[ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND AGENDA Tuesday, April 22, 2025 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. 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 ]
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WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE, UM, WE HAVE ALMOST THE FULL BOARD HERE WITH US.
SUPERVISOR SEYMOUR HAD A FAMILY COMMITMENT THAT HE NEEDED TO BE AT THIS MORNING.
UM, SO HE WON'T BE WITH US, BUT WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH A PRAYER AND A PLEDGE LED BY SUPERVISOR
ALRIGHT, GRACIOUS, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, FATHER GOD, AND WE'RE THANKFUL THAT WE ARE GATHERED HERE TOGETHER, FATHER AS LEADERSHIP WITHIN
AND WE PRAY THAT YOU ALSO BE WITH SUPERVISOR SEYMOUR AS HE TENDS TO WITH HIS FAMILY.
FATHER GOD PRAY HE'LL CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND PROTECT HIM AS HE CONTINUE TO LEAD THE PATH OF RIGHT.
FATHER, WE PRAY THAT AS THE AGENDA THAT IS SET FORTH FOR US, THAT WE'LL GO ABOUT EACH ITEM WITH MUCH DISCUSSION AND RY AND CONSIDERATION, UM, AS WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THIS COUNTY.
AND FATHER, GRATEFUL FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS OF I'LL CONTINUE TO BESTOW UPON US, ESPECIALLY THE GIFTS OF LIFE, FATHER AND FORGIVENESS THAT REJUVENATION TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER DAY OF THIS WEEK, FATHER GOD.
AND AS WE GO ABOUT THE BUSINESS THAT IS SET BEFORE HIS FATHER, WE ALSO PRAY FOR THOSE VARIOUS LEADERS IN VARIOUS, UM, OFFICES, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE COUNTY, BUT LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL, AND TRIBAL NATIONS, FATHER GOD, AND THOSE WITHIN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
FATHER, WE ALSO PRAY FOR THOSE IN FEDERAL OFFICES AS WELL THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS HIM AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE THEM IN WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING AND CONTINUE TO GUIDE THEM AND BLESS THEIR ADVISOR'S, FATHER, THAT THEY MAKE THESE DILIGENT DECISIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR UH, CONSTITUENTS.
FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE ARMED FORCES, THOSE THAT MAY BE STATIONED WITHIN THE STATES AND THOSE THAT ARE ALSO STATIONED BROAD.
FATHER, WE PRAY YOUR PROTECTION BE UPON THEM AS YOU CONTINUE TO GUIDE THEM, AS THEY CONTINUE TO, TO DEFEND AND PROTECT AND GIVE US THE LIBERTY AND THE FREEDOM TO GATHER HERE PEACEABLY AND TO GO ABOUT THIS FREEDOM THAT WE DESERVE, THAT WE ARE GRANTED FATHER GOD.
AND AS WE GO ABOUT THIS BUSINESS, FATHER GOD.
AND WE ALSO PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE, UH, FOR OUR NAVAJO COUNTY FAMILIES, FATHER GOD, AND VARIOUS POSITIONS OF OF EMPLOYEES.
FATHER, WE ALSO PRAY THAT YOU ALSO BLESSED AND CONTINUE TO BE WITH THEM, FATHER GOD, AS THEY CONTINUE TO GO ABOUT THEIR WAYS, FATHER AND, AND THE, AND THE, AND THE POSITIONS AS THEY SERVE AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR MEMBERS OF NAVAJO COUNTY, FATHER GOD, AND WHO ALSO PRAY FOR THE SUPERVISORS, PROGRAM MANAGERS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES, FATHERS, THEY CONTINUE TO LEAN ON YOU AND THOSE WHO MAY BE FEELING ILL.
FATHER, WE PRAY THAT GOOD HEALTH BE UPON THEM, THOSE THAT MAY BE STRUGGLING.
FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU ALSO MEET THEIR NEEDS CONTINUALLY, FATHER GOD, LORD, US AB IN CHRIST STATEMENT FOR AMEN.
I PLEDGE TO CERTIFY, UH, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR A STANDS ONE, THE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE.
[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:]
WE HAVE BEFORE US THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? AND ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
CHAIRMAN I MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON THE ITEMS OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS STATED.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.
[a. Consideration and adoption of a proclamation declaring the week of May 11th - 17th, 2025, as National Police Week in Navajo County, Arizona.]
ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ONTO THE AGENDA.SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE WEEK OF MAY 11TH THROUGH 17TH, 2025 IS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IN NAVAJO COUNTY.
TURN THE TIME OVER TO SHERIFF.
WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, 'CAUSE THEY WEREN'T HERE LAST TIME, THEY HAD TO RUN AN EMERGENCY MEETING.
BUT CHIEF, UH, SWANEE FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH NAVAJO COUNTY.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE YOU LAST OR RECOGNIZE YOU.
YOU WEREN'T HERE AND THEN SHERIFF 15 YEARS, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DID THAT TODAY AS WELL.
SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I, UH, IT'S KIND OF A LIGHT AGENDA, SO I'M GOING TO, I HAVE ALL THESE PAPERS.
UM, I KIND OF JOKE ABOUT THIS.
SO TWO WEEKS AGO, APOLOGIZE WEREN'T HERE, BUT YOU GUYS RECOGNIZED, UH, DISPATCH WEEK, UH, NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATORS, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, DISPATCH WEEK.
AND I ALWAYS SAY THIS IS KIND OF PROCLAMATION SEASON.
WHEN YOU GO INTO THE SPRING, YOU HAVE NURSES WEEK, DISPATCH WEEK, UH, POLICE WEEK AND DETENTION WEEK.
UM, SO I'M GONNA KINDA LUMP BOTH OF THESE PROCLAMATIONS.
