[00:00:05]
GOOD[ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND AGENDA Tuesday, May 28, 2024 NAVAJO COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL COMPLEX BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' CHAMBERS 100 EAST CODE TALKERS DRIVE HOLBROOK, AZ 86025 One or more supervisors may attend telephonically Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02(H), the public body will have physical access to the meeting place one (1) hour prior to the start of the meeting. The Board may vote to meet in a closed executive session to discuss certain matters and for legal advice on any item as indicated on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3). Items on the agenda may be considered out of order at the Chairperson's discretion. A copy of the agenda background material provided to the Board, except items to be considered in the executive session, is available for public inspection at the Navajo County website, www.navajocountyaz.gov WATCH THE MEETING LIVE AT: www.navajocountyaz.gov/660 All public comments will need to be made in person or in writing. Written comments will be received by the Clerk of the Board's office twenty-four (24) hours prior to the Board meeting, at melissa.buckley@navajocountyaz.gov. If further accommodation is needed, please contact the Clerk of the Board's office, at (928) 524-4053 twenty-four (24) hours prior to the Board Meeting, so accommodation can be arranged. Persons with disabilities who need accommodation to attend or participate in the meeting may contact the Clerk of the Board’s office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting, so accommodation can be arranged. “NOTICE TO PARENTS AND LEGAL GUARDIANS: Parents and legal guardians have the right to consent before Navajo County makes a video or voice recording of a minor child, pursuant to A.R.S. § 1-602(A)(9). The Navajo County Board of Supervisors' regular meetings are recorded and may be viewed on Navajo County’s website and social media pages. If you permit your child to attend/participate in a televised Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting, a recording will be made, and your child’s picture may be posted on Navajo County’s social media pages. You may exercise your right not to consent by not allowing your child to attend/participate in the meeting.” 9:00 a.m. Call To Order: Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance ]
MORNING EVERYONE.WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH OUR MEETING TODAY.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE WITH US.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE PRAYER AND PLEDGE LED BY SUPERVISOR SEYMOUR.
SO WE'LL TURN THE TIME OVER TO HIM.
PREACHER, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLA BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, FATHER ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
FATHER, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE TOGETHER TODAY AS CITIZENS IN NAVAJO COUNTY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
FATHER, WE'RE INDEED GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAD YESTERDAY TO REMEMBER THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH IN THEIR LIFE FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY, FOR THE RIGHTS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD SACRED.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE ENDURED THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES AND WHO HAVE HAD TO GO ON IN THE ABSENCE OF THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, AS WELL AS WE PONDERED UPON THOSE WHO DIDN'T SERVE, THAT WERE ALSO HAVE BEEN LAID TO REST, THAT WE MIGHT ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR KINDRED DEAD AND FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY STOOD FOR, FOR THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES THAT THEY PRAYED THAT AND HOPED AND TRIED TO PRESERVE IN THIS GREAT NATION.
FATHER, THIS TIME WE PRAY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THY GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION AS WE THE THINGS OF THE COUNTY TODAY, THAT WE MIGHT DO SO CIVILLY, THAT WE MIGHT DO FULL MINDFUL OF OTHERS AND RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER, WHERE WE ALL DESIRE TO HAVE THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT, THINGS THAT ARE GOOD, AND THINGS THAT WILL MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR EACH ONE OF US.
IT'LL BE RECOGNIZED TODAY AND FOR THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES WILL THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO LEARN, TO BE KIND, TO BE UPRIGHT, AND TO HOLD TRUE THE SACRED VALUES THAT OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE GIVEN TO US NOW.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT WE LIVE.
WE'RE MINDFUL OF THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING AND HAVE CAUSED TO MOURN, DUE TO WAR, DUE TO CONFLICTS, DUE TO DIFFERENT NATURE, THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN LIVES AND FAMILIES.
HELP US TO LEARN TO BE A LITTLE KINDER, A LITTLE SWEETER, AND BE ABLE TO ALWAYS RECOGNIZE OUR FELLOW MAN AS OUR EQUAL.
AND FATHER, WE ASK FOR THESE THINGS THIS DAY AND FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THY SPIRIT AS WE DO THE MATTERS OF NAVAJO COUNTY AND THESE THINGS WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF THY SON, JESUS CHRIST.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[1. CONSENT AGENDA: These items are considered to be routine or administrative in nature and will be approved in a single motion. A Board member may request for any item to be removed from the consent agenda and considered on the regular agenda:]
ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS UP ON THE SCREEN AS WELL.UM, AND IT'S BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.
CHAIRMAN I MOTION FOR APPROVAL AND THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS STATED.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[a. Navajo County recognizes the following employees for their excellence in personal performance, far exceeding organization expectations for the month of May: Amber Stafford (WIC), Jennifer Oldham (County Attorney), and Amber Diefenbach (WIC)]
GONNA GO TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.NAVAJO COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE AND PERSONAL PERFORMANCE FOR EXCEEDING ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS IN THE MONTH OF MAY.
I'LL HOLD OFF ON READING THOSE NAMES, SO I'LL LET YOU DO THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE, I RECOGNIZE THE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR EXCELLENT SERVICE, UH, FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.
THE FIRST ONE WILL BE AMBER STAFFORD, IF SHE CAN COME UP.
[00:05:04]
AND AMBER DIBA.ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
APPRECIATE YOU BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY, AND WE'LL GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER
[a. Presentation to Snowflake High School Track Team (girls & boys) for winning the Division 4 Track and Field State Championship]
THREE, A PRESENTATION OF THE SNOWFLAKE HIGH SCHOOL TRACK TEAM, BOYS AND GIRLS FOR WINNING DIVISION FOUR, TRACK AND FIELD STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.I THINK THEY'RE JUST IN THIS OTHER ROOM, SO I'LL INVITE 'EM IN, SQUEEZE IN.
I'M ACTUALLY REALLY IMPRESSED YOU'RE OUT OF SCHOOL AND YOU STILL DECIDED TO GET UP AND SHOW UP HERE.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY FOR YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, UH, IN YEARS PAST.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TO COME TO YOU BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU ACTUALLY COME HERE TO THE BOARD MEETING WITH US TODAY.
SO I'M GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US.
UM, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, FOR BOTH THE BOYS AND THE GIRLS.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT WIN, WE'LL HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHAMPION OR WHAT IT TOOK TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, BUT WITH HAVING TEAMS THAT DID THAT, WE TURN THE MIC OVER TO YOU, IF THAT'S OKAY.
AND MAYBE YOU COULD HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THIS TEAM'S SUCCESS AND WHAT IT TOOK TO BE A CHAMPION THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT'S HERE.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND, AND HIGHLIGHT AND RECOGNIZE, GIVE SOME RECOGNITION TO THIS GREAT PROGRAM OF BOYS AND GIRLS.
UM, TRACKING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
A LOT OF TIMES WE KIND OF FALL TO THE WAYSIDE OF GETTING ANY TYPE OF, UM, RECOGNITION WITH, UH, SCHOOL BEING OUT AND EVERYTHING.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TODAY.
THIS IS, UH, AN EXCELLENT TEAM.
THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW.
THEY'VE WON STATE AND, UH, THIS IS OUR GIRLS SECOND YEAR IN A ROW TO WIN STATE.
AND THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR TO HAVE BOYS AND GIRLS WIN STATE.
THAT HAS ONLY HAPPENED, IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THEN THE LAST TWO YEARS, OUR BOYS AND GIRLS TEAM HAVE BOTH WON.
OUR GIRLS TEAM WON WITH 146 POINTS MORE THAN DOUBLING THE SECOND PLACE TEAM BEHIND US.
UH, WHEN WE GO AND LOOK AT THE OTHER DIVISIONS, WE WOULD'VE WON DIVISION TWO AND DIVISION THREE AS WELL AS FOUR AND FIVE.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE WON DIVISION ONE, SO PRETTY EXCELLENT.
WE WENT TO A MEET IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON WITH 50 SCHOOLS AND WE WON THAT ONE.
SO ABOUT THE, WITH ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF POINTS THAT WE WON AT STATE AS WELL.
SO WE JUST HAVE A SUPER, SUPER STRONG PROGRAM.
OUR BOYS, UM, THEY WOULD'VE GOT SECOND IN DIVISION TWO AND DIVISION THREE, SO VERY STRONG PERFORMANCE, BUT OUR, OUR BOYS WON BY 22 POINTS, I THINK.
SO IT WAS ACTUALLY, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A COMFORTABLE LEAD, BUT REALLY WAS PRETTY, UM, WE WERE BEHIND ON DAY ONE TRACK MEET.
ON DAY TWO, CLEAR TO THE END OF DAY TWO.
UM, EVERY, EVERY SINGLE BOY THAT WE NEEDED TO SCORE POINTS, SCORE POINTS.
IF ANY ONE OF THEM HAD HAD AN INJURY OR WE HADN'T DONE WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO, UH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A STATE CHAMPION.
SO I'M SUPER PROUD OF OUR, OUR BOYS TEAM FOR, FOR COMING TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND GETTING THAT, THAT WIN.
UM, OUR GIRLS RELAYS TEAMS, THE FOUR BY ONE, FOUR BY FOUR, AND FOUR BY EIGHT.
ALL THREE TEAMS. ONE STATE, WHICH IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE TO SWEEP THE RELAYS.
THAT'S THE SECOND YEAR IN THE ROW THAT WE'VE SWEPT RELAYS.
WE HAD 15 KIDS QUALIFY FOR THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET THE NEXT WEEK.
UM, WE HAD FIVE HIGH JUMPERS OR HIGH JUMP COACHMEN HIPS, FIVE HIGH JUMPERS, UH, RIDER HALL HERE.
GOT SECOND PLACE IN THE ENTIRE STATE AROUND RIDER SHOW RUNWAY WAVE.
AND BRANDON BRIN COOPER A FRESHMAN.
BRI COOPER GOT THIRD PLACE IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
[00:10:01]
UM, SO REALLY EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES.I'M, I'M PROUD OF A LOT OF, A LOT OF THESE KIDS WHO HAD PRS, CASUAL BRIM HALL HAIRS.
SHE HAD PRS IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER EVENTS AT STATE AND I WAS REALLY PROUD OF HER FOR THAT.
THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO HEAD OUT AS A SENIOR.
TY BOON HAD A SENIOR, HAD ALL PRS, BUT ALL THESE KIDS ARE JUST NOT ONLY GREAT ATHLETES, THEY'RE GREAT KIDS.
UM, WE HAD, OH, SOME SCHOOL RECORDS TOO.
WE HAD, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU GOT ON THE SCHOOL RECORD RELAY TEAM.
WE HAD A RELAY TEAM GET STATE RECORD.
COUPLE OF 'EM ARE HERE ON OUR FOUR BY TEAM AND OUR, OUR FOUR BY ONE TEAM SET SCHOOL RECORDS.
UH, ZACH CALL HERE, HE GOT THE SCHOOL RECORD AND THE TRIPLE JUMP AND HE IS GOING TO THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY.
SO, I MEAN, JUST, JUST EXCELLENT ALL THE WAY AROUND WE'RE WE COULD BE MORE PROUD.
I'M SUPER, UM, GRATEFUL TO MY COACHING STAFF.
WE HAVE EXCELLENT COACHING STAFF.
IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COACH.
ALMOST A HUNDRED KIDS, 80 KIDS AND, AND THESE, THESE GUYS, ASSISTANT COACHES MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE.
BEN HIBBS, WE GOT TR MORRISON.
HE'S A FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT GUY.
JOSEPH LARSON, AJ RODRIGUEZ AND TR NICHOLS.
I THOUGHT HE, HE MIGHT BE HERE, MAYBE HE'S DOWN WORKING COURTS OR SOMETHING, BUT HE'S A ATTORNEY HERE AT THE, THE COUNTY.
I'LL JUST SAY A COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS AND THEN WE'D LIKE TO, AND WE HAVE SOME MEDALS HERE FOR YOU, SOME FOR THE ONES THAT ARE HERE.
AND THEN WE'LL GIVE YOU THE REST TO BE ABLE TO TAKE, TO GIVE THE REST OF YOUR TEAM TO ORDER, ABLE TO MAKE IT.
BUT WANT TO JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU.
A LOT OF, LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF DETERMINATION TO, TO COMMIT TO WHAT YOU DID AND TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
UM, YOU HAVE A FEW THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.
AND THAT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE IS I SEE SOME OF THESE CHAMPIONS COME FORWARD THAT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL, BUT IT'S A GROUP COMING TOGETHER, UNITED IN PURPOSE AND ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOME PRETTY AMAZING THINGS AS THEY DO SO.
AND SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL TAKE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU LEARNED FROM THIS AND, UM, USE THAT IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
THERE WAS A FEW OF YOU THAT WERE RECOGNIZED AS SENIORS, BUT I UNDERSTAND MANY OF YOU ARE YOUNGER AND SO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN TRACK AND FIELD.
AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE SENIORS CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
THANK YOU COACHES SINCERELY FOR THE GOOD THAT YOU DO.
YEAH,
NO, WELL, GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.
IF IN FACT MAYBE WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'LL BE A LITTLE, WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE ROOM IF YOU'LL ALL COME RIGHT OVER HERE AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THESE METALS AND WE'LL DO A PICTURE, UM, OUT.
SO IF YOU GUYS WANNA ALL COME RIGHT HERE AND LINE UP AND I'LL GET YOU THESE METALS ACTUALLY WALK.
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? JUST CONGRATULATIONS.
NOT JUST ONE ONE
[b. Presentation to the Joseph City High School Softball Team for winning the 2024 State Championship]
ITEM B, PRESENTATION OF THE JOSEPH CITY HIGH SCHOOL[00:15:01]
SOFTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2024 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.WE'LL TURN THAT OVER TO SUPERVISOR.
PASS THE KAI AS THEY COME IN YOU, WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT? GOOD MORNING.
UH, THANK YOU VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, AND THOSE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL AS, UM, OUR CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZED HERE FOR THE ONE A DIVISION, UM, WHICH IS THE JOSEPH CITY WILDCATS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT KNOW ME, I'M CURRENTLY YOUR, UH, NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR FOR DISTRICT TWO, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, YOUR, YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
PREVIOUSLY IT WAS UNDER SUPERVI, UM, CHAIRMAN WHITING, BUT AS OF REDISTRICTING, UM, YOU GUYS DOWN DO FALL UNDER DISTRICT TWO.
SO IT'S, UH, IT'S HERE IN NAVAJO COUNTY.
NAVAJO COUNTY AS A WHOLE IS HOME OF CHAMPIONS.
WE HAVE FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH, WE HAVE FROM ONE A TO A TO THREE A.
WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF CHAMPIONS AND THAT'S TRULY AN HONOR, UM, TO HAVE THAT, TO HAVE EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY TO NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE YOUR ACHIEVEMENT AS STUDENT ATHLETES AS WELL, BUT ALSO JOINING IN THAT CELEBRATION WITH, ALONG WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR ACCEPTING THE INVITATION FOR TODAY'S RECOGNITION.
AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN THE TIME OVER TO THE COACH.
WE'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU GUYS GOT TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP FROM, I BELIEVE IT WAS WHAT A TOTAL OF FOUR GAMES THAT LED YOU TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND.
SO YOU MAY WELL, IT WAS A PRETTY AMAZING SEASON.
UM, WE'VE GOT SOME PRETTY GOOD ATHLETES HERE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF HARD WORK.
UM, THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING DURING THE SUMMER AND IN THE OFF SEASON.
IT'S NOT JUST DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, BUT THIS IS A SEASON ONE FOR THE BOOKS, AS YOU MIGHT SAY.
UM, WE ONLY LOST TWO REGULAR SEASON GAMES.
ONE, FOUR TO THREE AND ONE, SEVEN TO SIX.
THE TWO GAMES THAT WE LOST AT THE, AT THAT TIME WAS TO THE NUMBER ONE, TWO A TEAM AND THE NUMBER ONE TEAM IN OUR, OUR DIVISION.
UM, BUT AS WE WENT ON, WE, UH, QUALIFIED FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT AS THE NUMBER TWO SEED.
AND, UH, WE, WE GOT INTO THE, TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT THERE AND WE, WE WON OUR FIRST GAME PRETTY HANDILY.
UM, THE SECOND ONE, PRETTY HANDILY AS WELL.
UM, THE THIRD GAME A LITTLE CLOSER, WE WERE ABLE TO BEAT WILLIAMS, UM, 14 TO 11 AND THEN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE GUYS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS MY SPEECHES OR OUR WORK OR WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THEY WENT CRAZY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO THE A SU BARRINGTON STADIUM THERE.
UM, BUT AS I WALKED IN THERE, ONE OF THE THOUGHTS I HAD WAS, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN HIT THE, THE BALL OUTTA HERE.
WE HAD ALREADY HIT 40 PLUS HOME RUNS OVER THE FENCE ON THE SEASON.
AND SO I WASN'T DISCREDITING OUR GIRLS' ABILITY, BUT I JUST LOOKED AT HOW HIGH THE FENCE WON.
HOW FAR? WELL, IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG.
FIRST INNING, UM, APRIL CRANKED ONE OVER THE FENCE, AND SO IT WAS ON THEN.
BUT IN OUR, IN OUR FOUR GAMES THAT WE PLAYED IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT, WE SCORED 61 RUNS, 15 PLUS HOME RUNS OVER THE FENCE.
UM, THESE GIRLS WERE JUST UNSTOPPABLE.
KAYLEE KAYLEE PITCHING ON THE MOUND THERE WAS JUST SHUTTING GIRLS DOWN.
UM, SEVERAL OF OUR GIRLS MADE ALL REGION, SEVERAL GIRLS MADE ALL STATE.
APRIL NEAL DOWN THERE IS PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN OUR CONFERENCE.
UM, KAYLEE JAMES AND SOME OTHERS MADE FIRST TEAM ALLSTATE.
UM, A GREAT GROUP OF GIRLS TO WORK WITH, BUT I CAN'T ACCEPT ALL THE CREDIT.
UM, THESE GIRLS STARTED LEARNING SOFTBALL WHEN THEY WERE NINE AND 10 YEARS OLD.
SOME OF 'EM YOUNGER THAN THAT, PLAYING T-BALL.
UM, ALL THE COACHES THEY'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS CAN'T BE HERE, BUT MY HAT'S OFF TO THEM.
UM, BUT WHAT A GREAT SEASON FOR THEM TO PLAY AMAZING AND WORK TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE WORKED ON THIS YEAR WAS PLAYING AS A TEAM AND THEY CAN TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE SPEECHES I GAVE ABOUT TEAM AND PLAYING AS A TEAM.
AND FINALLY THEY CAUGHT THE VISION AND WE END THE SEASON ON A 21 GAME WINNING STREAK.
WE HAVE NOT LOST A GAME AT HOME IN JOSEPH CITY IN TWO YEARS.
AND, UH, IF WE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT, WE'RE GONNA KEEP THAT STREAK GOING.
[00:20:03]
UH, YES.UM, LASTLY, I'D JUST LIKE TO JUST, UM, ADD THAT YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION, UM, AND THE TEAMWORK THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT DEFINITELY DID PAY OFF.
AND THAT I'M SURE THAT EACH OF YOU AT THAT TIME, ALONG WITH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR COACHES AND THOSE THAT THEY WERE SUPPORTING YOU SAVORED THAT INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT AND THAT YOU EARNED IT THROUGH GRIT AND THROUGH PERSEVERANCE AND ALSO THAT YOU, UM, IN JOINING WITH THE NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR SCHOOL AND THAT CELEBRATION.
AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD AND THAT YOU GUYS EARNED THAT CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND SO AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DISTRICT TWO, CONGRATULATIONS AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, BESTOW UPON YOU THESE MEDALS HERE.
AND FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND, YOU MAY ALSO PROVIDE THAT TO THEM.
AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU THANK YOU COME INWARD AS WELL.
ANYTHING ELSE? SUPERVISOR
ANY DISCUSSIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? OKAY.
UH, ALWAYS GREAT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE YOUTH AND THE EXCELLENCE THEY HAVE.
[c. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration and adoption of Resolution Number 19-24, deannexing territory from the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside and annexing the same territory to the City of Show Low.]
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER C, PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 19 DASH 24 DE ANNEXING TERRITORY FROM THE TOWN OF PINETOP, LAKESIDE AND ANNEXING.THE SAME TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF SHOW LOW MR. MOORE.
THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, I'M JUST HERE THIS MORNING TO, UH, PRESENT A BRIEF AGENDA ITEM.
UH, IT'S REGARDING ABOUT A 60 ACRE, UH, PIECE OF, UH, PROPERTY NEAR SHOW LOW LAKE.
UM, THE CITY OF, UH, PINETOP LAKESIDE AND SHOW LOW, UH, HAVE KIND OF, UH, WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT WHERE, UH, CITY OF PINETOP LAKESIDE IS GOING TO DE ANNEX, UH, THAT 60 ACRE PARCEL.
UH, THE CITY OF SHOW LOW AT THE SAME TIME IS ANNEXING IT INTO WITHIN THEIR CITY LIMITS.
UM, BOTH OF THE, UH, CITIES HAVE ADAPT, ADOPTED APPROPRIATE ORDINANCES, UM, THAT WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR BOARD MATERIALS, UM, INDICATING, UH, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND SO THEY FOLLOW THE PROPER PROCEDURE THERE UNDER NINE, UH, 4 71 DASH, SORRY, SORRY, NINE DASH 4 71 0.02.
UM, BASICALLY OUR ROLE AS AT THE, AT THE COUNTY HERE IS, UH, PRETTY MUCH IS PRETTY LIMITED, UH, TO, UH, HEARING ANY PROTESTS THAT WERE FILED.
UM, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PROTESTS THAT HAD BEEN FILED, UM, AS OF THIS MORNING.
UM, AND SO, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, FROM STAFF IS GOING TO BE THAT, UH, THE, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, GO AHEAD AND, UH, ADOPT THE, UH, PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF SHOW LOWS HERE.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER, UH, MS. OCIO AND, UH, SHE'D BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE.
SO, UH, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, UM, PERFECT.
DO YOU WANT, I'M JUST AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
DO DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE THEN? ARE YOU REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT THEN? I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SHELA, YES.
UM, HERE, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING JUST HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ANY CORRECT? YES.
ALL RIGHT, THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO CHAIR'S GONNA OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME? OKAY.
HEARING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[00:25:05]
ANY MORE DISCUSSIONS OR QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, SUPERVISOR SEYMOUR.AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, BASIS FOR THIS IS REALLY, IT'S SETS IN A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IT'D BE DIFFICULT FOR PINETOP LAKESIDE TO DEVELOP TO PROVIDE SEWER, WATER, SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT YET THE CITY OF SHOW LOW IS ABLE TO DO THAT MORE SO, AND YET IT'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED.
AND SO IT'S A MINI TO BOTH CITIES AND TOWNS TO MAKE THAT EXCHANGE.
IS THAT IS SUMMARY? THAT IS CORRECT.
IT IS IN AN AREA THAT OF THE, IT'S SURROUNDED BY THE CITY OF SHOW LOW AND THE CITY OF SHOW LOW WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, SEWER, WATER, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE TO THAT AREA AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPER WITH IS WANTING TO HAVE ONE JURISDICTION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, ONE JURISDICTION FOR, UM, FOR THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT INSTEAD OF ME HAVING PART AND PINE TOP AND PART AND SHOW UP.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
HEARING NONE CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME.
CHAIRMAN, I MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON RESOLUTION NUMBER 1924.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.
[a. Presentation to Rob Douglas on his Retirement from Navajo County after 17+ Years of Service]
MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.ITEM FOUR, A PRESENTATION OF ROB DOUGLAS ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM NAVAJO COUNTY AFTER 17 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE.
WE'LL TURN THE TIME OVER TO ERIC, SCOTT, AND MISHA.
GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THIS MORNING WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR GREAT EMPLOYEES FOR NAVAJO COUNTY.
ROB HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR OVER 17 YEARS, UH, OVER IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PORTION OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, ROB IS, IS ONE OF THE MOST KIND PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET.
ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HIS FACE AND JUST ALL AROUND GOOD GUY.
I WE'RE GONNA WISH HIM THE BEST IN HIS RETIREMENT FOR SURE.
MISHA, DO YOU HAVE A COUPLE WORDS TO SAY TOO?
UH, CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIR AND BOARD.
UH, YEAH, WHEN I GOT HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, UM, IT WAS VERY APPARENT THAT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THAT ROB HAD AND EVERYTHING THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE, UM, TO, TO THE DEPARTMENT WAS JUST AMAZING.
HE HELPED ME, UM, GET THROUGH, UH, LEARNING WHAT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND, AND HELPED ME MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE DIVISION.
ROB'S EXPERIENCE AND, AND KNOWLEDGE IS, IS JUST BEYOND ANYTHING THAT I COULD EVER IMAGINE.
AND, AND HE'S VERY DIFFICULT TO, UH, TO REPLACE.
I'M GONNA MISS HIM VERY, VERY MUCH SO.
UM, WE KNOW IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO, BUT I AM GONNA MISS HIM, SO THANK YOU, ROB.
I JUST SELECT, UH, THANK, THANK NAVAJO COUNTY 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A GREAT, GREAT CAREER WORKING HERE FOR THE 17 YEARS TO FINISH OUT MY CAREER.
EVERYBODY'S BEEN GREAT FROM MY, MY LEADERS TO STAFF, TO ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY.
IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S SO HELPFUL FOR, FOR MY JOB TO BE EFFICIENT AT IT.
AND SO IT WASN'T JUST ME, IT WAS JUST EVERYBODY I WORKED WITH THAT THAT I JUST THOROUGHLY ENJOYED AND GONNA MISS A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVERYBODY HERE THAT JUST ENJOYED, BUT IT'S READY TO RETIRE.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CHAIR? YES, GO AHEAD.
UM, WELL IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU.
UM, WELL, I'VE SEEN YOU A COUPLE TIMES.
UH, MR. DOUGLAS, WHEN I WAS, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING SECRETARY OVER IN THE OLD BUILDING, I REMEMBER THAT'S WHERE I STARTED OFF, UH, MY EMPLOYMENT THERE AND, UH, GOT FAMILIARIZED MYSELF WITH THE PROCESS OF PLANNING AND ZONING, WORKING WITH THE PNZ COMMISSION AND THEN THOSE, THOSE THAT WERE THERE AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN AFTER WE HAD TO CONSOLIDATE AFTER THE, UM, HOUSING MARKET HAD TOOK A TOLL, THEN THAT'S WHERE WE HAD TO SEE.
BUT, UM, GOT TO KNOW, UM, RONNIE, UM, THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND THEN KNOWING THAT YOU WORK AT THE MCNEIL OFFICE AND THEN FROM TIME TO TIME I WOULD COME ACROSS YOUR, YOUR SIGNATURE ON DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAD TO SCAN AND THEN FILE IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACES.
BUT HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THAT CAP, I GUESS YOU CAN SAY THAT ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE, UM, FOR OUR MAIN PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING
[00:30:01]
HERE, UM, SEEING YOUR HEARING OF YOUR WORK ETHIC, ESPECIALLY FROM RONNIE AND THOSE THAT WERE AT, AT THAT TIME THERE, THAT SHARED THEIR, UM, WORK EXPERIENCE WITH YOU, UM, ON BEHALF OF THOSE THAT AREN'T THERE.BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, FROM MYSELF BEING A FORMER PNZ EMPLOYEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT AND BLESSINGS ON YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? JUDGE, GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU, ROB, FOR 17 YEARS AND I WISH YOU YOUR RETIREMENT.
MY DAD WOULD SAY, WHEN I RETIRE, I'LL HAVE A PILLOWCASE OF MONEY UNDER MY HEAD AND I'LL GO FISHING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU VICE CHAIR.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO NAU COUNTY, BUT WE REALLY WISH YOU THE BEST IN THIS NEXT PHASE OF LIFE.
