A formal resolution outlining appointment of members to a redistricting advisory committee was approved by the Navajo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Each supervisor will appoint one member of the committee. To be eligible for the committee, the selected individual must be a registered voter in Arizona, may not have held an elected or appointed partisan office or a community college governing board position within the last three years, may not have served as a registered paid lobbyist or an officer of a candidate’s campaign committee within the last three years, and may not be a county employee. The county recorder’s and elections offices will be responsible for ensuring those appointed meet the requirements.
Those selected will be required to attend at least two public hearings and three committee meetings. They must also present at least two alternate district maps to the board of supervisors.
Committee members will not be paid for their time, but will receive reimbursement for mileage traveled at the county’s existing per diem rate for employees.
If committee members are unable to complete their service, the board members who submitted their names will choose a replacement, but the individual selected must be a member of the same political party as the committee member who resigned.
Supervisor Jerry Brownlow asked whether the committee would be responsible only for supervisor districts, or if they will be drawing other political boundaries as well.
Deputy County Attorney Jason Moore explained that the committee will also be drawing community college governing board district lines, which are traditionally the same as the supervisor districts.
Moore pointed out that the committee could choose to look at justice court district boundaries at the direction of the supervisors.
County Attorney Brad Carlyon added that the committee may also consider voting district boundaries, if necessary.
Supervisor J.R. DeSpain asked how the supervisors would know whether justice court or voting district boundaries should be considered during the re-districting process.
County Manager James Jayne noted that the need for review of those district lines should come to light during public meetings.
“I think at this point you should advise the committee to potentially be looking at all county lines,” he said. “And then through the public process, out of that would come any changes that need to be made.”
Board members unanimously approved the resolution establishing committee guidelines.
Moore advised board members to begin considering which individuals they would like to appoint.
In other action March 8, the board:
* Approved a resource access and attainment policy for the library district, as required by the Arizona State Library.
* Approved the abatement of personal property taxes declared uncollectable by the county treasurer.
Treasurer Manny Hernandez explained that the sheriff’s, assessor’s and treasurer’s offices all attempted to locate the owner or the property in each case, and were unable to do so. The majority of the bills on the abatement list were less than $100, and many were less than $10.
Hernandez noted that in many cases the tax due is for old mobile homes, which likely have been moved or destroyed.
“Many of these old mobile homes just aren’t there,” he said. “The taxes are minimal because there’s no value. This is just cleaning up our records so we aren’t spending more time looking for something that’s not there.”
* Approved the expenditure of up to $135,000 in District IV special road funds for double chip seal of 3.25 miles of Pinedale Road.
* Approved a resolution in support of the Shonto Chapter’s application for fuel excise tax.
Public Works Director Homero Vela explained that the funds collected by the chapter would be used for road improvement.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 22, at the county complex in Holbrook.