WE'RE DOING TWO PROCLAMATIONS TODAY, AND I DON'T WANNA MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT'S REPETITIVE AND IT'S,
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IT'S, UM, NOT IMPORTANT.BUT EVERY YEAR I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT NAVAJO COUNTY ADOPTS PROCLAMATIONS AND KIND OF PROCLAIMS TO THE COUNTY AND TO OUR CITIZENS.
THE, UM, THE, THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FOR NOT ONLY POLICE PEACE OFFICERS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE COUNTRY, AND SPECIFICALLY IN NAVAJO COUNTY, IT JUST DOESN'T APPLY TO, UH, NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, BUT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WORKS THROUGHOUT NAVAJO COUNTY.
WE RECOGNIZE THE PROFESSION AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
UM, AND WITH THAT TOO, WE'RE ALSO GONNA DO, UH, NATIONAL CORRECT OR NATIONAL CORRECTION OFFICER WEEK, WHICH ACTUALLY COMES FIRST, UM, IN THE MONTH.
UH, THEN POLICE WEEK COMES THE WEEK AFTER.
UH, BUT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE NATIONAL POLICE WEEK FIRST.
AND SO I'M JUST GONNA READ, UH, BITS AND PIECES OF THIS.
BUT, UM, THEN I'LL ASK THE BOARD TO ADOPT MAY 11TH THROUGH MAY 17TH AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IN NAVAJO COUNTY.
SO IN 1962, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY PROCLAIMED MAY 15TH IS NATIONAL PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL DAY AND THE CALENDAR WEEK IN WHICH MAY 15TH FALLS AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK.
AND SO THROUGHOUT, UH, ALL THE COUNTRY, UH, MAY 15TH IS ALWAYS RECOGNIZED AS AS NATIONAL PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL DAY.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU SEE A LOT OF THE MEMORIALS AND, AND SERVICES WHERE THEY, UH, RECOGNIZE 'EM.
THE FALL ON OFFICERS BACK IN DC THAT SAME WEEK, THEY'LL HAVE NATIONAL POLICE WEEK, UH, WHERE THE, THE NATIONAL, UH, FALLEN POLICE OFFICER MEMORIAL, UH, IS WHERE THEY'LL ADD THE NEW NAMES THAT, UH, OFFICERS MAY HAVE, MAY DIE OR HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY THROUGH THAT PAST WEEK.
UM, TWO YEARS AGO, NAVAJO COUNTY WORKED WITH, UH, THE CITY OF SHOW LOW, AND WE, UM, BUILT A, A, I GUESS IT'S A MONUMENT, OR IT'S A POLICE MEMORIAL IT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL THERE IN SHOW LOW.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A CEREMONY OR A, A, UH, MEMORIAL SET FOR MAY 15TH AS WELL AT SIX O'CLOCK.
WE INVITE, UH, ANYBODY IN THE ROOM TODAY AND ALL THROUGHOUT NAVAJO COUNTY TO JOIN US THAT EVENING AS WE, UM, HONOR THE FALLEN NAMES OF THOSE, UH, OFFICERS AND, AND TROOPERS AND, AND ANYONE WHO'S WORKED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO'S DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY WITHIN NAVAJO COUNTY.
UM, POLICE WEEK IS OBVIOUSLY A, IS, UH, SPECIAL TO, TO ALL OF US WITH THE, AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND IT'S TRULY ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE FALLEN, BUT WE MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, DON'T FORGET THEIR SACRIFICE, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT ARE IN THE PROFESSION AND WORKING, UH, IN THAT, THOSE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS EVERY DAY.
FIRST I'D, AND LAST BEFORE I CONCLUDE WITH THIS PROCLAMATION, WANT TO THANK, UM, ALL THE STAFF AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT HELPS, MAKES POLICE WEEK SO SPECIAL.
UH, TORI, SHE WRITES THESE PROCLAMATIONS, UH, KIMBERLY GETS 'EM TO THE BOARD.
UH, AND THEN WE'RE, WE HAVE SO MUCH STAFF HERE TODAY THAT, THAT, UH, WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE, UH, UNIFORM PERSONNEL AT THE NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, AND MAKING THAT THAT SPECIAL.
SO EVERY WEEK DURING POLICE WEEK, UM, KIMBERLY AND, AND OTHERS, THEY COME UP WITH SOMETHING FUN FOR 'EM.
SOMETIMES THE T-SHIRT, THEY FEED 'EM LUNCH.
UM, AND THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB WITH THAT, AND I REALLY THANK THEM FOR ALWAYS MAKING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK, UH, A SPECIAL PART OF NAVAJO COUNTY.
UM, SO IN CONCLUSION WITH THE, UH, THE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS WE HONOR AND REMEMBER THOSE OFFICERS WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH DEDICATION AND, AND INTEGRITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE A PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF NAVAJO COUNTY AND THE NATIONAL AND THE NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF THAT THE WEEK OF MAY 11TH THROUGH MAY 17TH, 2025 IS DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IN NAVAJO COUNTY, ARIZONA, AND PUBLICLY SALUTE THE SERVICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE NATION.
AND SO THAT IS THE PROCLAMATION THAT I WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO ADOPT AND PROVE OR APPROVE AS WE, AS WE SHOW OUR DEDICATION, AS WE AS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, IS WE SALUTE THE SERVICE OF, OF, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACROSS NAVAJO COUNTY.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL ASK THE BOARD TO ENTERTAIN THAT, UH, THAT PROCLAMATION.
THANK YOU SHERIFF KLAU, APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THIS TODAY.
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? CHAIRMAN, GO AHEAD.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, SHERIFF.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
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AND REMINDER TO ALL OF US JUST TO TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE DONE, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU CHOOSE TO AND THOSE WHO AREN'T HERE, THAT THEY CHOOSE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES AND LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HELP AND SERVE.