CAN WE ALL GIVE HIM ANOTHER HAND? VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, ERIC? NO.
[b. Presentation/Summary of Navajo County’s Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Financial Report, Report on Internal Control and on Compliance, and Federal Single Audit Report]
GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM B, PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF NAVAJO COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR 20 22 3 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE AND FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.UH, MR. BA, GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN, WHINING, VICE CHAIRMAN, BENAL AND SUPERVISORS.
UM, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR AUDITORS.
SO, UM, AS REQUIRED BY STATE STATUTE, OUR AUDITORS ARE REQUIRED TO COME TO THE BOARD AND PRESENT, UM, THE FINANCIAL STATUS OF OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING TO THE BOARD.
SO, UM, IT'S MY IDU MY, MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MR. DON BOHART AND MR. NICHOLAS RUBA FROM THE STATE, FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA, THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL.
SO I'D LIKE TO TURN THE TIME OVER TO THEM.
UH, AS JASON SAID, MY NAME'S DON BOHART.
I'M THE AUDIT MANAGER ON THE COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR 23 AUDITS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING OUR OFFICE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT AT YOUR REGULAR MEETING, UH, TO PRESENT OUR AUDIT RESULTS AND FINDINGS FOR COUNTY.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN BEFORE WE, HERE WE GO.
BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE COUNTY'S AUDITS, I WANTED TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE ARIZONA AUDITOR GENERAL.
THE OFFICE IS A LEGISLATIVE AGENCY MADE UP OF NONPARTISAN STAFF.
WE PROVIDE IMPARTIAL INFORMATION AND SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHICH INCLUDES NAVAJO COUNTY.
WE ARE WELL VERSED IN OUR, UH, AND FOLLOW SEVERAL STANDARDS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS.
SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION WITH THE BOARD, WE ARE HERE TODAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES 11 6 6 1D, WHICH DIRECTS THE COUNTY'S GOVERNING BOARD TO REQUIRE ITS AUDITORS, THE OFFICE TO PRESENT AUDIT RESULTS AND ANY FINDINGS TO THE BOARD IN A REGULAR MEETING WITHOUT THE USE OF A CONSENT AGREEMENT AGENDA.
AND WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE AUDIT'S COMPLETION, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US, YOUR AUDITORS TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU, TO PROVIDE, TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR WORK.
TODAY WE WILL BE DISCUSSING OUR AUDIT WORK ON THREE REQUIRED ANNUAL REPORTS, THE COUNTY'S ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL AND ON COMPLIANCE, AND THE, AND THE FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.
AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, WHEN YOUR ANNUAL ANNUAL REPORTS WERE COMPLETED, WE EMAILED EACH OF YOU, UH, A LINK TO THESE REPORTS ON DECEMBER 29TH, 2023 FOR THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
UH, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2024 FOR THE REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL AND ON COMPLIANCE, WHICH HAD AN ISSUE DATE OF DECEMBER 29TH, 2023, AND MARCH 26TH, 2024 FOR THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.
THE FIRST REPORT, THE COUNTY'S ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, PRESENTS THE COUNTY'S ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OUR OPINION ON THEM.
THE AUDIT'S OBJECTIVE IS TO OBTAIN REASONABLE ASSURANCE ABOUT WHETHER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS A WHOLE ARE FREE FROM MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS, WHETHER DUE TO FRAUD OR ERROR, AND TO ISSUE A REPORT THAT INCLUDES OUR OPINION.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO REPORT ONCE AGAIN THAT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023,
[00:35:02]
WE REPORTED AN UNMODIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION, WHICH MEANS THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE RELIABLE.THE SECOND REPORT, THE REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL AND ON COMPLIANCE IS WHERE WE REPORT ANY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM OUR AUDIT OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THE REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL AND ON COMPLIANCE IS WHERE WE REPORTED THREE FINDINGS WE FOUND DURING OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT.
NICHOLAS WILL GO OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS WITH YOU SHORTLY.
FINALLY, THE THIRD AND FINAL REPORT, THE FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT REPORT INCLUDES OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE COUNTY'S COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL PROGRAM REVENUES, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS OVER EACH FEDERAL PROGRAM.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO AUDIT OUR REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND THE COUNTY'S SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL EXPENDITURES, UM, AND OUR OPINION ON THEM.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS AUDIT IS TO OBTAIN REASONABLE ASSURANCE ABOUT WHETHER THE MATERIAL NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS OCCURRED, WHETHER DUE TO FRAUD OR ERROR, AND EXPRESS AN OPINION ON THE COUNTY'S COMPLIANCE BASED ON OUR AUDIT.
THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT IS WHERE WE REPORTED ONE FINDING, UH, THAT WE FOUND DURING OUR, OUR FEDERAL COMPLIANCE AUDIT THAT NICHOLAS WILL DISCUSS LATER.
REAL QUICK, REASONABLE ASSURANCE IS A HIGH BUT NOT ABSOLUTE LEVEL OF ASSURANCE.
OUR AUDITS ARE PERFORMED FOLLOWING GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS AND FEDERAL UNIFORM GUIDANCE, BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS DETECT MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS OR NON-COMPLIANCE.
MATERIAL MEANS THE CON, THE CONSIDERABLE LIKELIHOOD THAT INDIVIDUALLY OR IN TOTAL THE MISSTATEMENTS OR OF OR NON-COMPLIANCE WOULD INFLUENCE A REASONABLE PERSON'S JUDGMENT.
FURTHER, THE RISK OF NOT IDENTIFYING MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS AND NON-COMPLIANCE IS HIGHER DUE TO FRAUD THAN FROM AN ERROR BECAUSE FRAUD MAY INVOLVE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO COMMIT FRAUD MANAGEMENT'S NOT USING INTERNAL CONTROL AND OTHER FACTORS.
WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY FRAUD IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2023 REPORTS OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE KNOW THESE REPORTS CAN BE DETAILED AND COMPLEX.
WE ALSO PREPARE AUDIT REPORT HIGHLIGHTS A TWO PAGE SUMMARY, UH, THAT YOU RECEIVED WITH THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.
THESE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE COUNTY'S LARGEST PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCES AND HOW THE COUNTY USED THOSE MONIES OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, AS WELL AS OUR KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT SOME KEY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE COUNTY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT'S INCLUDED IN OUR HIGHLIGHTS.
THE COUNTY'S FOUR MAIN SOURCES OF REVENUE CONSIST OF FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS AND PROGRAMS, SHARED STATE SALES TAXES, COUNTY SALES TAXES, AND COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE, FROM THE GRAPH, THE COUNTY'S REVENUES FROM SHARED STATE SALES TAXES AND PROPERTY TAXES HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY CONSISTENT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
HOWEVER, WHILE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY FROM FISCAL YEARS 2019 THROUGH 22 BECAUSE OF INCREASED FEDERAL GRANT REVENUE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THESE REVENUES HAVE DECLINED.
UH, AS THOSE ORIGINAL COVID-19 ASSOCIATED GRANTS STARTED COMING TO AN END AND, AND NEWER COVID-19 RELATED GRANTS PROVIDED LESS FUNDING TO THE COUNTY COMPARED TO THOSE IN PRIOR YEARS.
FINALLY, THE COUNTY SALES TAXES HAVE REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSISTENT SINCE THE LARGE INCREASE IN FISCAL YEAR 21 AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE VOTER APPROVED JAIL, UH, JAIL TAX.
OVERALL, THE COUNTY'S TOTAL REVENUES INCREASED BY OVER $300,000 FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS GRAPH, THE COUNTY'S FOUR PRIMARY EXPENSE PURPOSES CONSIST OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, HIGHWAYS AND STREETS AND HEALTH AND WELFARE.
WHILE HEALTH AND WELFARE EXPENSES REMAIN RELATIVELY CONSISTENT OVER THE PAST FIVE FISCAL YEARS OR OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, HIGHWAYS AND STREETS, EX EXPENSES DECREASED BY ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, PRIMARILY DUE TO NOT COMPLETING AS MANY ROAD PROJECTS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENSES INCREASED BY 4.1 MILLION AND $6.3 MILLION RESPECTIVELY IN FISCAL YEAR 23, MAINLY DUE TO AN INCREASED, UH, DUE TO INCREASED MEDICAL COSTS INCURRED IN THE SELF-INSURED TRUST FUND AND ADDITIONAL
[00:40:01]
SAFETY AND EMPLOYER EXPENDITURES BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE OF MARKET ADJUSTMENTS, UH, TO EMPLOYEE SALARIES.IN ADDITION, PUBLIC SAFETY EXP EXPENSE EXPENSES INCREASED DUE TO, UH, ADDITIONAL REGIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION SERVICES.
OVERALL, THE COUNTY EXPENSES INCREASED BY NEARLY $9 MILLION, UH, SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2022.
ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, THE GRAPH HIGHLIGHTS THE FIVE-YEAR TREND OF THE COUNTY'S REVENUES SHOWN IN LIGHT BLUE, EXCEEDING ITS EXPENSES SHOWN IN DARK BLUE SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2019.
ALSO, AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE BLACK LINE, THE COUNTY'S NET POSITION HAS INCREASED EVERY YEAR SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2019.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COUNTY'S OVERALL NET POSITION INCREASED BY $10.9 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2023.
TOTAL NET POSITION FOR THE COUNTY IS NOW $100.8 MILLION AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2023, OR AN INCREASE OF OVER $64 MILLION OR 177% SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2019.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NOT ALL OF THE NET POSITION IS IS SPENDABLE AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 23 BECAUSE $52.4 MILLION OF THIS BALANCE WAS INVESTED IN CAPITAL ASSETS OF THE REMAINING BALANCE, $64.9 MILLION WAS RESTRICTED FOR SPECIFIC USES SUCH AS FOR HIGHWAYS AND STREETS AND MEDICAL COSTS.
THEREFORE, THERE WAS A NEGATIVE OR DEFICIT UNRESTRICTED BALANCE OF $16.6 MILLION, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE COUNTY'S PENSION AND OPE OBLIGATIONS, WHICH WERE OVER $50 MILLION.
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE COUNTY'S FEDERAL EXPENDITURES THAT ARE PRESENTED EACH YEAR IN THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.
ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY RECEIVED GRANTS FROM NINE FEDERAL AGENCIES DURING FISCAL YEAR 2023, YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS GRAPH THAT MOST OF THE FEDERAL EXPENDITURES COME FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 RELATED GRANTS.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE A SUBSTANTIVE, UH, SUBSTANTIVE, UH, DECREASE IN FEDERAL EXPENDITURES IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, PRIMARILY DUE TO DECREASED COVID-19 AND EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS.
THE COUNTY RECEIVED BETWEEN FISCAL YEARS 22 AND 23.
SPECIFICALLY IN FISCAL YEAR 22, THE COUNTY RECEIVED $10 MILLION FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY TO REPLACE LOST REVENUE AS PART OF THE STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND.
WHILE THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO RECEIVE SOME MONIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THEY'RE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS WHEN COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS.
NICHOLAS WILL NOW DISCUSS THE THREE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS AND SINGLE AUDIT FINDING AND RECOMMENDATIONS WE REPORTED IN THE COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR 2023 REPORT.
BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 AUDIT FINDINGS, I WANT TO NOTE IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR REPORTED FOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FOUR FEDERAL COMPLIANCE AUDIT FINDINGS, AND THE COUNTY HAS CORRECTED FOUR OF THEM.
WE REPORTED A FINANCIALS AUDIT FINDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 BECAUSE THE COUNTY'S INITIAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT SUBMITTED FOR AUDIT CON, UH, CONSIDERATION, UH, CONTAINED A MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT.
WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 23 AUDIT.
THE FINDING RELATED TO THE ITS CONTROLS WAS PARTIALLY CORRECTED FOR MANAGING SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS AND CHANGES AS THE COUNTY IMPROVED ITS PROCESSES FOR TRACKING AND DOCUMENTING CHANGES REQUESTED FOR THE IT SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, THREE OF THE COUNTY'S SINGLE AUDIT FINDINGS WERE CORRECTED.
FIRST, THE FOREST SERVICE SCHOOLS AND ROADS CLUSTER FINDING RELATED TO PROVIDING TO ITS RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC THAT REQUIRED 45 DAY COMMENT PERIOD ON ITS PROPOSAL TO SPEND ITS TITLE THREE MONIES PRIOR TO SPENDING THEM WAS CORRECTED.
ALSO, THE FINDING OVER ACTIVITIES ALLOWED UNALLOWED AND ALLOWABLE COST SLASH COST PRINCIPLES FOR THE WIOA CLUSTER PROGRAM WAS CORRECTED AS WELL AS THE REPORTING FINDING OVER THE CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND.
AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, THE REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROLS AND ON COMPLIANCE IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND OUR FINANCIAL AUDIT FINDINGS ALONG WITH THE COUNTY'S RESPONSES TO THEM FOR THE COUNTY, WE REPORTED THREE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS IN THE REPORT.
THE FIRST FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDING IDENTIFIES DEFICIENCIES IN THE COUNTY'S PURCHASING FUEL CARD PROCESS.
THE COUNTY PAID NEARLY $38,000 FOR
[00:45:01]
EMPLOYEES FUEL PURCHASES, BUT DID NOT ENSURE THAT THE FUEL WAS USED IN COUNTY VEHICLES, WHICH PUTS PUBLIC MONIES AT RISK FOR MISUSE AND POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION.SPECIFICALLY, WE ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 750 FUEL PURCHASES MADE BY OVER 175 EMPLOYEES.
WE AND THE COUNTY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHETHER THESE FUEL PURCHASES WERE FOR OFFICIAL COUNTY BUSINESS PURPOSES BECAUSE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE.
IT'S SUFFICIENT TO CONDUCT AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW PRIOR TO THE ISSUING OF OUR REPORT.
WE ALSO NOTED DURING OUR WORK THAT $52 WAS SPENT ON UNALLOWABLE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PURCHASED DURING A BUSINESS DINNER AFTER A CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON DC.
THE COUNTY DID NOT IDENTIFY THIS AT THE TIME OF ITS INTERNAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE TRANSACTION AND WAS NOT AWARE OF IT UNTIL WE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR INTENTION.
ONCE WE NOTIFIED THE COUNTY OF THIS ALLOWABLE UNLOVABLE CHARGE, THEY ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CARDHOLDER.
THESE DEFICIENCIES RELATED TO FUEL PURCHASES OCCURRED BECAUSE THE COUNTY DID NOT HAVE RECONCILING PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT FUEL PURCHASES WERE SOLELY USED FOR AN AUTHORIZED COUNTY VEHICLE, INCLUDING MAINTAINING COUNTY VEHICLE LAWS WITH MILEAGE DRIVE-IN TRIP PURPOSE FUEL PURCHASED AND RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYEE'S NAME, ALONG WITH OTHER PER PERTINENT INFORMATION ON THE COUNTY'S TRAVEL FORM.
FURTHER, FOR THE $52 PURCHASES OF UNLOVABLE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, THE PURCHASE THE CARD HOLDER FAILED TO FOLLOW THE COUNTY'S POLICIES PROHIBITING THE PURCHASE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND PURCHASING CARD APPROVER FAILED TO IDENTIFY, INVESTIGATE, AND REPORT THE VIOLATION.
WE DID NOT IN IDENTIFY ANY OF THE PURCHASES THAT WE CONSIDERED TO NOT BE FOR OFFICIAL COUNTY PURPOSES.
THEREFORE, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNTY ENSURE ALL EMPLOYEES APPROVE THE USE OF COUNTY PURCHASE PARTS FOLLOWING COUNTY POLICY, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO USE THEIR CARD TO PURCHASE FUEL FOR PERSONAL VEHICLES, EVEN WHEN USING A PERSONAL VEHICLE FOR OFFICIAL COUNTY BUSINESS BY IMPROVING ITS PROCEDURES OVER PURCHASING CARD FUEL PURCHASES.
SPECIFICALLY, THE COUNTY SHOULD CREATE AND MAINTAIN VEHICLE LOGS FOR ALL COUNTY VEHICLES, REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO RECORD THE COUNTY VEHICLE AND LICENSE PLATE NUMBER ON THE PURCHASING CARD FUEL RECEIPT, AND WHEN APPLICABLE, THE TRAVEL FORM WHEN PURCHASING VIEW FUEL.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY SHOULD REQUIRE THE FUEL FORM APPROVER TO RECONCILE PURCHASE CARD FUEL PURCHASES TO THE COUNTY'S VEHICLE LOGS.
THE COUNTY SHOULD ALSO CONDUCT AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF ALL EMPLOYEES FUEL PURCHASES MADE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY'RE REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE, INVESTIGATE ANY QUESTIONABLE PURCHASES AND TAKE ACTIONS SUCH AS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM EMPLOYEES AS APPROPRIATE.
UH, FINALLY, THE COUNTY SHOULD ENSURE PUBLIC MONIES ARE NOT SPENT ON UN ALLOWED BY ALCOHOLIC PER BEVERAGES BY FORCING EXISTING PURCHASING CARD POLICIES THAT REQUIRED THE PURCHASE THE CARD APPROVER TO REVIEW TRANSACTIONS INCLUDING ITEMIZED RECEIPTS AND INVESTIGATE AND REPORT MISUSES TO THE PURCHASE CARD ADMINISTRATOR OR PROCUREMENT MANAGER.
A SIMILAR FINDING OVER PURCHASE CARDS HAS BEEN REPORTED SINCE FISCAL YEAR 19.
THE COUNTY REPORTED THAT IT CONCURS WITH A FINDING AND PLANS TO IMPLEMENT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS BY JUNE 30TH, 2024.
THE SECOND FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF FINDING IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES IN THE COUNTY PROCESS FOR RISK MANAGEMENT AND DOCUMENTING ITS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RISKS, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE AN OVERALL RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
THAT INCLUDES IDENTIFYING, ANALYZING, AND RESPONDING TO THE COUNTY-WIDE INFORMATION OR IT RISKS.
ALSO, IT DID NOT INCLUDE CLASSIFYING AND INVENTORY SENSITIVE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT NEED STRONGER ACCESS AND SECURITY CONTROLS.
THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE COUNTY'S ADMINISTRATION AND IT MANAGEMENT HAS NOT FULLY IN IMPLEMENTED IT RISK ASSESSMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT TAKES TO DO SO.
THEREFORE, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNTY'S PLAN FOR WHERE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES AND WHERE TO IMPLEMENT CRITICAL CONTROLS AND PERFORM AN ANNUAL ENTITY WIDE IT RISK ASSESSMENT.
THAT INCLUDES EVALUATING AND DOCUMENTING RISK AND SAFEGUARDS.
THE COUNTY SHOULD ALSO EVALUATE AND MANAGE THE RISK OF HOLDING SENSITIVE INFORMATION BY CLASSIFYING AN INVENTORY OF THE INFORMATION THE COUNTY HOLDS TO ASSESS WHETHER STRONGER ACCESS AND SECURITY CONTROLS MAY BE NEEDED TO PROTECT DATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
A STATE A SIMILAR FINDING HAS BEEN REPORTED SINCE FISCAL YEAR 16TH.
THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO WORK ON IMPLEMENTING OUR PRIOR RECOMMENDATIONS IS CONCURRED WITH OUR FINDING AND REPORTED THAT ANTICIPATES, UH, UH, FULLY CORRECTING THESE DEFICIENCIES BY JUNE 30TH, 2025.
THE THIRD FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDING IDENTIFIES DEFICIENCIES IN THE COUNTY'S CONTROL OVER ITS IT SYSTEMS AND DATA.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE IT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND DEVELOPS A PROCESS TO ENSURE THE PROCEDURES BEING CONSTANTLY FOLLOWED TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO ITS IT SYSTEMS. IT CONFIGURES IT SYSTEMS SECURELY AND MANAGING SYSTEM CHANGES.
THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND IT MANAGEMENT
[00:50:01]
HAVE NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED THE IT ACCESS AND SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THEY HAVE DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT TAKES TO DO SO, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNTY APPROPRIATELY RESTRICT ACCESS TO ITS IT SYSTEMS AND MANAGE SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS AND CHANGES.A SIMILAR FINDING HAS REPORTED SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2007 AND THE COUNTY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROCESS ON IMPLEMENTING SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS SINCE THEN.
THE COUNTY REPORTED THAT IT CONCURS WITH THE FINDING AND ANTICIPATES FULLY CORRECTED DEFICIENCIES BY JUNE 30TH, 2025.
I'LL NOW DISCUSS THE SINGLE AUDIT FINDING.
WE REPORTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 23 AUDIT REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.
WE AUDITED FOUR FEDERAL PROGRAMS FOR THREE OF THE PROGRAMS. WE DID NOT REPORT ANY AUDIT FINDINGS, HOWEVER, WE REPORTED ONE FEDERAL COMPLIANCE FIGHTING RELATED TO THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OCTA OPPORTUNITY ACT ARE ALSO KNOWN AS THE WIOA CLUSTER.
UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR FISCAL YEAR 23, WE FOUND THAT THE COUNTY'S WIOA YOUTH ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT FAILED TO ENSURE THAT IT SPENT THE REQUIRED 20% OF PROGRAM DOLLARS THAT WERE EARMARKED TO PROVIDE IN SCHOOL AND OUTTA SCHOOL YOUTH PAY YOUTH WITH PAID AND UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCE DURING THE PERIOD OF APRIL, 2021 THROUGH JUNE, 2023.
INSTEAD, THE COUNTY SPENT ONLY 11%.
AS A RESULT, THE COUNTY MAY HAVE RECEIVED 30 2040 $344 THAT IT WAS NOT ENTITLED TO.
THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO PROPERLY MONITOR ITS WIOA YOUTH ACTIVITIES SPENDING.
THEREFORE, WE RECOMMENDED THE DEPARTMENT SPEND NO LESS THAN THE REQUIRED 20% OF ITS WIA YOUTH ACTIVITIES MONIES TO PROVIDE IN-SCHOOL AND OUTTA SCHOOL.
YOUTH WITH PAID AND UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCES INCLUDE A PROCESS AND ITS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ITS WIOA YOUTH ACTIVITIES PROGRAM TO FULLY IMPLEMENT NEW STRATEGIES TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN QUALIFIED IN SCHOOL AND OUTTA SCHOOL YOUTH WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM PAID AND UNPAID WORTH EXPERIENCES.
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES, UH, MONITOR BOTH THE COUNTY AND ITS SUBRECIPIENT PAID AND UNPAID WORTH EXPERIENCES SPENDING THROUGHOUT THE AWARD PERIOD AND ADJUST SPENDING TO MEET THE EARMARKING REQUIREMENT IF WORK EXPERIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LOWER THAN EXPECTED.
A SIMILAR FINDING OVER EARMARKING HAS BEEN BEEN REPORTED SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2019.
THE COUNTY REPORTED THAT IT CONCURS WITH THE FINDING AND PLANS TO IMPLEMENT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS BY JUNE 30TH, 2024.
THIS COMPLETE THIS OUR PRESENTATION ON THE COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR 2023 AUDIT REPORTS, INCLUDING THE FOUR REPORTABLE FINDINGS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER FOR YOU CONCERNING THE COUNTY'S AUDITS? QUESTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
JASON, DID YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS? YEAH, JUST, JUST A FEW COMMENTS AND A COUPLE OF WINS.
UM, FOR US, UM, WE'RE GONNA CONSIDER OUR, WE'RE GONNA CLAIM BEING THE, THE FIRST COUNTY TO ISSUE OUR FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL 23 BECAUSE OURS HIT THE, HIT THE WEBSITE FIRST.
UM, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, OUT OF THE 15 COUNTIES, ONLY TWO COUNTIES MADE THE DEADLINE OF DECEMBER 31ST AND THEN, AND WE WERE, WE WERE ONE OF THOSE TWO COUNTIES IN THE FIRST COUNTY TO DO THAT.
IN ADDITION, UM, WE STILL FEEL LIKE WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED.
WE, WE, WHEN WE ISSUE OUR FINANCIAL REPORT, IT'S A, IT'S AN ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL REPORT AND, AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED THAT TO THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH WE HAVE DONE CONSISTENTLY YEAR OVER YEAR AND, AND HAVE, AND HAVE BEEN AWARDED THAT.
AND WE EXPECT TO BE, UM, NOTIFIED OF THAT WARD HERE IN THE, IN THE COMING MONTHS FOR, FOR THIS AUDIT.
IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, AND I JUST WANT TO, UM, SAY THAT I, I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
UM, WE ARE HAVING A, A CHANGE IN AUDITORS COMING UP FOR THE, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN, UM, VERY MUCH HELPFUL IN HELPING US TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW I, I LOOK AT THESE AUDITS, UM, AUDITS, UM, YOU KNOW, A RESULT OF AUDITS, YOU KNOW, OUR FINDINGS AND SO, AND THEY ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR IMPROVEMENT.
AND WE, WE TAKE THOSE SERIOUSLY AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO IMPROVE.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO, LIKE, UM, OUR AUDITOR SAID IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A SECOND SET OF EYES HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT THAT AS WELL.
AND SO TAKING THE TIME TO COME AND WORK WITH THE TEAM IS REALLY APPRECIATED.
UH, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'D HEARD YOU SAY AT THE BEGINNING THERE WAS THAT NO FRAUD WAS FOUND, BUT A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT JUST SIMPLY HELP PREVENT FROM IN THE FUTURE MISH HAPPENINGS TO BE ABLE TO OCCUR.
AND SO THE IMPORTANCE OF YOU CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE TEAM AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS AND THEN THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM ON TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS SO THAT WE CAN BEST MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING APPROPRIATELY.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL THOSE THINGS ARE BEING CORRECTED AND WORKED ON.
[00:55:01]
SO ANYWAYS, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU BEING HERE TODAY FOR PRESENTING TO US, HELPING US TO KIND OF SEE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE SOME PLANS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? OKAY, HEARING DONE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
[c. Presentation and Update on Real Az]
GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM C, PRESENTATION AND UPDATE ON Z, THE REGIONAL'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, GROUP.MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR REAL, ALSO THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR NAVAJO COUNTY.
UM, IT'S MY PLEASURE TODAY TO, UH, TO PRESENT WITH YOU AN, AN UPDATE OF, UH, THE HAPPENINGS IN REAL AND, UH, IN, IN GETTING INTO THIS, I, I KIND OF WANT TO, UH, REFRESH US A LITTLE BIT.
IT WAS BACK IN, UH, MARCH, UH, THAT I PRESENTED TO THE, UH, THE BOARD.
AND, UH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PRIORITIES THAT REAL HAS SET FORTH AND REAL, UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE, THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR IS ACTUALLY A NETWORK OF GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND BUSINESS LEADERS ACROSS NAVAJO COUNTY, APACHE COUNTY, AND ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN.
SO, AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF REALZ, WHILE I'M ONE PERSON, ALL OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE, THE NETWORK AND THE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN CREATED OVER THE, UH, OVER THE PAST, UH, DECADE AND A HALF THROUGH REALZ.
SO, WHILE, WHILE I'M REPORTING ON THIS, I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR ALL OF IT, BUT I DO WANT YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON ACROSS, UH, THE REAL A FOOTPRINT INCLUDING, UH, NAVAJO COUNTY.
SO, UH, LAST TIME WHEN WE TALKED, I, YOU KNOW, I, I USED SOME OF THOSE LITTLE ICONS OF THOSE SEEDS BEING PLANTED.
UM, I THINK I WAS, UH, FIVE MONTHS INTO THE JOB THEN, AND, UH, NOW, NOW I'M JUST OVER SEVEN MONTHS INTO THE JOB.
SO THOSE LITTLE SEEDS BEING PLANTED ACROSS OUR PRIORITIES HAVE STARTED TO, UH, TO BE NURTURED AND TO GROW.
AND THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE STARTING TO, UH, PROVIDE FRUIT.
