At a recent Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting, the county’s future was thoroughly discussed with a keen focus on regional projects, unveiling of the Peace Officer Memorial, and an innovative initiative to provide education to inmates.
County Finance Director, Jayson Vowell, presented the budget of over $256 million, outlining significant steps that the county is taking to secure its future.
There will be no increase in county taxes, despite the county’s expectation of increased revenues with the rise in home values. The budget also includes a 4% cost of living adjustment for all Navajo County employees.
The budget discussion spotlighted several regional projects for which the county is set to partially fund, marking a historic investment of over $126 million into the county from different sources. These projects include the Broadband Middle Mile Network aimed at enhancing access to broadband and fiber internet, and the Regional Public Safety Communication Network, which would improve the communication systems for all law enforcement levels across the county.
The Winslow Levy, a $100 million project, is designed to protect residents from potential flooding, and potentially unlocking the economic potential of the area, encouraging more outside investment into the area. Furthermore, the construction of a code enforcement building and sheriff substation in Taylor would expand services in the Snowflake-Taylor area, along with the expansion of the sheriff substation in Heber-Overgaard. The proposed budget also includes essential repairs and renovations to the Holbrook County Complex, particularly to the water and sewer system and fire safety improvements.
The supervisors also heard a presentation about the Peace Officer Memorial, a collaborative effort between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Navajo County, which was unveiled. This memorial, built to honor the peace officers who sacrificed their lives in service of the county’s citizens, will be maintained through the donations that were already collected and will be given to the City of Show Low for upkeep and any possible additions they may need to be made in the future in the event of another tragedy.
Another significant development the supervisors approved last week was the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Navajo County Superintendent of Schools and the Sheriff’s Office, aimed at providing education to inmates. This agreement is a stride towards rehabilitation and personal development of incarcerated individuals. The MOU seeks to enroll qualifying inmates, particularly those under the age of 21 and prisoners with disabilities who are 21 or younger, in the education program within 48 hours of their admission to the facility.
The responsibilities outlined for both the School Superintendent and the Sheriff aim at not only providing education but ensuring that the delivery of the jail education program aligns with the Arizona standards. The importance of maintaining educational records and enabling a seamless transfer of such records is also emphasized.
Vice Chairman Whiting voiced support for the educational initiative for inmates, underscoring the importance of education as part of the rehabilitation process. He said, “It is a responsibility we have for those who are wanting to do, and it’s great they have the opportunity to get education.”
* Awarded the annual newspaper advertising and printing contract to Navajo County Publishers Inc., operating as The Tribune.
*Approved contracts signed by the county manager for the renewal of the HyperVelocity, for the licensing of office related software used by the county.
* Approved an amendment to the bank services agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, which revised pricing for the fourth and fifth years that should have been in the last amendment and modify the fees associated with transactions in the county’s treasury.
* Approved an application for a supervised fireworks display permit submitted by the Heber-Overgaard Chamber of Commerce.
* Authorized the Navajo County Attorney’s Anti-Racketeering Revolving Fund to provide $600 to Alice’s Place for their annual 2023 fundraiser, “Murder Mystery Dinner & Dance.”
* Accepted the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission grant which funds partial salaries for two dedicated prosecutors tasked with prosecuting drug sales and trafficking offenses. The grant is $135,474.79 and requires a $33,868 match from the county which will be taken out of funds recovered from criminals or criminal activity under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
* Approved an MOU between the Arizona Department of Administration Technology or State of Arizona 9-1-1 Program and the Navajo County 9-1-1 System Administrator so that the county can be responsible for processing payments to the service provider associated with 9-11, a function that previously belonged to the State 9-1-1 office. A second MOU was approved for the county to do the communication payments for the following law enforcement agencies; Apache County Sheriff’s Office, Snowflake-Taylor Police Department, Show Low Police Department, Pinetop-Lakeside Police Department, and White Mountain Apache Tribe, and Winslow Police Department.
* Ratified an intergovernmental agreement between Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Claysprings Pinedale Fire Department (CPFD) for additional emergency communications and radio equipment to install radio equipment on the radio tower and shelter on the existing radio tower/shelter owned and operated by CPFD. By installing additional emergency communications and radio equipment, NCSO can improve and expand its dispatching radio and communication coverage and capabilities for the purpose of dispatching first responders.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between Holbrook Unified School District No. 3 and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office for a 10-month School Resource Deputy’s involvement in their School Safety Program.
* Authorized the reissuance of stale dated checks.
* Approved the acceptance of grant funding from the Gila River Indian Community for a special response team vehicle for the Joseph City Fire District in the amount of $105,300.
* Approved tax exemptions filed pursuant to ARS §42-11153 as a request for redemption of waiver.
* Appointed Tisha Lee Carlisle as Republican Precinct Committeeman for Pioneer Precinct.
* Endorsed the submission of an Arizona Department of Transportation Encroachment Permit Application for Segment 1 of the Broadband Infrastructure Development Project, granting authority to the capital projects manager to sign this and all future permit applications required for the project.
* Approved legal services contracts for the Public Defender’s Office with the Law Office of Michael S. Penrod, PLLC for Winslow, Holbrook, Snowflake and Show Low for a total of $2,000 a month for each court.
*Approved purchase of one 2011 Caterpillar 120M Motor Grader from Empire Machinery for $150,000.
* Approved JE Fuller’s contract for the development of the Silver Creek Flood Alert System in the Silver Creek watershed at a cost to the county of $71,678.
* Approved a contract for $66,185 over two years to Granicus for webcasting capabilities for meeting management improvement, which will enhance the internal and external experience during board meetings.
The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 27, in the board chambers located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
