The Navajo County Board of Supervisors recently approved the installation of an 18-hole disc golf course on the county complex. It will be open to the public and free to play.
The project, presented by county attorney employees Torel Nichols and Jared Robinson will cost approximately $16,000 and will be a split between the county general fund and the health and wellness trust fund.
Nichols said, “I have been participating in disc golf since about 2018. Disc golf has grown tremendously and what we want to do is develop a one-of-a-kind course here at the county complex. We have a unique destination here in Holbrook and this will provide a course that is different from anything in the area.
Disc golf, as explained by Nichols consists of a chained basket with obstacles such as elevation, trees or rocks. The point is to get the disc into the basket from the tee basket within two or three throws, much like traditional golf. It offers players an opportunity to exercise and compete in a fun activity.
Nichols continued, “It can be played by all ages and is low cost or free to play. Last year, 50 million rounds, that were recorded by a mobile app, were played. There is a professional league for this sport with 200,000 members. Every time I go anywhere, I check to see what disc golf courses are available. This will be the same. It will bring people to Holbrook to play this course.”
“It will be registered on the UDISC app which is the most popular and widely used app for players to find courses, according to Nichols. It has the capability to track scores, provide course maps and hole details. “This app is what everyone uses, and it has the potential to provide cross promotion and awareness of businesses and other attractions in the area,” he explained.
The course will require 18 chained baskets and 18 tee pads, Nichols said. “The baskets for all the holes will total about $6,000 and the launch pads, or tee pads will be about $10,000. The thing is, once they are in, they are done. They require little to no maintenance for a very long time.”
Assistant County Manager Bryan Layton added, “We really like this project. There is no staffing required, as people will use the app to find their way. This is a great activity for our staff at the county to get out and walk, get their steps in. therefore, we think its great to share with the wellness fund. Maintenance is expected to be very little. We spoke to leaders around the county in cities that have these, and there is really no maintenance, aside from litter. Our facilities department will install waste baskets and clean up will be performed by facilities and volunteers. Liability is considered to be very minimal, like a regular playground area.”
Following a short discussion with all supervisors in support of the project, it was approved and is expected to break ground in the near future.
Also presented was a report from TRACKS Vice President, Lynn Krigbaum. TRACKS is a volunteer organization with over 500 members that maintain and build the White Mountain Trail System.
According to Krigbaum’s report, the trail system contains more than 200 miles of non-motorized trails in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. TRACKS spent 2,037 hours maintaining those trails in 2021 and improved the safety of the trails system by installing trail diamonds on all the trails.
These diamonds are equipped with global positioning coordinates to help make them easier to find for first responder and dispatchers.
The group also provides trail maps and free membership. Details on both of those are available on their website at www.trackswhitemountains.org.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the warrant and voucher report over $1,000 for January.
* Approved a letter of sympathy to Melissa Buckley and Sadie Lister.
* Approved board member elections for White Mountain Lake Special Road District and White Mountain Summer Home Domestic Water Improvement District to be held May 17.
* Approved an amendment to a contract between the county and American Pavement Preservation, LLC for slurry seal. The amendment extends the contract for one additional year and increases the rate for the Winslow area to $1.45 per square yard, Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside to $1.35 per square yard.
* Approved the extension of Wendell DeCross’s term on the Planning and Zoning Commission until June 23 or until a replacement is appointed prior to that date.
* Approved a sole source agreement with Mutualink in the amount of $150,000 for school safety interoperability.
* Approved an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement allowing for ability to move originally awarded budget dollars amount line items to better meet resource needs in responding to COVID. There is no change to the budget amount.
* Approved the annual renewal of the intergovernmental agreement between the county and the Coconino County Public Health Services for medical examiner services.
* Approved a memorandum of understanding between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the county public health services district for records management and dispatch services for use by the Animal Control Department.
* Approved the acceptance of a fiscal year 2021 emergency management performance grant in the amount of $196,326 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Funds will be used to support the Ready Navajo County alert system as well as training and exercises that support response partners and volunteers throughout the region.
* Approved a petition for review of taxpayer notice of claim where the applicant requested the property be rezoned into agricultural status.
* Approved a liquor license application transfer to Amy S. Nations at Al and Diane’s Red Onion Lounge, located at 1931 Highway 206 in Overgaard.
* Approved a contract in an amount not to exceed $48,000 with Tomhave Group, Inc. for professional services to advocate for the Little Colorado at Winslow Levee. Eighty percent of the contract work will be directed toward negotiating a reduction in the county’s non-federal share of future design and construction project costs.
* Approved the adoption of a resolution approving a special use permit that allows construction of an RV and boat storage facility located north of State Route 260 and west of Burton Road in the Linden area.
* Heard a presentation from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Programs and Ongoing events. In the presentation, Family, Consumer and Health Science agent Margine Bawden informed the board that participation in the cooperative’s programs had increased during the pandemic. Moving forward in 2022, the group plans to do more outreach and begin or improve community gardens throughout the county.
* Heard the annual report from the Navajo County Library District director David Ehrensperger. In the report, Ehrensperger explained the library district is made up of 14 member libraries countywide. In 2021, a combined total of 210,131 visitors used Navajo County libraries.
The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, in the Board chambers, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