SO YOU'LL SEE IN YOUR BOARD PACKET THAT, UH, I, I'VE, I'VE INCLUDED A, UH, A 10 PAGE DOCUMENT THERE THAT, WHICH IS THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS, THOSE ARE THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE, UM, BEEN CONSUMING ME, UH, FOR THE, THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS ARE, ARE RECORDED THERE, BUT ALSO TO HELP MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU.
THEY'RE COLOR CODED BASED ON THE PRIORITY, RIGHT? SO IF WE'RE WORKING ON COAL COMMUNITY TRANSITIONING, WHILE THOSE ARE GONNA BE LIGHT BLUE, RIGHT? INDUSTRY RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, THOSE ARE DARK BLUE, WORKFORCE GRAY, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
BUT YOU ALSO SEE ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THOSE ACTIVITIES IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ICON.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS A QUICK WAY TO VISUALLY LOOK AT THE, THIS REPORT.
AND I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN LOOKING AT THEIR KIDS' SCHOOL REPORTS, THE, UH, THE LAST WEEK, THINK OF THIS AS THAT, RIGHT? SO SEEDS BEING PLANTED, THOSE SEEDS BEING NURTURED, GROWING INTO, UH, TO TREES, AND EVENTUALLY WE NEED FRUIT, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT THE, UH, THAT THAT FRUIT BASKET IS DOWN THERE.
SO I'M GOING TO, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, THE MATURE PROJECTS AND THOSE THAT ARE BEARING FRUIT, UM, IN, IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.
BUT, UH, IF, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, I'D BE HAPPY TO, UH, TO ANSWER THOSE FOR YOU.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF, UH, INDUSTRY AND RECRUIT RECRUITMENT, THE, UM, OUR, OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SEEN A SERIES OF DEVELOPMENTS OF RV PARKS ACROSS THE, UH, THE REGION, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL THOSE RV PARKS ARE TIED TO TOURISM.
AND I THINK IDEALLY WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF THIS TOURIST TRADE THAT IS GOING BETWEEN THE, UH, THE, THE NATIONAL PARKS, GRAND CANYON, UH, PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK, STAYING HERE OVERNIGHT, CONSUMING FOOD CONSUMING ENTERTAINMENT, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE, UH, THE ECONOMY, UM, IN, IN, IN A TOURIST FASHION.
SO WE, WHAT WE'VE GOT IS WE'VE GOT THE, UH, THE FIRST, UH, RV DEVELOPMENT IN, UH, IN THE LAST 20 YEARS FOR TOURISM THAT'S HAPPENING IN WINSLOW, RIGHT? SO THIS IS A, UH, I I CALL THIS THE RV, UH, UH, DEVELOPMENT THERE ON I 40.
UM, SO WORKING ON THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE, UH, CITY OF WINSLOW AND THE ECONOMIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR THERE, JACK, UH, FITT.
BUT I THINK THAT'S, UH, WORTH, UH, WORTH, UH, POINTING OUT.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE HERE IS THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST ABOUT RENEWABLES, RIGHT? BUT THE QUESTION WITH THE RENEWABLE COMPANIES OR THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCERS IS WHERE ARE THE JOBS, RIGHT? I'M GONNA POSIT THIS.
[01:00:02]
OUR COAL PLANTS ARE CLOSING, BUT WE WILL NEVER REPLACE A COAL PLANT WITH THE AMOUNT OF JOBS AND THE REVENUE WITH ANOTHER LIKE ENTITY.THOSE, THOSE DAYS OF KIND OF TRADE THIS FOR THAT, THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE, UH, THE, THE NEW ECONOMY.
BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS WE ARE SEEING INTEREST IN THOSE WHO ARE WANTING TO CREATE RENEWABLE POWER, EITHER THROUGH BIOMASS, THROUGH SOLAR, THROUGH WIND OR COMBINATION.
BUT REALLY WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON WITH THIS, UH, REAL AZ GROUP, IS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD ARE UTILIZING THE LOCAL WORKFORCE THAT ARE BEING TRAINED IN OUR SCHOOLS AT NPC AND ALSO UTILIZING THE LOCAL CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE THE REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS, WHO HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, WHO HAVE THE, UH, MATERIALS TO DO THESE JOBS, RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT IMPORTING JOBS OUT OF THE VALLEY, BUT RATHER THESE PROJECTS ARE UTILIZING OUR INCUMBENT WORKFORCE.
SO THAT'S A, UH, A FEW THINGS THAT, UH, I WANTED TO POINT OUT.
IN, UH, IN JUNE, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO, UH, BE ATTENDING A, UH, INTERNATIONAL SITE SELECTION, UM, TRADE SHOW IN, IN WASHINGTON DC.
SO THIS IS THE, THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE EMBARKED ON THIS.
AND THIS IS A, UH, THIS IS AN EVENT THAT'S HAPPENING IN JUNE.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT I THINK, AND I'LL, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE BDO ZONE THERE AS WELL, UH, IN, IN SOME OF MY NEXT SLIDES.
BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW OTHER THINGS.
SO APACHE COUNTY IS, IT IS REELING FROM ITS, UH, PENDING CLOSURES OF ITS TWO POWER PLANTS.
UM, WE'VE JUST CREATED A, UH, APACHE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, RIGHT? SO THE COMMUNITIES IN APACHE COUNTY, AND, UH, THOSE, UH, TANGENTIAL TO THE, UH, POWER PLANTS HAVE A, UH, A PATH FORWARD ON WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A, LIKE FOR, LIKE REPLACEMENT, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MANY THINGS HAPPENING IN ORDER TO, UH, TO REBUILD OR RETOOL THE ECONOMY.
SO THAT'S A, UH, UM, A, A PIECE THAT'S BEEN DONE.
UH, WE, WE, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT LAST TIME ABOUT THE, UH, BUILDING RESILIENT ECONOMIES AND COAL COMMUNITIES, UH, THAT, THAT DIVERSIFICATION PLAN IS COMPLETE.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOW APPLYING AND BEING SUCCESSFUL WITH GRANT FUNDING TO RETOOL THEIR COMMUNITIES AS PART OF THAT, UH, REGIONAL DIVERSIFICATION EFFORT.
I JUST WANT TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON, UH, THE, THE NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA LOCAL WORKFORCE, UH, DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
SO I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE, UH, THE WORKFORCE BOARD.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE, UH, THE LAST FEW, UH, FEW MONTHS IS THEY WERE AWARDED OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO, UH, TO ENGAGE IN MORE WORKFORCE TRAINING, MORE APPRENTICESHIPS, MORE PAID WORK EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH, FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
SO THIS IS REALLY GOOD TO KNOW, AND I, I, I HOPE THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE, UH, PUBLIC WHO, WHO HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOOKING TO, UH, TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN, UH, WILL, UH, WILL, WILL REACH OUT.
WE'VE GOT A, UH, WE'VE GOT MORE MONEY THERE THAN WE'VE EVER HAD.
UH, THAT'S THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP AT, UH, OUR, OUR NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD DIRECTOR THAT'S, UH, JEREMY FLOWERS.
SO I WANT TO TALK, I'M GONNA MOVE ON HERE.
UM, THIS, SO WHAT'S NEW, CHRIS? THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.
AND, UH, IF, IF I, IF I MIGHT, UM, I'D LIKE TO, UH, TO SHARE A, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF NEWS.
NOW THIS IS HOT OFF THE PRESS, UH, AND, AND CLERK, IF, IF IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT TO PASS THOSE OUT.
SO WHAT I'VE GOT HERE BEFORE I GET INTO THIS SLIDE, IT'S ACTUALLY PAGE SIX OF THE NAVAJO COUNTY WEEKLY WRAP.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD NEWS IN THAT THAT COMES OUT EVERY WEEK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
AND, UH, WHAT IT, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF ME TAKING THIS ROLE, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR A BROWNFIELDS GRANT THROUGH A COALITION BY LED BY NACO.
SO THAT'S NORTHERN ARIZONA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
THEY SAYS, HEY, LOOK, NAVAJO COUNTY'S NEVER BEEN IN ON THIS.
AT THE, UH, AT, AT THE, UH, COUNTY LEVEL.
WE'VE HAD, UH, CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THESE BROWNFIELD GRANTS.
SO WHAT A BROWNFIELD GRANT IS, IS IT IS A, UH, A GRANT THROUGH THE EPA, THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT DOES ASSESSMENTS ON PROBLEM PROPERTIES.
SO WHEN YOU THINK OF A PROBLEM PROPERTY, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT HAS LEAD BASED PAINT, ASBESTOS MIGHT BE AN OLD FUEL STATION, MIGHT BE AN OLD INDUSTRIAL SITE.
BUT IN ORDER FOR THAT PROPERTY TO BE DEVELOPED OR REDEVELOPED, THERE HAS TO BE AN ASSESSMENT DONE BECAUSE BANKS WILL NOT LOAN ON ANY PROPERTIES THAT HAVE INHERENT ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES, RIGHT? SO WHAT WE'VE RECENTLY BEEN AWARDED THROUGH THIS, UH, THIS COALITION AND INCLUDING NAVAJO COUNTY, WHICH IS UNIQUE, IS $1.5 MILLION
[01:05:02]
FOR ASSESSMENTS.NOW, THIS DOESN'T GO TO THE COUNTY, THIS GOES TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO OWN THESE PROBLEMATIC SITES, RIGHT? TO GET THESE ASSESSMENTS TO DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
OR IS IT, IS IT GOOD TO, UH, REDEVELOP? BUT THE IMPORTANT THING, AND I WANT TO SHARE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PUBLIC, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE SITE ASSESSMENTS IS THEY ARE NON ENFORCEABLE, RIGHT? SO WHILE YOU MIGHT SAY, OKAY, THIS HAS GOT AN OLD, UM, GASOLINE TANK IN THE GROUND, WE NEED TO REMOVE THAT LOOK AT SOME OF THE, UH, THE, THE SURROUNDING MATERIAL.
IT IS NOT THAT THE EPA IS THEN GONNA ENFORCE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
WHAT IT HAS DONE IS IT'S IDENTIFIED THAT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORK.
AND THOSE ARE THE PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO ASSESSMENTS THAT CAN BE DONE, BUT THE MONEY FOR THOSE FOR THIS GRANT CAN GO TO PAY FOR THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
SO MY, MY, MY ASK TO THE, UH, THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY IS, IS, IS OWNERS OUT THERE THAT KNOW THEY HAVE PROBLEMATIC SITES THAT WOULD LIKE TO REDEVELOP 'EM, I'D ENCOURAGE THEM TO REACH OUT TO US, UM, TO ME, UM, SO WE CAN THEN GET THEIR ASSESSMENTS DONE AT NO COST TO THEM TO DETERMINE HOW THEY CAN REDEVELOP THESE SITES.
SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS FOR NAVAJO COUNTYWIDE, THIS INCLUDES ALL THE TRIBAL REGIONS WITHIN NAVAJO COUNTY, ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES AND ALL THE UNINCORPORATED.
SO THIS HAS NEVER BEEN, UM, POSSIBLE BEFORE.
IT'S BEEN KIND OF POCKETS OF THESE BROWNFIELD GRANTS.
BUT NOW WE'VE GOT THIS, UH, FOR THE ENTIRETY OF NAVAJO COUNTY.
SO I, I, I WANTED TO PULL THAT OUT FOR YOU.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT IN THIS SLIDE DECK.
'CAUSE IT JUST, WE, WE GOT NEWS LATE LAST WEEK AND THIS, THIS PRESENTATION WAS DONE BEFORE THAT.
SO WHAT I ALSO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS IS IN OUR REGION, WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW FORESTS, AND THESE FORESTS NEED TO BE THIN FOR, FOR REASONS OF, UH, FIRE MITIGATION, FIRE THREAT.
BUT THERE IS, THESE ARE LOW VALUE TIMBER FOREST, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN'T MAKE CONSTRUCTION GRADE, UH, PRODUCTS OUT OF IT GENERALLY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, HOW MUCH OF THIS STUFF DO WE HAVE AVAILABILITY OF? AND THIS IS WHAT INDUSTRY IS INTERESTED IN.
INDUSTRY WANTS TO KNOW HOW MANY TONS OF THIS STUFF DO YOU HAVE? BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS FOREST MATERIAL, THIS BIOMASS, THIS WOODY BIOMASS, AND TURN IT INTO, UH, PRODUCTS LIKE METHANOL OR SUSTAINING SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL OR, OR, UH, NATURAL, UH, NATURAL GAS, RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS THROUGH, UH, PROVEN, UH, PROCESSES.
SO WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENED IN OUR REGION, THERE'S BEEN TWO INDEPENDENT STUDIES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
ONE IN APACHE COUNTY OVER AT SPRINGERVILLE AND ONE IN COCONINO COUNTY WITH THE EPICENTER BEING WILLIAMS. AND REALLY WHAT WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THIS IS WE'VE SHOWN NOW THAT WE'VE GOT AVAILABILITY OF BIOMASS.
SO THIS TAKES INTO CONSIDERATIONS WHAT'S ALREADY BEING USED BY INDUSTRY.
SO WE'RE NOT TAKING FROM EXISTING INDUSTRY, WE'RE SAYING THIS IS WHAT'S LEFT OVER.
HOW MUCH OF IT IS THERE? HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE EVERY YEAR? AND WHAT TYPE OF, UH, WOODY BIOMASS IT IS.
SO THESE REPORTS, THESE BDO ZONE CREDIT RATINGS, IF YOU THINK OF THEM AS, UH, STANDARD IN POORS OR MOODY'S, UM, CREDIT RATINGS FOR STOCKS, THEY'LL GIVE YOU, YOU KNOW, A DOUBLE, A SINGLE A DEPENDING ON, UH, ON HOW RISKY THAT, UH, THAT STOCK IS.
SO BOTH OF OUR REGIONAL BDO ZONES HAVE GOTTEN A, UH, CREDIT RATING OF A, WHICH IS SOLID AND STRONG.
WHAT THIS DOES TO INDUSTRY IS THIS SIGNALS TO THEM THAT WE'VE GOT THE AVAILABLE BIOMASS FOR THEM EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? AND SO THIS ALSO HELPS WITH OUR FOREST AND WATERSHED PROTECTION EFFORTS.
SO I WANTED TO, UH, TO SHARE, SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
SO, OKAY, CHRIS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THIS? RIGHT? THIS IS COOL.
YOU GOT SOME BIG OLD WORDY REPORTS THAT INDUSTRY LIKES, BUT WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY MEAN? SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS WILL SEE IN FRONT OF YOU THERE, AND WE'VE GOT A, UH, A WEBSITE THAT'S DEDICATED TO THIS ON REAL.
SO THOSE THAT WANT TO KNOW MORE CAN, CAN FIND OUT WHO DO THEY TALK TO.
BUT WHAT WE'VE, UH, WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERS IN THE CITY OF SHOW, LOW APACHE COUNTY, THE CITY OF WINSLOW, AS WELL AS COCONINO COUNTY, TO IDENTIFY WHICH SITES ARE READY FOR BIOMASS INDUSTRY TO COME AND SET UP SHOP HERE TO UTILIZE THAT BIOMASS THAT IS, UH, PROVEN IN OUR BDO STUDIES, RIGHT? AND SO I, I'VE GOT THIS CIRCLED IN THE MIDDLE THERE, AND I, I THINK YOU'LL SEE NINE OF 'EM.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT NINE SITES IN NAVAJO COUNTY, WHICH IS KIND OF NEAT BECAUSE WE'RE IN BETWEEN THE TWO SITES IN APACHE COUNTY AND COCONINO COUNTY.
[01:10:01]
BUT WHEN INDUSTRY COMES, THEY WANT TO KNOW, DO YOU HAVE RAIL? HOW FAR FROM THIS SITE, HOW FAR FROM, UH, THE INTERSTATE YOU HAVE NATURAL GAS, ELECTRICITY, ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS WE'VE ANSWERED FOR THEM RIGHT? ON THESE SITES.BUT THESE AREN'T ALL APPLES TO APPLES.
WE'VE GOT TOMATOES IN THERE, WE'VE GOT ORANGES, WE'VE GOT SOME APPLES.
BUT REALLY THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT INDUSTRY NEEDS TO KNOW BEFORE THEY'LL DO A, UH, IN-PERSON SITE VISIT, RIGHT? SO, UH, IN, IN, IN THE PAST FEW, UH, FEW MONTHS WHEN I'VE BEEN TAKING BUSINESSES AROUND, THEY'VE, THEY'VE COME THREE, FOUR TIMES CHECKING OUT THESE DIFFERENT SITES TO ASSESS THEIR, UH, VIABILITY.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE ENCAPTURED, UH, ALL OF THE AVAILABLE SITES ACROSS APACHE COUNTY, NAVAJO COUNTY, AND A FEW IN COCONINO COUNTY.
THE, THE BULK OF THEM BEING IN OUR COUNTY, UH, FOR THIS, UH, SO I, I, I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THESE ARE SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO HELP ATTRACT INDUSTRY HERE.
SO I, I SPOKE ABOUT THE, UH, TRADE SHOW IN DC WHEN YOU GO TO A TRADE SHOW LIKE THIS, THEY'RE GONNA BE SELLING EVERYTHING FROM COSMETICS TO ALCOHOL, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO BIOTECH.
BUT REALLY WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE THAT WE ARE GOING TO, UH, BE PITCHING TO, UH, THESE, UH, THESE INVESTORS IS OUR BIOMASS AVAILABILITY AND THE SITES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, HOW DO YOU NICHE DOWN AND BE RELEVANT, YOU HAVE TO COME IN VERY SPECIFICALLY.
AND SO THIS, I SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND SOME OF THAT WORK.
SO YOU CAN SEE HOW IT IS THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THE, UH, THE, THE BUSINESS, THE NATIONAL AND THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITH, UH, WITH WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT OUR, OUR VALUE PROPOSITION HERE IN, UH, THE REAL AZ FOOTPRINT.
SO I JUST WANT TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT QUICKLY ON A, ON A FEW OF OUR, OUR OTHER PRIORITIES.
SO YOU GUYS HEARD LAST TIME ABOUT OUR, UH, ACTION, UH, PLAYBOOK FOR, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING.
SO ALL THE, UH, COMMUNITIES HAVE THOSE BEST PRACTICES.
THE TOOLS, UH, MANY OF THEM ARE TAKING STEPS IN GETTING RESOLUTIONS PASSED IN FRONT OF THEIR COUNCILS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THEIR, UH, JURISDICTIONS.
WE'VE ALSO, UH, BEEN ENGAGING ACTIVELY WITH DEVELOPERS THAT ARE LOOKING TO DEVELOP HOUSING IN NAVAJO COUNTY.
SO THIS IS A, UH, THIS IS A, A NEW STEP FOR NAVAJO COUNTY.
PRIOR, THEY WOULD JUST WORK WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
THEY WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE AND, UH, AND NETWORK WHEN THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING THESE PROJECTS.
SO WHAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING IS, IS FITTING THEIR DEVELOPMENTS TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT ACTUALLY WANT THOSE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS, BECAUSE NOT EVERY, EVERY COMMUNITY IS EQUAL.
SO, UH, WE'VE, I WANT TO, UH, KIND OF MAKE A LITTLE BIT MENTION OF OUR, OUR WEBSITE AGAIN.
SO, SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE WEBSITE IS ALL THE AVAILABLE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN NAVAJO COUNTY, RIGHT? WE'VE ALSO GOT, UH, OUR ECONOMIC DATA THERE.
UM, WHAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THAT WE'VE DONE, UH, IN PREPARATION OF, UH, OF, OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND, UH, AND AND TRADE SHOWS IS, IS WE'VE GOT A, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF, UH, FRI FLYERS, BROCHURES THAT ALL MATCHES THAT, UH, THAT IDENTITY THAT THE, UH, REAL AC BOARD CREATED.
AND THEN, UH, LASTLY, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, THE BROADBAND.
AND, AND THIS CAN'T BE OVERSTATED.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU GUYS, UH, ATTENDED THE, UH, THE GROUNDBREAKING, UH, THE OTHER MONTH.
BUT AS THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAPPEN, WE'RE GETTING MORE INQUIRIES FROM INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS, FROM BUSINESSES THAT ARE SAYING, YES, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE LAND.
NOW THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET, I KNOW YOU HAVE WATER.
NOW WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT MY BUSINESS SHIFTING INTO, UH, INTO THIS REGION.
SO THAT GROUNDBREAKING IS, UH, IS IS HAS BEEN COMPLETED A LOT OF, UH, GOOD NEWS COMING OUTTA THAT.
BUT THEN ALSO, UM, I WANT TO, UH, TO, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE, UH, THE BEAD CONTESTING PROCESS, WHICH IS UNDERWAY AND, AND, AND GONNA WRAP UP HERE SOON.
SO I THINK WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, PRIORITIES SET OUT BY THE REAL AZ BOARD, I DID MY BEST TO, UH, TO SHARE WITH YOU IN, UH, IN THAT DIRECTOR'S REPORT, WHAT ACTIVITIES I'VE BEEN DOING, WHERE I'VE BEEN DOING THEM, AND WHERE THEY'RE AT ON THE, THE SPECTRUM OF PLANTING A SEED TO ACTUALLY PROVIDING FRUIT.
SO THAT, UH, THAT ACTUALLY CONCLUDES MY, UH, MY, MY PRESENTATION.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CHAIR? I'LL JUST, UM, CHRIS, I JUST APPRECIATE THE TIME, THE EFFORT YOU'VE PUT FORTH IN SUCH A SHORT AREA.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE WANTED AS THIS BOARD TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN ECONOMIC DIRECTOR THAT CAN GET THE WORKING PARTS TOGETHER.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT TODAY, AND YOU'VE DEFINITELY ACCOMPLISHED MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR
[01:15:01]
AND APPRECIATE THAT.ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SEY, SUPERVISORS.
I THINK, UM, WHEN WE THINK OF NAVAJO COUNTY, CERTAINLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS AN IMPORTANT THREAD OF NAVAJO COUNTY.
AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE A, UM, A FORCE, A PERSON LIKE YOURSELF WHO'S ABLE TO DEVELOP THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO POTENTIAL COMPANIES IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT AND VITAL, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT, UM, GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE COMPANIES THAT WE ARE LOSING.
BUT WE WANT BE ABLE TO THINK, UM, PROACTIVELY AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES TO SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? PERSON, VICE CHAIR.
THANK YOU, CHRIS, UM, FOR DOING ALL THIS WORK WITH YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M VERY, UM, HAPPY THAT YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO THE NAVAJO CHAPTERS.
AND MOST OF MY CHAPTER AREAS, OR MY DISTRICT AREA IS NAVAJO CHAPTERS.
SO THEY'RE, A LOT OF THEM ARE INTERESTED AND HAVE, UM, PROVIDED, UM, FOR THE GRANT APPLICATION THAT YOU ARE, UM, DOING WORKSHOPS ON UP THERE.
AND I'M GRATEFUL BECAUSE IT HELPS THEM TO GET INTERESTED IN WHAT THE ELSE THEY NEED TO DO INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET FUNDS FROM THE NAVAJO NATION, BUT THEY CAN LOOK OUTSIDE AND I'M, I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH ON HOW MUCH YOU HAVE DONE AND HOW MUCH YOU HAVE, UM, UH, ADVOCATED, UM, FOR THEM TO GET A GRANT WRITER TO WORK WITH THEM AND ALSO ON THEIR BEHALF, ON THEIR OWN BEHALF, AND TRYING TO GET THEM TO, UM, FOLLOW THROUGH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY, I'LL MAKE A QUICK COMMENT THEN.
CHRIS, I, MINE'S A KIND OF A QUESTION I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY.
I KNOW THERE'S SOMETIMES SOME CONFUSION, WHICH I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, BUT, OH, THANK YOU.
BUT SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LIKE COAL TRANSITION AND DOING THAT TYPE OF A THING, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY.
UM, THOSE POWER PLANTS, THOSE ARE PRIVATE BUSINESSES YES, SIR.
THAT OWN THOSE ASSETS AND HAVE THOSE THINGS.
REALLY, A Z DOESN'T MAKE DECISIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T MAKE DECISIONS AS FAR AS WHAT PRIVATE BUSINESS DOES WITH THEIR ASSETS.
IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF WHAT I'VE SEEN YOU DO OVER THE LAST LITTLE BIT, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY, BUT I'VE SEEN YOU REALLY WORK HARD TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE REGION WITH THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
UM, AND THOSE THAT ARE INVESTORS ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING TO COME INTO THE REGION, BUT THOSE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE PRIVATE, THAT ARE MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON WHAT THEY'RE WANTING TO GO AND DO.
IS THAT KIND OF, AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? YEAH.
AND THEN IN ADDITION, YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE FORMING RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE REGION WITH EXISTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EXISTING LEADERS SO THAT WHEN THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING, YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S KIND OF COLLABORATING AND WORKING TOGETHER.
SO THAT'S WHY I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND.
I MEAN, AND I THINK YOU'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE FOLKS ARE TALKING AND WORKING TOGETHER, BUT I MEAN, PRIVATE BUSINESS MAKES PRIVATE DECISIONS AND, UH, THEY'RE GOING AND DOING THINGS.
THEY HAVE TO DO IT WITHIN THE LAW, BUT THEY'RE GOING AND, AND MAKING DECISIONS ON WHERE THEY FEEL THEIR BEST INVESTMENT IS.
MAY I JUST KIND OF CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT ON THAT, WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, CHAIRMAN WHITING IS EXACTLY CORRECT.
WHILE PRIVATE BUSINESSES, UTILITIES, OR OTHER COMPANIES WILL MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS, OFTENTIMES THEY, UH, THEY WANT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE INFORMED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
AND SO WHAT REAL A Z HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IS CREATE A, UH, A VENUE OR A FORUM WHERE A PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER SAY THEY WANT TO DO, AND I'M, I'LL USE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.
A UH, SOLAR FARM WANTS TO DO A VENDOR FAIR FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE.
I DO KNOW WHO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE IN JOSEPH CITY IN SNOWFLAKE.
AND SO IT, IT, IT'S A MATTER OF BRINGING THEM TOGETHER INTO THE SAME ROOM.
SO THEY KNOW THAT WHEN THEY PUT A, PUT A DECISION OUT, OR THEY MAKE A DECISION THAT THEY'VE GOT LOCALS THAT CAN ALSO INFORM OR SUPPORT THAT DECISION THROUGH, UH, PROCUREMENT OF, UH, SERVICES, LABOR MATERIALS.
AND SO YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT THERE IS, DOES NOT IMPOSE ANY WILL, BUT IT'S RATHER A CONVENER OF MAKING SURE THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE,
[01:20:01]
ARE VETTED ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, WHETHER THE FIT IS RIGHT, UM, THAT IS, UH, THAT IS EXPOSED THROUGH THOSE, UH, THROUGH THAT CONVERSATION OF THOSE MEMBERS.AND I REALLY APPLAUD YOU BECAUSE TRUTHFULLY, THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NOT HAD, UM, FOR YEARS WHEN I WAS ON THE SNOWFLAKE COUNCIL, AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, WHEN I WAS THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT THERE IN, IN SNOWFLAKE AND TAYLOR, PEOPLE HAD WANTED TO HAVE A LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSON, AND WE'VE JUST NOT HAD THAT.
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THE BUSINESSES HAVE COME IN, EVERYBODY'S TRIED TO DO THEIR BEST TO SUPPORT THEM OR BE IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM TO SEE HOW WE COULD FIND A FIT AND OR IF THEY WEREN'T A FIT FOR THE COMMUNITIES.
BUT NOW WE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE REGION HAS COME TOGETHER TO HELP YOU TO COME ON BOARD AND CREATE WHERE THEY HAVE A VOICE AROUND THAT.
SO I APPLAUD YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS THERE.
I CAN SEE WHERE TRUST IS BEING GAINED BY MANY, UM, THAT THEY'RE AT LEAST BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN THOSE EFFORTS.
