The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting Tuesday, Nov. 18, during which Complete Care Partners (CCP) Manager Erin Eshkibok presented on Navajo County Attorney’s Office Court Diversion Program that is operated by CCP. “The Navajo County Attorney’s Office has established a court diversion program to provide an alternative method of holding low level offenders, whose offense often has a nexus to substance abuse, or mental health conditions accountable for violations of the law through participation in an evidence-based education or treatment program that targets factors related to recidivism,” explained Eshkibok in her presentation. “The program effectively redirects limited criminal justice resources, brings about participants’ rehabilitation and gives rise to safer communities. The program diverts criminal cases from formal court proceedings and allows for the dismissal of charges if the program is successfully completed.”
The program focuses on the relation between accountability and mental health, and conducts careful screening processes and case planning. In the 2.5 years of the program’s implementation in the county, 165 clients have enrolled, 93 of which have successfully completed the program. “We have a 68% success rate. As far as people completing the program, it’s kind of a tricky number because we’ve had a lot of people return to the program after the first time.”
Although there are required fees to utilize the program, a sliding scale is used to ensure that those who are financially unable to afford to participate have fees reduced or waived based on their situation. “The majority of our clients are underemployed or unemployed, or have no access to transportation,” added Eshkibok.
In her presentation, she stated that social determinants of health factors correlate to with high risk to re-offend. She went on to review social determinates of health amongst their clients, stating that 40% of program participants experience food insecurity, 11% homelessness, 66% have a history of trauma, 58% are under or unemployed and 67% have a family history of substance abuse.
“Of the 93 people who’ve successfully completed the program, they collectively have parented 128 children,” stated Eshkibok, “That’s 128 kids whose parents are going to be more likely to be employable because they’re lacking a criminal record, because there are cases being dismissed through participating in this program.”
These parents have also been introduced to services that can improve the entire family’s quality of life. Eshkibok shared several stories from those who successfully finished the program, one of which, referred to only by her first name Kelly, stated that the program allowed her to reconnect with her father before his passing. “Because of CCP, I was able to care for him, transport him, get to know him and connect with him on an emotional level. I got my father back and he got his daughter back.”
County Attorney Brad Carlyon explained that the program is for those who have committed misdemeanor level offenses, “We want to get to them early before we rise to the felony level.” Carlyon added that there are already resources in place for felony offenders through probation, but not many of misdemeanor level offenders. “We want to show you as a board, we want to show our community, the impact that this has.”
Carlyon stated that funding for the program will be stopping but the county is planning to request legislative funding to maintain it. “I hope that you will take that to the towns and cities within your district and encourage them, if we can’t get that legislative funding, to help us keep this program going.”
The board and staff recognized Randall Whipple on his retirement from the county after nearly 37 years of service. “Randall has put in a lifetime of service to Navajo County and has been in public works the entire 37 years,” stated HR Director Eric Scott. Scott talked about all the changes and progress that were made during his time in public works, saying “A lot of the roads were dirt when I came here and we built these roads. It’s been a good job.”
The board held a public hearing and adopted a resolution approving a final plat amendment to allow two lots to be absorbed into common area in Pinetop/Lakeside. No one spoke during the public hearing.
During the call to the public, Jesse Fisher spoke on his project called Operation Self-Reliance.
Chair Jason Whiting and Board Member Daryl Seymore were absent from the meeting.
In other business, the board:
* Awarded the delivery and application of magnesium chloride, magnesium chloride/lignin blend and lignin contract to Desert Mountain Corporation.
* Approved a one-year renewal of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the county and the incorporated municipalities of Holbrook, Pinetop-Lakeside, Show Low, Snowflake, Taylor and Winslow to improve efficiency in the operation of the Magistrate Courts. Although the agreement had been expired since 2019, the agreement has continued in practice since then.
* Approved the Board of Supervisors 2026 meeting schedule. The board will meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 9 a.m., except for February, July, November and December, which will only have one meeting during those months.
* Approved a one-year extension for the All-Rise contract since the federal government extended the Bureau of Justice Assistance COPE grant for an additional year.
* Approved Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of Public Safety Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant agreement for salary and employee related expenses for six victim advocates and part of the salary of one victim notification clerk. Services provided by these advocates range from approximately 40,000 victim letter notifications, approximately 12,000 direct services including court advocacy, crisis response, notifications, referral to other victim programs, and emergency funding. VOCA will fund $187,561, with a match requirement of $46,890.
* Approved the processing of fiscal year-end fund transfers that were included in the FY 2026 budget for the fund reconciliations.