SO THANK YOU, UM, WITH THAT CHAIRMAN, I MOTION FOR APPROVAL, A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
WE HAVE A SECOND? ANY MORE DISCUSSION? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO, UM, THANK THE SHERIFF AND ALL THE, UM, DEPUTIES AND STAFF EMPLOYEES, UM, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO HERE IN NAVAJO COUNTY ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTHERN IN THE COUNTY AS WELL.
AND, UM, AND THE OFFICERS AS WELL, THE POLICE OFFICERS SINCE IT'S A CLUB, UM, PROCLAMATION FOR THEM AS WELL.
FOR MEMORIAL DAY, I DID GO TO THE SHOW LOW, UM, PEACE OFFICERS, UM, FALLEN OFFICERS WHEN THEY WERE HONORING THEM.
SO IT, IT WAS A PRETTY NEAT, UM, EVENT.
AND I THINK EACH AGAIN, I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I WISH YOU WELL, AND I WISH YOU SAFETY AND PROTECTION ALL AROUND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? VOTE.
HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I, I SAID MAY 15TH AT SIX O'CLOCK, RIGHT? AND SHOVEL THAT'S CORRECT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT THE TIME RIGHT.
UM, WELL THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR PASSING THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT ALL CITY COUNCILS AND COUNTIES THROUGHOUT NA UH, THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ARIZONA, AND YOU'LL SEE PROCLAMATIONS THROUGHOUT ALL THE, UH, COUNTRY THAT ARE BEING PASSED.
AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE NEVER MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY AND WE PROCLAIM TO OUR CITIZENS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THIS IS POLICE, THAT WE HONOR THAT PROFESSION, WE HONOR THOSE THAT HAVE FALLEN AND THAT TO THE MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT, THAT HELP WITH THESE, UH, MEMORIAL SERVICES OR, UH, MORE MEMORIAL DEDICATIONS, LIKE WHAT WE'LL HAVE ON MAY 15TH, SO MANY SELFLESS, UH, ACCESS SERVICE WHERE PEOPLE COME AND, UH, HELP, HELP PUT THOSE EVENTS TOGETHER.
UH, SO THE NEXT PROCLAMATION, WHICH IS UNIQUE TO COUNTY SERVICE AND AND TO COUNTY WORK, AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL ARE UNIQUE, THAT YOU WON'T FIND IT AT ANY OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
UM, AND THIS IS TO DO WITH CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.
[b. Consideration and adoption of a proclamation declaring the week of May 4th - 10th, 2025, as National Correctional Officers Week in Navajo County, Arizona, in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our county and citizens safe.]
THE WEEK OF MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 10TH, UM, IS GONNA BE THE, IS GONNA BE THE ASK TO DESIGNATE THIS AS NATIONAL CORRECTION OFFICER'S WEEK ON MAY 5TH, 1984, PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN WAS THE, WAS THE ONE WHO, UH, SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER TO START DESIGNATING THE FIRST WEEK, THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF MAY AS NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WEEK.AND TO START RECOGNIZING THAT PROFESSION AND HOLDING IT, UM, IS A, IS, UM, IT'S AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE.
I SAID, YOU'LL HEAR CITY COUNCILS, AND YOU'LL SEE IT ACROSS THE STATE TODAY OR THIS COMING WEEKS AS THEY PROCLAIM NATIONAL, UH, POLICE WEEK.
BUT VERY FEW WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL CORRECTION OFFICER WEEK.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE NEAT, UH, UNIQUE FUNCTIONS OF, OF GOVERNMENT OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, IS THAT WE OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A JAIL SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE, THE CRITICAL, UH, CENTRAL FUNCTION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND TODAY, I PROUDLY RECOGNIZE THEM AND THE WORK THAT THESE UNIFORM MEN AND WOMEN DO, UH, WITHIN THE WALLS OF OUR, OUR DETENTION FACILITY.
IT IS A VERY, UH, STRENUOUS AND, UH, STRESSFUL JOB THAT THEIR WORK IN THE CONFINES OF, OF, OF A JAIL SYSTEM.
OFTENTIMES IN THE BOOKING CENTER, THEY MEET PEOPLE ON THEIR WORST DAY, THEY'RE POSSIBLY INTOXICATED, OR THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY COMBATIVE BASED ON THE SCENARIO OR SITUATION THAT THEY WERE, UH, REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC FOR.
AND THEY'RE BROUGHT TO, UH, THIS REHABILITATION CENTER OR OUR DETENTION CENTER.
AND OUR DETENTION DEPUTIES DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
THEY MAINTAIN ONE OF THE CLEANEST, SAFEST, UH, WELL MAINTAINED AND OPERATED JAIL SYSTEMS WITHIN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
UM, ASIP, I KNOW, UH, WHO'S OUR, OUR, UH, KIND OF OUR INSURANCE POOL FOR COUNTY WORKS.
WE GET, UM, I DON'T WANT TO CALL 'EM INSPECTIONS, BUT WE GET, UH, AUDITS OR WE GET THINGS TO, UH, TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO REDUCE RISK AND REDUCE LIABILITY
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WITHIN THE JAIL SYSTEMS. AND I GET REVIEWS FROM THAT AND FROM OUTSIDE FUNCTIONS ALL THE TIME THAT TALK ABOUT HOW WELL IT'S MAINTAINED, THE STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS THAT WE, WE MAINTAIN HERE IN NAVAJO COUNTY, UH, MAKE IT ONE OF THE SAFEST, CLEANEST, AND, UH, WHAT MOST, UH, WELL-FUNCTIONING JAILS.AND SO THE CREDIT REALLY GOES TO, UH, COMMANDER GARCIA AND HIS STAFF AND ALL THE 60, 60 PLUS UNIFORM PERSONNEL THAT WORK IN THE DETENTION CENTER, THAT, THAT HAVE MAINTAINED AN ACCREDITATION LEVEL, UH, FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, UM, THAT THEY'VE, UH, MAINTAINED A NATIONAL ACCREDITATION LEVEL THAT IS, IS, UM, SO THAT IS VERY SUPERIOR TO, TO, TO MOST, UH, UM, OPERATING, UH, JAILS.