PART OF WHY I ASK THAT IS, I SAW NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND, I HAD SIMILAR FEELINGS, BUT IN, UH, THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE IN, THERE WAS ANOTHER AUTO PARTS STORE THAT WAS MOVING INTO TOWN, AND PEOPLE WERE REALLY KIND OF BOTHERED BY IT AND SAID, HEY, WHY ARE WE HAVE ANOTHER AUTO PARTS STORE THAT'S MOVING INTO TOWN? AND, AND, UH, I COULD UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM.
HOWEVER, IT'S NOT LIKE THE TOWNS WENT AND LOOKED IN SOME CATALOG THAT THEY WENT DOWN AND, AND PURCHASED, YOU KNOW, AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND CAME IN.
THERE ARE PRIVATE INVESTORS THAT LOOKED AT A PRIVATE BUSINESS DECISION AND FELT LIKE THAT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY.
AND ANY CITIZEN OR ANYONE THAT'S WANTING TO GO MAKE AN INVESTMENT, AS LONG AS THEY FIT WITHIN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LAWS OF THE LAND CAN LOOK TO GO AND MAKE THOSE TYPES OF, THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT.
BUT ANYHOW, IT WAS JUST AN INTERESTING, UH, EXPERIENCE LOOKING AT HOW PEOPLE REALLY FELT ABOUT THAT BUSINESS COMING IN AND WANTED TO HAVE SAY IN IT.
BUT THERE WAS NO FINANCIAL, THEY WEREN'T TIED TO IT.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY, THEY DIDN'T OWN THE LAND, THEY DIDN'T OWN THE ASSET, THEY WEREN'T MAKING THE INVESTMENT.
BUT IT'S AN INTERESTING, IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO CONTINUE TO HAVE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE AREA IS ABLE TO COLLABORATE AND TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, AND YOU'RE HELPING THAT ALL TO HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AROUND THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? NO.
HARRY? NONE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
ON THE AGENDA, WE'RE GONNA GO TO SHERIFF'S
[a. Presentation on the Reaching Rural Project ]
OFFICE.ITEM FIVE, A PRESENTATION OF REACHING RURAL PROJECT.
DON, GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.
I AM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR FOR NAVAJO COUNTY.
I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE REACHING RURAL PRO, THE REACHING RURAL INITIATIVE, AND THE PROJECT IN WHICH THE REACHING RURAL TEAM HAS PUT TOGETHER.
SO THE REACHING RURAL INITIATIVE IS A ONE YEAR INITIATIVE THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER RURAL PRACTITIONERS OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO SUPPORT US IN ADVANCING SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESSING THE PERSISTENT CHALLENGES OF SUBSTANCE USE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
IN NOVEMBER OF 2022, THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE SELECTED 67 FELLOWS FROM ONLY 26 COUNTIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
AND GUESS WHAT? NAVAJO COUNTY WAS ONE OF THOSE COUNTIES THAT WAS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM, AND OUR TEAM CONSISTED OF SUPERVISOR SEYMOUR, MYSELF, LIEUTENANT PETERSON FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ALYSSA LEMON FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND LONNIE YOUNG FROM CBI.
SO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR LONG INITIATIVE, AND THIS WAS FOR THE YEAR OF 2023, OUR TEAM MET MONTHLY, VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON.
WE FLEW ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND MET WITH OTHER RURAL COUNTIES TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT PROGRAMS THEY HAD IN PLACE.
AND WE EXAMINED OUR OWN LOCAL AND REGIONAL CHALLENGES, CHALLENGES, AND THEY HELPED US TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND CO CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS MORE EFFECTIVELY.
SO BEFORE I, WE ACTUALLY GO INTO THE PROJECT ITSELF.
I WANNA KIND OF GIVE YOU A BACKGROUND ON WHAT WE BASED, UM, OUR APPLICATION ON IS.
SO NAVAJO COUNTY TRACKS OVERDOSE FATALITIES WITHIN OUR COUNTY.
AND NOT ONLY DO THEY TRACK THOSE, THEY TRACK THOSE WITH PRIOR INCARCERATION HISTORY.
SO IN 2019, 36% OF THE PEOPLE THAT FATALLY OVERDOSED HAD A PRIOR INCARCERATION HISTORY.
[01:25:01]
YOU CAN SEE IN 2020, IT WENT UP TO 60% AND ALMOST DOUBLED IN 2021 FROM 19 UP TO 76%.SO WE STARTED THINKING WE MAY HAVE TO REACH PEOPLE SOONER.
UM, THIS CAUSED OUR DRUG OVERDOSE DEATH RATE TO GO UP TO 27.6 PER 100,000 INDIVIDUALS.
UM, SO WE HAD LIEUTENANT PETERSON PULL SOME NUMBERS AS WELL FROM DRUG RELATED BOOKINGS.
IN 2020 ONE, FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN PEOPLE THAT WERE BOOKED INTO OUR FACILITY, UM, WERE ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES.
IT WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT IN 2022, DOWN TO 414.
WE ALSO ADDRESSED DURING THIS INITIATIVE WHAT OTHER CHALLENGES OUR COUNTY HAS.
BEING RURAL TRANSPORTATION IS A BIG CHALLENGE.
TRANSPORTATION TO TREATMENT, TRANSPORTATION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE INCARCERATION.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE FACT THAT TWO TREAT, WE ONLY HAVE TWO MAIN TREATMENT PROVIDERS, CBI AND CHANGEPOINT.
SO WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD CREATE A JAIL BASED PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM.
THIS WAY A PEER COULD REACH THESE PEOPLE AT INCARCERATION.
UM, AND WITH THE HOPE THAT WE COULD RESPOND TO THE IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE USE WITH CURRENTLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND ASSIST THAT IN SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY TRANSITION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, WE KNOW THAT OUR PROGRAM WILL HELP STRENGTHEN CROSS SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH PEER ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BY ADDRESSING THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER HERE IN NAVAJO COUNTY OURSELVES.
BEFORE I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, BECAUSE WE ARE A TEAM, OUR TEAM HAS DECIDED THAT A COUPLE OF THEM WANTED TO PRESENT.
SO I'M GONNA PASS YOU ON TO SOMEBODY WHO IS A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS JAIL PEER PROGRAM.
AND THAT IS ALYSSA, BUT DON'T WORRY, I'LL BE BACK.
SO WE HAVE SEVERAL GOALS IN THIS PROJECT.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE OF THE GOALS WAS TO INCLUDE SERVING JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS.
WE WANTED TO REACH 20 INMATES AT A TIME WITH THE PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, AND WE WERE HOPING TO MEET THE, HAVE THE PEERS MEET WITH THE PARTICIPANTS AT VARYING HOURS UP TO THREE TIMES A WEEK.
UH, ONE OF THE GOALS WAS TO ENHANCE REENTRY SERVICES AND TO BUILD A PEER NETWORK FOR INCARCERATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING TRIBAL MEMBERS AND VETERANS.
UM, THIS, LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, THIS WAS A CROSS SECTOR TEAM THAT WAS HIGHLY INVESTED IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT.
AND WE DID CHOOSE TO PARTNER WITH A PEER ORGANIZATION THAT WAS ALREADY PROVIDING THESE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE CHOSE A TWO YEAR PROJECT FOR, UM, THE INITIAL PHASE.
THE PEER ORGANIZATION WILL MANAGE THE PROGRAM WITH THEIR PEERS, ADHERING TO ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY THE JAIL.
THE PEER ORGANIZATION WILL COLLECT AND SHARE DATA DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT FOR EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS AND ITS SUSTAINABILITY.
THE PROJECT WILL ALLOW FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS TO BE SCREENED AT BOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.
ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS CAN THEN ENROLL IN THE PEER PROGRAM, WHICH WILL UTILIZE ONSITE AND VIDEO MODALITIES AS A MEANS OF CONNECTING WITH A PEER UPON RELEASE FROM CUSTODY.
COORDINATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR PARTICIPANTS TO CONTINUE THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH PIERCE, AND I WILL HAND IT OVER TO LIEUTENANT PETERSON.
SO I CAME ON THIS PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT LATE, UM, FROM WHEN THEY STARTED, BUT I THOUGHT IT'S GREAT.
I NEED SOMETHING FROM MY INMATES.
MY INMATES ARE COMING BACK OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THEM THE HELP.
SO WITH THE IDEA WE WANTED, WE HAD SOME GOALS.
THE GOALS WERE REDUCE DRUG OVERDOSE, UH, DEATH RATE, REDUCE RECIDIVISM, UM, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH, UM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND, UH, MITIGATE INCREASING COSTS FOR THE JAIL.
WE WANTED TO IMPACT NOT ONLY THE JAIL, BUT OUR COMMUNITY WITH THIS.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE GOALS AND THE BENEFITS OF
[01:30:01]
THIS PROGRAM.I DON'T HAVE THE DATA FOR YOU YET.
WE JUST STARTED, BUT WE WILL HAVE THE DATA.
AND WE KNOW THAT PEER IS EVIDENCE-BASED.
IT'S BEEN USED IN OTHER COUNTIES, IT'S ACTUALLY WORKING.
SO THE FIRST, UH, MY PART OF IT WAS TO GET US A MOU WITH, UM, COMMUNITY BRIDGES.
SO IN THIS MOU, THEY PROVIDE TWO RELEASE COORDINATORS.
AND THESE TWO RELEASE COORDINATORS ARE WHO COME IN AND THEIR PEERS ALSO.
THEY COME IN AND THEY TALK TO THE INMATES WHEN THEY FIRST, FIRST GET INCARCERATED AND, AND OFFER THEM SERVICES.
DO YOU WANT 'EM WANT TO BE HOOKED UP WITH A PEER? DO YOU MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF IT? UM, THEY WORK WITH THE COURTS TRYING TO GET THEM INTO POSSIBLY DRUG COURT OR, UM, A PLEA BARGAIN THAT INCLUDES SOME, UH, TIME IN REHAB.
ONCE THEY'RE RELEASED, WE'VE, IT'S SHOWN THAT IT, ONCE THEY'RE RELEASED, THAT THAT'S USUALLY WHEN THEY GO BACK TO DRUGS WITH THE PEERS.
UM, IT'S BEEN, LIKE I SAID, EVIDENCE-BASED, AS LONG AS THEY'RE STILL WITH THEIR PEER, THAT THEIR CHANCE OF RETURNING TO JAIL HAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.
UM, SO, SO FAR SUCCESSFUL AS WE WERE ON MARCH 31ST, 2024, WE DID, YOU GUYS DID SIGN THIS MOU.
UM, AND WE HAVE HIRED OUR FIRST ONE TO RELEASE COORDINATOR OFF THIS TO COME INTO THE JAIL.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON OUR SECOND ONE.
UM, IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE HARD BECAUSE WE'VE DECIDED IN THE JAIL THAT WE WANT A LONGER TIME FOR WITH THEM BEING IN THE JAIL AND SEEN.
SO, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO WORK A NIGHT SHIFT AND NOBODY LIKES A NIGHT SHIFT
BUT WE'RE GONNA FIND THAT PERFECT PEER FOR THIS.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR IF WE COME BACK AND DO THIS AGAIN, I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS OF, OF OUR SUCCESSES WITH THIS.
AND WITH THAT, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE.
I FORGOT ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO IS WATCHING ONLINE.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT HIS EXPERT WRITING.
KEN MARIANA, OUR GRANTS MANAGER, WHO HELPED US TO GET THIS INITIATIVE.
AND ALTHOUGH YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES THAT OUR TEAM HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT OVER THE YEAR, ONE THING REMAINED CONSISTENT IS KEN WAS ALWAYS IN THE FOREFRONT OF MOST ALL OF THOSE PICTURES DOING HIS SELFIES.
BUT WE APPRECIATE THE TIME TO TALK TO YOU TODAY, AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.
AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? YOU KNOW WHAT, GO AHEAD.
UM, JUST, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT THIS KIND OF WORK IS IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY TO UM, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INCARCERATED, BUT TO OUR FAMILIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I JUST WANNA THANK THOSE THAT WORKED ON THIS, UH, BEING PART OF YOUR GROUP.
I WAS KIND OF AN OUTSIDE LOOKING IN MOST OF THE TIME, JUST BEING THERE SO THAT WHEN IT CAME, WE COULD HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE, THE BOARD HERE, BUT IT'S TRULY A BENEFIT TO OUR SOCIETY.
AND I, I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM EACH OF YOU.
I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM LANA WITH HER STORY OF, OF BEING A RECOVERY PERSON AND WHAT SHE, SHE BRINGS TO THE TABLE AS WELL AS LEAH SEEING IT EVERY DAY.
AND, AND DONNA, THE JUDICIAL AND THEN THE HEALTH SIDE OF IT.
IT IS TRULY SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE IN INFLUX OF DRUGS AND, AND THE DISORDERS THAT WE HAVE, IF WE TREAT THEM AND TRY TO CHANGE, WE'LL DEFINITELY MAKE OUR SOCIETY BETTER.
SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORTS.
AND I, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT BEING YOUR DRIVER TOO.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SUPERVISOR SEYMOUR.
AND I'D ECHO AND SAY THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU.
ONE THING THAT I HEARD THAT WAS SINCERE FROM EACH OF YOU WAS THE DESIRE TO GET OUTCOMES TO GET TO WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY DRIVING RESULTS.
SO PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING IN AND, AND, UH, IN THE JAIL SYSTEM THAT ARE COMING OUT AND ABLE TO HOPEFULLY GO AND GET THEIR FEET UNDERNEATH THEM AND BE ABLE TO GO AND BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUE AND EFFORTS FOR THE DESIRE TO, TO IMPACT CHANGE FOR GOOD AND FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING.
THERE IS ONE THING THAT I WANNA ADD.
I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO GET REAL DATA POINTS.
UM, SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT I'M SEEING REPRESENTED IN THE JAIL, THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING REPORTED OF THE SUBSTANCES USED, THE AMOUNT OF OVERDOSE ARE VERY, VERY LOW.
THOSE ARE NOT ACCURATE REPORTING NUMBERS.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE, YOU KNOW, AT THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY FIRST COME IN, THEY'RE NOT TALKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
[01:35:01]
THEY'RE TALKING TO SOMEBODY IN RE IN RECOVERY.AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET NEW DATA POINTS FROM THAT, WHICH WOULD THEN MAKE US ELIGIBLE FROM A GRANT.
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND REAL QUICK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
NAVAJO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES DISTRICT.
WE'LL NEED A MOTION TO ENTER INTO THE NAVAJO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE'RE NOW IN THE NAVAJO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES DISTRICT.
[a. CONSENT AGENDA: The following item(s) are considered to be of a routine or administrative in nature and will be approved as a group unless a member of the Board wishes to discuss a particular item: ]
A ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.ANY, THOSE ARE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA, CONSENT, AGENDA, AND THEN CHAIR.
TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION CHAIR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
FOR THE HEALTH SERVICE DISTRICT.
SORRY, SECOND FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
YOU HAVE A NAY? NO, I SAID, I SAID YAY AND NAY.
[1. Presentation regarding the current wildfire conditions, restrictions status and preparedness information.]
B OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.ONE PRESENTATION REGARDING THE CURRENT WILDFIRE CONDITIONS, RESTRICTION STATUS, AND, UM, PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION.
KATRINA, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIR SUPERVISORS.
I HAVE A BIT OF A ROAD SHOW WITH ME, MY FRIENDS FROM TIMBER MESA AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
COME ON, YOU'RE GONNA BE UP HERE NEXT.
THEY, THEY GET TO SPEAK UP, UP HERE WITH ME, SO I'LL START.
UM, SO IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR THAT WE ALL DREAD AND, UM, COME BEFORE YOU SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THE LATEST AND GREATEST INFORMATION.
WHAT DO WE HAVE? UM, WE LOOK AT THE OUTLOOKS EVERY YEAR AS A TOOL.
IT IS NOT BY ANY MEANS WHAT SOMEONE SHOULD THINK OF AS THE VERBIAGE THAT THEY CAN GO OUT AND DO WHATEVER OR NOT DO ANYTHING.
UM, LOOKING AT THIS GRAPHIC, YOU'LL SEE THE MONTHS OF APRIL, MAY, JUNE AND JULY.
THE RED INDICATES SEVERE FIRE THREAT.
I, I EMPHASIZE SEVERE 'CAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS A THREAT OF WILDFIRE WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE WILD WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THESE GRAPHICS, THE NORTHERN PART OF ARIZONA DOESN'T REALLY GET INTO THE RED.
IT'S MOSTLY IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND SOUTHERN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE WON'T SEE WILDFIRES AS I'LL GET TO IN A FEW MINUTES EVERY YEAR.
THE WHITE MOUNTAIN FIRE RESTRICTIONS COORDINATION GROUP, WHICH IS MADE UP OF, OF COORDINATING AGENCIES OF THE, UH, APACHE RES FOREST DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT, BIA FORD APACHE, UH, BOTH APACHE COUNTY AND NAVAJO COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, LOCAL FIRE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS BLM.
THERE ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT EVALUATE DATA BASED INFORMATION EVERY WEEK.
THAT IS, UM, PROVIDED BY OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AS WELL AS THE SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER.
UM, THE STA SCIENCE PROVIDED DATA GIVES US THE INFORMATION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GONNA GO INTO FIRE RESTRICTIONS.
AS OF TODAY'S DATE, WE'RE NOT.
WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS LATER ON TODAY, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HOLDS FOR THE NEXT WEEK AS CITIZENS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP US OUT? WELL, I NEED YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT READY, SET, GO.
READY, SET, GO IS THE LANGUAGE.
ALL 15 COUNTIES HAVE ADOPTED TO GO INTO PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION AS WELL AS EVACUATIONS.
THAT MEANS I NEED YOU TO BE PREPARED TO, UM, BY HAVING YOUR ALERT SYSTEM SIGN UP.
YOU HAVE YOUR PROPERTY FIREWISE AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE MADE.
YOUR PLANS ARE UP TO DATE, COMMUNICATIONS, EVACUATION PLANS, AND FINANCIAL EVAC, UH, FINANCIAL EMERGENCY PLAN.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE READY TO GO.
[01:40:01]
YOU'VE TALKED TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FRIENDS, AND THEY'RE ALSO READY TO GO.I'M GONNA PAUSE HERE FOR ANYBODY THAT'S IN THE AUDIENCE.
IF YOU ARE NOT SIGNED UP FOR A, THE NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE APP, WHICH IS THIS QR CODE ON THE LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN AND NOT, OR, BUT, AND THE READY NAVAJO COUNTY ALERT SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE QR CODE ON THE RIGHT.
THESE ARE TWO OF SEVERAL AREAS WHERE YOU CAN GET VETTED OFFICIAL INFORMATION ABOUT INCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES IN AND AROUND NAVAJO COUNTY.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE SET STAGE BEING SET, IS WHEN YOU'VE LEARNED EITHER THROUGH THE ALERT SYSTEM OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE APP, THAT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE BED SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
IT COULD BE THE TIMBER MESA PAGE, THE NAVAJO COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS WEBSITES, UH, SUCH AS 3 1 1 INFO.NET.
GETTING SET MEANS YOU HAVE EITHER MOVED YOUR KIT TO THE DOOR OR EVEN BETTER TO YOUR VEHICLE.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME, OR YOU THINK YOU MIGHT NEED A LITTLE EXTRA TIME, YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO AHEAD AND LEAVE EARLY IF YOU THINK THERE'S GONNA BE AN EVACUATION.
FOLKS WITH LARGE ANIMALS, FOR INSTANCE, WOULD BE, UM, ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO LEAVE EARLY.
ALRIGHT? UM, IF AN EVACUATION DOES OCCUR, WHEN WE SEND THAT GO MESSAGE, GO MEANS GO.
RIGHT? YOU'RE NOT GONNA, JUST LIKE WHEN WE ARE KIDS, GO MEANS GO.
YOU WANNA BE THE FIRST ONE OUT THE DOOR.
FIRST ONE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
GO MEANS GO TAKE YOUR PETS, YOUR LIVESTOCK PACK, YOUR MEDICATIONS, AND IMPORTANT PAPERS, ALL BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT GET A SECOND CHANCE.
YOU MAY NOT GET A SECOND ALERT.
AND SO IT IS VERY SERIOUS WHEN WE DO SEND THESE ALERTS THAT YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, INCLUDING FROM OUR FIR OUR SAFE, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL.
ONE THING I DO WANNA MENTION, IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO EVACUATE, OUR RESIDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED OFF OF THEIR PROPERTY AT ALL FOR ANY REASON.
THAT INCLUDES GOING TO A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE TO CHECK ON THEIR ANIMALS 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE THERE.
'CAUSE THEY'RE GONNA TAKE 'EM WITH THEM.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S NOT TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE OR THE PHARMACY TO GET MEDICATIONS OR GROCERIES, ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS THAT, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE.
THEY'RE GONNA BE BUSY WORKING ON WHATEVER THE INCIDENT IS, PARTICULARLY A WILDFIRE.
SO LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE.
FIRE SERVICES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE.
SMOKEY BEAR, EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE, RIGHT? SMOKEY'S GETTING TIRED, Y'ALL.
IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR SINCE 1944, SMOKEY HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO INSPIRE AMERICANS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND HELP US PREVENT WILDFIRES.
MORE AND MORE OF OUR CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES ARE CREATED BY HUMANS.
YES, WE HAVE LIGHTNING STRIKE FIRES, BUT THOSE ARE NOT THE CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES THAT WE SEE MORE AND MORE OF SUCH AS RODEO, CHEKA, WALLOW, CEDAR CREEK, ET CETERA.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA ASK IS FOR ANYONE THAT'S OR IS TO REMIND EVERYONE, YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD TO HELP PREVENT WILDFIRES AND LISTEN TO SMOKING BY USING YOUR ASHTRAY, WHETHER IT'S IN YOUR VEHICLE OR ON YOUR FRONT PORCH.
DON'T FLICK THOSE CIGARETTES, FOLKS.
IT'S, IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA AT ANY TIME, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR THOUGH, PLEASE DON'T DRAG YOUR CHAINS.
IF YOU'RE TOWING A VEHICLE OR CAMPER, GO OUT AND HAVE FUN AND RECREATE.
BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE, THOSE CHAINS AREN'T, ARE PICKED UP.
MAINTAIN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF YOUR VEHICLE IN YOUR TIRES HIRES, PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS WHOLLY PUT OUT YOUR CAMPFIRE.
IF I HAVE TO, I'LL GET ON MY KNEES.
IT IS NOT MOTHER NATURE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL WITH YOUR MESS.
SO IF YOU PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT, AND PLEASE FOLLOW ALL RESTRICTIONS.
THEY ARE FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU LIVE HERE OR IF YOU ARE VISITING.
THOSE RULES DON'T APPLY TO ME OR I
[01:45:01]
DO LIVE HERE.THOSE RULES DON'T APPLY TO ME.
LAWS AND THEY APPLY TO EVERYONE.
YOU WOULDN'T GO TO LONDON AND DRIVE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD.
YOU WOULD CAUSE MORE ACCIDENTS, RIGHT? YOU'D PROBABLY GET HURT.
SO YOU'RE GONNA DRIVE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS YOU WOULD HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE IN LONDON.
YOU FOLLOWED THEIR RULES, THEIR LAWS.
ALL RIGHT? CREATING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, WHILE I CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT, I'M GONNA LET MY FIRE FRIENDS TALK MORE WHEN THEY GET UP HERE.
THERE ARE SIMPLE STEPS THAT EVERYONE CAN TAKE, INCLUDING CLEANING OUT GUTTERS AND ROOFTOPS AND PUTTING REFLECTIVE NUMBERS ON YOUR, UH, FOR YOUR HOUSE SO THAT THEY CAN FIND YOU, ET CETERA.
LIKE I SAID, I'LL LET THE FIRE GUYS, THESE EXPERTS BEHIND ME TALK MORE ABOUT DEFENSIBLE SPACE WHEN THEY GET HERE, AND NOW IT'S THEIR TURN.
FIRST TO CHIEF DEPUTY SWEE CHAIRMAN BOARD, UH, STAFF.
THANKS FOR HAVING US AGAIN TO TALK TO YOU GU GUYS, ABOUT THE, UH, WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS THAT WE DO.
THIS IS, THIS IS A, A NON-STOP, UH, PROCESS EACH AND EVERY YEAR.
WE, UH, KATRINA DOES A FANTASTIC JOB GETTING EVERYBODY ORGANIZED, GETTING EVERYBODY TALKING, SCHEDULING MEETINGS, SCHEDULING THE, UH, THE, THE WEEKLY MEETINGS FOR THE FIRE, UH, GROUP, UH, TO DISCUSS FIRE, UH, RESTRICTIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE HAVE A FANTASTIC WORKABLE TEAM ACROSS ALL AVENUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO THE FIRE WILDFIRE SEASON, UH, WHICH PRETTY MUCH IS YEAR ROUND ANYMORE.
UM, THE ONE THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT REAL QUICK, AND UH, AND KATRINA HIT ON IT WAS, WAS COMMUNICATION DURING THESE PERIODS OF TIME, THE COMMUNICATION THAT IS RELAYED TO THE PUBLIC IS CRITICAL.
UH, MANY PEOPLE GET, GET, UH, BAD INFORMATION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT BAD INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT'S NOT VETTED, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT BEEN, UH, LOOKED OVER OR, OR APPROVED.
AND WE TRY TO GET AS INFORMATION OUT THERE AS FAST AS WE CAN.
THERE'S A PIO GROUP, A PUBLIC INFORMATION GROUP THAT SHARES ALL THIS INFORMATION AND PUTS IT OUT ON DIFFERENT SITES, WHETHER IT BE, UH, THE PRINT PA, THE PRINT MEDIA, UH, NEWS MEDIA, UH, FACEBOOK, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND FOR OUR, UH, FOR OUR CITIZENS IS TO, TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT WILDFIRE SEASON FROM VETTED, UH, SOURCES.
UH, TIMBER MESA HAS THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
THE COUNTY HAS NUMEROUS SOCIAL MEDIA SITES AS WELL AS THE CITIES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
ALL THOSE PIOS ARE LINKED TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATE ALL THE TIME.
SO THAT'S JUST MY 2 CENTS FOR IT.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, CHAIRMAN WHITING, UH, VICE CHAIR BENELLI SUPERVISORS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
UM, FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF TIMBER MESA FIRE, WE ARE, UH, ONE OF, IF NOT THE LARGEST, UH, FIRE DISTRICT IN NAVAJO COUNTY.
UM, WE COVER FOR JUST OUR DISTRICT ALONE, WE COVER 216 SQUARE MILES IN OUR BASE DISTRICT.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A 440 SQUARE MILE AMBULANCE SERVICE, UH, DISTRICT.
UM, AND WE SERVICE APPROXIMATELY 35,000, UH, FULL-TIME RESIDENTS.
UH, IN THE, IN THE SUMMER, WE SEE THAT SWELL TO, YOU KNOW, 70,000, UH, AND WE RUN ABOUT 8,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE A YEAR.
UH, AND WE RESPOND TO A VARIETY OF, WE'RE AN ALL HAZARDS DEPARTMENT, SO WE RESPOND TO A LOT OF, UH, UH, MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CALLS, INCLUDING WILDFIRES.
UH, BUT WE HAVE A VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH MANY OF OUR LOCAL PARTNERS.
UH, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UH, COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE, UH, AUTO AID AGREEMENTS WITH, UH, PINETOP FIRE AND HEBREW FIRE.
WE HAVE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS WITH, UH, TAYLOR SNOWFLAKE FIRE.
AND ACTUALLY WE HAVE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH EVERY SINGLE FIRE DISTRICT AND FIRE ENTITY IN THE STATE, SO THAT WE CAN BOTH SEND AND, UH, AND RECEIVE RESOURCES WHEN WE NEED TO.
UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR RESPONSE MODEL TOO.
