Contract approved to aid inmates struggling with opioid addiction

At Navajo County Jail, over a three-week period, 30 inmates identified as opioid users and 14 of those inmates indicated that they have overdosed at least once. The COPE program will be offered to inmates who meet certain criteria and volunteer to enroll in the program.

The board accepted the resignation of Pamela Phillips as the Public Fiduciary Director and appointment of Eileen Rogers as the new Public Fiduciary Director, effective July 1. Phillips worked with the county attorney for over 19 years and stated she was grateful for the opportunity she has had to serve those in need in the county. “I’d like to thank the board for the opportunity to serve as a Navajo County Public Fiduciary for the past three and a half years,” stated Phillips, “It’s been such an honor and a privilege to have this job.”

Rogers has worked for the county for over 30 years, with 22 of them in the fiduciary department and 19 as a case manager. She was the Public Fiduciary Deputy Director since January 2022. “Her experience, knowledge, expertise, compassion and empathy that she shows her clients is what I think is really needed to be the Public Fiduciary,” said Phillips.

The board entered executive session to review the proposed settlement agreement in property tax appeal, Wal-Mart versus Navajo County and Maricopa County. Wal-Mart appealed its property tax valuation for tax year 2024 on its store located in Taylor. The property currently had a full cash value for 2025 of $11.1 million and a limited value of $9.4 million. The parties are proposing a settlement, subject to court approval. Following the executive session, the board approved the proposed settlement agreement with no mention of the amount.

Following the regular meeting, the board held a work session to review and discuss the draft of the proposed budget and a list of recommended improvements.

In other business, the board:

* Approved a contract amendment for an extension with Advent Financial Systems, LLC for the Juvenile Diversion Program. for approximately 8.5 months and modifying the contract pricing effective July 1.

* Approved an engineering consultant contract amendment for an extension with HDR Engineering, Inc. for six additional months. This is a budgeted service for Fiscal Year 2025-26.

* Approved of a letter to Institutional Capital Management, Inc. approving the change of authorized agents to the Navajo County Schwab account.

* Approved the reissuance of stale dated checks that have been outstanding or a year or more.

* Approved a certificate of removal and abatement purging record of tax, penalty and interest on personal property taxes.

* Approved the award of the annual newspaper advertising and printing contract to Painted Desert Media Group, LLC dba The Tribune. Two bids were received and Painted Desert Media Group, LLC., dba The Tribune was the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, with a bid of $4.50 per column inch.

* Approved to conduct a special election for one board member for Holbrook Unified School District No. 3 on Nov. 4. HUSD ward boundaries have recently been redrawn. As Ward 3 has a vacant seat, in cooperation with HUSD, the County Superintendent’s Office has found it prudent to hold a special election in order to fill the vacancy rather than appoint a governing board member. This will allow voters that reside in Ward 3 to elect a board member of their choosing. The Recorders/Elections Office has provided a quote of $3,140 to conduct an election by mail for HUSD Ward 3 only. HUSD has verbally confirmed that they will pay for the cost of the election.

* Approved an agreement with Navajo County Community College District dba Northland Pioneer College (NPC), Northeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (NALETA) at Northeast Arizona Training Center (NATC), Navajo County, Show Low, Taylor, Snowflake, Pinetop-Lakeside, Holbrook, Winslow, Eagar, Springerville, Apache County and the White Mountain Apache Tribe (Member Agencies) to provide Northeastern Arizona with a police academy called NALETA that can provide certified AZPOST training to students. NPC shall compensate the member agency employing the class supervisor $50,000 per fiscal year, with member agencies contributing an annual payment of $10,000 to the NATC. Non-member agencies shall pay $4,000 per student for attendance of recruits and $2,500 annually for access to the NALETA facility at NATC. This agreement shall be effective from July 1 and continue through June 30, 2031.

