GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ORDER BY ROLL CALL. SEE THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE THIS MORNING. I'D LIKE TO THANK THOSE OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, AS WELL AS STAFF, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO MAY BE WATCHING ONLINE TODAY. WE'LL BEGIN OUR MEETING TODAY BY AN INVOCATION. WE'VE ASKED SUPERVISOR BENALLY IF SHE WOULD DO THAT, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE WITH US, PLEASE STAND. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WE. AND. I LOVE THE. FATHER. OF OUR LORD. AND. THEN IN OUR HOME. I DON'T I'M NOT SURE. I DON'T KNOW ANY OF. OUR COLLEAGUES. OTHER. THAN THOSE THAT. ARE. PART OF THE. BUT SHE. DOES TELL OTHERS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. NOT ME. YEAH. BUT. WHEN. I WAS. AT HOME, I LOST THE BODY. DEPEND ON ME. IT IS NOT. THAT. NOW THAT WE'VE MOVED ON TO OTHER YOUNG GIRLS. BUT. AFTER THE RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT UNDER THE NAME OF THE. OR. EVEN IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME. I DON'T BELIEVE YOU. I DON'T. HAVE THE. FUNDING AND WE ARE UNDER ATTACK. WE NEED TO. FIND OUT HOW SHE WILL BE ABLE A FACE ON IT. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. THEY NEED TO COME. OUT OF. THE. SERVICE. AMEN. 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. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR BENALLY. APPRECIATE THAT.
PURSUANT TO THE AGENDA NOTICE, PROVIDED THAT ITEMS MAY BE CONSIDERED OUT OF ORDER AT THE CHAIRMAN'S DISCRETION. I'M GOING TO MOVE CALL TO THE PUBLIC TODAY. IT WILL OCCUR PRIOR TO OUR ADJOURNMENT SO THAT THOSE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN AGENDIZED AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO HEAR THOSE ITEMS MAY BE CONSIDERED FIRST TODAY. SO AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER TWO, COUNTY BUSINESS UPDATE REPORTS FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER. OKAY. COUNTY ATTORNEY SUPERVISOR WHITESINGER. SUPERVISOR. FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DEFER UNTIL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. OKAY. SUPERVISOR BENALLY . SAME HERE. THANK YOU. DITTO. APPRECIATE YOUR CHAIR. OKAY. VICE CHAIR. I DO HAVE ONE THING. I'M TRYING TO LOOK FOR THE INFORMATION. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT I WAS ABLE TO THE FAMILY OF HOMER BEATTIE INVITED ME TO A CENTURION AWARD CEREMONY AND ALSO A BIRTHDAY PARTY CELEBRATING HIM AND HIS YEARS OF SERVICE. HE IS THE LAST SURVIVING TRIBAL COUNCIL FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTERPRISE. LET'S SEE. HE IS THE ONLY SURVIVING VETERAN OF THE KOREAN WAR THAT IS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE. AND A WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBAL MEMBER IS AN ARIZONA INDIAN LIVING AND LIVING TREASURE AND A SON OF CIBECUE. HE WAS AWARDED THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CENTENNIAL CENTENARIAN AWARD AND HAVING SUCH A HARD TIME SPEAKING TODAY, HE EARNED MEDALS THROUGH VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AND COMBAT FROM INFANTRY BADGE, PURPLE HEART, KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL, BRONZE SERVICE, STAR, UNITED NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THE CELEBRATION AND TO RECOGNIZE MR. BEATTIE AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS NOT ONLY TO OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO THE NATION. ONE OF THE STORIES THAT WAS SHARED ABOUT MR. BEATTIE WAS THE DAY THAT HE WAS. PICKED UP, I GUESS, THE DAY THAT HE WAS PICKED UP FROM THE SERVICE. HE WAS WORKING IN THE FIELD WITH ANOTHER FRIEND. AND IN CIBECUE AND I FORGET HIS AGE. HE WAS JUST A YOUNG MAN, A BOY. AND MY, IN THE WAY THAT I THINK OF THINGS WITH MY CHILDREN AND A CAR HAD PULLED UP A MILITARY CAR AND THEY ASKED, DO YOU KNOW WHERE HOMER BEATTY IS? AND HE SAID, I'M HOMER BEATTY. AND HE GOT IN THE CAR. HE TOLD HIS FRIENDS, TELL US, TELL MY FAMILY THAT I'VE LEFT. AND THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO SERVE OUR NATION. AND THAT JUST REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME AND HIS ONE DESIRE TO SERVE OUR NATION. BUT YOU KNOW, WE THINK OF ALL OF THE, THE GOODBYES AND THE PUMPS AND CIRCUMSTANCE THAT ARE GENERALLY GIVEN TO YOUNG MEN WHO LEAVE FOR THE MILITARY. AND YOU HAVE THIS MR. BEATTY WHO'S WORKING IN THE FIELDS, AND HE SAYS, THAT'S ME. AND HE GETS IN THE CAR AND HE LEAVES, AND HE HAS QUITE A MILITARY HISTORY AND THE THINGS THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ON BEHALF OF OUR NATION. SO I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT CELEBRATION. SO THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. APPRECIATE THAT. REAL QUICK SUPERVISOR WHITESINGER, MYSELF AND A CITY, A COUNTY MANAGER. AND MICHELLE WAS ABLE TO GO TO DC AND MEET WITH CONGRESSMAN ELI CRANE AND HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION WITH HIM. WE ALSO HAD ELI CRANE CAME AND VISITED MPC. THEY'RE DOING A CDL SIMULATOR, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SPEND SOME TIME AND TO BE THERE WITH MPC, SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING. HE ALSO VISITED SHILOH HIGH SCHOOL, CHOI, A POWER PLANT AND AND SOME THINGS IN WINSLOW HAD A MEETING TO HAVE A BRIEF MEETING WITH COPPER STATE, THE BLUE EARTH UPDATE ON THAT PROJECT. WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF FLOODING IN LINDEN AREA CHENEY RANCH, HEBER AND I APPRECIATE STAFF AND PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE IN THOSE AREAS. THANK THOSE WHO WORKED DURING THE ELECTIONS, PAST ELECTIONS, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO PUT FORTH EFFORTS OF OUR