SO WE HAVE FIVE MAN STATIONS, UH, LIKE I SAID, COVERING THAT 216 SQUARE MILE AND THEN THE 440 SQUARE MILE AMBULANCE SERVICE.
UM, WE RUN WHAT'S CALLED A THREE BATTALION SYSTEM, SO AN AB AND C SHIFT.
SO ON EACH OF THOSE SHIFTS, THEY RUN A, UH, THEY WORK FOR 48 HOURS AT A TIME.
[01:50:01]
THERE'S 29 PERSONNEL, UH, ON EACH DAY.AND THAT STAFFS, UH, LIKE I SAID, FIVE STATIONS, UM, FOUR, SORRY, EXCUSE ME.
UH, A BATTALION OFFICER, FOUR ENGINES, A TRUCK COMPANY, AND ABOUT FIVE TO SIX, UH, RESCUES PER DAY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, WHEN NEEDED ON WHILE END, UH, WHILE END ASSIGNMENTS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE STATE OR EVEN OUTTA STATE, UH, WE HAVE THREE TYPE SIX BRUSH TRUCKS AVAILABLE, TWO TYPE THREE BRUSH TRUCKS, UH, THREE TENDERS.
UM, FOR OUR LOCAL SCENES, UH, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A SCENE SUPPORT THAT HAS LIKE, UH, LIGHT, UH, AIR SO WE CAN REFILL OUR BOTTLES, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, JUST RECENTLY ACQUIRED FOUR RESCUE BOATS TO, UM, TO RESPOND TO ANY WATER RESCUE EMERGENCY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ON SOME OF THE STATIC WATER SOURCES.
SHOLA LAKE, FULL HOLLOW LAKE, RAINBOW LAKE, AND WHITE MOUNTAIN LAKE.
SO EVERY YEAR WE ENGAGE IN, UH, UM, LIKE, UH, DEPUTY SHERIFF, UM, SUWANEE MENTIONED, WE RESPOND, OR IT'S A YEAR ROUND PROCESS FOR US TO BOTH ENGAGE IN, UM, RESPONSE EFFORTS AND IN PLANNING AND MITIGATION EFFORTS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE REAL QUICK SOME OF THE, THE HARD WORK THAT OUR CITIZENS AND, UH, OUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OUR, UH, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS HAVE DONE TO TRY TO, UH, MITIGATE THAT WILDFIRE RISK.
MOST NOTABLY RECENTLY, UH, IN, UH, THE CITY OF SHOW LOW HAD A REALLY COOL PROJECT CALLED THE CLEAN SUITE PROJECT.
UM, HOPE SOME OF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY, UH, PAID A LOCAL, UH, RESOURCE, DIRTY DEEDS, UH, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN NORMALLY TAKE THEIR, UM, THEIR PINE NEEDLES, THEIR TREE TRIMMING, ET CETERA, AND TAKE IT OUT THERE FOR DISPOSAL.
UH, AND THEY ALLOWED THE, THE, THE, THE CITIZENS OF CHOLO, ANY CITIZEN OF CHOLO TO JUST TAKE THEIR STUFF OUT THERE FOR FREE.
SO THEY HAD AN ARRANGEMENT WITH, WITH THIS GREAT PROJECT, RIGHT? HELPED TO REDUCE SOME OF THAT FUEL.
UM, SO, UM, IN OUR ASSESSMENT, THOUGH, WILDLAND FIRE STILL REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE, UH, OVERALL THREAT TO THE LIFE AND PROPERTY OF THE, OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.
AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VERY FORTUNATE, UH, TO AVOID ANOTHER RODEO TEDDE GUY OR A WALLOW FIRE.
UM, THAT AS WE CAN SEE, SOMETIMES CAN, CAN NEARLY WIPE OUT COMMUNITIES, AND IN SOME CASES OTHER, OTHER, OTHER, UM, OTHER INSTANCES.
COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT BEEN SO FORTUNATE.
UH, PARADISE CALIFORNIA, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE CAMPFIRE.
BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WE MUST NOT BECOME, UH, COMPLACENT.
SO I CHALLENGE EACH COMMUNITY MEMBER, UH, HOMEOWNER BUSINESS, UH, COMMUNITY LEADER IN POLITICAL BODY, TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN PROACTIVE EFFORTS, TO BECOME MORE PREPARED FOR A LIFE IN THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE.
UH, WE MUST GET FASTER, WE MUST GET STRONGER, AND WE MUST GET BETTER AT DEALING WITH THIS, UH, WILDFIRE RISK SITUATION.
SO A FEW THINGS THAT, UH, I WANT TO IMPRESS UPON, UH, PEOPLE TO DO, GET FIREWISE, UH, CREATE DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOME.
WHEN MORE HOMES ARE DEFENDABLE, A WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN BE DEFENDABLE.
NOT JUST SINGLE RESIDENCES OR SINGLE PROPERTIES, HARDENED HOMES AND OTHER STRUCTURES TO THE EFFECTS OF FIRES.
AND, UH, FIRE EMBERS, UH, LIKE MENTIONED BEFORE, INVEST, OR I'M SORRY, ENROLL IN NAVAJO, UH, READY NAVAJO COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S, UH, APP TO GET THE MOST UPDATED INFORMATION POSSIBLE.
UH, ESPECIALLY THOSE EVACUATION ORDERS OR KNOWING WHEN READY, SET, UH, WHAT STATUS WE'RE IN AS FAR AS READY, SET, OR GO.
UM, AND SUPPORT WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE SPECIFIC BUILDING CODES.
SO ANOTHER ONE OF THE MAIN EVENTS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT REAL QUICK BEFORE I, UH, DEPART YOU IS SATURDAY JULY 13TH, UH, FROM 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM THE WHITE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY'S ANNUAL FIREWISE BLOCK PARTY WILL BE HELD AT BLUE RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
UM, AT THIS EVENT, THERE'LL BE ALL SORTS OF, UH, EDUCATION ON FIREWISE INFO, CREATING DEFENSIBLE SPACES, FIREWISE LANDSCAPE, UH, PLANTS, EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS, AND, UH, THERE'S EVEN GONNA BE A BOUNCE HOUSE THERE SO YOU CAN KEEP THE KIDS, UH, OCCUPIED WHILE YOU GO TO GET SOME EDUCATION FOR MORE INFORMATION, UH, LIKE MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE@TIMBERMESAFIRE.ORG OR ANY OF OUR PARTNERS WEBSITES OR SOCIAL MEDIAS.
[01:55:03]
MR. CHAIRMAN, MADAM VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.UM, FIRST OFF, I WOULD INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I'M THE DIVISION CHIEF, UM, FIRE MARSHAL FOR TIMBER MASON FIRE, UH, FOR THE DISTRICT.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO COME HERE AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU.
UH, IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW CHIEF LON HERE.
UH, HE KIND OF STOLE MY THUNDER, WHICH IS GOOD 'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR ME TALK ALL DAY.
UH, A COUPLE THINGS REAL QUICK FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE COOPERATION, UM, WITH, UH, NOT ONLY KATRINA AT THE, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND PLANNING AND ZONING.
I WORK WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE ENTITIES PRETTY CLOSELY, AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE, THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH THEM.
AND I, I THANK EACH ONE OF THEM, UH, GETTING TO THE MITIGATION, THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY WHERE I WANT TO HIT, UM, THE POINTS ON, AS FAR AS MY DISTRICT GOES, 32 YEARS, I'VE SPENT PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT, UH, CAPACITIES.
MY, MY JOB HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO ASSESS, UH, THREATS TO THE PUBLIC, THREATS TO MY COMMUNITY, AND TO RESPOND AND TO MITIGATE THOSE THREATS.
THIS, THIS JOB IS, THIS JOB IS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT.
CHIEF LONEY MENTIONED THE OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP, UH, IN SHOW LOW, AND THIS WAS THE CITY OF SHOW LOW PROGRAM.
UH, I TOOK PART OF IT MYSELF, UH, EMBARRASSINGLY.
SO I HAVE TO ADMIT, MY PROPERTY ISN'T UP TO UP TO SPEED.
AND SO I HAVE HAD TO TAKE EFFORTS TO CLEAN MY PROPERTY UP AS WELL.
AND, AND, UH, I, I GOT SOME NUMBERS, UH, JUST FOR THE BOARD HERE THIS MORNING FOR THAT PROGRAM.
UH, I BELIEVE, UH, THIS MORNING, THE, THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THAT, UH, GREEN WASTE SITE TOLD ME THAT HE BROUGHT IN, UM, CUBIC YARD WISE, UH, IT, IT WAS, UH, 5,000 CUBIC YARDS, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO ABOUT 7,000, UH, TONS OF MATERIAL.
UM, AND THAT WAS JUST, THAT WAS JUST THOSE FOLKS THAT TOOK PART OF THAT, THAT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN MY DISTRICT.
I KNOW THAT I'VE, I'VE WORKED FROM, FROM FOREST LAKES.
IT'S NOT IN THAT IN OUR COUNTY, BUT FROM THAT AREA ALL THE WAY OVER TO PINETOP AND BEYOND.
RECENTLY, MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF AT TIMBER MASON WENT OUT INTO OUR DISTRICT AND CONDUCTED A, UH, SOME BASAL SCORING TESTS OR BASAL SCORING, UM, ASSESSMENTS OF LAND WITHIN THE CITY, UH, SHOW LOW AND A BASAL SCORING.
IT'S A SYSTEM OF, UH, IF, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, CHRIS SWEENEY OR MARK SWEENEY, CAN, CAN EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER PROBABLY THAN I CAN, BUT IT'S A WAY OF SCORING THE DENSITY OF WOODY BIOMASS ON, ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
UH, THE 60 TO 80 MARK IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE FOR, IS WHAT'S CONSIDERED A HEALTHY, UH, A HEALTHY, UH, UH, PIECE OF LAND AS FAR AS WOODY BIOMASS IS CONCERNED.
THE BASAL SCORING THAT WE GOT OFF OF SEVERAL AT A CROSS SECTION ACROSS OUR DISTRICT WAS, UH, THE HIGHEST ONE WAS 200 AND CLOSE TO 290 AS FAR AS, UM, HOW MUCH MASS, UM, BIOMASS IS ON THAT PROPERTY TO BE CLEANED UP.
OKAY? SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE A SEVERE, UH, THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITIES WHILE LANDOWNER IS THE NUMBER ONE RISK AS WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED.
UM, SO MY, MY LOOK FORWARD, I'VE GOT A TWO YEAR PLAN, HOPEFULLY THAT, UH, I CAN, I CAN GET STARTED AND I'M WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW, UH, TO MITIGATE THOSE THREATS, UH, JUST WITHIN THE TIMBER MESA DISTRICT.
UH, AND AGAIN, I JUST APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK, UH, WITH THE OTHER, THE OTHER PARTNERS THAT I HAVE.
AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE, BE HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
I OF COURSE DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH MORE OF YOUR TIME, BUT, UH, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I'M THE FIRE CHIEF FOR TIMBER MESA, ALSO THE CURRENT PRESIDENT FOR, UH, NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION.
KATRINA, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US JOIN, JOIN YOU ON THIS ENTOURAGE OR, OR WITH ENTOURAGE AS WE GO AROUND TO DIFFERENT PUBLIC ENTITIES.
BEFORE I GET INTO A COUPLE POINTS, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY THAT WE RECEIVE ON SUCH A REGULAR BASIS.
FIRE MARSHAL PEPPER TOUCHED ON IT, BUT, BUT NOT ONLY THE PLANNING AND ZONING, UH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, BUT CHRIS PASTOR'S OFFICE, WE'VE WORKED A LOT WITH CHRIS PASTOR.
WE HAVE A WORKFORCE ISSUE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU FOR HIS SERVICES, DON WILSON.
SPEAKING ABOUT, UH, THE FENTANYL OR OVERDOSE ISSUE WITHIN THE COUNTY.
WE, WE TRANSPORT A NUMBER OF PATIENTS OFF THIS MOUNTAIN ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I'D LOVE TO SHARE THE NUMBERS.
I DON'T HAVE 'EM WITH ME, BUT IT'S ASTONISHING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THIS MOUNTAIN, UH, WITH THOSE TYPE OF BEHAVIORAL OR OVERDOSE TYPE PIECES.
HISTORICALLY, WE SAW ABDOMINAL ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS LEAVING THIS MOUNTAIN.
NOW OUR INNER FACILITY TRANSPORT NUMBERS ARE ADOLESCENT AGE WITH BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
AND SO TO SEE THE COUNTY TAKE SOME STEPS TO HELP MAKE THOSE ISSUES, UH, A LITTLE
[02:00:01]
BIT EASIER FOR US TO MANAGE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED ALSO.SO MAJOR WILDFIRE ISSUE, BUT THAT IS A GROWING PROBLEM THAT WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO BAND TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE.
BACK TO WILDFIRE TYPE PIECES, THOUGH, UM, IT IS, IT'S OUR NUMBER ONE RISK.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE EQUATE TO MAYBE A FIRE COMING OFF THE WHITE MOUNT APACHE TRIBE OR MAYBE OUT OF THE FOREST SERVICE.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, MAYBE A LIGHTNING STRIKE.
I, I TELL YOU AS A FIRE CHIEF, I'M MORE SCARED OF THAT BACKYARD FIRE, UH, OR THAT BARBECUE GRILL TIPING OVER IN THE WIND AND THAT FIRE STARTING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A STRUCTURE FIRE IN THE WHITE MOUNTAIN LAKES COMMUNITY, UH, AT THE, THE CONDOS ALONG THE WHITE MOUNTAIN LAKE ITSELF.
THAT FIRE HAD VENTED THROUGH THE ROOF AND CREATED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EMBER CAST.
LUCKILY THERE WAS A BIG LAKE BEHIND IT THAT CAUGHT THAT EMBER CAST, UH, THE NEXT CONDO FIRE.
AND THERE MIGHT NOT BE A LAKE BEHIND IT.
AND THAT EMBER CAST IS GONNA GET INTO FINE FUELS.
IT'S GONNA GET INTO THE GRASS, IT'S GONNA GET ON THE SEAT CUSHIONS THAT ARE ON YOUR BACK PORCH.
UM, AND IT'S GONNA POTENTIALLY CATCH A HOUSE ON FIRE.
I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND IT JUST HAPPENED IN HEBREW OVER GUARD OVER THE WEEKEND.
THEY HAD A VERY LARGE GARAGE FIRE, MULTIPLE RESOURCES ACROSS THE COUNTY CAME AND SUPPORT 'EM, INCLUDING THE FOREST SERVICE.
AND IT, IT GOT UP INTO THE VEGETATION.
WE'RE STILL A LITTLE BIT EARLY RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT IN RESTRICTIONS, RIGHT? AND YOU SAW THE, THE GRAPHICS, REALLY COOL GRAPHICS THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT EXTREME CONDITIONS THIS YEAR.
PUT THOSE GRAPHICS ASIDE AND JUST UNDERSTAND A LITTLE FIRE ON YOUR FRONT PORCH THAT GETS INTO THE ATTIC IS GONNA SEND I ACROSS ALL ACROSS YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S GONNA CREATE CHALLENGES FOR THE FERRARI RESPONSE.
IT'S GONNA CREATE CHALLENGES FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND US AS RESIDENTS THAT WANT SO MUCH TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF US GREW UP HERE, UM, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOLS HERE, AND WE WANT THIS PLACE TO BE PROTECTED.
SO I URGE EVERYBODY ACROSS THE COUNTY TO, TO SUPPORT US AS YOU OR ACROSS THE STATE OR ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AS YOU COME RECREATE HERE, VISIT HERE, WHICH OF COURSE YOU'RE GONNA COME, AND WE WILL SUPPORT THAT TOO.
THAT WAY WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND.
I'D RATHER BE BORED INSIDE THE FIRE STATION THAN HAVING TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THOSE EMERGENCIES.
BUT, UH, COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISORS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND LOVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO.
I JUST SHARE A COMMENT THOUGH, PLEASE.
ALL OF US HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE FIRE RISK.
IF YOU LIVE IN SHOW LOW PINETOP, HEBER OVER GUARD THROUGH YOUR HOMEOWNERS PREMIUMS, OKAY? HOW THEY'VE ALL GONE UP, OKAY? AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THESE ANALYSTS KNOW THAT WE SET IN A MORE HIGH RISK AREA THAN WE WERE FIVE YEARS AGO, 10 YEARS AGO.
SO IF YOU'RE GONNA SEE A $2,000 PREMIUM INCREASE, YOU COULD HAVE SPENT THAT $2,000 IN CLEANING UP AND CUTTING SOME TREES AND THINNING, WHICH WOULD MITIGATE THE RISKS THAT WE HAVE.
IT WON'T CHANGE UNTIL WE CHANGE SOME OF OUR BEHAVIORS AND MAKE OUR AREAS SAFER.
SOME OF THE BIG COMPANIES JUST PULLED OUT OF, OUT OF, UH, CALIFORNIA, THEY WON'T WRITE ANYMORE BECAUSE NEW BUSINESS.
SO DO OUR PART, DO WHAT WE CAN BECAUSE THAT'S HUGE AND IT COSTS EACH OF US DOLLARS.
UH, KATRINA WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT MONEY THAT SHE HAS TO SPEND TO HELP YOU MITIGATE YOUR OWN PROPERTY SO THAT IT ISN'T ALL OUTTA YOUR POCKET.
BUT THERE IS MATCHING GRANTS WE HAVE FOR THE COUNTY TOO.
THANK YOU SUPERVISOR FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AND THAT'S WHY MARK IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
MARK IS MY GRANTS COORDINATOR.
HE TAKES CARE OF THOSE HEALTHY FOREST INITIATIVE GRANTS.
WE CAN COME OUT AND DO AN ASSESSMENT AND, AND IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED TO GET ON THE, THE GRANT LIST AND THEN DO THE MITIGATION WORK, WE WILL PAY YOU, WE WILL REIMBURSE YOU THE HOMEOWNER, A PERCENTAGE OF THE COST TO PAY THE CONTRACTORS TO COME OUT AND DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND AS, UM, FIRE MARSHAL PEPPER AND, UH, CHIEF LONEY AND CHIEF VALLE ALL SAID, FIRE IS OUR NUMBER ONE RISK.
SO IT'S THERE, THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE, EVEN IF YOU JUST WANT US TO COME OUT AND DO THE ASSESSMENT AND TELL US, TELL, LET US TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE GRANT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, SUPERVISOR WHITE THERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION ALIGNED TO THAT.
SO THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THERE FOR THE REGIONWIDE MM-HMM.
SO ANY TOWNSHIP, IF THEY WANT THEIR PROPERTY ASSESSED, WOULD THEY CALL KATRINA OR WOULD THEY CALL TIMBER MESA, WHERE THEY CALL PINETOP? ALL OF THE ABOVE.
BECAUSE OUR, THE COUNTY'S GRANT, WE ARE TRULY COUNTYWIDE.
UM, THE CITY OF SHOW LOW HAS ONE OF THESE GRANTS.
[02:05:01]
ONE OF THESE GRANTS.WHILE SOME OF OUR AGENCIES PARTNERS MAY BE RESTRICTED TO AREAS THE COUNTY'S GRANT IS NOT.
SO YOU CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND GET MY PHONE NUMBER, UM, NAVAJO COUNTY AZ.GOV/READY.
I WILL GET YOU TO MARK AND PRETTY SOON I'M GONNA UPDATE THAT WEBSITE JUST TO INCLUDE MARK SO YOU CAN BYPASS ME ALTOGETHER.
SO EACH, EACH ONE OF OUR FIRE DISTRICTS DOWN IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTY, PINETOP, UH, TIMBER MESA, I BELIEVE HEBREW GUARD, UH, WE ALL HAVE FIREWISE ASSESSORS.
UM, ALL, ALL THAT'S NEEDED IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS IS TO CALL UP, UH, ANY ONE OF US AGAIN, LIKE KATRINA SAID, AND REQUEST A FIREWISE ASSESSMENT.
UM, AS, AS MR. SEYMOUR, UH, MENTIONED, UM, THE, THE INSURANCE THING I, I, ON A WEEKLY BASIS, UM, I, I RECEIVE, I DON'T KNOW, UH, AVERAGE PROBABLY 10 OR 15 CALLS FROM FOLKS THAT LIVE IN, IN MY DISTRICT ALONE, SAYING THAT THEY'RE HAVING, UH, AN ISSUE WITH AN INSURANCE COMPANY INSURING THEIR HOME, UH, BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN ZIP CODE 8 5 9 0 1, WHICH IS A WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE, THE ENTIRE, MY ENTIRE DISTRICT.
SO WE'VE GOTTA GO OUT AND DO ASSESSMENTS BASED ON THE, THE FIREWISE PROGRAM.
UM, I THEN EITHER TELL THEM, HEY, YOU'VE GOT WORK TO DO, WHICH IS WHERE THEY WOULD CALL AND, AND REQUEST A CONTRACTOR OR DO THE WORK THEMSELVES.
I GIVE THEM KIND OF A PRESCRIPTION, HEY, THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM YOUR PROPERTY TO MAKE IT FIREWISE SO THAT IT, SO THAT IT FITS, UM, YOUR, WHAT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY'S WANTING.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT IS, IS GOING TO AFFECT PROBABLY, UH, I MEAN, A MAJORITY OF HOMEOWNERS, ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT, WE HAVE GOT TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS ONE, ONE WAY THAT, THAT POSSIBLY WE CAN GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS, ESPECIALLY IN, IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND WHAT I'M WORKING WITH THE CITY OF SHOW LOW IN, IN LOOKING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY, IS, IS SOME CODE ADOPTION, UM, FOR, FOR, UH, UM, FIRE ADAPTIVE HOMES.
UM, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, MY JOB IS NOT ONLY TO PROTECT FIRES, BUT THE COMMUNITY FROM FIRES, BUT, UH, ALSO TO PROTECT JOBS IN OUR AREA CONTRACTORS AND, AND FOLKS THAT HAVE, THAT, HAVE A LIVELIHOOD.
IF WE DON'T GET IN FRONT OF THIS BY, BY FIREWISE OUR COMMUNITIES AND MITIGATING THESE EFFORTS, NUMBER ONE, THE RISK FROM A FIRE HAVING TO COME IN, COMING AND DESTROYING EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE, UH, IS NUMBER ONE, THAT THAT'S HUGE.
THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, IF WE DON'T GET IN FRONT OF IT, FOLKS MAY NOT HAVE JOBS WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD BECAUSE WE CAN'T ENSURE THE HOMES THAT PEOPLE WANT, WANT TO BUILD.
UM, MY, MY RECENT PROMOTION TO, TO THE FIRE MARSHAL'S POSITION, UH, I SAT IN FRONT OF THREE FIRE MARSHALS FROM AROUND THE STATE.
IT WAS AN ASSESSMENT THAT, I'LL BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, IT WAS VERY EXHAUSTIVE.
I DON'T WANT TO EVER DO THAT AGAIN.
UM, BUT HOWEVER, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE CHIEFS THAT CAME IN ON MY ASSESSMENT, WE TALKED AFTERWARDS.
HIS BROTHER WAS A FIRE CHIEF IN PARADISE, CALIFORNIA.
HE MENTIONED TO ME THAT HIS BROTHER STATED, 'CAUSE HE HAD LOOKED AT OUR AREA WHERE HE WAS COMING OVER TO, TO, TO DO THE ASSESSMENT.
HE MENTIONED TO HIS BROTHER, THIS OTHER FIRE CHIEF THAT OUR AREA IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTY DOWN THERE, UH, FROM PINETOP TO SHOW LOW RESEMBLED PARADISE, CALIFORNIA.
SO EERILY AND LOOKING AT THE POPULATION, THE, UH, OUR TOURISM DRIVEN ECONOMY, THE AMOUNT OF VEGETATION THAT WE HAVE, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY SCARY WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT.
UH, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT TRYING TO THROW FEAR.
I'M TRYING TO THROW, THROW FACTS AND, UH, SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU.
UH, JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION, I GUESS, FROM PUBLIC, UM, SO IF AN INDIVIDUAL GETS THEIR PROPERTY ASSESSED, UM, AND THEY FIND THAT IT'S NOT FIREWISE OR DOESN'T MEET AND THEY MEET THE MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS AND THEY GO BACK AND GET IT ASSESSED AGAIN, DOES THAT, IS THERE A PARTICULAR, UM, WHERE YOU GO TO THE, YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND SAY THAT MY FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT MY PROPERTY IS FIREWISE? UM, DOES THAT ALLOW FOR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO LOOK AT YOUR PROPERTY DIFFERENTLY? OR IS IT JUST BASED ON, CAN I TOUCH ON THAT? YEP.
THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION AND A MAJOR PROBLEM.
WE, AS FIRE DISTRICTS, WE AS FIRE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE, ARE PREACHING THE PRODUCT, WHICH IS FIREWISE.
AND WE GO OUT THERE AND WE WE'RE BASING UNIFORM FIRE CODE, MAYBE WWE CODES, WILD LAND AIRBORN INTERFACE CODES ABOUT HOW PROPERTIES SHOULD BE MAINTAINED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GONNA BE SAFE FROM WILDFIRE.
UH, WE'RE FINDING OUT, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY SEVERAL PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE NOT ONLY ARE SEEING FOR THE PREMIUMS INCREASE, DOUBLE, TRIPLE, THEY'RE BEING DROPPED, AND THOSE PROPERTIES, SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE EVEN BEING FIREWISE.
WE'RE, WE'RE THEY'RE BEING BLESSED AS HERE YOU ARE, YOU'VE MET THE STANDARD.
[02:10:01]
A STATEWIDE COALITION BEING DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW.I'M ONE OF THE MEMBERS, MANY CHIEFS ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA, NORTHERN ARIZONA IN PARTICULAR, UH, ARIZONA FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, ARE BANDING TOGETHER TO GO, HANG ON A SECOND.
IF, IF, IF WE'RE GOING OUT THERE PREACHING THIS MESSAGE, UH, BE FIREWISE, PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, OUR FIRE MARSHALS, HE'S TRAINED ASSESSORS, MARK SM ARE GOING OUT AND GOING, YES, YOU'RE GOOD.
YOU DID THE WORK, OR THE INSURANCE IS GONNA FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT.
WE'RE CERTAINLY UNCLEAR WHAT THE MATRIX IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WHICH IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE INVESTING A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY.
UM, AND I GOTTA GIVE CREDIT TO, TO FLAG FIRE CHIEF GAYLORD, UH, HE HAS A, A, A PRETTY GOOD TEAM OUTTA FLAGSTAFF FIRE THAT HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON THIS AND, AND, AND PULLING SOME OF US WITH HIM.
CHIEF MORGAN AND I ARE BOTH SITTING ON THE, ON THE GROUP TOGETHER, THIS COALITION, AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WHY, WHY ARE PEOPLE BEING DROPPED? I CAN UNDERSTAND RATES MAY BE GOING UP, BUT IF WE'RE FIRE WISE, WHY AM I BEING DROPPED? AND, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOME SOLUTIONS TO THIS.
THIS IS NOT GONNA BE A SHORT TERM FIX, THOUGH.
THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.
AND GOING BACK TO COUNCILMAN SMORE OR BOARD MEMBER SEYMOUR'S COMMENTS, WE STILL HAVE TO TAKE THOSE EFFORTS THOUGH.
IF, IF MY PREMIUM'S GONNA GO UP, TAKE THAT $2,000 AND, AND MAKE YOUR PROPERTY FIREWISE, AND THEN HELP YOUR PROPERTY OWNERS NEXT TO YOU, UM, JUMP INTO THE GRANT.
UH, AS CHIEF LOY INDICATED, UH, IF WE CAN GET NOT JUST ONE HOME, BUT 50 HOMES IN A NEIGHBORHOOD TO FOLLOW SUIT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF, OF ARGUING WITH AN INSURANCE COMPANY AND STANDING OFF OF A FIRE.
AND SO WE'RE KIND OF BEING DEFEATED ON, ON, ON TWO ENDS.
