By L. Parsons Last week during the Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting, dozens of Navajo County residents expressed their concerns. The major topic of discussion during the call to the public was the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment to the United States Bill of Rights states the right to keep and bear arms. Nine residents spoke on the subject. Lisa Green, a resident of Lakeside was among them and reiterated the statements of the others. She said, “We are asking Navajo County to adopt an ordinance that assures us that county assets and personnel will not be used to confiscate our firearms.” Following the line of speakers, Sheriff David Clouse made a statement. “I want to address the citizens that have shown up here today. I appreciate when people show up, it illustrates their involvement. That said, my position is that any elected official that would take a position to infringe on any of your rights is not worthy to hold office. Each day you see uniformed personnel across the county and it is our job to defend those rights. We don’t take that responsibility lightly. I want the citizens of Navajo County to know that as their Sheriff, my position is that we are not going to take your weapons. We work for you and we live in this county and share your concerns.” Because of parliamentary procedure, Clouse’s comments were included in the call to the public and not entered as staff response to the citizens’ concerns. County Attorney Brad Carlyon also addressed the supervisors and the public as a citizen. Carlyon said, “I am a strong proponent of the second amendment. However, the proposal of an ordinance here in Navajo County doesn’t have any legal effect. Arizona, like most states is a government where the legislative power lays at the state level. They decide what powers and limits on powers that counties and cities have. We only have the powers delegated to us. “The Arizona Legislature has not given any expressed powers to the county when it comes to guns, gun rights and gun laws. In fact, they have done the opposite. The state legislature says it has preempted all the laws when it comes to guns. They have set it up where they can take away our state shared sales tax revenue if we try to meddle in to areas they have told us we can’t.” Carlyon continued, “This year, they passed House Bill 2111, which is essentially what these citizens are asking for. It is called the Second Amendment Firearm Freedom Act and specifically states that the state and all politically subdivisions of the state are prohibited from using assets or personnel to take your guns. We all took an oath of office to uphold the constitution and we will continue to do that and we will defend everyone’s rights under the Second Amendment.” The supervisors, in the absence of Vice Chairwoman Dawnafe Whitesinger, approved a sole source agreement with Harris Govern for licensed software, maintenance and professional services for data conversion, implementation and training for a new treasurer’s system. The amount of purchase is $769,258 to be divided over the next three fiscal years. Navajo County Treasurer Kari Lopez explained to the board that the current system utilized by the Treasurer’s Office is obsolete and in danger of losing valuable and important data. In other business, the board: * Heard a presentation from Allison Hephner of the Public Health Department. Hephner presented statistics from 2019 on substance abuse in Navajo County. She said, “Substance abuse continues to be a leading issue in our county, and the trends show that will continue.” * Approved forest fee distribution to school districts for school year 2020-21. Allocation is determined by school size and the total amount to be distributed is $736,162. * Approved anti-racketeering funds for the Show Low High School boys’ basketball team in the amount of $1,000 through the County Attorney’s Office. * Approved a contract signed by the county manager with Anasazi Medical Payment Solutions, Inc. for reference-based reimbursement services for the county employee health plan. * Approved the sale of 13 back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $6,937. * Adopted a resolution designating Navajo County Finance Director Jayson Vowell as the Navajo County Chief Financial Officer to submit the annual expenditure limitation report for the year ending June 30, 2021, in a routine procedure. * Adopted a resolution designating Vowell as the County Chief Financial Officer to submit the annual expenditure limitation report for the year ending June 30, 2022, in a routine procedure. * Approved tax exemptions for widows or disabled persons whose property is exempt from tax. * Proclaimed May 16 through 22 as National Public Works Week in Navajo County. * Approved a cooperative agreement between the Holbrook Unified School District and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. The agreement will utilize HUSD grant monies for the funding of a 10-month school resource deputy’s involvement and participation in their school safety program. The grant and program require commitments including but not limited to 180 hours of law related education and full-time deputy presence on campus during school hours. * Approved a two-year contract for supply and delivery of cattle guards for county maintained roads to WW Cattle Guards, LLC. Payment of the contract will be by the job. * Approved a task agreement to the memorandum of agreement between the White Mountain Apache Tribe Division of Transportation and the county that authorizes $50,000 in assistance for replacement of roadway signs and re-stripping of public roads. Funding will come from the White Mountain Apache Tribe Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF). * Approved a professional services agreement extension with Remarkable Recreation Solutions for one additional year for management of White Mountain Lakes County Recreation District. * Was introduced to the new Personnel Commission Chair Rebecca Robertson. * Approved the warrant and voucher report over $1,000. * Approved constable reports for the Winslow precinct for January and February and the Pinetop-Lakeside precinct for April. * Approved a sympathy letter to Honorable Wallace Youvella, Jr. and the family of Wade Carlisle. * Received an update from the Navajo County Fair Board. The 90th annual fair will return this year on Sept. 15. The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, in the board meeting room, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.