of the southwest corner of the Navajo County Complex for the annual community Fourth of July fireworks display.
* Approved a Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Pension funding policy at a cost to the county of approximately $29.4 million dollars over 20 years.
* Approved a diversion fee schedule for behavioral health services as part of the diversion program offered by the Navajo County Attorney’s Office. The office recently added a new Juvenile Deflection Program that includes fees as well as modified the office’s Misdemeanor Diversion Program fees. The fees include behavioral health screenings at $33.21; individual counseling and therapy at $30.38 per 15 minutes; group counseling and therapy ranging from $10.46 to $29.78 per 15 minutes; behavioral health prevention education service at $11.87; mental health assessment by non-physician at $232.50 per 30-minute increments; self-help/peer services ranging from $4.83 to $18.24 per 15 minutes; crisis intervention services at $52.11 per 15 minutes; skills training and development ranging from $4.56 to $21.29 per 15 minutes; peer support- extended at $394.68; ongoing support to maintain employment ranging from $3.42 to $15.18 per 15 minutes; pre-job training education and development at $21.72; family support at $25.83; RN services at $29.10 per 15 minutes; Licensed vocational nurses and licensed practical nurses services at $22.91 per 15 minutes; behavioral therapy case management at $20.54 per 15 minutes; and BHP case management at $29.16 per 15 minutes.
*Authorized Jayson Vowell to submit the annual expenditure limitation report for year ended June 30, 2024.
* Authorized the placement of a memorial bench to be installed on a permanent basis at the Tall Timbers Park in Heber-Overgaard. The request was made by the Heber Overgaard Chamber of Commerce.
* Approved a resolution to accept grant funding from the Gila River Indian Community for a Type 6 firefighting vehicle for the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District.
* Approved request from Show Low Youth Foundation for $2,500 in anti-racketeering rotating funds account to support youth activities in Show Low for the purpose of keeping young people alcohol and drug free.
Approved an agreement with the Brewer Law Office to provide Legal Services (Pinetop Justice Court) for the Navajo County Public Defenders Office. On Dec. 13, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved Amendment No. 1 extending this contract one additional year (Jan. 11, 2023 through Jan. 10, 2024). Amendment No. 2 increases the not-to-exceed sum of $1,000 per month to a not-to-exceed sum of $2,000 per month.
* Approved an agreement between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Arizona Department of Administration Office of Grants and Federal Resources. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office for payment of 9-1-1 related expenditures in the revised amount of $255,796.
* Approved contract for professional services with Johnson Walzer Associates for Heber-Overgaard Sheriff substation addition for $7,000.
*Approved Navajo County Accommodation District’s lease agreement with Navajo County Probation Department for a field office and hub facility for $36,000 for one year.
* Approved extension of termination date to June 30, 2024, for the revolving credit agreement between the county and Wells Fargo Bank.
* Approved bid from All Custom Exteriors to replace the roof portion of the Holbrook old courthouse building addition at a cost of $6,850.
*Approved bid from Fox Insulation to install insulation in the new elections’ warehouse at a cost of $12,735.
* Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the county’s community college district and the Northeastern Arizona Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) to cross train Adult Education Learning Assistants. The Northeastern Arizona Local Workforce Development Board agrees to pay up to 10 hours per week of the salary and employee related benefits for the position of Learning Assistant/Workforce Specialist, not to exceed $10,000 per employee for the Program Year 2023/Fiscal Year 2024 contract year, with Northland Pioneer College paying the balance of the salary and employee related benefits.
* Acceptance of the resignations of the following LWDB members: Neil Traver, Gail Campbell, Gary Moore, Connie Kakavas, Melissa Buzan, and the late John Sorenson.
*Appointed Bryan Layton and Stephanie McCarthy to be Navajo County Representatives for LWDB membership with voting rights.
* Approved 30-day extension of One Stop Operator Agreement, a role that oversees the One Stop Workforce Delivery system for the LWDB, because the director is currently out of the country for a month.
* Approved Memorandum of Understanding with LWDB and ARIZONA@WORK for job center and affiliate site, the total cost is $66,296 which is shared amongst the three members of the agreement.
*Approved a Memorandum of Agreement between Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc.- Workforce Solutions and The Northeastern Arizona Local & Workforce Development Board to provide for a subcontract/relationship between CPLC and NEAZLWDB to provide ARIZONA@WORK Northeastern Arizona Adult, Dislocated and Youth Workforce services for Title 1B participants in an amount not to exceed $775,000 for services for fiscal year 2023-24.
* Approve a 30-day extension of the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding, for the Infrastructure Agreement as the agreement is still in the partner review/approval process with Title 1B Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act Program. This is the agreement that allows all to work together and share common costs between the programs.
* Approved contract with Little Colorado Medical Center for x-ray services for those at risk of tuberculosis infection, the cost of each x-ray will not exceed $75.
* Approved intergovernmental agreement between the county and Arizona Department of Health Services in the amount of $229,907 for support with Public Health Emergency Preparedness.
* Approved cooperative agreement between the county and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management for wildfire management resources, the costs of which will be reimbursed under the Federal Emergency Management Agency Fire Management Assistance Grant.
* Approved the final fiscal year 2023-24 budgets for the following districts and entities: Navajo County Public Health Services District, Navajo County Library District, Navajo County Flood Control District including LCR Flood Control Zone, White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement District, Silver Creek County Road Improvement District, Victory Heights Road Maintenance District, Porter Mountain Domestic Water Improvement District, Fawnbrook Domestic Water Improvement District, Joseph City Street Lighting Improvement District, Navajo County Jail District, Timberland Acres Special Road District, White Mountain Lakes #2 Special Road District, and Silver Creek Flood Protection District.
* Held a public hearing for the Truth in Taxation with no public comment and no change to property tax rates from the prior year.
* Accepted Arizona Broadband Development Grant agreement between Arizona Commerce Authority and Navajo County and accepting a grant award of $9.7 million for the county’s middle-mile broadband infrastructure project with local match of $9 million.
* Approved contract with HDR Engineering Inc. in the amount of $133,904. for engineering consultant services to prepare a priority planning and development program for the county’s infrastructure projects, such as drainage, flood control, roadway, traffic, geotech, and bridge projects.
* Approved contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for Concho highway design for $90,022.
* Approved an amendment to the pavement markings contract with Arizona Lines, Inc., extending the contract one additional year.
The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11, in the board chambers located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