WILDFIRES A MAJOR PROBLEM THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S THE HIGHEST RISK BECAUSE TEMPERATURES HIGH, OUR HS ARE LOW, IT'S JUST GONNA BURN BETTER, RIGHT? JUST SIMPLE PHYSICS.
BUT NOW INSURANCE IS CAUSING US A LITTLE BIT MORE GRIEF BECAUSE WE'RE PREACHING THIS AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN FOLLOWING SUIT WITH IT TO SOME EXTENT.
SO WE'RE CONCERNED, UH, BUT THERE'S A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO TRY TO GET IN FRONT OF THAT.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE YET.
THANK YOU, CHIEF VALIER, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S WORKING ON THAT INITIATIVE.
I, I KNOW THAT, UM, I, I LIVE IN PINETOP LAKESIDE AND CERTAINLY WE KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE, AND IT'S A FAMILIAR, I GUESS, UM, VEGETATION THROUGHOUT, UM, NORTH COUNTY OR SOUTH COUNTY.
AND, UM, THE PARTNERSHIP IS SO IMPORTANT IN HELPING US TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR, OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS AND SO FORTH.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK IN INVESTING YOUR TIME IN DOING SO.
ANY OF THE OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I JUST ECHO SOMETHING THAT MIGHT PROVE USEFUL, BUT AS YOU'RE LOOKING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND TALKING TO 'EM, PART OF WHAT I'M SEEING IS THE PROBLEM IS THE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE MADE INVESTMENTS, WHICH MAKES SENSE.
THEY'VE SEEN THAT THEY'RE HAVING MAJOR LOSSES IN THESE AREAS, AND SO THEY'VE DEVELOPED THEIR OWN.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU AS FIREFIGHTERS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH ISO, BUT THEY'RE GETTING THEIR OWN, UM, TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY'RE USING TO SCORE FIRES.
PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT I'M SEEING WITH THAT IS A LOT OF THEIR DATA DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND SO I APPLAUD YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS IN TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP AND HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
'CAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THEIR DATA IS SHOWING WHERE THE FIRES WENT, HOW THOSE FIRES ACTED, BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING, ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, NOT ONLY BY YOU AND APPLAUD YOU IN THOSE EFFORTS, BUT ALSO INDUSTRY THAT WENT INTO THOSE WWE AREAS AND STARTED TO CLEAN UP ALL AROUND IT.
AND SO THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THOSE AREAS, AND NOW IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES MODELING THAT THEY'RE DOING REFLECTS THAT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE SO THAT YOU'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT ACCURATE.
UH, WE, SEVERAL OF US RECENTLY ATTENDED THE WILD LAMB URBAN INTERFACE CONFERENCE IN, IN RENO.
AND UH, THIS WAS A MAJOR TOPIC OF WHAT, WHAT IS THE BEST MODELING TOOL THAT CAN EXIST? AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION THAT EXISTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A STATEWIDE MODEL, UM, OR A COUNTY LEVEL PROGRAM.
I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EVACUATION TYPE SOFTWARE, BUT, BUT THERE'S SOFTWARE THAT EXISTS OUT THERE THAT CAN SHOW MODELING HOW A FIRE'S GONNA MOVE BASED ON NO MITIGATION EFFORTS.
NOW, IF I PUT IN SOME MITIGATION EFFORTS, WHERE'S THE FIRE GONNA GO? MITIGATION WITH A FIRE RESPONSE, WHERE'S THAT FIRE GONNA GO? AND HOW COME TO YOUR POINT, HOW COME INSURANCE ISN'T TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION? OR, OR ARE THEY, AND WE'RE JUST NOT, WE'RE MAYBE IGNORANT TO IT, RIGHT? AND SO TRYING TO BRIDGE THOSE GAPS INTO BETWEEN THAT AND FIND THAT PROPER PROGRAM.
BUT THEN AGAIN, IT'S GONNA TURN IN SOME FUNDING PIECES, AND THAT MIGHT BE WHERE WE NEED TO RELY ON THE COUNTY GRANT MANAGER OR COUNTY GRANT ADMINISTRATOR TO FIND THOSE GRANT DOLLARS FOR US TO BRING THAT MODELING TYPE SOFTWARE TO US TO HELP MITIGATE THAT PROBLEM.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
EVERY YEAR YOU COME ABOUT THIS TIME AND IT'S VERY TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KATRINA.
THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.
[02:15:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.OH, YOU WANNA GO MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT ITEM? THE PROCLAMATION? YEP.
OKAY,
[2. Consideration of a proclamation to declare the month of May as "Wildfire Awareness Month 2024"]
IS CONSIDERATION OF PROCLAMATION TO DECLARE THE MONTH OF MAY AS WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH 2024.IT'S NATIONAL WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH 2024.
WHEREAS NAVAJO COUNTY IS DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION OF LIVES, PROPERTY, BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PREPAREDNESS, PREVENTION, MITIGATION, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND COORDINATION WITH LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL, AND TRIBAL PARTNERS.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH IS A TIME TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF THE CITIZENS, VISITORS, AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT NAVAJO COUNTY TO WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE BY UNDERSTANDING THE RISK TAKING ACTION AND BECOME FIREWISE.
AND WHEREAS NAVAJO COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE MINDFUL, VIGILANT, AND PROACTIVE TO THE DANGERS OF WILDFIRE YEAR ROUND.
AND WHEREAS CITIZENS AS WELL AS VISITORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS STEPS TO GET READY, SUCH AS HAVING A GO KIT, SIGNING UP FOR READY NAVAJO COUNTY ALERT SYSTEM, AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE READY SET GO PROGRAM.
AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION THAT SMOKEY LIVES WITHIN US ALL CAMPAIGN IN HONOR OF HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY, SMOKEY BEAR THIS YEAR, AND NO ONE IS TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD TO HELP PREVENT WILDFIRE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF NAVAJO COUNTY THAT MAY OF 2024 IS DESIGNATED NATIONAL WILDFIRE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? NOT, OR TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION? MOTION.
SO A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE'LL NEED A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SO MO OKAY.
HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE'RE NOW BACK IN REGULAR SESSION ITEM SEVEN, PUBLIC
[a. Consideration of award of Contract Number B24-03-029 Guardrail Installation, Repairs and Supplies to Brown and White, Inc.]
WORK.A CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF CONTRACT B 24 DASH ZERO THREE DASH 0 29.
UM, GUARDRAIL, INSTALLATION, REPAIRS AND SUPPLIES TO BROWN AND WHITE, INC.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, VICE CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.
THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU IS REGARDING GUARDRAIL WORK.
UH, THIS CONTRACT ALLOWS PUBLIC WORKS TO DO GUARDRAIL MAINTENANCE, PROCURE MATERIAL, AND INSTALL NEW GUARDRAIL.
UH, GUARDRAIL BEING A SAFETY FEATURE.
THIS, THIS, UH, CONTRACT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
UH, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP OUR GUARDRAIL IN GOOD CONDITION, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT POLICY.
ON MAY 9TH, UH, BITS WERE SEAL BITS WERE, UH, RECEIVED AND THE BITS WERE OPENED, UH, ONLY ONE BID WAS RECEIVED.
UH, THE DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT ARE IN YOUR PACKET, UH, WITH ALL THE DETAILS AND THE NUMBERS, UH, AT THIS TIME, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING A AWARD OF THE CONTRACT TO BROWN AND WHITE.
UH, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU MAY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD, NOT CHAIR AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION CHAIRMAN, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.
[b. Consideration of award of Contract Number B24-02-015 for Concho Highway Pavement Preservation to Sunland Asphalt & Construction, LLC., and to authorize change order authority to the Public Works Director for 10% of the contract amount, and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the necessary documents.]
CONSIDERATION OF AWARD CONTRACT B 24 DASH ZERO TWO DASH 0 1 5 FOR CONTRA HIGHWAY PAVEMENT PRESERVATION TO SUNLAND ASPHALT AND CONSTRUCTION LLC.AND TO AUTHORIZE CHANGE ORDER AUTHORITY TO THE PUBLIC ORDER DIRECTOR FOR 10% OF THE CONTRACT AMOUNT AND AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC WORK DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
A MOTION BEFORE YOU IS, UH, CONSIDERATION OF AN AWARD OF CONTRACT NUMBER B 24 0 2 50 0 2 DASH 0 1 5 FOR THE CONCHO HIGHWAY PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROJECT TO SUNLAND ASPHALT AND CONSTRUCTION, AS WAS ALSO MENTIONED.
UM, ALSO AUTHORIZING FOR A 10% CHANGE ORDER OF THE CONTRACT AMOUNT
[02:20:01]
AND AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE THAT IF NECESSARY.THIS PROJECT IS ON CONCHO HIGHWAY.
IT'S THREE MILES, UM, BEGINNING AT THE BOUNDARY OF THE TOWN OF SNOWFLAKE AND CONCHO HIGHWAY MOVING KIND OF NORTHEAST FROM THAT DIRECTION FOR THE THREE MILES.
THESE, THE TREATMENTS THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR THAT HIGHWAY ARE TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE PAVEMENT, UM, BY CORRECTING DISTRESS IN, IN THE, IN THE EXISTING PAVEMENT, WHICH INCLUDE CRACKING GRAVELING AND MINOR RUNNING.
WE'RE EXPECTING THE PRIMARY PUR PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE ROADWAY CONDITION AND ALSO THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC TRAVELING ON THAT ROADWAY.
SEALED BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT WERE RECEIVED ON MAY 9TH.
UH, WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS AND SUNLAND ASPHALT AND CONSTRUCTION.
LLC WAS THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE, UH, BIDDER FOR THAT PROJECT.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE PROJECT TO SUNLAND ASPHALT AND CONSTRUCTION.
I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR TAKE ANY COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? GO AHEAD AND JERRY, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, COMMENTS HERE.
WHEN I LOOK AT THESE BID PROPOSALS FROM THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES, TWO FROM OFF THE MOUNTAIN AND ONE FROM THE MOUNTAIN, I, I LIKE TO SEE, SOMETIMES IT WOULD GIVE A LOCAL PREFERENCE HERE.
THERE'S, UH, LITTLE DIFFERENCES IN THE PRICE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOKING AT A 10%, UH, CHANGE ORDER, I WOULD ONLY APPROVE THE 10% CHANGE ORDER.
IF IT HAS TO DO WITH NEW THINGS ADDED TO THIS JOB, BUT NOT FOR OVERAGES DUE TO THEIR BIDDING, SOMETIMES THEY'LL BID SOMETHING, THEY COME BACK AND SAY, OH, WE NEED TO DO A CHANGE ORDER.
THE LARGEST PORTION OF THIS IS FOR 808 TONS OF ASPHALT.
AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY FROM THE VALLEY CAN BID $110 A TON, WHERE LOCALS 1 43 AND ANOTHER OUT OF THE VALLEY IS 160 A TON.
SO AN OUT OF COME OUT OF THE AREA, ASPHALT COMPANIES ABLE TO COME IN AND PURCHASE ASPHALT CHEAPER THAN WHAT LOCAL PEOPLE CAN.
AND THAT'S JUST A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THAT BID.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'RE GETTING THE SAME QUALITY WITH THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE, UH, WHOEVER MAKES THE MOTION ON THIS TO HOLD THAT 10% STRICTLY FOR ADDITIONAL CHANGES FOR ADDITIONAL WORK AND NOT FOR JUST OVERAGES ON THE BID.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT MAKES IT FAIR FOR AS CLOSE AS WE WOULD BE TO ANOTHER CONTRACT.
C CAN I MAKE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS? I SURE.
UM, THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHAT THE INTENT OF THE, THE 10% IS.
IT'S FOR, UM, CHANGES IN QUANTITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE, WE CONSIDERED SUNLAND.
THEY, UM, THEY'VE DONE SOME LOCAL WORK RECENTLY AND BASED ON THAT, THEY'VE USED BRIM HALL THAT, UM, IS ACTUALLY, YOU COULD SAY, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THIS PROJECT.
SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO USE BRIM HALL, A LOCAL SUPPLIER FOR THEIR ASPHALT.
THE TRUCKING WILL BE, UM, QUITE A BIT SMALLER FROM THAT LOCATION.
SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THAT'S THEIR PLAN AND THAT'S HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THAT PRICE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION CHAIR.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS, AS, UH, STIPULATED.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? AND NONE.
[8. COUNTY BUSINESS UPDATE: Report from County Manager, County Attorney and Board members.]
TO ITEM EIGHT, COUNTY BUSINESS UPDATE.UM, BRAD, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO UPDATE US WITH? NOT THIS.
UH, SUPERVISOR SEYMOUR, ANYTHING? I JUST, AGAIN, WANNA REITERATE THANKS TO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THOSE, UH, ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO TAKE THE TIME TO REMEMBER THE IMPORTANT DAYS OF OUR HISTORY AND DO WHAT THEY CAN TO ASK OTHER PEOPLE TO STRIVE TO REMEMBER.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONTROVERSY RIGHT NOW ABOUT FLYING AN AMERICAN FLAG AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT BROKE OUT.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST, UH, WONDERFUL TO SEE ALL THE AMERICAN FLAGS THAT WERE FLOWN
[02:25:01]
IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, UH, OVER THE LAST WEEKEND.AND, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT OUR COUNTRY'S ABOUT, IS COMING TOGETHER AND UNITING.
AND, AND THE WHOLE THING ABOUT, UH, THE PATRIOTISM THAT WE HAVE AND, AND TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE.
I ATTENDED A COUPLE OF GRADUATIONS AND WHEN THEY ASKED HOW MANY OF THESE YOUTH THAT WERE GRADUATING WILL BE JOINING THE ARMED FORCES, SEVERAL HANDS, THEN EACH OF THE DIFFERENT CROWDS WENT UP.
AND SO IT'S NEAT TO SEE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL CARRY ON SOME OF THOSE TRADITIONS OF MANY FAMILIES.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND JUST, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO A FANTASTIC SUMMER AND BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT ISSUES.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S, UH, WORK TOGETHER AND STAFF'S WORK AND, AND THE WORK THEY DO BEHIND THE SCENES TO PREPARE FOR OUR MEETINGS THAT WE DO, AS WELL AS THE OTHER SUPERVISORS.
UM, CHAIRMAN, UH, AS STATED LAST DURING THE LAST MEETING I DEFER TO TODAY, SO I WAS JOTTING DOWN EVERYTHING THAT I HAS THAT HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE THE MONTH OF APRIL INTO MAY.
SO I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO GO THROUGH EACH ITEM THAT, UM, AS FAR AS, UH, REPRESENTATION WITHIN DISTRICT TWO, SO TO THOSE THAT ARE HERE IN THE, IN THE CHAMBER AS WELL AS TO THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE, UH, FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, AS IS, UH, CONTINUE TO ATTEND BASED ON MY SCHEDULE OR WHAT ALLOWED, UH, TO ATTEND THE REGULAR CHAPTER MEETINGS WITHIN DISTRICT TWO.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, WORK, UM, WITH COL WITH, UH, NICOLE AND OUR DISTRICT TWO COMMUNITY NETWORK MEETING.
UH, THESE, UH, MOST OF THE, FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH DISTRICT TWO, DISTRICT TWO DOES CONSIST OF, UH, 10 NAVAJO NATION CHAPTER COMMUNITIES, WHICH YOU CAN SAY IS SIMILAR TO LIKE LOCAL TOWN MUNICIPALITY TYPE OF SETUP, AND THEN MAJORITY OF THE HOPI RESERVATION.
AND THEN FOR, UM, NON RESERVATION COMMUNITIES, UH, FOR APRIL, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE BLACK MESA REGIONAL COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, OUT IN ER, WELL CHAPTER TO WHERE WE PROVIDED AN UPDATE UP TO WHAT, UH, UH, DISTRICT TWO HAS BEEN UP TO AS WELL AS AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT NAVAJO COUNTY HAS TO OFFER AS FAR AS, UM, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, UM, IN THAT.
SO I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, STAFF, UM, FOR, AND ESPECIALLY NICOLE, FOR PUTTING TOGETHER, UM, A FANTASTIC POWERPOINT, MORE GEARED TOWAR TOWARDS DISTRICT TWO AND HIGHLIGHTING OUR EFFORTS.
UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UH, WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE NAVAJO NATION SILVER JACKETS, UH, 2024 FLOOD RISK, UM, AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY, UM, WORKSHOP, WHICH WAS DONE, UM, VIRTUALLY.
AND SO THE BENEFIT OF THIS WAS A COMMUNITY THAT IS NORTH OF THE CITY OF WINSLOW, KNOWN AS BIRDS SPRINGS.
UM, THEY, THEIR COMMUNITY DOES BORDER THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER, SO IT MAKES IT VERY, UM, UH, IT AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THEM TRAVELING INTO THE CITY OF WINSLOW WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO, UH, GO DRIVE THROUGH A LONGER DISTANCE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT DO RESIDE IN THERE.
SO BEING A PART OF THAT, UM, AND LISTENING IN AS FAR AS THE UPDATES WORK AS BIRDS SPRING WAS FORMALLY WITHIN DISTRICT TWO.
AND I MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND LOCAL, UM, COMMUNITY, UM, MEMBERS THERE.
AND ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A, A THANK YOU TO, UH, KATRINA AND HER TEAM.
'CAUSE THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE ABLE TO GET, UM, BIR SPRINGS, UM, BIR SPRINGS COMMUNITY, UM, BE, TO BE ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND ALL OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND OFFICES THAT WERE REPRESENTED.
AND THEN I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE HOPI TRIBES, UM, CSA MEETING, WHICH IS THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE ADMINISTRATORS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WITHIN THE HOPI TRIBE.
THERE'S, UH, I BELIEVE ABOUT SIX VILLAGES.
AND EACH VILLAGES DOES HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR, I WOULD SAY SIMILAR TO WHAT, UM, OUR COUNTY MANAGER PROVIDES OVERSIGHT AS FAR AS ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, UM, PROCESSES ARE.
BUT WITHIN THESE VILLAGES, THEY DO HAVE WHAT IS KNOWN AS A CSA.
SO I WAS ABLE TO ALSO PROVIDE AN UPDATE AND AN OVERVIEW OF NAVAJO COUNTY, UM, DURING THAT.
AND THEN I WAS ALSO INVITED TO ATTEND A, UM, A SITE VISIT, UM, AS THE NAVAJO NATION HAD RECEIVED THE, UM, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH, UM, ADMIRAL RACHEL LEVINE.
UH, SHE HAD STOPPED BY THE NEW DELCON HEALTHCARE FACILITY IN DELCON, ARIZONA, TO WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, SHARE OUR SUCCESSES AS WELL AS CHALLENGES AND ALSO OPPORTUNITIES.
AND IT WAS A, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, MOSTLY, MOSTLY COMING FROM THE COMMISSION OFFICERS, UH, REGARDING THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, TO PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES, RURAL ISOLATION, AND ALSO, UM, AS FAR AS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF, UM, OF EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, I ALSO PARTICIPATED AND, UM, RAN WITH, UH, UM, UH, A RUNNING CLUB, UM, FROM THE DELCON COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
THEIR, THEIR RUNNING, THEIR RUNNING COACH HAD INVITED ME TO PARTICIPATE.
[02:30:01]
I JOINED THEM ON THEIR FINALE THERE AT DELCON COMMUNITY SCHOOL, WHICH THEY RAN, UM, A 2K.AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE HOLBROOK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
I LOVE MY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE THAT IS, UM, GOING THROUGHOUT, UH, UH, THE HOLBROOK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND I WAS DESIGNATED, UM, TO BE A PART OF THE GROUP FROM INDIAN WELLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND SO A PART OF THAT, THAT WAS VERY, THAT WAS, UH, THAT WAS PRETTY EXCITING TO SEE, UH, THE PARTICIPATION AND ALSO THE TURNOUT, AND THEN ALSO SOME OF THEIR COUNTY REPRESE, UM, OFFICES THAT WERE THERE AS WELL, PROVIDING THAT, UM, OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT A LOCAL SCHOOL.
UH, AS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, I PARTICIPATED AND I ATTENDED THE HARD ROCK, UH, VETERANS ORGANIZATION MEETING BY INVITATION OF THEIR COMMANDER.
AND ALSO IN SIMILAR, PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW OF MYSELF TO THE, TO THE VETERANS THERE.
AND ALSO PROVIDED THEM, UH, AN OVERVIEW OF NAVAJO COUNTY BY POWERPOINT.
AND THEN WE ALSO, UM, PARTICIPATED WITH, UH, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MANNY AND NICOLE, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
AND NICOLE IS OUR, UH, TRIBAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS LIAISON AND OUR MONTHLY NAVAJO DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION MEETING WITH, UH, THE NEW NDOT DIRECTOR TO WHERE WE, UH, ARE SPEARHEADING THE, UH, COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HOPI TRIBE AND THE NAVAJO NATION, AND HOPE SO THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE BETWEEN NATION TO NATION AS THEY ARE BOTH WITHIN DISTRICT TWO.
AND, UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UH, SPIDER MOUND COMMUNITY, WHICH IS, UH, OUTSIDE OF THE HOPI RESERVATION, BUT STILL PART OF THE HOPI RESERVATION.
UM, AS PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, I SAT AND LISTENED TO SOME OF THE, UH, PROGRESS THAT THEY HAVE MADE BASED ON THE LAST MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE, LAST TWO MEETINGS THAT WE HAD WITH THEM, AND THEN ALSO KATRINA, AND I ALSO THANK HER.
AND, UM, HER, UH, UM, KATRINA, I FORGOT HIS NAME.
KURT, UM, WHOM I HAD MET, UM, LAST MONTH DURING THE, UH, OR EARLIER THIS MONTH AT THE DELCON MEDICAL CENTER.
THEY HAD, UH, DONE A FULL, UH, SAFETY EXERCISE WITHIN THE NEW DELCON, UH, MEDICAL FACILITY THAT STARTED AT 9:00 AM AND CONCLUDED AT THREE.
SO I MYSELF PARTICIPATED AS AN OBSERVER SEEING HOW THE OPERATIONS WITHIN THE SAFETY OF THE DELCON OR WINSLOW AND THEN HEALTHCARE CENTER SLASH DELCON MEDICAL CENTER, UM, TEAM OPERATES, UM, AS IT WAS A, FROM MY, I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY OUR FACILITY, BUT THERE WERE OTHER, IT WAS A STATEWIDE TYPE OF EXERCISE THAT THESE FACILITIES, MAJORITY OF THEM PARTICIPATED VIRTUALLY, BUT FOR DELCON MEDICAL CENTER, THEY WERE IN FULL EXERCISE IN PERSON.
AND SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO KAT AND TO KURT FOR BEING ON SITE AND, UH, PROVIDING THE ASSISTANCE.
AND KAT WAS A PART OF THE, ONE OF THE EMERGENCY RESOURCES AS FAR AS THE, THE, THE SKIT THAT WAS PLAYED OUT AND, UM, COMMUNICATING WHAT TO BE, WHAT NEEDED TO BE COMMUNICATED.
AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO BE A PART OF THAT.
AND JUST TO SEE HOW, HOW INTERACTIVE THAT THE, UH, THIS, UH, 6 38 FACILITY HEALTHCARE FACILITY OPERATES, UM, WITH EXTERNAL, FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL, UM, OFFICES AS WELL AS TRIBAL, UM, AS FAR AS WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
AND THEN I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE JUTO SENIOR CENTER.
THEY DID HAVE A, UH, MEETING TO WHERE I, IN WHERE I WAS INVITED TO SEE, TO HEAR OF THEIR CHALLENGES AND TO SEE WHAT, UH, WHAT RESOURCES WOULD BE IDENTIFIABLE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON TO HELP THEM.
AND THEN AS FAR AS FOR YESTERDAY, MEMORIAL DAY, UM, BY INVITATION, UH, BY THE WHITE CONE VETERANS ORGANIZATION, THEY HAD, THE SECRETARY HAD CONTACTED ME ABOUT A MONTH IN ADVANCE ASKING ME TO BE A GUEST SPEAKER.
SO, UH, YESTERDAY MORNING I SPENT, UM, HALF OF THE, IN THE MORNING AT WHITE CONE MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING, PARTICIPATING IN THEIR MEMORIAL DAY FESTIVITIES WITH THE REFOLDING AND THE FOLDING OF THE FLAGS THERE WERE.
AND, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS VERY, UM, MOVING AND EMOTIONAL PART TO SEE SOME OF THESE FAMILIES BRING THE, THEIR, THEIR LOVED ONES IS, UM, FLAGS OVER TO, FOR, TO BE UNFOLDED AND THEN TO BE WAVED GENTLY.
AND THEN THE REFOLDING OF IT WAS VERY TOUCHING.
AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOON, IN MY HOME COMMUNITY OF INDIAN WELLS, I WAS ASKED TO BE A, A SPECIAL GUEST.
SO FOLLOWING THAT, I ATTENDED THEIR, UH, MEMORIAL DAY FUNCTION WITH THE INDIAN WELLS VETERANS ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
AND SAME, SAME PROGRAM, BUT JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF SPEAKERS.
AND, UM, THAT CONSISTED OF OTHER CHAPTERS FROM STEAMBOAT TO JETTA TO TOT TOE TO DELCON AND WHITE CONE VETERANS.
UM, MEMBERS WERE ALSO IN ATTENDANCE, SO IT WAS A VERY LARGE GATHERING THERE AT INDIAN WELLS, UM, UH, COM COMMUNITY AS FAR AS FOR THAT WAS HOSTED.
AND THESE BOTH EVENTS WERE HOSTED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES VETERANS ORGANIZATION.
SO IT'S THEIR COMMANDER, THEIR VICE COMMANDER, THEIR SECRETARY, AND THEN VETERANS THAT ARE FROM WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY THAT PUT TOGETHER, UH, THESE MEMORIAL DAY, UM, IN, IN HONOR OF THOSE THAT HAVE FALLEN.
AND SO IT WAS VERY MUCH, UM, IS WELL SPENT.
IT WAS THE FIRST FOR ME, USUALLY I SPEND MY MEMORIAL DAY WORK, UM,
[02:35:01]
MY, MY MEMORIAL DAY AT, UM, THE LINDEN VALLEY ARENA WITH MY FAMILY.I'M USUALLY THEIR FOOD RUNNER OR THEIR DRINK RUNNER FOR THEM AS THEY ARE AT THE TEAM ROPERS.
BUT THIS YEAR, UM, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT, UH, I HAVE BEEN ASKED AND TO FULFILL MY ROLE, UM, AS A LEADER WITHIN THE DISTRICT TOO, I, UM, OBLIGED AND AGREE TO BE WHERE I WAS YESTERDAY, WHICH WAS TRULY, UH, REMARKABLE IN SEEING WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED.
UM, TO THAT, I HEAR OF IT, BUT I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN, IN THE, IN A, IN A, IN A LEADERSHIP CAPACITY.
AND HAVING DONE SO, I'M VERY PLEASED AND, UM, APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WAS AFFORDED TO ME YESTERDAY.
THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
ALRIGHT, SUPERVISOR, WHITE SENIOR.
UM, WELL, I'M FEELING A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER, BUT I THINK PROBABLY MANY OF US ARE FROM ALLERGIES AND ALL THE WIND OUT THERE.
UM, IT'S BEEN A, I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.
UM, I THINK IT'S A TIME OF HOPE.
AND, UM, BECAUSE OF GRADUATION SEASON, UM, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND SEVERAL GRADUATIONS AND I JUST AM ALWAYS SO TOUCHED BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, I THANK, UM, NICOLE, WHO RECENTLY WROTE AN ARTICLE ON ONE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, MS. NOREEN JOHNSON, WHO IS THE, UM, VALEDICTORIAN AT JUST TYPICAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ARTICLE, UM, TAKE A MINUTE AND READ ABOUT ONE OF THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE, UM, YOUNG PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I WENT AND I SUPPORTED KATRINA, I THINK THAT WAS LAST WEEK.