EMPLOYEES WHO WHEN WE WERE FLOODED HERE IN THE COUNTY BUILDING. THEY SHOWED UP NOT ONLY TO WORK, BUT EARLY AND STAYED LATE TO DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY TO GET US UP AND RUNNING AGAIN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. POSSIBLE. RECENTLY, THIS BOARD HAD A DISCUSSION ON A LIQUOR LICENSE WITH JOE CITY RESIDENTS AND ABOUT THE LOWE'S. AND THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE STATE IN REGARDS TO OUR EFFORTS. AND THAT'S SOMETIMES WHERE LOCAL CONTROL DOES MATTER AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T MATTER. AND AT THAT POINT, THE BOARD WENT AHEAD AND APPROVED THAT LICENSE. I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, AND THE LETTERS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM CITIZENS THANKING US FOR OUR EFFORTS WITH THAT. JUST AS MY THOUGHT HERE FOR THE DAY, WE ALL HAVE A NAME. AND I THINK IT'S INTERESTING WHEN WE GO BACK AND WE LOOK AT BIBLICAL THINGS, THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, GOD KNOWS US BY NAME. HE CALLED ADAM BY NAME. HE CALLED MOSES BY NAME. HE CALLED MARY. HE CALLED SAUL. AND I THINK OUR NAMES ARE IMPORTANT. AND I THINK WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE KNOWN BY INDIVIDUALLY BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. AND JUST IN THOUGHT AND DEED, THOSE WORDS THAT CAN EITHER BLESS US OR CURSE US ARE ALSO SPOKEN OUT OF THE SAME LIPS AND JUST. MY THOUGHT IS TO TAKE THE TIME TO READ JAMES CHAPTER THREE. IT HAS A LOT OF A LOT OF GOOD STUFF ABOUT THAT. THAT'S MY REPORT. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. GRATEFUL FOR OUR CITIZENS. GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. WELCOME ALL THOSE STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL. THE TEACHERS ARE ARE HAPPY. THEY'RE DOING WELL. AND I JUST APPRECIATE OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN THE OFF SEASON TO GET THINGS READY. SO EVERYTHING GOES WELL FOR THE SCHOOLS. YES. VICE CHAIR CAN I ADD ONE MORE THING? SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF MY, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD WRITTEN DOWN CONCERNING THE RECENT THE BALLOT DISCOVERY IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT INCIDENT INVOLVING BALLOT DISCOVERY IN A STORAGE AREA. AND I HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME SPEAKING WITH STAFF, REVIEWING THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE MATTER AND UNDERSTANDING THE ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS AND PROCEDURES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED GOING FORWARD. I WANT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO PREJUDGE ANY ONGOING REVIEW OR MAKE CONCLUSIONS BEYOND THE FACT THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. AT THE SAME TIME, THIS BOARD HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT OUR ELECTION PROCESS OR ADMINISTERS WITH THE ADMINISTERED WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, SECURITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS AMONG THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS EXERCISED BY OUR CITIZENS. WITH THAT RIGHT COMES AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT TO PROPERLY SAFEGUARD EVERY BALLOT, MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES FOR BALLOT CUSTODY AND RECORD RECORD KEEPING, AND ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED FAIRLY SECURELY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW. I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT IS NOW BEING TAKEN UP BY STAFF TO IDENTIFY WHERE PROCEDURES CAN BE STRENGTHENED, INCLUDING SAFEGUARDS INTENDED TO PREVENT A SIMILAR SITUATION OR OTHER FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. I KNOW AND EXPECT THOSE SAFEGUARDS TO BE CLEAR, CONSISTENT, FOLLOWED, PROPERLY DOCUMENTED AND SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. ELECTION INTEGRITY DEPENDS UPON EVERY CITIZEN HAVING CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN A LAWFUL BALLOT IS CAST, IT WILL BE PROPERLY SECURED, ACCOUNTED FOR AND HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES. AS A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD, I WILL CONTINUE TO EXERCISE THE OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY ENTRUSTED TO ME AND WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE PROTECT BOTH THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEMS AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT OF THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I APPRECIATE IT, AND I THINK THAT'S THE SENTIMENT OF THIS BOARD. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. OUR NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS CONSENT AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED OR INDIVIDUALLY? SEEING NONE, I'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION CHAIRMAN.
I MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS STATED. WE HAVE A MOTION BY VICE CHAIR. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL. SECOND. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR WHITESINGER. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS. THE NAVAJO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE DISTRICT. I NEED A MOTION TO ENTER INTO THE PUBLIC SERVICE HEALTH DISTRICT. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY VICE CHAIR. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR WHITESINGER. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSED. WE'RE NOW IN THE NAVAJO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE BOARD. FIRST ITEM THERE IS A CONSENT AGENDA THAT WE HAVE. IS THERE ANY ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE PULLED OR DISCUSSED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, I'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY SUPERVISOR. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER WHITESINGER. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SEE THAT PASSED. I NEED A MOTION TO RETURN BACK TO REGULAR SESSION. SO MOVED. MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER WHITESINGER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY VICE CHAIR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. WE'RE NOW BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM FIVE. CONSIDERATION OF A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING AUGUST 14TH, 2026 AS NAVAJO CODE TALKERS DAY PRESENTED BY SUPERVISOR PESHLAKAI. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. I MEAN, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND STAFF AND THOSE THAT ARE ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE THAT ARE ALSO LISTENING ONLINE. BEFORE YOU IS THE CONSIDERATION OF A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING AUGUST 14TH, 2026 AS NAVAJO CODE TALKERS DAY. THE BACKGROUND IN THIS INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THIS IS THAT THE UNITED STATES DID CALL UPON THE NAVAJO NATION TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY EFFORT BY RECRUITING AND ENLISTING MORE THAN 400 TO NAVAJO MEN TO SERVE IN THE STANDARD COMMUNICATIONS UNIT. SO THESE PATRIOTS BECAME KNOWN AS WHAT WE HAVE KNOWN TODAY AS NAVAJO CODE TALKERS. THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS WERE HONORABLE MEN WHO PERFORMED AN IMPORTANT SERVICE IN THE PRESERVATION OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY. AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE WERE OTHER TRIBES THAT ALSO PARTICIPATED IN BEING CODE TALKERS FOR THE NAVAJO NATION. IN ADDITION, WITH THE NAVAJO NATION AS WELL. BUT IT SEEMS THAT NAVAJO NATION HAS BEEN VERY HEAVY IN PROMOTING THEIR THEIR CODE TALKERS IS WHY SOME OF THE REASONS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR SIGNIFICANT POPULARITY AMONG IN THE UNITED STATES. AND SO WE DO NOT FORGET THEM AS WELL. BUT AS WE. BEING NAVAJO COUNTY AND THEN ALSO BEING A MEMBER OF THE NAVAJO TRIBE, BEING PRIVILEGED TO BRING THIS PROCLAMATION BEFORE THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR, FOR REMEMBERING THIS EACH YEAR AND KEEPING THIS IN THE FOREFRONT. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS THERE BECAUSE THAT THAT WAS A GREAT A GREAT THING THAT THEY DID AND HELPED OUR NATION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? SUPERVISOR BENALLY. THANK YOU, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS. THERE ARE TWO SURVIVING NAVAJO CODE TALKERS, THOMAS AND PETER MCDONALD, WHO WAS A FORMER NAVAJO NATION CHAIRMAN. MR.. MR. MCDONALD IS SAME CLAN AS I AM. I WILL CALL HIM MY BROTHER, BUT MY MOM ALWAYS TOLD ME TO TO CALL THEM MY SONS WHEN THEY'RE OLDER THAN YOU AND GRAYING HAIR. AND IF THEY'RE YOUNGER THAN YOU, ONLY WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT THE SAME AGE AS YOU, THEN YOU CALL THEM YOUR BROTHER. AS IN SUPERVISOR PRCHAL. I CALL HIM MY SON. AND THAT WAS WHAT MY MOM TAUGHT ME ABOUT. I HAVE MET MR. MCDONALD MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND REALLY GRATEFUL FOR HIM AND MY UNCLE. NOT MY UNCLE. MY GREAT UNCLE WAS ALSO A CODE TALKER. HE PASSED ON DURING THE TIME THE CODE WAS STILL