* Approved Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) Arizona 9-1-1 program grant agreement between the Northern Arizona User’s Association acting as system administrator, and ADOA for the administration of the emergency telecommunications services revolving fund. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Supervisor is the System Administrator for the Navajo and Apache County’s Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) State 9-1-1 program. One of the primary duties of the System Administrator is processing all bills associated with the 911 network, maintenance, 911 equipment, and special projects funded by State 911. The 911 bills are for the communications centers of Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Apache County Sheriff’s Office, Snowflake-Taylor Police Department, Show Low Police Department, Pinetop-Lakeside Police Department, the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Winslow Police Department. This agreement outlines the responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office for payment of 911 related expenditures in the amount of $207,390. This agreement will commence on July 1 and terminate on June 30, 2026.

* Approved the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIODTA) agreement in the amount of $132,801. The Sheriff’s Office has received funding from the HIODTA program through Tucson. The $132,801 award will pay for salary and partial employee related expenses for the HIDTA Major Crimes Apprehension Team (MCAT) Lieutenant, in addition to $12,000 in overtime, $7,500 in services and $5,000 in operating supplies for MCAT’s operational needs. The grant period began on Jan. 1, 2025, and ends Dec. 31, 2026. Expenditures are reimbursed upon receipt of financial reports.

* Approved an amendment to HDR Engineering, Inc. contract, Task 2 Modernization of Engineering Design Guideline and Standard Details Project, extending the contract through Dec. 26, 2025.

* Approved an application for supervised fireworks display permit submitted by the Heber-Overgaard Chamber of Commerce for Saturday, July 5.

* Approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to provide funding for a Renewables Coordinator, also known as Navajo County Coal Community Development Manager. The purpose of this agreement is to provide funding for the support of a Renewables Coordinator aka, Navajo County Coal Community Development Manager, serving under the direction of the Navajo County Economic Development Director. The Renewables Coordinator will manage relationships with and support the development process for companies and utilities interested in siting and constructing Coal Community Transition projects and clean energy technology projects in Navajo and Apache Counties. This is a two-year fixed-term position only, non-exempt for the period of July 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2027. There is no expectation that this position will become a full-time position after this IGA period is complete. This IGA is for the total amount of $270,111 over two financial years, FY25-26 and FY26-27.

* Approved tax exemptions filed pursuant to ARS §42-11153 as a Request for Redemption of Waiver.

* Approved contracts signed by the county manager pursuant to Board of Supervisors resolution: Painted Sky Full House Lane Culvert Design Contract amendment. The amendments include additional services for the Full House Lane Culvert Design Project as described in the Scope of Work dated May 28, and those additional items set forth in the consultant’s cost proposal dated May 28. The contract price was amended for an additional sum of not-to-exceed $8,050 for a total contract price of not to exceed $26,566.00.

* Approved awarding Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) One-Stop Operator contract to Head Forward Solutions LLC in the amount of $87,760. The designation of a One Stop Operator is a requirement under the WIOA. The role of the One Stop Operator is to oversee the One Stop Delivery System and will be responsible for the operational activities concerning customer flow and overall quality and effectiveness of the Comprehensive One Stop Job Center. The resulting contract would be in effect from July 1 to June 30, 2026 and may be renewed up to four one-year periods.

* Approved awarding WIOA Title I-B Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth Career Services Provider contract to Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. The selected consultant under this contract will provide career services to adults, dislocated workers and youth participants within the ARIZONA@WORK system of Northeastern Arizona. The resulting contract would be in effect from July 1 to June 30, 2026 and may be renewed up to four one-year periods.

* Approved task agreement between the Hopi Tribe and Navajo County for the purchase of asphalt concrete millings and cold mix asphalt repair material for road maintenance activities on Route 25 and Hopi public routes in the amount of $50,000. These materials have been requested for road maintenance activities to improve roadway surface conditions on the Hopi Reservation, within Navajo County. The milling material will be used for Route 25/Veteran’s Memorial Center Road, located in Kykotsmovi. The cold mix asphalt repair material will be used on Hopi public roadways for maintenance activities on an as-needed basis. The Hopi Department of Transportation personnel will provide all necessary labor and equipment to support this project, and it is tentatively planned for July.