AND THEY DO, THEY DO A, THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
SO I TRULY, UM, APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND TO DECLARE, UM, AND TO ASK THE BOARD TO DECLARE, AS WE DID WITH POLICE WEEK, BUT TO DECLARE THE WEEK PRIOR OF MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 10TH AS NATIONAL CORRECTIONS OFFICER WEEK AND SARAH.
AND, UH, I'LL JUST READ A COUPLE LITTLE BIT OF THIS PROCLAMATION.
IT SAYS, WHEREAS NATIONAL CORRECTION OFFICER WEEK FIRST ESTABLISHED BY PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN IN 1984, RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ACROSS THE NATION.
AND WHEREAS IT IS FITTING THAT WE HONOR AND EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE DETENTION DEPUTIES OF THE NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF'S SHERIFF'S OFFICE ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR DEDICATION AND VITAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF NAVAJO COUNTY AND THE NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF THAT THE WEEK OF MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 10TH, 2025 IS DESIGNATED NATIONAL CORRECTION OFFICER WEEK IN NAVAJO COUNTY, ARIZONA ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING AND THANKING THESE COMMITTED PROFESSIONALS FOR THEIR SERVICE.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
AND THAT'S THE, UH, THE MOTION OR THE, THE ASSET I WOULD ASK OF THE BOARD IS TO, TO RECOGNIZE THEM, UH, MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 10TH.
THANK YOU, SHERIFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR, FOR THEM, FOR YOUR TEAM, AND ALL THE GOOD THAT THEY DO.
UM, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD BEFORE WE VOTE? CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION? YEAH, I'LL MOTION SO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY MORE DISCUSSION? UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, ALSO THANK, UM, THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICE AND THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION TODAY.
AND I KNOW THAT THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS GO THROUGH A LOT WHEN THEY'RE ON DUTY, AND SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A REALLY GOOD DAY, SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A REALLY BAD DAY.
I KNOW BECAUSE, UM, ONE OF MY NIECES AND ONE OF MY COUSINS IS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER IN
SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WHO OUR CORRECTIONAL OFFICE TAKES A TOUGH PERSON TO BE, TO BE, UM, A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER.
AND IT ALSO TAKES A TOUGH PERSON TO BE IN THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT TOO.
UM, HOWEVER, I AM GRATEFUL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM FOR PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS IN ANY MANNER, IN ANY WAY THAT THEY CAN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL AS PRESENTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF VOTE? AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH APPRECIATE.
AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE TRADITION OF, UH, PASSING THESE PROCLAMATIONS EACH YEAR AS WE, UH, MAKE THAT PUBLIC TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SUPPORT THESE MEN AND WOMEN.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON THEN TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[a. Consideration of the award of Contract Number B25-02-005 for Starlight Pavement Reconstruction to PAP, LLC.]
TO ITEM THREE, A CONSIDERATION AND AWARD OF CONTRACT B 25 DASH ZERO TWO DASH 0 0 5 FOR STARLIGHT PAVEMENT RECONSTRUCTION TO P-A-P-L-L-C, MANNY.GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRWOMAN AND SUPERVISORS.
THIS CONTRACT BEFORE YOU IS FOR PAYMENT RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT LOCATED IN THE STARLIGHT REGION STATE SUBDIVISION, WHICH IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT FIVE OF NAU COUNTY.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES REHABILITATION OF PORTIONS OF RIM ROAD WAGON, WHEEL LANE DOLLARS DRIVE, AND ORION DRIVE.
THE WORK CONSISTS OF REMOVING EXISTING PAYMENT AND SUBGRADE AND INSTALLING NEW GEO GRID GEO FABRIC,
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AGGREGATE BASE CODES AND THREE INCHES OF ASPHALT CONCRETE PAYMENT AND OTHER RELATED WORK.SEAL BIDS WERE RECEIVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR AT NAVAJO COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL CENTER HERE IN OLD BROOK UNTIL 3:00 PM ON MARCH 26TH, 2025.
NO BIDS WERE ACCEPTED AFTER 3:00 PM THE BIDS WERE PUBLICLY OPENED AND IT ALLOWED AT 3:15 PM FOUR BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND P-A-P-L-L-C WAS THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE BIDDER.
THIS PROJECT WAS ALSO IN OUR CIP PROGRAM AND WE ARE ALSO PLANNING TO DO PHASE TWO OF THE SAME PROJECT, AND THAT CONTRACT SHOULD BE COMING TO THE BOARD, UH, NEXT, NEXT MEETING REGARDING THE, THE DESIGN WORK.
SO THAT, JUST TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION, UH, REGARDING THIS CONTRACT AT THIS TIME, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING AWARD OF THIS CONTRACT TO P-A-P-L-L-C.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION.
YOU MAY HAVE THE CONTRACT, THE BID COMPARISON THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET FOR YOUR REVIEW.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? UH, CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIR.
I JUST WANNA EXTEND MY APPRECIATION.
I KNOW THAT, UM, THE COMMUNITY OF STARLIGHT, UM, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CONCERNS ON THE, THE CONDITION OF THE ROADWAY AND THE SUPPORTS THAT'S NEEDED.
AND I KNOW THAT'S BEEN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION IN JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT, UM, ONE, THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO IN UNDERSTANDING, UM, HOW TO HELP THE RECOVERY OF THE ROAD SYSTEM AND MAINTAINING FOR YEARS TO COME.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT.
UM, WITH THAT, I MAY I MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND.