* Approved an amendment to the professional services contract with Painted Sky Engineering & Survey, LLC., for survey and roadway right-of-way on three parcels on Bourdon Ranch Road in Show Low. This amendment increases the contract amount by $13,139, for a new total contract value not to exceed $56,334.
* Approved an amendment to the Starlight Pavement Reconstruction contract with PAP, LLC. The amendment addresses the correction of poor subgrade conditions encountered during construction.
* Approved contracts signed by the county manager/assistant county manager for an amendment to the Speedie Construction contract and Gallagher Insurance Medical Malpractice renewal. The Speedie Construction amendment is for a one year no-cost extension of the code enforcement facility construction materials testing and special inspections, Taylor, contract with Speedie & Associates, LLC. The Gallagher Insurance Medical Malpractice renewal policy has been in place for and year and specifically covers Dr. Goodman in the area of wellness physicals etc. for the plan.
* Appointed Alma R. Mellinger as Republican precinct committeeman for their respective precincts.
* Approved an amendment extending the website development, hosting and maintenance contract one additional year and increasing the annual billable rates with CivicPlus, LLC. This contract features an initial term of two years. Upon written mutual consent, Navajo County may renew the contract in annual increments. This is the second renewal. In accordance with the contract documents, annual renewals after the initial term are subject to a 5% annual increase. The vendor has submitted to Navajo County a formal quote for year four of service.
* Approved an IGA between Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) and Arizona Department of Corrections for Radio Communication Services. Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) and NCSO have entered into an agreement for the use of the NCSO Emergency Communications Center to request emergency or non-emergency assistance as needed within Navajo County and access the Arizona Criminal Justice Information System (ACJIS). The ADCRR shall administer all required ACJIS privacy and security training and shall maintain certification in accordance with Arizona Department of Public Safety standards, ensure only Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board certified officers utilize the radio frequency, comply with all standards and be solely responsible for procurement, maintenance, and repair of all equipment and software associated with its departments. NCSO shall provide 24-hour, 365-days-a-year dispatch services, ensure compliance with standards, manage and retain all radio transmissions involving ADCRR for a minimum of 185 days, and retain all applicable records in compliance with the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Record laws and protocols. The term of this IGA shall be five years and will be renewed from year-to-year for an indefinite number of renewal terms.
* Approved the renewal of the agreement between the NCSO and Mutualink. NCSO has received an additional $540,000 from the Arizona State Legislature to provide funding for a renewal of its partnership with Mutualink Inc. to extend its School Safety and Interoperability project. This project began in early 2022 with an expansion to the project approved in Nov. 2022. The term of this renewal will become immediately effective and last through June 30, 2026. This agreement is for a renewal of operations, maintenance and sustainability of the existing system.
* Approved data access and exchange agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The agreement shall commence upon approval by the division director and execution by both parties and shall continue in effect for a term of five years. Parties may mutually agree to extend the term of the agreement for three, five-year extensions by entering into an amendment to this agreement.
* Approved an agreement between NCSO and Arizona Department of Administration, where NCSO agrees to provide services related to the implementation, maintenance and support of a school safety program. NCSO agrees to use funds in the sum of $540,000 exclusively for the continuation of their existing school safety and interoperability system.
* Approved contracts signed by county manager for professional services with indigent defense attorneys Ronald Washington, South County Juvenile Court; Ronald Washington, Show Low Justice Court Misdemeanors; Gavin O’Connor, Winslow Justice Court Misdemeanors; and Jo Ellen Vork, North County Juvenile Court.
* Approved an agreement between Chandler and Navajo County for Axon Taser 7 inventory. The Axon Taser 7 inventory consists of 80 Safariland holsters, 80 Blackhawk holsters, cartridges, batteries, wall mounts, handles, battery banks, cartridge caddies and practice targets. The acquisition of this inventory will come at no cost to NCSO. The equipment, if purchased new, has an approximate value of over $1.2 million.
* Approved the travel policy addition, which includes addressing valet parking as a generally non-allowable expense for travel. Only under certain situations and with prior approval would it be covered.
* Approved a letter of support for a grant proposal to the Arizona State Library for Pinedale Public Library to apply for construction funds for a roof replacement.
* Approved sympathy letters for Michelle Hunt, Julianna Davis, Kaya Rose, Brad Carlyon and Rhonda Krouse.
Convening as the Navajo County Jail District, the board:
* Approved an amendment to the Navajo County Jail Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program contract to extend the contract one additional year and expand services to establish a new 10-bed RSAT unit for females at the jail. The contract fee schedule has been modified to include these services.