UM, SHE SHARED THE SAME INFORMATION TO PINETOP LAKESIDE, UM, TOWN COUNCIL.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT THE PARTNERSHIP DOES TO BE ABLE TO HELP EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT.
UM, I WENT ON A TOUR WITH MATT PATTERSON FROM, UM, PINETOP LAKESIDE.
HE'S A PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, AND HE SHARED SOME OF THE WORK FLOOD, UM, MITIGATION WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NAVAJO COUNTY.
AND NAVAJO COUNTY IS CERTAINLY, UH, GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT PARTNERSHIP, UM, THAT ALLOWS FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN, UM, THAT PARTICULAR AREA TO BE ABLE TO, UM, ENSURE THAT IN A HUNDRED YEAR EVENT, UM, THAT THEIR PROPERTY WILL BE PROTECTED.
UM, IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, UM, I WISH I COULD REMEMBER THE YEAR, BUT I KNOW, UM, EVEN IN MY OWN HOME, WE HAD, UM, LOTS OF WATER RUNNING IN OUR BACKYARD, WHICH WE DON'T SEE RUSHING WATER IN OUR BACKYARD.
UM, AND WE HAD WATER UNDER OUR HOME.
AND THAT PARTICULAR, UM, STORM CAUSED LOTS OF DAMAGE WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT MITIGATION.
ONE OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS HAD LOST, UM, THEIR ENTIRE GARAGE.
UM, OTHERS HAD THEIR HOMES COMPLETELY FLOODED.
UM, AND CERTAINLY WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO, AND WHEN YOU THINK OF, UM, PINETOP, LAKESIDE, UM, THAT MANY OF US LIVE ON THE LOWER PART OF THE MOUNTAIN, UM, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN MITIGATE THOSE WATERS IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU TO THE WORK OF PINETOP LAKESIDE AND NAVAJO COUNTY AND BEING ABLE TO HELP, UM, THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
SO THANK YOU, UM, TO EVERYBODY WHO IS SUPPORTED OF DISTRICT FIVE AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
ALRIGHT, VICE, UH, CHAIRWOMAN NOW, THANK YOU CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.
UM, I MENTIONED LAST MONTH THAT I ATTENDED THE WIR CONFERENCE OUT IN YOSEMITE, AND I ALSO, UM, LEARN ABOUT THE BART BEETLE, WHICH WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH, UH, WITH OUR TREES HERE, OUR PINE TREES, A LOT OF IT, UM, ESPECIALLY ON THE, THE NAVAJO RESERVATION AND THOSE BART BEETLES, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY PROLIFERATE AND WHEN THERE'S, UH, WHEN THE WEATHER'S TOO WARM AND THERE'S NOT A TIME OF FREEZE, ENOUGH, TIME OF FREEZE FOR THEM TO BE UNCONTROLLED.
SO A LOT OF OUR TREES DIED IN THE NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA AREA AND WE HAVE A BIG HOT FIRE HAZARD AS, AS WE KNOW, AND ESPECIALLY UP IN THE BLACK MEA REGION, UM, WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF TREES AND WE DO HAVE TREES OVER IN, UM, NAVAJO MOUNTAIN.
[02:40:01]
IS COVERED BY COCONINO AND ALSO SAN JUAN COUNTY FROM, UH, UTAH.SO A SMALL PORTION OF IT, UM, BELONGS TO NAVAJO COUNTY, BUT NOT, UM, BLACK MESA REGION.
UM, AND THE BIG MOUNTAIN REGION, UM, WILL BE PARTITION LAND, HAS A LOT OF TREES, AND WE DO HAVE FIRE FIRES IN, IN THE SUMMERTIME AND RIGHT NOW EDUCATING THE, UH, COMMUNITY ABOUT THE FIRE HAZARD.
SO I APPRECIATE, UM, KATRINA AND HER OTHER PARTNERS FOR, UM, GIVING REPORT, UH, AT THIS TIME TO
AND AS I WAS IN YOSEMITE ALSO, THEY HAVE, UM, ISSUES WITH DROUGHT AND YOU HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF WATERFALLS, BUT BY TIME MIDSUMMER COMES AND GETS PRETTY HOT WITH NO RAIN, THEN BY, UM, THOSE ALL DISAPPEAR.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, BUT I GUESS I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT IT BEYOND THAT.
SO, AND THEN WE HAD THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, I ATTENDED A COUPLE OF, UM, VETERAN SERVICES WHERE I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK.
UM, SO AT TIME, UM, INTERACTING, COMMUNICATING AND, UM, TRYING TO REASSURE FAMILIES ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY WHO WERE, UH, IN THE ARMED FORCES.
SO THAT WAS A, A GOOD WEEKEND FOR THAT.
I STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE TO GO, EVEN THOUGH, UM, THE MEMORIAL SERVICE, I MEAN, THE MEMORIAL DAY'S COME AND GONE.
UH, WE STILL HAVE, UM, OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THIS WEEK AND ALSO ATTEND AT GRADUATIONS.
UM, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THOSE YOUNG, YOUNG PEOPLE GRADUATING NOT ONLY FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGES, BUT ALSO FROM BEING PROMOTED FROM EIGHTH GRADE AS WELL AS, UM, KINDERGARTEN TO PRESCHOOL TO, I MEAN TO FROM PRESCHOOL TO KINDERGARTEN.
AND I HAD SENT A A LITTLE NOTE TO THE PARENTS AND I SAID, DEAR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD'S ACADEMIC JOURNEY AND PROVIDING UNWAVERING ENCOURAGEMENT HAS SURELY PAID OFF IN THEIR SUCCESS.
I WISH THEM CONTINUED ACHIEVEMENTS AND ALL THE BEST IN LIFE.
SO, UM, VERY GRATEFUL, UM, FOR, FOR THEM GRADUATING.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID SEE OVER AT, UM, YOSEMITE WAS THE BASS LAKE.
BASS LAKE IS REALLY IMPORTANT ECONOMICALLY, UM, DURING THE SPRINGTIME UP TO THE FALL TIME AND ACTUALLY MIDSUMMER TIME, UH, WHERE THEY'D HAVE A LOT OF RECREATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE LAKE WITH THE BOATERS AND THE TOURISTS COMING THROUGH.
AND AFTER A TIME THEY HAVE TO RELEASE SOME OF THAT WATER FOR IRRIGATION DOWN THE, DOWN THE RIVER.
SO THAT WAS, UM, QUITE INTERESTING TO, TO SEE.
AND THANK YOU, UM, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, BRAD, FOR SENDING, UH, PICTURES THAT, UM, I ENJOYED LOOKING AT.
AND THEN, UM, OVER IN KETA AT THE LAST KETA CHAPTER MEETINGS, WE DID HAVE SEVERAL NAVAJO COUNTY DEPARTMENTS COME OUT TO GIVE REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY, TRY TO EDUCATE THEM UPON ABOUT WHAT, UM, DEPARTMENTS THEY'RE FROM.
AND THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
IT WAS, UM, A TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS BESIDES IT COMING FROM ME, ALTHOUGH I GIVE THEM INFORMATION.
BUT IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THE SHERIFF AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND, AND THE OTHERS COMING OUT SO THAT, THAT THAT IS, UM, REALLY APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY.
SO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF MY COMMUNITY APPRECIATES, UM, THOSE, UH, FUNDS FOR EVENTS THAT THEY RECEIVE FOR AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE THEY CAN, UM, UTILIZE FOR COMMUNITY CLEANUP AND
[02:45:01]
ALSO CELEBRATIONS.NAVAJO COUNTY IS THE, THE WORDS FROM MY COMMUNITIES.
FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE THAT GRADUATED.
PRETTY EXCITING TIME IN LIFE FOR THEM AS THEY ENTER INTO THIS NEXT PHASE, EXCITING THAT NIGHT AND MAYBE A LITTLE SCARY THE NEXT MORNING AS THEY REALIZE THAT LIFE IS JUST ABOUT TO START, BUT EXCITED FOR THEM AND WHAT THEY'LL GO AND ACCOMPLISH AND HOPEFULLY CONTINUE TO TRY TO, TO PUSH FORWARD, UM, MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
I WANNA MAKE A COUPLE DIFFERENT, JUST A THANK YOUS.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, LISA GREEN AND RENEE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH THEM.
THEY CONTINUED TO BE, UM, MEETING WITH US TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT OBSERVATIONS THAT THEY HAD.
UH, ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS THEY IDENTIFIED, UM, ONE OF THE VOTING CENTERS THAT PROBABLY DOESN'T GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
AND THAT IDENTIFIED A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAT WAS OVER IN WAGON, WELL, THAT WAS A BETTER FIT.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO AND CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT IT MET UP WITH, UH, ALL THE A DA COMPLIANT, UM, REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE OF VOTING CENTERS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WORKED OUT.
SHOULD BE A PLACE THAT WE CAN USE.
SO, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THEM WILLING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THE CONVERSATION AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO BETTER SERVE OUR CITIZENS.
UM, ALSO WANT TO EARLIER AT NRWG, THE NATURAL RESOURCE WORKING GROUP WHERE ALL THE FORESTRY STAKEHOLDERS KIND OF MEET AND COME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES.
UM, THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAS MADE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IN THE PAPER OVER THE LAST LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S BEEN SOME, WHILE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS IN FORESTRY OVER THE LAST, UH, 10 YEARS, AND WE'VE SEEN IT ALMOST DOUBLE IN THE AMOUNT OF ACREAGE THAT'S BEING TREATED DUE TO HYPERINFLATION AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON.
UM, IT'S COMPRESSED AND CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR A LOT OF OUR INDUSTRY, INDUSTRY THAT'S OPERATED ON VERY THIN MARGINS.
UM, AND THE BIOMASS POWER PLANT BEING ONE OF 'EM.
AND THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAPER, UM, RECENTLY.
HOWEVER, AS A PART OF THAT, UM, THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE UTILITIES CAME TOGETHER AND BRAD, UH, WARLEY THE OWNER OR THE CEO AT THE BIOMASS POWER PLANT THERE ANNOUNCED THAT NRWG, THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PUT TOGETHER A CONTRACT AND SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH UTILITIES.
IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION SOME OF THOSE THINGS, WHICH IS PRETTY EXCITING NEWS.
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.
UM, AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE UTILITIES COME TOGETHER TO SEE THE NEED THAT WAS THERE AND TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WERE NECESSARY.
IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT MEETING WITH THEM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE AND FACT CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND UP.
BUT, UH, THAT FINALLY HAS COME TO A RESOLUTION, WHICH IS VERY POSITIVE NEWS.
REALLY EXCITED TO REPORT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. SO KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
CHAIR, ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR REPORT? YEAH.
CAN I HAVE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE? JUST ONE THING? SURE, GO AHEAD.
ONE OTHER BIG HIGHLIGHT THAT I THINK HAS HAPPENED, UH, SINCE 1979.
WE HAVE HAD BATTLED WITH THE WATER SETTLEMENT ON THE NAVAJO, UH, COLORADO RIVER THERE.
AND IT'S AFFECTED MOST OF THE COMMUNITIES IN, IN THE WHITE MOUNTAIN AND, AND SEVERAL IN THE STATE.
THIS LAST WEEK, UH, THE NAVAJOS IN THE HOPI REACHED A SETTLEMENT THAT THEY SIGNED AND, AND THEN IT WILL BE GIVEN TO THE CITIES AND TOWNS TO SIGN, WHICH THEN WILL GO TO CONGRESS.
UH, HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE FUNDED AND APPROVED.
BUT WHAT IT DOES, IT'S A, IT'S A LARGE SETTLEMENT AND THEN IT WILL ALSO ALLOW WATER TO BE BROUGHT FROM THE COLORADO RIVER THROUGH THE NAVAJO AND HOPI RESERVATIONS TO HAVE WATER.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITIES AND TOWNS OF A PARTICULAR LAW FIRM HAS WORKED ON THAT SINCE 1979 LOCAL HERE IN ST.
SO IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPY TO SEE A RESOLUTION.
THE LAST TIME SENATOR KYLE ALMOST GOT IT DONE, AND THIS TIME IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PROBABLY GONNA GET DUMPED.
YEAH, THAT WAS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE REPUBLIC DID AN ARTICLE JUST RECENTLY.
I THINK IT WAS OVER THE WEEKEND THEY DID THAT, BUT OKAY, WE'RE
[9. CALL TO THE PUBLIC: Individuals may address the Board on any relevant issue for up to 3 minutes. At the close of the call to the public, Board members may not respond to any comments but may respond to criticism, ask staff to review a matter or ask that a matter be placed on a future agenda.]
GONNA GO TO THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC PORTION OF IT.THE BOARD WILL NOW MOVE TO CALL TO THE PUBLIC.
ANY CITIZENS DESIRING TO SPEAK ON A MATTER IN WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY DO SO.
AT THIS TIME, COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER.
PURSUANT TO A RS 38 DASH FORTY THREE FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE 0.01 I, THE BOARD MAY NOT DIALOGUE, DISCUSS, CONSIDER, OR DECIDE ON ANY ISSUE RAISED DURING CALL TO THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME, AT THE CLOSE OF THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC BOARD.
MEMBERS MAY NOT RESPOND TO THE SUBSTANCE OF COMMENTS, BUT MAY RESPOND TO CRITICISM MADE BY THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN AND MAY ALSO DIRECT STAFF TO REVIEW AN ITEM.
THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING AND AS SUCH, PROFESSIONAL DECORUM IS EXPECTED.
THIS INCLUDES NO FOUL LANGUAGE, NO SHOUTING, MAINTAINING A CIVIL DEMEANOR AND TREATING EVERYONE WITH RESPECT.
[02:50:01]
WHO CHOOSE TO VIOLATE ANY, ANY OF THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE GIVEN A WARNING.AND THEN IF THE CONDUCT PERSISTS, WE'LL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE ROOM.
SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO REFRAIN FOR REPEATING COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHARED.
RESIDENTS OF NAVAJO COUNTY ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO SHARE THE ADDITIONAL CONCERNS WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OUTSIDE OF THE CALL TO PUBLIC BY PROVIDING WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
MELISSA BUCKLEY, WE APPRECIATE HEARING FROM MEMBERS OF THE NAVAJO COUNTY COMMUNITIES AND LEARNING OF YOUR PERSPECTIVES AND CONCERNS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF 'EM HERE AND IT LOOKS LIKE ON DIFFERENT TOPICS, SO DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, WE'RE GONNA START OFF, IF YOU'LL COME, WHEN YOU COME UP, JUST ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME AND IF YOU'LL GIVE YOUR ADDRESS, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I THINK YOU CAN USUALLY SEE IT SITTING RIGHT HERE, BUT I'LL TRY TO REMIND YOU AS WE, AS WE GET NEAR THERE.
BUT, UM, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I DON'T GET YOUR NAME RIGHT AND FORGIVE ME, BUT YOU'LL CORRECT ME WHEN YOU COME UP THERE, I'M SURE.
THIS, UM, IS EVANGELINE ATKINS.
I WANNA THANK THE BOARD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE BLUE EARTH PAPER MILL PROJECT, AND AFTER LISTENING TO THIS MEETING, UM, THERE'S TWO MAIN POINTS THAT I WANNA BRING UP.
UM, WHEN A A 300 FOOT WIND TURBINE BLOWS AND THEY DO BLOW, AND I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN ONE BLOW.
I'VE, I'VE, I'VE ALSO KNOWN OF OTHERS THAT HAVE BLOWN, IT'S A FIVE MILE DEBRIS FIELD.
IMAGINE THAT FIVE MILES OF BURNING MATERIAL BLOWING OUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS A WILDFIRE PRONE AREA AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN 600 FOOT WIND TURBINES AND THAT'S GOING TO SPREAD EVEN FURTHER THAN THE FIVE MILES.
SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS WHEN ANYTHING COMES TO PASS FOR APPROVAL OF ANOTHER WIND TURBINE FARM.
AND THEN ALSO THE TOURIST IN CHRIS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, HE'S TRYING TO GET MORE TOURISM AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SPEND MORE TIME UP HERE.
WHO WANTS TO SPEND TIME NEAR WIND TURBINE? DO YOU? I KNOW, I SURE DON'T.
IT, IT'S, IT, NAVAJO COUNTY IS BLESSED WITH BEAUTY AND PUTTING WIND TURBINES IN WOULD BE A BLIGHT ON OUR BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FORESTS.
UM, I APOLOGIZE, I'M STRUGGLING WITH IT.
UH, WHAT IS, WHAT'S THE, IT'S RAMON RVO.
I'M 5 6 0 SOUTH CREEKSIDE DRIVE.
UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISORS, UH, DECISIONS TO KEEP GOING WITH WIND FARMS AND HOPEFULLY GET INTO SOLAR.
UM, I'M A POLL WORKER, A RECOUNT.
UM, PROUD TO INTERACT WITH THE EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT ELECTION BOARD HERE IN NAVAJO COUNTY.
I BELIEVE IN SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
AND YOU GUYS ALSO SERVE, I DON'T THINK YOU GET THE THINGS THAT YOU DESERVE.
NAVAJO COUNTY HAS A DECADE OF SUPPORT FOR WIND.
UM, IT'S A RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE.
WE'RE GETTING RID OF THE COAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. WE USE WATER MILL, EXCUSE ME, WINDMILLS TO PUMP WATER WHEN WE STARTED OUR STATE.
NOW WE USE THEM FOR CLEAN ELECTRICITY.
WE'VE HELPED REMOTE INDIGENOUS FAMILIES WITH COMBINATION SOLAR WINDMILL POWER FOR THEIR PROPERTIES.
UM, THERE'S HYDROPOWER AND PAGE.
WE'VE GOT SUN AND WE'VE GOT WIND, AND THAT MEANS SOLAR AND THAT MEANS WINDMILLS.
UM, THIS NEXT PROPOSAL IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF DECADES OF NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISING GETTING WIND FARMS INTO THIS, UM, COUNTY.
UM, THESE WINDMILLS ARE NOT JUST FOR NAVAJO COUNTY, THEY'RE JUST NOT FOR ARIZONA.
IT HELPS OUR NATION, IT HELPS OUR WORLD.
IT FOLLOWS ALONG WITH THE INDIGENOUS SEVENTH GENERATION CONCEPT THAT WHAT WE DO TODAY AFFECTS SEVEN GENERATIONS.
AND WE HAVE TO DO SOME SACRIFICES TO ENSURE OUR GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DEBATE IT ANYMORE.
UM, WE NEED RENEWABLE AIR ENERGY.
UM, BUT THE MORE POWER WE GET FROM, UM, WIND, HYDRO, AND SOLAR, THE BETTER FOR US.
UM, WE'RE GLAD THAT THE NAVAJO GENERATING STATION IS GONE.
THEY SHOW YOU STATION WILL BE SHUT DOWN AS SOON AS WE CAN GET IT SHUT DOWN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.
WE RIGHT NOW ARE LOOKING AT $50 IN, EXCUSE ME, $50 BILLION IN OUR FEDERAL
[02:55:01]
TAX MONEY BEING SHARED AROUND OUR STATES.PRIVATE MONEY IS SIX TIMES THAT MUCH, OVER $300 BILLION IN PRIVATE MONEY COMING TO THE STATES.
NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR FOLLOWS ALL THE SPECIAL USE PERMITS TO PROTECT THE LAND, TO PROTECT WILDLIFE, TO PROTECT HUMANS.
UM, THE BENEFITS, WE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS AT, YOU'VE ALREADY PROVEN THEM IN OUR PREVIOUS WIND FARMS AT DRY LAKE, UM, AT, UH, DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND NAVAJO, APACHE AND COCAINE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MANY OF ANTI RENEWABLE PEOPLE AROUND ANTI-SCIENCE, ANTI-TECH.
THEY HAVE THEIR RIGHT TO EXPRESS THOSE OPINIONS.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, I I KNOW THAT THEY ARE HERE AND I'M PRETTY ACCURATE ON THIS QUOTE TO CALL YOU OUT, TO CALL OUT THE TYRANNY OF THIS BOARD.
I'M, I HATE TO HEAR THAT KIND OF TALK.
I HOPE THEY'LL STICK TO FACTS AND STICK TO SCIENCE.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, KEEP ON COURSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, APPRECIATE THE SCIENCE, THE TECHNOLOGY, THE INTELLIGENCE OF THIS BOARD FROM MORE WIND FARMS, MORE SOLAR.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT KATHY SHEPHERD.
I LIVE AT 6 8 6 7 ARROWHEAD HILL DRIVE SHOW, LOW ARIZONA.
AND, UM, THERE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT WIND FARMS AROUND THE AREA.
AND I'M, I SAW A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT, UM, THE WIND FARMS IN CANADA THAT WERE PUT IN IN 2018.
AND I'M GONNA GIVE THE RESIDENTS WHO COMPLAINING THAT THEY HAD SICKNESS FROM THE WIND FARMS, WHERE THEY HAVE HIGH MI, THEY HAVE MIGRAINE HEADACHES, AND, UM, THEY HAD HEART PROBLEMS. AND FROM THE SOUND OF IT, THERE WAS THIS ALWAYS THIS KIND OF A NOISE GOING ON IN THEIR HEADS.
AND THE, THE RESIDENTS WERE SO AFFECTED BY IT WHO HAD BEEN THERE.
THEY'D LIVED THERE THEIR WHOLE LIFE, SOME OF THEM.
AND IT WAS VERY HARD FOR THEM.
THEY COULDN'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THEIR HEALTH.
AND I'M JUST BRINGING UP THIS, THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHERE THEY'RE, WHERE THEY'RE BEING PUT IN PUT AND ARE THEY CLOSE TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD BE, UH, AFFECTED BY IT? AND IF THE PEOPLE, UH, IS IT GONNA BE PUT ON LOCATIONS WHERE, UH, IT'S OUR PRIVATE PROPERTY AND WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL? I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THIS.
I GUESS IT'S CLOSE TO AFTERNOON,
I LIVE AT 2169 OVER GUARD, OVER GUARD ARIZONA.
THANK YOU JASON FOR SUPERVISOR VISOR WHITING FOR REACHING OUT TO ME TO, UH, SPEAK ABOUT THE ELECTIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE THAT WE CAN HAVE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ACTUALLY MEETING, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY.
LAST TIME I WAS SUPPOSED TO SPEAK, MY RESOURCES AND CITATIONS WERE LEFT OUTTA MY MESSAGE BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD TO LIMIT OUR, OUR SPEAKING.
SO SINCE WE'VE GOT A MEETING SCHEDULED, HOPEFULLY I'M GONNA RECESS MY THOUGHTS ON THE ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE PROBLEMS AND THE UNSUPERVISED BALLOT BOXES.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO ONCE AGAIN WANT TO ASK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IF WE COULD PLEASE PRESERVE THE PAPER BALLOTS FROM THE 2022 ELECTION AND ANY ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE INCLUDING USB DRIVES, CAST VOTE RECORDS, ET CETERA, UNTIL WE, THE CITIZENS HAVE HAD, UH, BEEN ABLE TO PERFORM A HAND COUNT AUDIT.
UM, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN EARLIER SAID, AUDITS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT TO DO ON OUR ELECTIONS.
I'M ASKING FOR ELECTION REFORMS. AND I THINK A LOT OF CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD, UH, BENEFIT FROM THAT.
JUST GETTING FAITH BACK IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEMS IS WHAT WE WANT.
UH, WE'VE GOT A ZONING ISSUE WITH THESE.
UM, MOVING ON TO THE WINDMILLS.
THE STRUCTURES ARE 10 TO 24 TIMES TALLER THAN THE, A GENERAL LEGAL LIMIT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED.
I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT WITH WHAT CHRIS HAS PRESENTED BEFORE OR WITH BLUE EARTH WHEN THEY, UH, TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WHY IS THE CURRENTLY A'S GENERAL ZONE TWO STORY LIMITATIONS
[03:00:01]
FOR BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE PROPOSED AREA? NOT A BARRIER TO THIS PROJECT.AND, UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT I, I I DON'T KNOW HOW BUSINESS CAN BE COMING IN TOURISM BUSINESS WITH THESE ALBATROSSES.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, MY OWN FATHER OWNED A FARM, A CATTLE RANCH IN NEW MEXICO.
HE WAS ALSO IN OIL AND GAS, WHICH THAT'S ANOTHER THING I WANT TO FIND OUT IS ARE WE LOOKING TO NATURAL GAS, UM, AS A RESOURCE FOR POWER? BUT, UM, HE, THEY, THEY, IT, THEY LOST ON THE WINDMILLS.
NOW THE WINDMILLS ARE COMPLETELY DILAPIDATED.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PUT THE BLADES.
UM, ALL OF THE LAND OVERS OWNERS AROUND THE PROPERTY LOST VALUE IN THEIR PROPERTY.
THIS, THAT PART OF THE STATE JUST WENT INTO AN OPPRESSION AND I DON'T WANNA SEE THAT WITH NAVAJO COUNTY EITHER.
I LIVE AT PINETOP AT, UH, 1207 SOUTH FOREST LANE.
UM, IT'S BEEN INTERESTING BEING A PART OF THIS MEETING.
I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TODAY.
AND IT'S, UM, A LITTLE UNNERVING THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE END, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
UH, INTERESTING THAT CHRIS, UM, PASTORS, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRO TO PRONOUNCE HIS NAME, MENTIONED THAT, UM, THAT REAL ARIZONA IS TRYING TO BRING ECONOMY, UH, INTO OUR COUNTY AND APACHE COUNTY INCLUDED.
UH, YET, UM, THERE'S A CONTINGENCY OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANNA SEE THE WIND FARMS YET THE CHOICE OF THE SUPERVISORS IS SEEMING TO NOT INTEREST, BE INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM, UH, THE CONT THE CONSTITUENTS.
BUT, UM, 22,000 ACRES OF THE 41,000, UH, ACRE PROPOSED, UH, PAPER MILL FARM IS OWNED BY PRIVATE PEOPLE, WHICH, UM, JR DESPAIN, I THINK IS ONE OF THEM WHO'S A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT, UH, I, I THINK IT SHOULD BE PUT TO THE, THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF THE, THE VOICE OF THE SUPERVISORS.
UH, WITH 105,000 PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY, I THINK WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND, AND THE BLIGHT THAT IT IS GOING, UH, TO BE MADE OF OUR LAND.
AND IT LASTS 30 YEARS AND THEN THEY TAKE 'EM DOWN.
AND WE'VE GOTTA HAVE, AS CELIA JUST SAID, UH, AN UNSIGHTLY REMAINING LAND THAT COULD BE, UH, POTENTIALLY, UM, USED FOR CATTLE INSTEAD OF THE WIND FARMS. AND ALSO, ONE THING THAT WAS INTERESTING AS WELL THAT I LEARNED WHEN WE HAD THE FIRE WILDFIRE PREVENTION PROCLAMATION, UH, AT THE COFFEE WITH COUNCIL IN PINETOP LAKESIDE ON THE 14TH OF MAY, UH, CHIEF MORGAN FROM PINETOP FIRE SAID THAT THE, UM, TOWN OF PINETOP LAKESIDE HAS AN ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE ALL OF THE, UM, FIRE HYDRANTS FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION.
WHY DON'T WE FOCUS ON BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE UP OF OUR, OUR COUNTY.
WE BRINGING ALL, WE'RE BRINGING IN ALL THESE, UH, WINDMILLS THAT PROVIDE ELECTRICITY FOR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
UM, OUR COAL PLANTS ARE BEING, UM, DISMANTLED.