CAN WE HAVE A SECOND? ANY MORE DISCUSSION? I, I JUST WANT TO, I BELIEVE I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I WANT TO VERIFY AS WE AS LOOK AT THE ITEM.
UM, YOU HAD FOUR BIDS THAT WERE RECEIVED AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THE LOW BID, AS LONG AS THEY'RE QUALIFIED BIDDER, THEY HA THE IT HAS TO GO TO THEM.
OUR CONTRACT, UH, OR OUR PROCUREMENT POLICY IS FOR LOW BIDDER.
AND, AND YOU, UH, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THEY WERE QUALIFIED BIDDER, I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING IN STATE STATUTE THAT LET US GIVE SOME TYPE OF A LOCAL PREFERENCE OR TO TRY TO HELP WITH LOCALS.
I'M SURE THAT THIS IS A GREAT COMPANY.
I WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE IT GO TO SOME OF THE LOCALS, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAWS DON'T ALLOW US TO, TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW.
BUT ANYWAYS, SO, UM, THANKS FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WERE THE LOW BIDDER ON IT.
WE HAVE THE MOTION SECOND BEFORE US ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[b. Consideration of Attachment D to The Navajo Nation Intergovernmental Agreement for assistance with roadway maintenance materials for the N8065 Road Maintenance Project.]
B, CONSIDERATION OF ATTACHMENT DEED TO THE NAVAJO NATION INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR ASSISTANCE WITH ROADWAY MAINTENANCE MATERIALS FOR THE N 8 0 6 5 ROAD MAINTENANCE PROJECT.GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRWOMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THE FOREST LAKE CHAPTER IN COORDINATION WITH NAVAJO DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION HAS REQUESTED ASSISTANCE WITH THE CONTRIBUTION OF ROADWAY MAINTENANCE MATERIAL FOR THE N 80 65 ROAD MAINTENANCE PROJECT.
N 80 65 IS AN UNPAVED ROADWAY THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES FOR SCHOOL BUSES, RESIDENTS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF AGGREGATE BASE GRAVEL PLACEMENT FOR 0.8 MILES.
THE ESTIMATED PROJECT COST IS $99,952, AND THERE IS CURRENT CAPACITY IN THE HERF BUDGET.
THIS PROJECT WAS ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING THE COUNTY'S TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP PROCESS, AND THEREFORE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ON THIS ITEM? ON THIS ONE? I, I WANT TO MENTION, UM, TO, UM, NICOLE, THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME WORK ON THIS PROJECT.
AND I'M ALSO, UM, VERY GRATEFUL TO IN THAT FOR ASSISTING AND GETTING THIS, UM, PROJECT TO BE MADE POSSIBLE.
UM, THIS YEAR, AGAIN, AS, AS I HAD INFORMED YOU, THE, THE ROADS GET REALLY MUDDY.
UH, IT DID LAST WEEK WHEN IT RAINED.
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR RAIN.
UM, I HAD TO WASH OFF MY VEHICLE.
IT'S TOUGH WASHING THE CLAY OFF YOUR VEHICLE.
UM, LAST NIGHT I WAS DOING THAT AND THE GRAVELING REALLY STABILIZES THE ROAD.
EVEN THE PRIOR GRAVEL THAT WE HAVE ON THAT HAVE
[00:25:01]
BEEN APPLIED.I WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR WHEN THE RAINS CAME AND, UM, I WAS KIND OF SLIPPING AND SLIDING ON THE AREAS THAT ARE NOT GRAVE GRAVEL.
SO WE'RE JUST DOING A SECTIONS AT A TIME.
SO, SO THAT, UM, THE SCHOOL BUSES AND THE RESIDENTS CAN GET OUT SO, UM, IN A SAFE MANNER BECAUSE THERE'S RAVIS REALLY CLOSE BY TO THE, TO THE ROADS THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS.
SO I'M GRATEFUL AND I ASK, UM, SUPPORT FROM THE, FROM THE SUPERVISORS CHAIR AND CHAIR, VICE CHAIR.
I APPRECIATE, UM, THIS TIME FOR ADDED INFORMATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THIS PROJECT WORKED OUT AND IT'S ONE, I KNOW YOU WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP YOU'VE WORKED ON HARD.
UM, CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MUCH APPRECIATED.
[4. COUNTY BUSINESS UPDATE: Report from County Manager, County Attorney and Board members.]
ON TO ITEM FOUR.UM, AS FAR AS FOR AGAIN, UM, GOOD, GOOD MORNING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, SUPERVISORS, STAFF, AND THOSE THAT ARE HERE AS WELL.
AS FAR AS FOR DISTRICT TWO, UM, WE'VE BEEN AT A, UH, I GUESS TO SAY WE, IT'S STILL DISTRICT TWO IS DISTRICT TWO.
UM, HOWEVER, WITH, UH, TODAY BEING, I THINK IT'S EARTH DAY, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES WITHIN DISTRICT TWO ARE COORDINATING, UM, THEIR COMMUNITY CLEANUPS THIS WEEK.
SO AFTER THE BOARD MEETING, I'LL BE GOING TO VARIOUS, UH, CHAPTERS AND VISITING THEM AND THEN ALSO, UH, MAKING MY WAY TO LOW MOUNTAIN CHAPTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HUGE, UM, EVENT GOING ON TODAY INTO THIS EVENING.
SO I'LL BE SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF MY DAY.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, JUST BEEN PROVIDING MY, UM, REPORTS TO VARIOUS CHAPTERS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS RATHER THAN DOING IT ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, IDENTIFY WHICH OF THE 10 CHAPTERS WITHIN MY DISTRICT I REPORT TO, UM, EVERY OTHER MONTH.
AND SO THEY'RE VERY RECEPTIVE TO THAT.