* Approved a contract between Wexford Health Sources, Inc. and Navajo County for a Navajo County Jail Medication-Assisted Treatment/Medications for Opioid Use Disorder induction program. Wexford Health will administer the program at an estimated cost of $468,264, which will be fully funded by the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program grant for the County Overdose Prevention Engagement program, which has already been accepted and approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Convening as the Navajo County Library District, the board:
* Approved an IGA between Library District and the White Mountain Apache Tribe for the purpose of contracting for services. The updates ensure compliance with basic grant eligibility requirements, simplify the roles of member libraries and the Library District, and shorten the term length to five years. Given the rapid evolution of technology, this adjustment allows for regular reassessment of the Library District’s functions and its support for member libraries.
Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:
* Approved an IGA, Senate Bill 1847, between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District to initiate public health strategies to address communities and individuals affected by substance-use disorder. Funding is a portion of the sales tax from marijuana sales that is directed to public health to initiate public health strategies to address communities and individuals affected by substance-use disorder. The funding is utilized to help implement the recommendations made by the local overdose fatality review team.
* An amendment to an IGA between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District to establish and support a local Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) team. The OFR team analyzes the individual overdose events to identify risk factors and trends, enabling the development of targeted prevention strategies. The district also uses these funds to strengthen partnerships, improve data-sharing capacities, and implement prevention and intervention strategies to address opioid misuse with an emphasis on the rising impact of fentanyl. The district will be expanding the program this year to include a peer navigation/case management program to help individuals navigate pathways to care. The budget was increased slightly to help allow this expansion.
* Approved an amendment to an IGA between the Arizona Department of Health Services and Navajo County Public Health Services District to address fatal and non-fatal overdose deaths. Last year, in just eight months, the district issued over 1,437 naloxone kits, and most of the individuals receiving the kits were trained on the signs of an overdose and how to administer naloxone.
* Approved an amendment to a contract between Navajo County Public Health Service District and Arizona Department of Health Services for sexually transmitted infection investigations grants.
* Approved an amendment to an IGA between Navajo County and the Arizona Department of Health Services for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Services. The Navajo County WIC Program provides nutrition education and offers referrals to community programs, as well as healthy foods for low-income families across Navajo County. The WIC program supports women during pregnancy, offers breastfeeding support and provides nutrition education and tips to caregivers of children from birth up to 5 years of age. WIC offers appointments over the phone, virtually, or in person to determine eligibility and provide services. The Navajo County WIC Program is completely federally funded, with an increase in funding from $559,519 in Fiscal Year 2025 to $594,273 in Fiscal Year 2026.
* Approved Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Navajo County and NCSO for Peer Support Project funded through Opioid Settlement Funds. MOU funding agreement lays out terms to fund the Peer Support Project with three annual payments of $106,396 in year one, $102,308 in year two and $105,378 in year three from Opioid Settlement Funding. The project will be funded in three separate annual disbursements.
* Approved an MOU between Navajo County and NCSO for Women’s 90-Day Treatment Project funded with Opioid Settlement Funds. The funding agreement lays out the funding terms with two annual payments, $234,000 in year one and $234,000 in year two, with a total not to exceed $468,000. The project will be funded in two separate annual disbursements.
* Approved an amendment to the MOU between Navajo County and Navajo County Public Health Services District for Substance Use Disorder Project funded with Opioid Settlement Funds. The amendment notes the funding change from supporting naloxone distribution and data collection to instead support the Navajo County Peer & Stigma Reduction Initiative.
* Approved contracts signed by county manager for approval of an amendment to the Healthy Forest Initiative. Navajo County Emergency Services requested a second grant amendment for the Healthy Forest Initiative grant project to extend the period of performance to April 30, 2026. The additional time will allow for a more successful grant project.
* Approved an amended IGA with Holbrook and Navajo County Animal Care & Control. The changes to the amended contract include compensation euthanasia disposal and temporary support.
* Approved a contract renewal between Navajo County Public Health Services District and Health Space to provide a platform for health inspections and the issuance of permits for Environmental Health.
Convening as the Navajo County Flood Control District, the board:
* Approved a contract amendment to the Kimley-Horn and Associates contract for the Woodruff Drainage Evaluation Phase Two Project to extend the contract through March 31, 2026.
Convening as the Board of Equalization, the board:
*Approved stipulations between the County Assessor and petitioners on Petitions for Review of Notice of Change for 11 settlements, all of which reached agreement.
