On Jan. 23, during the Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Jason Whiting addressed the temporary closure of the Novo Bio-Power plant in Snowflake and shared his recent appointment as chairman to the Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO).
Regarding the bio mass power plant in Snowflake, Whiting stated, “For those of you who don’t know, it has been shut down for a period of time after an incident that occurred out there. It is my understanding that they hope to have their doors back open in the next two weeks. I ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers, it’s a 150 jobs and important to the area.”
Whiting had no further information on the plant, but in a subsequent interview with President Brad Worsley of NovoPower he said that on Oct. 18, 2017, the plant did have a failure in the boiler. The repairs have taken nearly three and half months to complete, but he stated they “are within days of firing back up” and should be fully operational by the beginning of February.
As far as being chairman for the ECO board, Whiting said, “It is a lot of opportunity for me to serve in that capacity and represent Navajo County.”
According to Whiting, ECO serves an important function for the region by helping to protect the natural resources, this includes forest management through the Four Forest Restoration Initiative as well as working with state and federal legislation to help protect regional water rights, expand biomass energy production and assist with forest initiatives.
Whiting also said he had a meeting with some of the local employees that work for Arizona Public Service at the Cholla Power Plant in Joseph City. According to Whiting, the employees shared their concerns and he felt it was a productive meeting but no further information was provided regarding the future of the plant.
In other business, the board:
* Approved a resolution canceling the board member election on March 13 for the White Mountain Lakes and Timberland Acres Special Road Districts.
* Appointed Wendell DeCross to the Planning & Zoning Commission for District V.
* Approved Mr. Earl’s Pizza Time application for extension of premise/patio permit for permanent change of area of service to increase available seating and provide an area for live entertainment.
* Approved a professional services agreement with Tamra Cannon, RDH for Dental Hygiene services through Arizona Department of Health Services, Navajo County Oral Health Sealant Program from January through December of 2018, in the amount of $33 an hour.
* Approved perpetual drainage easements over and across real property in Linden Trails Subdivision and Sky Hi Retreat community, for drainage, construction and maintenance purposes.
* Approved a contract for professional services with J.E. Fuller Hydrology and Geomorphology, Inc. for ALERT system maintenance and improvements, and for on-call engineering and ALERT services.
* Approved the purchase of Lot 22 of Sky Hi Retreat for Flood Improvement Project in the amount of $4,500.
* Approved application request of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act funds in the amount of $300 Blue Ridge Little League sponsorship.
* Approved the re-appointment of the justices of the peace, BJ Little, Fred Peterson, Stephen E. Price, David L. Widmaier, Evelyn Marez and Susie Nelson, and justices of the peace pro tempore LuAnn Garbini, Yvonne Hunt, Paul Julien, Jeanne Boyce, Shirley Patterson, Anna Lesperance, Kathy Swietanski, Krista Wilkinson and Ron Oberholtzer as juvenile hearing officers.
* Approved a revision to the sick leave policy.
* Approved a memorandum of understanding between the Navajo County Attorney’s Office and the Family Advocacy Center in preparation to apply for the Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program federal grant.
* Authorized signed by the county manager pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: Contract Amendment No. 1 for uniform rental and laundering services.