AND THEN, UM, THE OTHER PART OF THAT I BELIEVE IS JUST, UH, COORDINATING WITH OUR TRIBAL TRIBAL SERVICES TEAM AND A LOT OF OUR TRANSPORTATION, UM, PROJECTS.
AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO PROVIDING AN UPDATE AND ALSO WAITING FOR THE, UM, WAITING FOR THESE NEWLY ELECTED, UM, UH, CHAPTER OFFICIALS WITHIN MY DISTRICT TO BE APPOINTED TO THEIR POSITION SO THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE AN INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW, UM, WITH THESE OFFICIALS, UM, JUST TO, UM, BRING THEM UP TO SPEED AND THEN LET THEM KNOW HOW, UH, I GUESS, UH, TO DO A PRESENTATION AND HOW WE, UH, PARTNER WITH THE CHAPTERS AS FAR AS EMERGENCY RESPONSE, TRIBAL TRANSPORTATION, SO THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF WHAT OUR PROTOCOL ARE AND HOW WE GO ABOUT THOSE RESPONSES IN COORDINATION WITH THE NAVAJO NATION, WITH RESPECT TO THE, UH, WITH THE NATION'S IN SOVEREIGNTY.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO COORDINATING THAT.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO REINSTITUTING, WHAT WAS A FORMER UNDER SUPERVISOR THOMPSON.
UM, HE WAS, UH, HAD SPEARHEADED AN INTERGENERATIONAL CONFERENCE WITHIN DISTRICT TWO.
SO WE DID THAT, UH, 17, 18, 19, AND THEN WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THEN POST PANDEMIC.
UM, WE GOT TOGETHER LAST WEEK, UM, WITH THE CORE PLANNING TEAM FROM VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAN AN INTERGENERATIONAL CONFERENCE AT INDIAN WELLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND BASICALLY THAT IS BRINGING ALL A LOT OF OUR LOCAL ELDERS AND, UM, SUMMER OUR YOUTH, UM, TOGETHER IN ONE LOCATION TO WHERE, UH, THEY CAN, UM, COMMUNICATE AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND THROUGH VARIOUS WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND THEN ALSO PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS, UM, VETERANS, UM, EVENTS THAT WERE GOING ON.
WHITE CONE VETERANS ORGANIZATION RECENTLY HAD THEIR BUILDING DEDICATION LAST MONTH TO WHERE IT WAS FORMALLY THE HEAD START BUILDING.
AND SO THROUGH THEIR, THROUGH WORKING WITH THE, THE HEAD START, THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE THAT BUILDING BE GIVEN TO THE, TO THE VETERANS ORGANIZATION.
SO THERE WAS VARIOUS, SOME, UM, VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE
[00:30:01]
IN ATTENDANCE.AND THEN ALSO, UH, ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE, UM, PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR SECURING AND ENSURING AND PROVIDING, UM, SIGNS FOR NAVAJO ROUTE 77, WHICH IS JUST, UH, NOT NAVAJO ROUTE 77, I'M SORRY, UM, NAVAJO ROUTE SIX OTHER PEOPLE CALL IT, UM, HIGHWAY 77 NORTH AS WELL, WHICH IT DOES END AT THE RESERVATION LINE.
BUT AS YOU PROCEED FURTHER NORTH TO HIGHWAY 2 64, THAT IS KNOWN AS NAVAJO ROUTE SIX.
BUT THAT WAS RECENTLY, THAT WAS DEDICATED AND A SUB SUB, I GUESS YOU CAN SAY A SUB ROAD NAME FOR IT WAS THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY IS WHAT IT WAS DESIGNATED.
SO THOSE SIGNS WERE ALSO INSTALLED IN TWO LOCATIONS BY BIA, BUT THE COUNTY WAS THE ONE THAT HELPED, UM, SECURE THE PURCHASE OF THAT, UM, JUST TO, UH, FOR, FOR AN APPRECIATION AND ALSO TO MEMORIALIZE, UM, THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS WITHIN THE, THE SOUTHWEST NAVAJO.
WE DO HAVE, WE HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF THOSE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT, UM, IN THAT KOREAN WAR VETERANS.
AND SO WE STILL HAVE A FEW THAT ARE LEFT, BUT IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THEM AND WE PARTICIPATED IN THAT AS WELL.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, UH, THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
SUPERVISOR PR, UH, SUPERVISOR BENOW, THANK YOU CHAIR, AND, UH, VICE CHAIR AND, UH, SUPERVISOR AND AUDIENCE HERE.
THANK YOU, UM, FOR THIS TIME ON THE FLOOR AGAIN, UM, FOR ME, UM, I WENT DOWN TO CSA LAST WEEK AND, UM, SMALL CAUCUS AS WELL.
AND MEANWHILE AS I WAS DOWN THERE, I MET WITH
WE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE ROADS AND, UM, UP IN THE DISTRICT ONE AREA, MAINLY THE DIRT ROADS AND, UM, WHICH ROADS, UM, NEED IMPROVEMENT.
SO, UM, THAT WAS A GOOD MEETING.
AND THEN, UM, I ALSO, UM, WENT TO, UM, FOREST LAKE SENIOR CENTER.
THEY HAD IT RENOVATED, SO, UM, WE HAD A, A GOOD, UM, ACT TURNOUT FOR THE, FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WERE NEARBY AND FROM DIFFERENT CHAPTERS.
THEY BUSTED THEM IN, SO, UM, THEY WERE ABLE TO JOIN THE FESTIVITIES AS WELL.
OTHERWISE, UM, I'VE BEEN, UH, GOING TO CHAPTER MEETINGS AS MUCH AS I CAN TO THOSE ONES THAT ARE ON MY SCHEDULE AND, UM, AS WELL AS
I REALLY LIKE THE WAY, UM,
SO, UM, THEY CLEANED IT REALLY WELL AND THEY WERE BRAGGING TO K TO TOWNSHIP, WHO HAS
SO LAST, UM, COUPLE WEEKS AGO,
SO, UM, THEY WERE BEING FUNNY.
