The Navajo County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday in part to listen to a presentation by Allison Hephner, the community outreach specialist with the Navajo County Public Health Services District, regarding the process that the district is undergoing in order to become a nationally accredited entity.

According to Hephner, the accreditation process for county health services is a relatively new one that has only been in place for four years. By participating in the process, Navajo County will be ahead of the curve and be placed on a national level that will allow for a greater opportunity for grants and recognition of a higher standard of performance. Although there are challenges when dealing with such a large county with so many diverse programs, the goal is to become fully accredited by 2020.

“It provides a system of policies and procedures that create a benefit to public health, and keeps our communities safe and healthy,” stated Hephner.

She explained that by utilizing the feedback provided by those served by the district, the focus is currently on determining how to retain and recruit physicians in Navajo County, partnering with Summit Health Care for telemedicine services and bridging the gaps in services.

“We are looking to facilitate a subcommittee to determine what is it that keeps physicians in our communities and how to attract them,” stated Hepher, adding that there is already a shortage of healthcare providers in the county. “Ultimately, the goal is to bring in 11 more pediatric physicians to our county.”

She explained that 60 percent of the county’s population lives below the poverty level and many do not have a health care provider. Even if they do, the shortage means that it could sometimes take months to be seen by a physician.

“We are also not wanting to duplicate resources. Since Summit already has grant funding for a telemedicine program, we are working with them on a way to share those services,” she said.

The board was also informed that the state legislature has modified the laws concerning the use of consumer fireworks. The change allows for consumer use of fireworks from the period of June 24 through July 6, which overlaps the usual timeframe for fire restrictions in parts rural Arizona.

The one exception for the use of consumer fireworks will be if the county is in Stage 1 fire restrictions.

Board members approved the modification after being informed that if they didn’t, the county would not be able to restrict consumer use at all during that timeframe. The law does not affect the use of fireworks by public entities for holiday events.

The board authorized a correction after two clerical errors were found on county tax forms.

Finance Director James Menlove explained that the errors were only on the forms and not in the budget.

“We are still showing a decrease of $150,000 over last year,” stated Menlove.

During the call to the public, White Mountain Lakes resident Donna Gierst voiced her concerns regarding the newly formed recreation district board and the restrictions being imposed upon residents at the shoreline with the boat dock policy. She requested that the board of supervisors review the decisions being made by the district board.

Joyce Hill of Shumway also addressed the board as part of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in order to bring awareness to Suicide Prevention Month this month and the plight of veterans struggling with depression.

In other business Sept. 8, the board:

* Authorized a proclamation recognizing Sept. 17 as Constitution Day and urging all residents of Navajo County to celebrate the 228th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.

* Approved the over the counter sale of a back tax land parcel in the amount of $518.25.

* Approved an amendment to the 1993 intergovernmental agreement between Apache, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties that includes Cochise County in creating the Eastern Arizona Counties Organization.

* Authorized the cancelation of the Nov. 3 elections for the Pinedale Domestic Water Improvement District, Sky-Hi Domestic Water Improvement District and Porter Mountain Domestic Water Improvement District.

* Authorized the cancelation of the election for the White Mountain Fire District.

* Approved an agreement with Elliott D. Pollack & Company for an economic and fiscal impact analysis of the Apache Railway Company for payment of $16,500.

* Approved the allocation of additional local funds as leverage for a fiscal year 2015 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application.

This is because the Northern Arizona Council of Governments agreed to administratively manage the entire CDBG Dispatch Console Project. As a result, the county must leverage an additional $20,000 toward the project. This brings the leveraged funds total to $108,820.

* Approved a special event liquor license for the White Mountain Firefighter Foundation for an event to be held on Oct. 2 and 3 at the Pinetop Lakes Equestrian Center.

* Approved a proclamation declaring Sept. 16-20 as Navajo County Fair Days.

* Approved an amendment to the contract between the Navajo County Health District and the Arizona Department of Health Services for the emergency preparedness program for July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, in the amount of $225,959.

* Approved a memorandum of understanding between the Navajo County Public Health Services District and Grand Canyon University for Practicum for Savanah Six effective Sept. 17 with no end date noted.

* Approved a memorandum of agreement between the Navajo County Health District, Arizona Nutrition Network, Holbrook Unified School District, Kayenta Unified School District and Show Low Unified School District for nutrition services from Oct. 1, 2015, to Sept. 30, 2018.

* Approved a memorandum of understanding between the Navajo County Public Health Services District and the Apache County Public Health Services District for the position of a full-time Women, Infants and Children program registered dietitian for the Navajo County WIC Program. The position will be shared by the counties’ WIC Programs. The salary is $48,352 and will include mileage reimbursement.

* Approved the appointment of George W. Baum Jr. as the honorably discharged veteran to oversee the final disposition of indigent veterans and their spouses.

* Authorized acceptance of the fiscal year 2016 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission Victim compensation totaling $79,626 to assist victims of crime for the Navajo County Attorney’s Office. In addition, the ACJC is funding $10,780 in administrative funds to cover travel expenses, outreach activities and operating expenses for the grant.

* Approved a proclamation declaring the month of September as National Preparedness Month.

* Approved a memorandum of agreement between the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Region and Navajo County to fund one equipment operator for a 22-month period in an amount not to exceed $85,000