CLASSIFIED AND THAT NEVER REALIZED THAT HE, THAT IT WAS RELEASED SO THAT HE CAN TELL OTHERS. IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO NOT SAY THAT HE'S A CODE TALKER OR REVEAL ANY OF THE CODES THAT THEY LEARNED. SO I JUST WANT TO. SAY THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH SOME OF THE CODE TALKERS. I DON'T KNOW THAT IF ANY OF THEM DIED IN THE FIELD. I READ ABOUT THEM, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY. BUT I AM GRATEFUL TO THEM AS WELL AS SUPERVISOR PESHLAKAI THAT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE OTHERS. OTHER TRIBES THAT HAD THAT WERE CODE TALKERS. LAST FALL. I DID GO OUT TO HOPI AND THEY WERE HONORING THEIR CODE TALKERS. AND OF COURSE, SUPERVISOR PESHLAKAI WAS THERE AS WELL AS OUR COUNTY MANAGER? SO THESE ARE THE LANGUAGES THAT WERE USED TO SAVE THE NATION. THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES. SO WE ALL NEED TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. A LOT OF TIMES YOU'LL HEAR ME PRAY IN MY LANGUAGE. I'M NOT TALKING A CODE LANGUAGE. I'M TALKING DIRECTLY WORD FOR WORD. ENGLISH TO NAVAJO. BUT THE CODE WAS WAS DIFFERENT. EVEN A NAVAJO WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND UNLESS YOU REVEAL TO THEM WHAT IT MEANT. SO. AND I'M HONORED AS WELL TO BE A AND NAVAJO. FROM THE VERY CENTRAL OF THE NAVAJO NATION. SO I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AND I THANK YOU THAT FRIDAY WILL BE THE NAVAJO NATION CODE TALKERS DAY. IF YOU CAN SPEND A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR OUR PEOPLE, WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR BENALLY. APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? DISCUSSION. I LOOK FOR A MOTION CHAIRMAN. OH, SORRY. SUPERVISOR PESHLAKAI. GENERAL, I JUMPED THE GUN. AND I WANT TO RESPECT SUPERVISOR AS HE'S BROUGHT THIS TO THE BOARD. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. IS THAT A MOTION TO APPROVE SUPERVISOR. YES. THANK YOU. I'LL SECOND HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I'M SORRY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASS. THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN FOR THOSE COMMENTS. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM B REVIEW AND RESPONSE TO CONSTITUENT INQUIRIES REGARDING COUNTY OPERATIONS PRESENTED BY OUR COUNTY MANAGER, MR. LEIGHTON. CHAIR, VICE CHAIR SUPERVISORS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THE BOARD HAS RECEIVED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS DURING. CALL THE PUBLIC EMAIL, PHONE AND IN PERSON AND HAS DIRECTED STAFF TO RESEARCH AND REPORT BACK. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE TO SPEAK ON TODAY, BEGINNING WITH WHY IS THERE SO MUCH HAPPENING WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY LATELY? YES, THERE IS A LOT GOING ON, ALONG WITH A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE ENTIRE ENTIRE ENERGY PRODUCTION LANDSCAPE. NOW, RENEWABLES ARE NOT NEW TO NAVAJO COUNTY, BUT LET'S TAKE A LITTLE LOOK BACK. IN 2000, THE STATE OF ARIZONA INSTITUTED AN 80% PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION TO INCENTIVIZE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS. ONE OF THE EARLIEST PROJECTS IN THE STATE WAS A WIND PROJECT HERE IN NAVAJO COUNTY. AND IT'S APPARENT THAT THE BOARD AT THAT TIME SAW THAT THIS HAD A POTENTIAL TO GROW AND RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO REGULATE THIS MORE COMPREHENSIVELY.
