Last week, Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse presented information to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors regarding an emergency procurement for medical services with Wexford Health Services.
“This agreement between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Wexford Health Services will provide medical care inside the Navajo County Jail until a formal procurement process becomes practicable. Last month our previous provider opted out of their existing contract as of March 13 due to not being able to hire adequate staff to meet our needs. They were unable to have a nurse onsite 24 hours a day, for example. We have been reaching out to other vendors to secure medical services for the jail beginning March 14.”
Clouse added that Wexford is currently operating in two other Arizona counties and in speaking with both those county sheriffs, they give high remarks on their level of service.
Deputy Chief Ernie Garcia also addressed the board stating, “The jail can’t function without a medical unit. We have 300 inmates and of those, we have a high population that requires medical care.”
The contract with Wexford Health Services will be on an “as needed” basis. The county will not pay for services not rendered and both parties have a 90-day severance agreement.
The Board of Supervisors were also privileged to recognize outstanding athletes last week including 20-year-old Zachary Bates was recognized for his performance in the Coldwater Rumble 100-mile race. Bates, who is autistic and resides in Show Low, made history as the youngest person to finish the grueling cross-country race in its history coming in 37th of 100 runners with a time of 28:06:36.
Also recognized for outstanding performance were: Mogollon High School Division IV state wrestling champions Cael and Malakai Porter; Snowflake Division III State Wrestling Champion Terrell Kinlicheenie; and the Alchesay High School girls basketball team for winning the 3A State championship.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the warrant and voucher report over $1,000 for February.
* Approved the constable reports for Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside precincts.
* Approved letters of sympathy to Patrick Zinicola, JoAnn DeWitt, Jacob DeWitt, Melanie Sleeper, Tyson Bochinclonny, Jessica Freeman, Christine Yazzie and Salli O’Hair.
* Authorized the Clerk of the Board to request renewal of undercover plates for the Navajo County Probation Department in a routine procedure.
* Approved 32 back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $16,507.
* Appointed Daniel Thomas Spencer of Lakeside, James Robert Tapscott of Show Low, Sandra Christine Johnson of Holbrook, Cara Ann Massa of Lakeside and Donna Anne Shurwin of Pinetop as Republican Precinct Committeemen for their respective precincts.
* Approved a grant application for the Gila River Indian Community to fund the replacement of two K-9 patrol vehicles in the amount of $153,786.
* Approved a request for ARRF (Anti-Racketeering Revolving Fund) by the Holbrook High School Choir in the amount of $600.
* Approved a memorandum of agreement between Northeastern Arizona Local Workforce Development Board and Stanford Store, Old Concho Community Assistance Center and Springerville-Eager Chamber of Commerce to deploy a mobile job center in Apache County until June 30, 2024.
* Revised a memorandum of understanding between the Northeastern Arizona Local Workforce Development Board and the Northeastern Arizona Community Resource Network allowing the local workforce development board to conduct additional activities through a legally incorporated, non-profit entity.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between Pinal County Local Workforce Development Board and Navajo County to split the purchase a subscription service titled Burning Glass allowing for better data collection and reporting in the amount of $25,000 per year.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Taylor for their request for financial assistance for the Papermill Road improvement project in the amount of $50,000 to be funded through HURF (Highway User Revenue Fund).
* Appointed Sadie Lister to the Planning and Zoning Commission representing District II.
* Adopted a resolution approving a 24-month time extension to the request to the previously approved Master Site Plan for Wendover Pines in Heber. The plan includes 450 residential units, a commercial retail space and open space on approximately 295 acres.
* Approved the annual renewal of 9-1-1 call handling and services, and purchase of equipment through Solacom/Next Gen/Com Tech. Funding for equipment and services is provided through the State of Arizona Department of Administration in the amount of $325,784. Due to a change in service providers, from Frontier to Solacom, a new purchase order must be generated.
* Approved contracts signed by the County Manager for Ironside Engineering and Development for Rocky Arroyo Crossing in an amount not to exceed $47,300; Painted Sky Engineering and Survey for Linden Trails topography in an amount not to exceed $3,768; and Painted Sky Engineering and Survey for Lee Reese Drive Staking in an amount not to exceed $5,690.
* Approved the installation of 12 “No Parking” signs in the Mogollon Airpark in the amount of $1,500 to be funded by HURF.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the Navajo County and Coconino County for shared building plan review and inspection services.
* Approved the annual award of a contract supplying and delivering liquid asphalt products to Hawker and Evan Asphalt Co., Inc. and Cactus Transport, Inc. as required for pavement preservation work in patching potholes, chip seal application and fog seal treatments on public roads in Navajo County.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Snowflake for their request for funding assistance for the Snowflake High School and Fire Station flood control project in the amount of $50,000. Snowflake received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are requesting assistance from the county to help with its non-federal share of project costs.
* Adopted a resolution approving a Master Development Plan amendment to Woodland Village, a manufactured residential subdivision in Lakeside. The amendment extends the proposal from 47 residential sites to 52. The item was subject to a public hearing in which a Lakeside resident Kay Hamby asked for assurance of sewer line capacity for the proposed homes. The applicant, David Kutis explained a plan was in place to accommodate the additional homes, and no further public comment was made.
* Approved amendments to an existing ordinance regarding outdoor fires. The amendments do not change the meaning or the enforcement of the ordinance, they do clarify some grammar and spelling errors. This item was subject to a public hearing in which no public comment was made.
* Approved a contract with the WLB Group in the amount of $88,095 to prepare engineering and construction plans for replacing three corrugated metal pipes with concrete box culverts to increase drainage flow capacity under Bourdon Ranch Road in Show Low.
The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 22, in the board chambers, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
