In last week’s meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors the board approved a new program that would help first-time juvenile offenders who commit a select number of crimes, including petty theft and underage drinking, to be deferred from the normal judicial processes and punishments. These youth will be dealt with the Navajo County Attorney’s Office rather than the courts because the county attorney believes that most of the juveniles are one-time offenders, but this program will not only drop pressure off the courts but will also give some leeway to children’s mistakes.
To move forward with the process the county awarded a contract to Advent Financial Systems, LLC for services rendered to the county for the program including gathering data on who has already participated in the program and keeping track of documents offenders may need to turn in such as written apologies.
The program will be introduced in District 1 of the county to test and see if there are any unforeseen obstacles the county may need to be aware of when going full scale. County Attorney Brad Carlyon says that he has spoken to many of the cities police departments and all of them have expressed interest in the program.
The county also proclaimed March 2023 as “National Nutrition Month” and heard a presentation from the county’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Division manager and registered dietitian, Ivy McCullough who spoke about all the services WIC provides to residents of Navajo County.
WIC currently serves almost 1,800 people a month, making sure they are being provided with adequate nutrition. This is up from almost 1,600 people in 2022. McCullough expects this number to increase as awareness of the program increases. One of the special projects in the works will give participants $30 gift cards to local farmers markets on top of their current benefits to better provide for the lower income mothers and children who rely on the program. Farmers markets in Show Low, Snowflake/Taylor and Winslow are working towards being added to the list of vendors.
Also announced at this meeting was County Manager Glenn Kephart’s retirement effective July 18. Kephart addressed the board saying, “Now is not the time for goodbyes, there will be time for that later and until then my office is dedicated to meeting the needs of the county.” The members of the board spoke to the changes they have seen at the county since Kephart took over as manager and how that change has benefited the citizens of Navajo County.
In other business the board:
* Approved canceling the May 16 election for the White Mountain Summer Home Domestic Water Improvement District on account of no nominations.
* Appointed Roger L. Gorres as Republican precinct committeeman for the Mogollon Precinct.
* Approved an agreement between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the National Institute for Jail Operations for legal based jail guidelines and accreditation.
* Approved of 11 back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $6,530.82.
* Approved an amendment to contract number CTR063291, Prop 201 Smoke Free Arizona intergovernmental agreement, between Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Navajo County Public Health Services District. ADHS amended the contract by removing the monthly reports and updating the due dates.
* Approved amendment to Ordinance Number PHSD 01-09 to decrease environmental health late fee schedule. Now the fee will be $50 no matter how late it is.
* Accepted a $100,790 grant from the Heritage Fund Historic Preservation Grant Program for Phase 1 of the Pinedale Elementary School Restoration Project.
* Approved contract No. B23-02-001 supplying of various roadway materials to Hatch Construction and Paving, Inc., Brimhall Sand, Rock & Building Materials, Cutting Edge Grading, Schuck Development and Hatch Industries, LLC. This is a multi-year contract so the cost to the county can change drastically year to year depending on the price of these materials.
The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, in the board chambers, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