AND SO IN 2011, THE BOARD AT THAT TIME, INCLUDING SUPERVISORS JONATHAN NEZ, JESSE THOMPSON, J.R. DESPAIN, DAVID TENNEY AND JERRY BROWNLOW ADOPTED THE WIND ENERGY ORDINANCE. IT WAS VERY FORWARD THINKING. IT INCLUDED EXISTING BEST PRACTICES. AND AT THAT TIME, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFIED AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT WERE CONSIDERED MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THESE KINDS OF DEVELOPMENTS. SO THESE TWO DOCUMENTS GUIDED PROJECT SITES MOVING FORWARD. AND IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME FRAME THAT THE STATE OF ARIZONA RENEWED THAT 80% PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION AND EXTENDED IT TILL 2040. NOW, WHEN WE LOOK IN KIND OF THE TIMEFRAME OF 2020 TO 2022, THAT'S WHEN APS AND SRP BEGAN ISSUING WHAT THEY CALLED ALL RESOURCE RFPS, OR BASICALLY REQUESTS SEEKING PROPOSALS FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION PROJECTS, AND ALSO FEDERAL SUBSIDIES AND INCENTIVES AT THAT TIME GREATLY EXPANDED, WHICH INCREASED THE FINANCIAL ATTRACTIVENESS OF THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS. RIGHT. SO WITH THAT KIND OF SURGE KIND OF COMING UP, WE STARTED REALLY FEELING THE IMPACT OF THAT IN ABOUT 2024. AND THE TIMING OF THAT WAS ACTUALLY ADVANTAGEOUS. THE COUNTY WAS REVIEWING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AT THE TIME, WHICH WOULD TRIGGER A REVIEW OF THE COUNTY ORDINANCE. AND SO THAT THAT PERIOD OF TIME CREATED ALMOST A LITTLE SPACE FOR THE COUNTY TO WORK IN AND UPDATE THAT. AS PART OF THE PROCESS TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE, THE BOARD ASKED TO HEAR RESIDENT FEEDBACK IN PERSON, ONLINE, IN SPECIAL MEETINGS AND BY EMAIL. THIS OUTREACH NOT ONLY MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE, BUT ALSO EXCEEDED THOSE SUPERVISORS. I THINK THIS IS A POINT WHERE SOME PEOPLE FEEL FRUSTRATED. SOME RESIDENTS FELT THAT THE ORDINANCE UPDATE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO REWRITE STANDARDS, TO SAY NO TO THESE KIND OF DEVELOPMENTS. THE BOARD HEARD THAT OPPOSITION AND THE BOARD ALSO HEARD FROM PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND OTHERS WHO SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THOSE. WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY PEOPLE THINK UTILITY, WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS ARE SIMPLY A BAD IDEA. THEY THINK THEY JUST DON'T MAKE SENSE AND QUESTION WHY ANYONE WOULD AGREE TO HAVE THEM. SO DENYING THESE DEVELOPMENTS IS A LOGICAL OUTCOME THAT MAKES SENSE TO THEM. ON THE OTHER SIDE IS THE FREEDOM IN AMERICA TO USE AND DEVELOP PRIVATE PROPERTY AND POTENTIALLY EXPLORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WITH THAT PROPERTY. THERE ARE FOLKS WHO FEEL STRONGLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS. BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THE BALANCE? PROHIBITION IS NOT A BALANCE POINT. UNREGULATED DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT LOCAL SAFEGUARDS IS NOT A BALANCE POINT. THE BALANCE POINT PROVIDED BY THE LEGISLATURE, OUR REGULATION POWERS. THAT'S THE POWER OF ZONING SETBACKS, BUFFERING, PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER STANDARDS. SO IN 2025, THE BOARD ADOPTED AN UPDATED ORDINANCE FOCUSED ON MODERNIZING, MODERNIZING, AND EXPANDING THOSE REGULATIONS. AND SOME RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED, WELL, DID THAT UPDATE ACTUALLY WEAKEN THE COUNTY ORDINANCE? LET'S WALK THROUGH IT AND YOU CAN SEE. SO HERE'S SOME PROVISIONS THAT WERE IN THE OLD ORDINANCE THAT CARRIED FORWARD TO THE NEW ORDINANCE, ALMOST WORD FOR WORD. YOU HAVE NOISE LIMITS. YOU HAVE SETBACKS, REQUIREMENTS FOR DECOMMISSIONING PLANS, AND YOU HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC OUTREACH. AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK KIND OF WHAT HAS IMPROVED IN THE NEW ORDINANCE. COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION WAS EXPANDED. TRIBAL COORDINATION IS NOW REQUIRED WHERE APPROPRIATE. ROAD PROTECTIONS IS ANOTHER AREA THAT'S IMPROVED GREATLY. WE NOW HAVE A WRITTEN AND RECORDED ROAD USE AGREEMENT, WHICH STIPULATES ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES AS REQUIRED, REPAIR THE ROADWAY DURING CONSTRUCTION, POST-CONSTRUCTION AND POST REMEDIATION. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO REQUIRE A BOND IF NEEDED AND UNIQUE SITUATIONS. FIRE AGENCY INVOLVEMENT IS ALSO GREATLY EXPANDED. THEY'RE INVOLVED UPFRONT NOW AT THE BEGINNING, THEY APPROVE ANY IMPROVEMENTS AND THEY PARTICIPATE IN ANY EVENING POST ACCIDENT REVIEWS, AND THEY'RE INVOLVED IN DECOMMISSIONING THE NUMBER OF STUDIES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WILDLIFE, ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL WATER HAS ALL EXPANDED. AND SUPERVISORS, THESE ARE NOT STUDIES THAT ARE JUST PERFORMED AND PUT ON A SHELF. THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, ALL THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THESE STUDIES ARE IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEVELOPER. NOW THE FIRST ORDINANCE WAS ONLY WIND. IT DID NOT HAVE SOLAR. AND SO THE NEW UPDATE REQUIRED INCLUDES DECOMMISSIONING STANDARDS, FENCING, LANDSCAPING STANDARDS AND OTHER STANDARDS FOR SOLAR. THE UPDATED ORDINANCE ALSO CODIFIED THE USE OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT MORE IN JUST A MINUTE. AND DURING THE LISTENING SESSIONS, THE BOARD HEARD CONCERNS THAT DIRECTLY LED TO THE INCLUSION, THE CREATION AND INCLUSION OF THE PREFERRED CRITERIA THAT YOU SEE HERE. YOU'LL NOTE THAT A COUPLE OF THESE CRITERIA EXPANDED BOARD CONSIDERATION REGARDING LOCATION.
SO STEPPING BACK FOR A MOMENT, ONE OF THE FEARS EXPRESSED THAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT ANY UNDEVELOPED LAND COULD BE TURNED INTO A SOLAR FIELD. IN REALITY, RESTRICTIONS PERTAINING TO FOREST LAND, THE JURISDICTIONS OF OTHER ENTITIES, ZONING DECISIONS BY PRIOR BOARDS AND EVEN EVEN PRACTICAL REALITIES ALL NARROW DOWN THOSE POSSIBLE LOCATIONS. SO IF WE LOOK AT THE COUNTY OVERALL, WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS IN ON THAT AREA KIND OF DEFINED THERE IN BLACK WHERE DEVELOPMENT CAN OCCUR. WE ZOOM IN MORE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS MAP, WIND AND SOLAR PROJECTS ARE DELIBERATELY SITUATED IN AND AROUND TRANSMISSION LINES AND AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED FOR POTENTIAL WIND AND SOLAR DEVELOPMENT. AND THE YELLOW LINES THERE ARE THOSE THOSE TRANSMISSION LINES. ONE OF THE PREFERRED CRITERIA HAS AN EMPHASIS ON WATER CONSERVATION. THE CONCERN ABOUT WATER USAGE AND WATER SUSTAINABILITY IS PROBABLY THE MOST FREQUENT CONCERN THAT I HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM YOU AS INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS. SO IN PARTICULAR, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS HAS BEEN, WELL, HOW MUCH WATER IS USED TO CONSTRUCT WIND TURBINES? LET'S LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE. SO WITH WEST CAMP TWO IT'S 144 TURBINES WITH 18,000 GALLONS PER FOUNDATION TO MIX IN THE CONCRETE FOR THAT FOUNDATION. THAT'S ABOUT 2.6 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER. 2.6 MILLION IS A LARGE NUMBER. THAT'S A LOT OF WATER. SOME THINGS TO KIND OF KEEP IN MIND, IT IS A ONE TIME USE FOR CONSTRUCTION. WIND TURBINES DO NOT REQUIRE THE USE OF WATER FOR ONGOING ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION. ALSO, THAT'S ABOUT THE EQUIVALENT OF A ONE WEEK OF WATERING FOR AN 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE. AND THAT'S OPERATING UNDER EDWARD S ALLOTMENT, WHICH RESTRICTS GOLF COURSES TO ABOUT 90 ACRES OF TURF. SO IF THAT HELPS AT ALL WITH THE WITH THE WATER, THAT'S HELPFUL. SO THE SOUP WE USED TO OPERATE UNDER SOUP AND FOLKS HAVE ASKED, WELL IS AN SOUP BETTER THAN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND SHOULD, SHOULD WE GO BACK TO THAT? THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO. DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ARE