I ALSO HAD MEETINGS WITH, UM, LIKE I SAID, WITH
I GUESS MY, UM, THE DISTRICT ONE, UH, MOTOR GRADE WAS OUT, OUT ON ONE OF THE BLACK MESA ROADS AND IT BROKE DOWN.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN RETURNED TO, UM, PUBLIC WORKS YET.
I HAVEN'T GOT AN UPDATE SINCE.
UM, AS I KNOW I HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN UPDATE YESTERDAY, SO I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT, UM, IS UP WITH THAT AND, AND THEN AS WE ALL KNOW, THE GRADUATIONS ARE COMING UP AND ALSO MAJOR HOLIDAYS, SO I WISH YOU ALL WELL BE SAFE OUT THERE.
WATCH OUT FOR THE OTHER PERSON.
SO, UM, HAVE A GOOD REST OF THE MONTH.
[00:35:01]
LAST MEETING AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE, UM, SOME GRATITUDE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HELPED WITH OUR WILD LAND FIRE EXPO THAT WE HAD AT THE END OF MARCH.I, I AM NOT SURE OF THE COUNT.
I KNOW THAT WE HAD OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ABLE TO ATTEND.
UM, WE HAD SOME WONDERFUL, UM, SUPPORT PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, UM, INCLUDING, INCLUDING LOWE'S AND HOME DEPOT WHO WERE ABLE TO GIVE US, UM, BEN, SO EVERYBODY COULD START THEIR OWN EMERGENCY, BEN, FOR WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, THINGS THAT MIGHT BE IN THAT PARTICULAR BEN MIGHT BE FOOD, UM, MEDICAL INFORMATION, UM, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT WHEN THERE'S AN EMERGENCY AND YOU CAN JUST PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT.
SO I HAVE BEEN SLOWLY, I SHOULD BE WORKING A LITTLE BIT MORE QUICKLY, BUT SLOWLY WORKING ON MINE.
SO I HOPE TO HAVE THAT DONE HERE SOON, BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THAT A GREAT SUCCESS.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE GOT LOTS OF, UM, GREAT SUPPORT FROM ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY OR, UM, PARTNERS AND TOWNSHIPS, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE TRIBAL COUNCIL, OR WE PRESENTED TO THE TRIBAL COUNCIL.
THAT WAS A GOOD MEETING AND JUST EXTENDING, UM, OUR HAND OF FRIENDSHIP IN A SENSE OF BEING ABLE TO REMIND THEM THAT WE ARE GOOD PARTNERS.
UM, WE HAD MANY PEOPLE FROM OUR NAVAJO COUNTY ORGANIZATION WHO WENT TO REPRESENT, WE HAD SHERIFF KLAUS THERE, WE HAD BRAD CARLINE THERE, UM, AND WE HAD MANY OTHERS WHO WERE ABLE TO ATTEND AND JUST SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH THE TRIBE.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION AND CONTINUE THAT IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP AS WE KNOW THAT, UM, WITHIN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TOWNSHIPS AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE WAY THAT WE DO IT.
UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF ON LETTERS TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES, UM, AND WE'VE HAD A RECENT STOP ORDER AND THIS WAS IMPACTING OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE, UM, TO OUR ADMINISTRATION THE IMPACT OF, UM, THOSE DECISIONS AND HOW THEY IMPACT RURAL ARIZONA.
UM, SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ENOUGH COMMUNICATION.
WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MARK KELLY'S OFFICE IN ADDITION TO LETTERS BEING SENT OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE AND ALSO ANTICIPATED IMPACT ON FUTURE DEFICITS.
SO, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE ARE IMPACTING OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE DARING REED DINNER WITH SHERIFF KLAUS AND OTHERS FROM NAVAJO COUNTY.
THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT FUNDRAISER.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO ATTEND, AND CERTAINLY IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
I KNOW THAT DARREN REED, UM, FOUNDATION PROVIDES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING ON TO UNIVERSITY OR OTHER CAPACITY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND SO THANK YOU TO THAT FOUNDATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOUNDATION IN BEING ABLE TO THINK ABOUT OUR LOCAL STUDENTS, UM, AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION AND IMPACT TO OUR CHILDREN.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED.
UM, I HAVE, WE'RE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICE IN WHITE RIVER AND THE WHITE MOUNTAINS AND WAY OF HELPING WITH EARTH DAY CLEANUP, SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
WE DID HAVE A SITE VISIT TO BIA ROUTE OR BIA, IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY ON ROUTE 12, BUT OUT IN SIBI Q WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A BUS TURNAROUND.
SO THERE ALL THE PARTNERS WHO WERE INVOLVED WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PARTICULAR, UM, BUS ROUTE AND SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT, UM, THE SCHOOL AND BEING ABLE TO CREATE A SAFE BUS TURNAROUND.
UM, LET'S SEE, TWO MORE THINGS.
I HAVE THREE TOWN HALLS COMING UP.
UM, TOMORROW I HAVE A TOWN HALL IN WHITE RIVER.
UM, NEXT WEEK I WILL BE HAVING A TOWN HALL IN PINETOP AND SIBI Q UM, THOSE GIVE OPPORTUNITIES JUST TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TO TALK ABOUT NAVAJO COUNTY AND NAVAJO, HOW NAVAJO COUNTY PROVIDES SUPPORT TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
AND ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, CREATING STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP AS I'VE SAID THAT, THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
[00:40:01]
TO SHARE WAS INFORMATION I GETTING OLDER.LIKE HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? RIGHT? YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN ME AGE, LIKE I STARTED WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG HERE.
