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The Navajo County Board of Supervisors approved a change in jail fees in their meeting last week. In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes, the costs of incarceration of an individual charged in a municipal court shall be paid by the city or town in which the charges are filed.
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At the start of the fiscal year, July 1, those fees were increased upon each municipality to offset shortages at the county level. However, according to Sheriff David Clouse, “With the approval of voters to establish a jail district, the fees should revert to the pre-July amounts until the jail district takes effect in January of 2020.”
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The reduction in jail fees will apply to municipalities for the months of October, November and December. Once the tax begins being collected, jail usage fees can no longer be charged to the individual cities and towns.
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The estimated savings noted by county officials during the town halls held for the jail tax stated that the City of Holbrook will be saving approximately $184,000 per year, or nearly $4 million over 20 years; the City of Winslow will save approximately $328,000 a year, or $6.5 million over the 20-year term of the tax; and the towns of Snowflake and Taylor will save approximately $41,310 annually, or $826,200 over the 20-year term. The tax will not be in effect on the Navajo Nation.
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In other business, the board recognized many employees for their long-term service to Navajo County. Sheena Valdez, Adult Probation, 20 years; Maria Nevarez, Adult Probation, 15 years; Tony Peterson, Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, 10 years; Thomas Scott Peterson, Sheriff’s Office, 10 years; and Katelyn Fawcett, Sheriff’s Office, five years.
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Lea Peterson also recognized Kelley Dowdle of court administration and Mark Lamb of Public Works for their excellence in personal performance exceeding organization expectations.
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In other business, the board:
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* Approved a funding agreement between the Arizona Department of Housing and Navajo County for Snowflake water system improvements. The county was granted $242,369 by a federal Community Block Development Grant program.
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* Approved 10 back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $4,669.
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* Approved an extension of premises for American Legion Post No. 86 for Sept. 27-29 for the Riders Freedom Gathering.
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* Approved a Governor’s Office of Highway Safety contract awarding $25,630 for DUI task force overtime and supplies for the Sheriff’s Office.
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* Approved a Governor’s Office of Highway Safety contract in the amount of $11,041 for radars for patrol vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office.
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* Amended social media services to include a content calendar.
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* Approved an application for a supervised firework display permit submitted by the Heber-Overgaard Chamber of Commerce.
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* Approved a contract with Paul Watson for consultation services. Watson will be retiring from his position as Economic Development Director on Oct. 18. This contract will pay Watson $4,000 for consulting services for a term of six months.
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* Approved the purchase of two International 10-wheel dump trucks with snowplows and cinder spreaders from RWC Group in the amount of $537,455.
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* Approved the attachment of funding in the amount of $35,000 for aggregate and material to an existing intergovernmental agreement between the Navajo Nation and Navajo County to repair roads in Whitecone.
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* Approved an application for a liquor license submitted by Ofelia Lange for Sophie’s Mini Mart in Sun Valley.
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* Adopted a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Navajo County.
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* Heard a presentation of the White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement District.
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The board went into executive session for an update from the board’s legal counsel regarding a case titled Navajo Nation et., al. v. Katie Hobbs, et. Al. There was no discussion on the matter after reconvening.
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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.
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