The Navajo County Board of Supervisors gave final budget approval during the June 28 meeting. The budget is balanced at $37.6 million with no increase in the general tax levy. Creative solutions to invest in employees and infrastructure will help compensate for revenue challenges, according to officials. There was no discussion prior to approval.
“The Cedar Fire is about 25 percent still active,” said Adam Wolfe, Navajo County’s communications manager. As of June 28, the fire had lasted nine days and covered 45,977 acres. It was the largest fire of the year and although it was 75 percent contained, flooding could be an issue in the Cedar Creek area.
In other action June 28, the board:
* Approved agreements for court collection and criminal justice services between Navajo County and Show Low, Holbrook, Pinetop/Lakeside and Winslow to extend the terms of the agreements for an additional one-year term.
* Approved the acceptance of salary agreement between the Family Advocacy Center (FAC) and the Navajo County Attorney’s Office to provide a center director and forensic interviewer. Navajo County pays salary and benefits for both positions, and the FAC has committed to reimburse the county. This will cost $118,318 from the total budget, with $47,659 in impacts to the general fund.
* Approved the chairman to sign a notice of appraisal for a 50-year term easement on White Mountain Lake Road for $2,606.
* Approved Kelly Hart as a new Local Workforce Development Board member.
* Approved a two-year term on the Navajo County Extension Advisory Board for Paula Winskye to serve, retroactive on April 1, and a three-year term for Bill Jeffers to serve the Navajo County Extension Advisory Board, retroactive on April 1, 2017.
* Approved the sale of a vehicle to the Heber-Overgaard Chamber of Commerce for the sum of $1. The chamber is a nonprofit organization which oversees the day-to-day operations of Tall Timbers Park. The vehicle will enable the park attendant to hall trash to the local transfer station.
* Supported a letter of appreciation to Hon-Dah Resort, Casino & Conference Center for donating $1,343 to the Board of Supervisors to apply where it is most needed.
* Approved a special event liquor license for the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce charitable event scheduled July 9 at the Pinetop Lakes Activity Center & Stables.
* Approved contracts signed by the county manager pursuant to the Board of Supervisors Resolution: City of Show Low conditional use permit application.
* Recognized county employees Robert Schlesinger, Venee John, Kya Carroll and Violet Nez for their excellence in personal performance.
* Presented county employees Timothy Toney, Julia Cook, Michael Limppo, Gary Otterbeck and Katy Chee with personnel service awards.
* Presented a certificate of service to Larry Ponikvar for his retirement after more than nine years of service in the county’s public works department.
* Approved personnel actions.
* Adopted Resolution No. 09-16 approving the payment of additional compensation to certain Fair Labor Standards Act-exempt employees who have worked long hours during the period of declared fire emergency and supporting post-fire flooding effects in Navajo and Gila counties due to the Cedar Fire.
* Approved continuation of a subcontract with Hannah Kilber for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program in the amount of $15 per hour.
* Approved an amendment to a contract with the Arizona Department of Health Services for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in the amount of $367, 656.
* Approved a contract between the Navajo County Public Health Services District and Public Health Partners, LLC, Wade Kartchner, M.D., MPH, director, for public health medical consultation and alternative medical examiner services for July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017.
* Approved a contract with First Things First for a Child Care Health Consultant Program for Navajo/Apache counties, the Navajo Nation, and the White Mountain Apache and San Carlos tribes for $172,370 from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017.
* Approved a professional services agreement with Monica Smith, RDH for dental hygiene services through the Arizona First Things First, Navajo Nation Oral Health Fluoride Program effective Nov. 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017, in the amount of $40 per hour.
* Approved professional services contracts with Regina Rich, RDH, AP, Candice Marissa Matthews-Penrod, RDH, Lee Haggenmuller, RDH, Ellen Grabarek, RDH, Menith Mackenzie, RDH, and April Pohlman, RDH, for dental hygiene services through the First Things First, Navajo Nation Oral Health Fluoride Program effective July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017, in the amount of $40 per hour.
* Approved the proposed Information Technology policy.
* Awarded a hot asphaltic concrete pavement overlay contract to Hatch Construction and Paving, Inc.
* Adopted Resolution No. 10-16, approving a special use permit for a manufactured home park in the Lakeside area, contingent on subsequent determination by the Arizona Department of Real Estate that the proposed use complies with Arizona Revised Statutes and is not determined to be an illegal subdivision.
* Approved a White Mountain Apache Tribe resolution for mutual aid for deputization of sheriff’s office sworn personnel.
* Approved the purchase of an insurance policy for the Joseph City Street Light District.
* Approved the purchase of an insurance policy for the White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement District.
The board met in executive session regarding Berger v. White Mountain Lake County Recreation Improvement District. Upon reconvening into regular session, the board approved entering into negotiations on the matter.