UM, I ALSO SERVE ON THE NATIVE WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND, UM, OR NATIVE WOMEN'S SCHOLARS.
WE HAVE PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO LOCAL NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN WHO ATTEND COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY.
UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL, UM, EVENTS COMING UP AND ALL OF THESE EVENTS GO TOWARDS HELPING OUR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE A NATIVE ART, UM, GALLERY WALK, AND THAT'S GONNA BE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, MAY 10TH OR MAY 9TH AND 10TH.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A RECEPTION ON FRIDAY AT MAY 9TH.
UM, ALL OF THIS INFORMATION HOPEFULLY WILL BE FOUND ONLINE.
UM, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON APACHE USE OF NATIVE PLANTS, AND THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION WILL BE GIVEN BY A LOCAL MEDICINE MAN FROM THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE AT THE, UM, NATURE CENTER IN PINETOP LAKESIDE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE EVENING OF APACHE CULTURE.
UM, THIS WILL BE ON MAY 17TH FROM THREE TO 6:00 PM AND ALL OF THE DOLLARS THAT ARE RAISED ARE GO DIRECTLY TO THE YOUNG WOMEN THAT WE PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO.
THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER EVENT THAT'S COMING UP.
THIS IS THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE ON SATURDAY MAY 10TH.
UM, AND THIS IS AT THE FORT APACHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OR GIVEN BY THE FORT FORT APACHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION AT FORT APACHE.
SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE APACHE CULTURE, THERE ARE SEVERAL EVENTS THAT, UM, WILL HELP TO RAISE YOUR AWARENESS, BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT, UM, LOCAL YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE ATTENDING, UM, UNIVERSITIES.
UM, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
[5. 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.]
FIVE CALLED THE PUBLIC.WE DO HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
UM, HEL YES, ALI, DID I SAY IT CORRECTLY? YES.
ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, GOOD MORNING, UH, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE NAVAJO NATION AND I WAS RAISED IN CHANT TOHO.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE RELEVANT UPDATES ON RECENT LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON RURAL GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT THAT MAY IMPACT, UM, OUR REGION.
SENATE BILL 1520 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR TIM DUNN PROPOSES THE CREATION OF BA BASIN MANAGEMENT AREAS OR BMAS IN THE SPECIFIC RURAL REGIONS OF GILA BIN WALAPAI VALLEY AND WILCOX.
THESE BMAS WOULD BE OVERSEEN BY COUNCILS WITH AUTHORITY TO MONITOR AND MANAGE GROUNDWATER USE.
HOWEVER, THE BILLS, THE BILL DOES NOT PROVIDE A PATH FOR ADDITIONAL BASINS TO BE DESIGNATED, UH, LEAVING PLACES LIKE NAVAJO COUNTY WITHOUT A SIMILAR MANAGEMENT TOOL.
AS OF APRIL 1ST, SENATE BILL 1520 WAS PASSED, HAS PASSED A HOUSE MINORITY CAUCUS WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
ON THE OTHER HAND, SENATE BILL 1425 AND HOUSE BILL 27 14, COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE RULE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2025 WERE INTRODUCED WITH SUPPORT FROM GOVERNOR HOBBS.
THESE BILLS PROPOSE A CREATION OF RURAL GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AREAS, OR OUR GMAS WITH LOCALLY APPOINTED COUNCILS TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. THESE IMP THESE BILLS EMPHASIZE CONTROL AND OFFER THE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDWATER BASINS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE BILLS WERE NOT HEARD IN COMMITTEE.
WHILE THESE LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS FOCUS ON SOUTHERN AND WESTERN ARIZONA INITIAL DESIGNATION EXCLUDES, PLATEAU AQUIFERS LIKE HERE IN NAVAJO COUNTY, LEAVING US WITHOUT MANAGEMENT OPTIONS SHOULD GROUNDWATER CHALLENGES ARISE IN NORTHERN ARIZONA.
THAT SAID, THE TREND TOWARD LOCAL GOVERNANCE IS PROMISING AND IT'S VITAL.
WE STAY ENGAGED ON APRIL 3RD, KEY STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING LAWMAKERS SPONSORING THE BILLS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND VARIOUS WATER USERS GATHERED TO DISCUSS ALL OF THESE RURAL GROUNDWATER BILLS.
UH, THESE CONVERSATIONS REFLECT GROWING MOMENTUM AROUND RURAL WATER POLICY AND THE NEED FOR DIVERSE VOICES AT THE TABLE.
AGAIN, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO REPRESENTATION OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN ARIZONA.
[00:45:01]
LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE RURAL GROUNDWATER RESILIENCE WORKSHOP, WHICH IS HOSTED BY AUS, ARIZONA WATER INNO INNOVATION INITIATIVE AND IMPACT WATER ARIZONA THAT WILL FOCUS ON THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER PLATEAU BASIN, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 18TH OF THIS YEAR.THE UPCOMING WORKSHOP HOPES TO BRING TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TECHNICAL EXPERTS, AND ACADEMICS TO EXPLORE GROUNDWATER PLANNING IN OUR REGION.
AS THESE DISCUSSIONS EVOLVE, I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO BE ENGAGED AND ADVOCATE FOR INCLUSIVE, FLEXIBLE TOOLS THAT CAN ADDRESS OUR COUNTY'S FUTURE GROUNDWATER CHALLENGES.
IF THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKSHOP OR LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT I HAVE SHARED TODAY, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO CONNECT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
WE'RE NOW AT THE END OF THE BOARD, UM, MEETING, SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE.
UM, I HAVE NOT FORMALLY MET, UH, LORI MILLS, BUT WANNA RECOGNIZE HER WITH REPRESENTATIVE CRANE'S OFFICE THAT'S HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND, UH, THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE AND SPENDING TIME WITH THAT.