OF COURSE I'VE HEARD THAT IT'S PRIVATE AND THAT'S APSS CHOICES AND INTERESTING ON THE REAL ARIZONA BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH YOU, JASON, UH, EXCUSE ME, UM, UM, CHAIRMAN WHITING, UM, HE IS, UH, THERE'S SOMEBODY ON THE BOARD, UM, THAT'S AN APS PERSON FOR REAL ARIZONA, BUT YET THEY CLOSED DOWN CHOA, THE CHOA ELECTRIC PLANT, AND THERE GOES 170, UH, JOBS AND WE ARE GONNA HAVE 10 FROM THE WINDMILL FARMS. I MEAN, WHERE'S THE BALANCE IN THAT? THAT'S, THAT'S TO ME AND FROM WHAT THE BLUE EARTH SAID THERE WERE GONNA BE, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR IN TAXES BROUGHT TO THE COUNTY.
THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A BIG BALANCE TO BE ABLE TO RUIN 41,000 ACRES OF OUR LAND FOR WINDMILLS THAT ARE GONNA BE PROVIDING ELECTRICITY INTERMITTENTLY TO ANOTHER PART OF OUR STATE AND EVEN CALIFORNIA.
HOW DOES THAT HELP US? OKAY, I'M AT THREE SECONDS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO DONNA, UM, ZER.
NO, THIS IS SOMEBODY DONNA, HERE SHE COMES.
OH, THERE'S ANOTHER, I HAVE ANOTHER THREE MINUTES.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS AND I APOLOGIZE.
WHAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING YOUR NAME WHEN YOU COME UP THERE? I DIDN'T GET YOUR LAST NAME.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH, LET ME HELP YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? DOES THIS BRING IT DOWN?
[03:05:01]
THERE YOU GO.IS THAT BETTER? I THINK IT'S GONNA SIGN WELL.
I THINK I CAN, WELL LET ME SEE.
DONNA, WOULD IT BE HELPFUL IF WE WERE HERE? WHAT ABOUT HERE? WELL, I WAS GOING TO USE MY ARM SUPPORTIVENESS.
IS THAT, CAN I DO THAT? YOU WANT THAT UP THERE? OKAY.
CAN I DO THAT? YEAH, YOU CAN THAT.
I LIVE AT 2240 DIAZINON ROAD ON-ROAD, ANTELOPE VALLEY.
I HAVE LIVED THERE ABOUT 47 YEARS AND I INVITE YOU TO VISIT ME AT MY HOME IN ANTELOPE VALLEY.
AND I THANK YOU BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE WIND TURBINES HAVE BEEN SHOWN NOT TO BE GREEN, NOT TO BE VIABLE, NOT TO BE SAFE.
WE THE PEOPLE, AND THIS IS NOT OPINION, IT IS FACT.
WE, THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KEENLY MADE AWARE THAT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WE, THE PEOPLE ARE NOT A CONSIDERATION.
GREED, POWER AND CONTROL APPEAR TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY.
THERE ARE BILLIONAIRE, TRILLIONAIRE, GLOBALISTS WHO HAVE AN AGENDA.
THESE ARE BUT MERE MILLION MINIONS OF THE DEVIL.
THESE GLOBALISTS HAVE AN AGENDA TO REDUCE THE WORLD'S POPULATION TO 95 BY 95%, LEAVING A REMAINING PROXIMATE 500 MILLION, WHICH THEY INTEND TO TIGHTLY CONTROL.
THESE WIND TURBINES ARE A VERY SERIOUS, SERIOUS MATTER.
THESE WIND TURBINE PROJECTS ARE PART OF THE GLOBALIST, MULTIFACETED AGENDA, ALL CALCULATED TO DESTROY.
IT IS TRUE THAT ONE CAN DO PRETTY MUCH WHAT ONE WANTS TO DO ON HIS OWN PROPERTY, PROVIDING IT DOES NOT CAUSE INJURY TO ANOTHER.
I ASK YOU TO THINK, I URGE YOU TO THINK, SHOULD THE INFRASONIC WAVE RADIATION CREATED BY THESE WIND TURBINES CAUSE A FAMILY SUCH HARM AND INJURY THAT THEY WOULD BE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOME.
THIS WOULD BE A TERRIBLE SIN, A TERRIBLE INJUSTICE, WHICH WOULD FURTHER CAUSE ANOTHER SIN AND INJUSTICE THAT OF STEALING THEIR HOME, THEIR PROPERTY.
THIS IS TOTALLY AND MORALLY WRONG.
IT IS A VIOLATION OF THE SUPREME LAW.
IT IS A VIOLATION OF HEAVEN'S SUPREME LAW.
IT MAY BE WELL FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IS GOING TO HAVE TO STAND BEFORE THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH ONE DAY.
THOSE WHO HAVE DONE WRONG ON WORD OUR THREE MINUTES, WE'RE PAST IT A LITTLE BIT.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS.
[03:10:01]
GOOD MORNING, I'M KELLY, OR AFTERNOON.I LIVE AT 67 21 WEST DRIVE IN LAKESIDE, ARIZONA, AND I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TO, FOR THE DNC TO CHANGE THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
ACCORDING TO A RS 16 2 0 5, THAT STIPULATES THAT ELECTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RUN BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OVERSEEN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE ELECTION SHALL BE FOLLOWED FOLLOWING MAY, MARCH 15TH.
SECTION B SAYS, IF WE DON'T DO IT THAT WAY, IT HAS TO BE DONE NO LATER THAN 180 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.
SO WE'RE PAST THAT, RIGHT? THE LAST DATE WAS POSSIBLE WAS MAY 9TH.
THE LAST FILING DATE WAS BACK IN DECEMBER, DECEMBER 11TH.
SO I JUST WANT IT ON RECORD SINCE WE HAVE FEDERALIZED OUR ELECTIONS AND I HAVE THIS NICE LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SEE ABOUT ALL THE STRUCTURES THAT YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR AUTHORITY TO SO THAT THEY ARE RUNNING OUR ELECTIONS.
FEDERALIZING OUR ELECTIONS IS ILLEGAL.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE WAY OUR ELECTIONS ARE RUN.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU DO NOT ALLOW THE DNC TO TAKE THIS ELECTION AND CHANGE JOE BIDEN AS THE CANDIDATE AND FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
IT'S AGAINST THE ARIZONA LAWS AS THEY STAND TODAY.
I COULD KEEP GOING 'CAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER THREE.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO I'LL, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? YEAH.
SO THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO WRITE, TALK ABOUT, WELL, I WANTED THE THREE MINUTES, SO I JUST REALLY WANNA GET THAT DOWN ON THE RECORD, THAT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAKE SURE THAT OUR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE RUN IN OUR COUNTY AND THAT WE CANNOT CHANGE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ANY LONGER.
HELLO, I'M ANI JACOBSON FROM ANGELO VALLEY AND I AM A, UM, ARMY VETERAN AND I BELIEVE IN THE, UM, THE FLAG AND FROM THE SEVERAL MEETINGS OF THIS WINDMILL ISSUE, I, UM, FROM NAVAJO, FROM NAVAJO COUNTY.
I TRULY BELIEVE YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN THE FLAG AND BECAUSE OF WHAT THE INJUSTICE THAT WE'RE BEING, UM, THREATENED BY THESE WINDMILLS.
AND I, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN US PEOPLE.
AND NAVAJO COUNTY IS PUTTING US ASIDE AND WITH ALL THESE MEETINGS BEHIND OUR BACKS THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN TOLD ABOUT.
AND IT, IT'S LIKE I SEE, UM, LIKE NOT SPECIFICALLY YOU GUYS, BUT ONE MEETING YOU GUYS WENT TO LUNCH WITH THESE GUYS, WITH THE WINDMILL PEOPLE AND IT'S, IT'S LIKE THAT'S NOT FAIR FOR US.
AND WE HAVE A RIGHT, JUST LIKE THE CONSTITUTION SAYS, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE OUR LIVES AND WE'RE NOT SOME FOREIGN COUNTRY.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN THAT.
AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING HERE.
BELINDA, I DIDN'T GET THAT LAST RIGHT.
DO YOU MIND GIVING US YOUR FULL NAME? UH, BELINDA QUA, 6 5 0 NORTH PENROD ROAD.
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TO YOU TODAY IS ISN'T TO SCARE YOU, IT'S TO IT INFORM YOU.
FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER RAY, MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS WHILE ADDRESSING THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S WINTER CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, DC IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
THERE ARE MORE RED FLAGS GOING OFF NOW THAN THERE EVER WERE BEFORE NINE 11.
THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM 160 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ILLEGALLY NOW IN THE US.
MANY OF THOSE THAT WANNA KILL US OR SERIOUSLY HARM US, THERE ARE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE MAJOR OPERATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE THAT INTEND TO DO GREAT HARM TO US.
THESE ARE DETAILED IN THE PAGES THAT I HANDED OUT TO YOU IN THE ANNUAL THREAT ASSESSMENT OF THE US INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY DATED FEBRUARY, 2024, FBI DIRECTOR.
RAY SAID, IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF, BUT IT'S A QUESTION OF WHEN MEANING HARM IS EMINENT.
OUR MILITARY IS ON THE DEFENSE, AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
[03:15:01]
IS ON THE DEFENSE.WE WILL, OUR, OUR ELECTIONS WILL BE ATTACKED NOT ONLY NATIONALLY BUT MORE INTENTLY LOCALLY.
THIS IS A DIRECT CO QUOTE FROM THE FBI DIRECTOR.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ATTACK AMERICAN ELECTIONS USING MORE DEVIOUS AI TECHNOLOGY, VOTING MACHINES, AND PRE-ELECTION PROCESSES LIKE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEMS ARE ACTUALLY MOST VULNERABLE.
ON AVERAGE, MICROSOFT MITIGATE 1700 DDOS ATTACKS DAILY.
I MENTIONED MICROSOFT BECAUSE THE STATE OF ARIZONA VOTER ROLLS ARE ON THE MICROSOFT SYSTEM, AVID, WHICH IS MANAGED, UH, MANAGED GLOBALLY.
OTHER THREATS RAY ADDED INCLUDE BALLOT FRAUD, VOTER FRAUD, CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS, PHYSICAL THREATS AGAINST ELECTION WORKERS.
THESE THREATS ARE MUCH LARGER THAN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S THREATS AGAINST THE COUNTY AND ITS VOTERS.
THE CITIZENS OF NAVAJO COUNTY, AT THE VERY LEAST NAVAJO COUNTY, ALONG WITH EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE, SHOULD PUT IN PLACE AN EMERGENCY BACKUP PLAN FOR ITS ELECTIONS, VERIFYING ALL BALLOTS AND VOTERS HAND COUNTING, ALL NOT JUST A SELECT FEW, UM, BUT ALL THE ACTUAL PAPER BALLOTS AND VOTES ON THEM TO CONFIRM THE ACCURACY OF THE VOTE AND THE VOTERS.
WE, THE CITIZENS OF NAVAJO COUNTY CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THIS.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SECURE OUR ELECTION PROCESS.
THE VULNERABILITY OF THE ENTIRE ELECTION ECOSYSTEM IS COMPROMISED AND EASILY CORRUPTIBLE AT EVERY LEVEL.
SO LET US COME TOGETHER AND EXAMINE WHAT IS BEFORE US.
DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND YOUR DUTY TO THE CITIZENS.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS JERRY HUBBARD AND I LIVE AT 27 26 COVERED WAGON TRAIL IN OVERGUARD.
TWO MONTHS AGO, THE BOARD INVITED CITIZENS CONCERNED WITH ELECTION INTEGRITY TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO THE COUNTY AT A PLACE ON THE WEBSITE CREATED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
APPROXIMATELY 100 QUESTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AT THE APRIL 23RD MEETING.
COUNTY MANAGER LEIGHTON GAVE A PRESENTATION THAT WAS A SUMMARY OF ELECTION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, BUT IT ANSWERED NONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
AT THE MAY 14TH MEETING, CHAIRMAN WHITING TOLD US THAT WE COULD REQUEST A PERSONAL MEETING WITH ANY OF THE SUPERVISORS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS WE MIGHT HAVE.
A WEEK AGO ON MAY 21ST, RICK BURRIS AND I CALLED SUPERVISOR WEINGER TO REQUEST A PERSONAL MEETING WITH HER.
SHE DECLINED TO MEET WITH US, BUT REQUESTED THAT WE EMAIL OUR QUESTIONS TO HER INSTEAD.
WE SENT THREE QUESTIONS TO HER AND AFTER TWO DAYS, WE WERE CONTACTED BY COUNTY MANAGER LEIGHTON BY EMAIL ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION OF ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WHICH WE PROVIDED.
WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM EITHER OF THEM SINCE THEN.
NOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WAS REGARDING THE USE OF BALLOT DROP BOXES, WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BUT ARE DESCRIBED IN SOME DETAIL BY THE ELECTION PROCEDURES MANUAL, WHICH DOES NOT MENTION THE USE OF VIDEO MONITORING FOR THEM, BUT REQUIRES THAT THEY BE MONITORED AT ALL TIMES THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO THEM BY A PROPERLY TRAINED COUNTY EMPLOYEE OR OTHER DESIGNATED PERSON.
EARLY VOTING FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION BEGINS ON JULY 3RD.
IF THE COUNTY IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PART OF THE ELECTION PROCEDURES MANUAL, BY THAT TIME IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED TO BE AN ACTIONABLE ITEM AGAINST THE COUNTY BY AN INTERESTED CITIZEN OR GROUP OF CITIZENS.
THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF UNMONITORED BALLOT DROP BOXES IS ACTUALLY VERY SIMPLE AND MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNTY IS THAT YOU ABANDON THEIR USE COMPLETELY, WHICH WOULD REMOVE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR ELECTION FRAUD TO OCCUR.
BEST INTEREST WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE LAW.
IF YOU DID NOT WISH TO LISTEN TO THE OPINIONS AND REQUESTS OF WE THE PEOPLE, THEN ELECTION TIME AT OUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY, WE, THE PEOPLE WILL REPLACE YOU.
[03:20:01]
WAS A COUPLE OF THEM HERE.I'M GONNA ASK, UM, I HAVE THREE MORE LEFT, BUT THEY, THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKEN.
CECILIA, I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT BOTH.
ARE YOU STILL WANTING TO SPEAK? I'M GOOD.
AND THEN KELLY, YOU TALKED ABOUT YEAH, I'D TO SPEAK AGAIN.
IS IT, IT'S ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC? YES.
IT'S ON THE TOPIC OF I'VE SENT MULTIPLE LETTERS TO THE BOARD AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY RESPONSES.
I STARTED WRITING TO YOU GUYS IN 2022 REGARDING THE ELECTION MACHINES AND REGARDING THE ES AND S CONTRACT THAT, UM, SUPERVISOR WEINGER, I'VE SEEN YOUR NAME IN THERE, LENE RICHARD'S NAME IS IN THERE.
I WONDER IF YOU READ THESE CONTRACTS.
THEY DON'T ALLOW ANY AUDITING OF THE THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE.
THAT'S, THAT'S A COMPLETELY OPAQUE ELECTION IN MY, MY VIEW.
UM, MY MOST RECENT LETTER WAS JANUARY 25TH, 2024.
IN THERE I PROVIDED MULTIPLE LINKS AND I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION FROM HOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS FEDERALIZED OUR ELECTIONS TO WHAT HARP AND SIDAL, HOW THEY TAKE OUR INFORMATION AND THEY LEAVE THE COUNTY, WHICH I BELIEVE OUR COUNTIES ARE SUPPOSED TO RUN OUR ELECTIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY IN THE PRECINCTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
BUT IF OUR INFORMATION IS BEING SENT ON THESE THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE SITES SUCH AS SIDAL, THAT MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO CHINA.
THEY'RE HOSTED ON, ON COMMERCIAL OFF THE SHELF PRODUCTS.
THOSE COTS ARE MANUFACTURED A LOT OF TIMES BY CHINESE MANUFACTURERS SUCH AS HUAWEI AND THEY'RE HOSTED BY CHINESE TECHNOLOGY CLOUD SERVICES CALLED AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIES.
NONE OF THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS MADE IN NAVAJO COUNTY.
HAND COUNTED IN PRECINCT BALLOTS WOULD ASSURE US A FAIR, A TRANSPARENT ELECTION.
THESE MACHINES ARE FRAUGHT AND WE HAVE RECORDS, I HAVE THE RECORDS FROM CSA WHO RUNS OUR ELECTIONS, THE CYBER AND SECURITY DIVISION OF THE DHS.
SO I HAVE THEIR DOCUMENTATIONS FROM CSA THAT DESCRIBE HOW, NOT JUST THE MACHINES, YOU KNOW, THE DOMINION MACHINES, THE ESNS MACHINES, HOW THEY ARE HACKABLE, BUT HOW THEY KNOW THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE FRAUDULENT.
I HAVE THE AFFIDAVITS, THE SWORN AFFIDAVITS OF THREE ELECTION EXPERTS HERE, TORI MAREZ, CLINT CURTIS, I HAVE THE ALEX HALDERMAN REPORT, WHICH WAS SECURED DURING THE GEORGIA TRIAL.
THESE ARE ALL FACTS, THESE ARE ALL EXPERTS.
THEY'RE ALL CITING FOR US HOW EXPLICITLY CORRUPT OUR ELECTIONS ARE, HOW, HOW OPAQUE THEY ARE AND ABSOLUTELY HOW THEY ARE.
THEY ARE EASILY ATTACKED BY MALICIOUS ACTORS.
UM, I ALSO HAVE FOR YOU IN MY NOTICE, WHICH NOBODY RESPONDED TO, NOT RAILING RICHARDS, NONE OF YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO ANY OF MY QUESTIONS.
UM, I POINTED OUT THE ACTUAL ALGORITHMS THAT ARE USED IN THE MACHINES 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACQUIRE THOSE RIGHT WHEN WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE.
WHAT'S KEEPING YOU FROM INVESTIGATING IT? WHAT'S KEEPING OUR, WHEN WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD THAT COMES FROM DHS, FROM CISA, FROM THE EAC, WHAT'S KEEPING YOU FROM USE FROM NOT USING THESE MACHINES? LIKE WHY NOT GET RID OF THEM AND ASSURE ALL THE VOTERS OF NAVAJO COUNTY THAT WE HAVE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS? IS IT THE COST? 'CAUSE WE'VE SPENT OVER 600,000 IN MY ESTIMATION ON THE ES AND S MACHINES.
AND I HAVE A DOCUMENTATION FROM LYNN MERRICK GARLAND, HIS WIFE LYNN GARLAND.
I HAVE DOCUMENTATION WHERE SHE'S COMMUNICATED IN 2016 ABOUT THE E-S-N-S-D TWO DS 200 MACHINES THAT WE USE.
THEY'VE KNOWN FOR OVER A DECADE THAT THEY ARE CORRUPT AND THEY'RE HACKABLE.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE REMOVE THEM.
AND THEN DONNA, YOU TALKED ABOUT BOTH A LITTLE BIT.
DID YOU, WERE YOU WANTING TO SPEAK? YES.
DONNA SHERWIN, 1207 SOUTH FOREST LANE PINETOP.
UH, CHAIRMAN WHITING FOR, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID IT OR WHAT, BUT FROM THE LAST TIME I SPOKE, UH, THE NAVAJO COUNTY WEBSITE DOES NOW IS SEARCHABLE FOR POLL WORKERS.
UM, I'VE BEEN DOING MY BEST TO TRY TO FIND PEOPLE, UH, TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE TO HELP BECAUSE, UM, WHEN KRISTEN HADDOCK CON, UM, PERFORMED HER, UH, TRAINING FOR ME TWO YEARS AGO, THE FIRST TIME WHEN I WAS A POLL WORKER, SHE SAID THAT, UH, NAVAJO COUNTY IS HARD PRESSED TO FIND WORKERS AND SHE HAS A ROLODEX OF 600 PEOPLE.
SO I'VE BEEN DOING MY BEST TO TRY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CALL YOU.
AND, UM, NOW THERE'S THE, THE CHALLENGE OF PEOPLE NOT GETTING ANY INFORMATION BACK WHEN THEY DO APPLY ONLINE.
SO, UM, I'M ASKING THEM TO GIVE ME THEIR INFORMATION AS FAR AS WHEN THEY HAVE APPLIED
[03:25:02]
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED ALL THE LITERATURE THAT KRISTEN'S SENDING OUT THAT HAS ALL THE POLL WORKER TRAINING IN IT.UM, BUT I, AS, UM, AS, UH, KELLY SAID, I I THINK IF WE DID A HAND COUNT, WE COULD FIND THE PEOPLE.
UM, OHIO HAS, UM, A PLAN IN PLACE WHERE ALL OF THEIR ELECTION, ANYTHING TO DO WITH ELECTIONS, IT'S ONE, ONE MEMBER FROM EACH PARTY THAT IS REPRESENTED SO THAT THERE'S NEVER A QUESTION, WHY CAN'T WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO THAT THERE'S A REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT INDEPENDENT IF WE CAN GET 'EM AND JUST MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IS UP ON UP BY EVERYBODY.
WHAT, WHAT DO WE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO HIDE? WE JUST WANT TRANSPARENCY.
SO WHY NOT? THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T EVEN WANNA BE PAID POLL WORKERS.
IT'S $130 A DAY AND THE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT'S A PAID POSITION.
UH, I DID NOTICE, UM, I'VE BEEN LOOKING IN THE PAPER BECAUSE IT WAS, UH, TALKED ABOUT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I ASKED WHY DO YOU NOT PUT ANY ADS IN THE NEWSPAPER? THERE'S AN AD FOR THE NAVAJO COUNTY OPIOID SETTLEMENT STEERING COMMITTEE.
NICE ENLARGED FIVE INCHES BY SIX INCHES.
THE NEXT PAGE, UH, THE SHERIFF'S AUXILIARY HAS A THREE BY FOUR AD SAYING THAT THEY WANT PEOPLE TO JOIN THEIR AUXILIARY.
AND ACTUALLY THAT WAS THE, UH, 17TH OF MAY AND THEN ONE WEEK LATER, UM, IN THE CLASSIFIED SECTION OF THE INDEPENDENT ON MAY 24TH, THERE WAS A NICE THREE BY THREE AD FROM NAVAJO COUNTY LOOKING FOR, UM, A, UH, TREASURY SPECIALIST, NUMBER ONE.
AND, UM, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING ASKING FOR POLL WORKERS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CAN IT NOT BE DONE? I MEAN THESE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS THAT I'VE, I'VE NOTICED IN THE PAPER, BUT YOU DON'T SEEM TO BE MAKING ANY EFFORTS TO TRY TO FIND THESE PEOPLE.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR BUDGET IS, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE THAT IT'S A HEFTY BUDGET WHEN YOU CAN PUT ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS IN THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THERE'S A LITTLE ONE BY ONE AD SAFEWAY HAS HIRING, THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE.
WHY CAN'T NAVAJO COUNT? WHY CANNOT NAVAJO COUNTY PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THERE? UM, I JUST, I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S A BARRIER.
IT SEEMS THAT WE, WE, WE TALK AND WE TALK AND WE TALK AND YET, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT US AT THE END OF THE MEETING, NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT THREE HOURS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR THREE MINUTES OF TIME.
AND UH, IT'S JUST, IT SEEMS DISRESPECTFUL AND YOU KNOW, ARE WE A JOKE TO YOU? OH, SORRY.
AND THAT'S ALL THE ONES THAT I HAVE.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE, DID YOU? CORRECT.
SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY, WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING, BUT DID YOU FILL OUT ONE OF THESE TO TURN INAM SHEPHERD? I APOLOGIZE RICHARD, WE BOTH LOOK IN HERE REAL QUICK.
YOU HAVE ONE THERE, THERE NO, LINDA SHEPHERD, KATHY SHEPHERD.
DO YOU HAVE A FORM? TURN IT IN.
DO YOU SEE IT? WHY DON'T YOU GO, GO AHEAD AND COME UP.
WE TRY TO JUST SO WE HAVE IT, BUT YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU TRIED TO.
SO IF YOU WANNA COME FORWARD, THANK YOU.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
WELL, I GUESS I'M BATTEN CLEANUP AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS RICHARD SHEPHERD, 6 8 6 7 ARROWHEAD HILL DRIVE, SAME AS MY QUEEN.
AND UH, SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S PROVOKED ME TO SPEAK.
UM, I LIVE FAR AWAY FROM THE WIND, UM, FROM THE WIND FARMS AND THE ONE THAT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED, UH, ON OUR WAY UP HERE.
WE COULDN'T HELP BUT SEE THE WIND FARM, BUT NONE OF 'EM WERE WORKING.
AND OUR ON OUR WAY TO SAN DIEGO, WE FOUND THE SAME THING SO MANY TIMES.
WE GOT THREE KIDS LIVING OVER THERE.
I'M SURE THEY WORK WHEN THERE'S WIND.
ALSO HEARD THAT THERE'S NO WAY OF STORING THE ENERGY FROM THOSE WIND FARMS. I CAN'T PRETEND THAT I'M EDUCATED ON THE PROJECT, BUT WHAT I'VE COME TO KNOW IS THAT THE ENERGY IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE, CANNOT BE STORED, DOES NOT GENERATE JOBS, RUINS, ENVIRONMENTS, KILLS BIRDS, CAUSES HEALTH ISSUES WITH THOSE LIVING NEARBY.
I REPRESENT FRIENDS I KNOW WHO DO DO LIVE CLOSE BY.
I ALMOST DID NOT COME THIS MORNING BECAUSE I WAS THINKING THAT IT WAS A LOST CAUSE THAT MY EFFORTS CANNOT CHANGE THINGS.
THEN MY WIFE AND I PRAYED AND THE LORD CONVICTED US TO COME COM.
YOU, MY SUPERVISORS ARE PART OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND GOVERNMENT IS MERELY A REFLECTION
[03:30:01]
OF US.THE GOVERNED WE DESERVE, THE GOVERNMENT, WE GET.
THE REASON OUR COUNTRY IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE TODAY IS THAT WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET AS A WHOLE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT STOOD UP, WE HAVE NOT GOT INVOLVED.
WE HAVE NOT HAD THE CONVICTIONS BORN FROM FAITH THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME FAITH THAT FORMED THIS COUNTRY IN THE BEGINNING THAT INSPIRED THE AUTHORS OF OUR CONSTITUTION.
MAYBE SOME OF YOU SUPERVISORS HAVE THOUGHT THAT YOU CANNOT STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND BEST FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
MAYBE YOUR LACK OF FAITH THAT IS NEED IS, IS WHAT IS NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR BIG MONEY CORPORATIONS THAT ARE OB OBVIOUSLY BEHIND THIS PROJECT.
YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR HEART AND ANSWER.
IF YOU HAVE PRAYED ABOUT THE DECISION TO ALLOW THIS CANADIAN COMPANY TO DEVELOP THIS, THIS WIND FARM, WHY HAVEN'T WE BEEN INFORMED OF THIS HUGE PROJECT THAT IS RAPING OUR LAND? WHERE IS INFORMED CONSENT? WHY ISN'T THIS ON THE BALLOT THAT WE MR. SHEPHERD? YEAH, WE'RE AT THREE MINUTES.
WELL, I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALLOW US TO, UH, HAVE A DIFFERENT DECISION FROM YOU BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AS A REMINDER, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED STAFF TO INVESTIGATE A MULTITUDE OF CONCERNS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE CONDU UH, CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS.
AND THOSE FINDINGS CAN BE FOUND ON THE ELECTION SECTIONS OF THE COUNTY WEBSITE.
IN THE INFORMATION AND FACTS SECTION, IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR POINT IN WHICH YOU DO NOT BELIEVE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED THERE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE A SUBMIT QUESTION LINK SO STAFF CAN DETERMINE WHETHER AN ADDITIONAL RESPONSE WILL BE HELPFUL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
AS A REMINDER, STATE STATUTE DOES NOT ALLOW THE BOARD TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS OR DISCUSS TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING CALL TO THE PUBLIC.
AS WE NOTED PREVIOUSLY, BY LAW, WE'RE NOT ONLY ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO PER, WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO PERSONAL CRITICISM OR REFER MATTERS TO STAFF FOR FOLLOW UP.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND WE'LL GIVE THEM OUR CONSIDERATION.