VERY USEFUL IN THIS CONTEXT. AS A REMINDER, SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS A VERY TRADITIONAL APPROVAL TOOL THAT WORKS VERY WELL. IT WORKS MORE LIKE A CHECKLIST, WHEREAS A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT CAN BE FOUND ON THE SCREEN. THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS A LEGALLY BINDING NEGOTIATED CONTRACT THAT INCORPORATES. IT CAN INCORPORATE EVERYTHING THAT THE SUP DOES PLUS OTHER ELEMENTS DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT. SO VERY, VERY FLEXIBLE. SO IF WE LOOK THAT KIND OF SIDE BY SIDE, THE FLEXIBILITY ON SOUP IS VERY LOW BECAUSE IT'S CHECKLIST DRIVEN ON A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IT'S VERY HIGH. YOU CAN TAILOR ELEMENTS ACCORDING TO THE PROJECT. PREFERRED CRITERIA REALLY WOULDN'T BE ENFORCEABLE WITH USING AN SCP, BUT IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THEY CAN BE CONTRACTUALLY BINDING. ROAD PROTECTION IS ANOTHER AREA THAT REALLY BENEFITS FROM THIS. WE CAN VERY SPECIFICALLY NEGOTIATE ELEMENTS OF THE ROAD TYPES, APPLICATIONS, FREQUENCY, ALL THAT WE CAN PUT IN AND DEFINE VERY CAREFULLY IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE JUST CAN'T DO IN AN SCP. OVERALL, COUNTY LEVERAGE IS VERY LIMITED TO WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THE ORDINANCE FOR AN SCP. BUT IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, YOU CAN NEGOTIATE BEYOND THAT. AND ENFORCEABILITY IS ANOTHER REAL KEY HERE. SO A VIOLATION UNDER THE SCP IS FALLS UNDER A ZONING VIOLATION PROCESS TO TO TRY TO PURSUE UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, A VIOLATION IS A BREACH OF CONTRACT. YOU ALWAYS PRESERVE THAT ABILITY TO USE A ZONING VIOLATION PROCESS. BUT YOU HAVE ANOTHER AVENUE FOR ENFORCEMENT. SO ONE ONE THING WE, WE'VE HEARD IS A CONCERN OF WHY DO NOT, WHY DO RENEWABLE PROJECTS NOT GO BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION? AND IT'S JUST NOT PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, BUT KIND OF PEELING THAT CONCERN BACK A LITTLE BIT. I THINK, OR WHAT I FELT THAT SOME OF THE CONCERN IS MORE ABOUT THE LOSS OF THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. SO, SUPERVISOR, HERE'S WHERE THE ADVANTAGE OF USING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REALLY COMES INTO PLAY. WE CAN EVOLVE AND CUSTOMIZE THE PROCESSES. SO THE CONCERN IS REDUCED OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC IMPACT IMPACT INPUT. SORRY. REDUCED OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT. THE BOARD HAS DIRECTED STAFF TO IMPLEMENT AND IMPLEMENT A NEW TWO STEP PROCESS. IN AN INITIAL MEETING, THE PROJECT WOULD BE PROPOSED WITH TECHNICAL DETAILS. OUTLINE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT AND THEN IT WOULD BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AFTER THE BOARD HAS RECEIVED ALL THAT INFORMATION. THEY CAN THEN PROVIDE DIRECTION AND INPUT TO STAFF AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
STAFF WOULD REPORT BACK UPDATE ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THE DEVELOPER COULD PROVIDE. INPUT, AND PUBLIC COMMENT WOULD ALSO BE RECEIVED ON THOSE UPDATES AND THEN ALLOW FOR POSSIBLE BOARD ACTION. SO THERE'S ONE EXAMPLE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF EVOLVING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT PROCESS IN REAL TIME HAS TO DO WITH RESIDENT FEEDBACK. SO THERE'S A CONCERN THAT WINDMILLS OR SOLAR PANELS MIGHT GO UNUSED, DILAPIDATED AND LEFT FOREVER TO BECOME UNSIGHTLY AND A POSSIBLE DANGER. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT IS NOT WHAT ANYBODY WANTS HERE. NOW, THAT WAS A CONCERN TO THE BOARD BACK IN 2011 BECAUSE THEY INCLUDED STRONG REQUIREMENTS TO ADDRESS THIS, INCLUDING A FULL DECOMMISSIONING AND RECLAMATION PLAN. THEY REQUIRED A FINANCIAL SECURITY BOND THAT COVERS THE FULL COST OF REMOVAL, AND IT HAD TO BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS AND STIPULATED THAT ALL MATERIALS MUST BE PROPERLY RECYCLED ACCORDING TO STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS. AND SUPERVISORS, WE TALK ABOUT SECURITY BONDS A LOT. WHY A PROPERLY STRUCTURED SECURITY BOND PROTECTS RESIDENTS MORE RELIABLY THAN A SIGNATURE FROM ANY COMPANY, PARENT OR OTHERWISE, FOR THREE MAIN REASONS. IT IS BACKED BY A REGULATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, NOT A COMPANY. IT IS PAYABLE ON DEMAND WITHOUT THE DELAY AND EXPENSE OF LITIGATION OR FIGHTING WITH OTHER LIENHOLDER LIENHOLDERS IN A BANKRUPTCY COURT. THERE'S NONE OF THAT. THIRD, IT MUST REMAIN IN FORCE FOR THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT AND CANNOT BE CANCELED OR ALLOWED TO LAPSE, REGARDLESS OF WHO OWNS IT OR WHAT HAPPENS TO A COMPANY DECADES FROM NOW. NOW, WE DID LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE. THIS. FIRST ONE ACTUALLY CAME FROM A RECOMMENDATION FROM A RESIDENT THAT THAT SPOKE TO ME SPECIFY THAT THE CERTIFIED ENGINEER MUST BE A THIRD PARTY AND NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEVELOPER, AND WE'VE NEVER NOT HAD THIS IN PRACTICE. BUT WHAT? THAT'S A GREAT SAFEGUARD TO IMPLEMENT, TO TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST ANY FUTURE IMPROPRIETY. SECONDLY, THE ABILITY TO AUDIT THE ENGINEER'S RESULTS WITH A THIRD PARTY ENGINEER AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DEVELOPER. NEXT, THE SECURITY BOND AMOUNT CAN INCREASE BUT CAN NEVER DECREASE OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT. THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARD THAT WE FOUND IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY TO GUARD AGAINST UNUSUAL MARKET PRICE DISTORTIONS. AND THEN FINALLY, THE DEVELOPER MUST ATTAIN AND PROVIDE A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER TO ALLOW FOR DECOMMISSIONING AND RECLAMATION. NOW, THAT CAME FROM A CONCERN THAT A PROPERTY OWNER AND A DEVELOPER, FOR WHATEVER REASON, MIGHT AGREE TO LEAVE THE EQUIPMENT ON THE PROPERTY. THIS WOULD CLOSE THAT AND PREVENT THAT. THE AGREEMENT MUST ALSO GRANT THE DEVELOPER AND THE COUNTY FULL ACCESS TO ENFORCE REMEDIATION AND WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THE DAY, THIS RIGHT IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT EVEN IF THE PROJECT OR THE LAND IS SOLD OR TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER OWNER. SO WE'VE ALSO GOT THE QUESTION HERE IS, HOW DO WE KNOW IF THIS PROCESS WILL ACTUALLY GET KICKED OFF AND STARTED? THE CONTRACT REQUIRES THAT RECLAMATION AND RESTORATION MUST BEGIN ONCE THE CONTRACT PERIOD ENDS FOR THE PROJECT STOPS PRODUCING POWER. ADDITIONALLY, OUR ORDINANCE DOES NOT JUST LOOK AT THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE. REQUIREMENTS ALSO APPLY TO INDIVIDUAL WIND TURBINES AND SOLAR PANELS. BROKEN, DAMAGED OR NONFUNCTIONING PANELS OR TURBINES MUST BE REPAIRED WITHIN THE SPECIFIED CURE PERIODS OR THE DEADLINES THAT YOU SEE MARKED THERE, AND THOSE ARE ONE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE DEADLINES IN THE STATE. NOW, WITH ALL THE WORK THAT THE BOARD HAS DONE, PRIOR BOARDS HAVE DONE. THE QUESTION IS, WELL, HOW DOES NAVAJO COUNTY'S ORDINANCE COMPARE TO OTHER COUNTY ORDINANCES, AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN AGAINST THEM? SO TO START OUT, MOST OTHER COUNTIES IN ARIZONA DO NOT HAVE ORDINANCES THAT SPECIFICALLY GOVERN WIND OR SOLAR DEVELOPMENT. BUT IT'S APPARENT THAT NAVAJO, APACHE, COCHISE, COCONINO, AND YAVAPAI ARE ALL AT THE FOREFRONT OF REGULATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES. SO AS WE DISCUSSED IN NAVAJO COUNTY, OUR PROCESS IS A COMBINATION OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE D AYE SO OUR SURVEY REFLECTS THAT AND THE USE OF BOTH OF THOSE TOOLS TOOLS. WE IDENTIFIED 79 DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS TO BENCHMARK AGAINST ACROSS TEN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. AND OF THE FIVE COUNTIES, YAVAPAI DOES NOT HAVE A WIND ORDINANCE. SO YOU'LL SEE SOME BENCHMARKS MARKED AS NOT APPLICABLE IN THE GRAY IN THAT SAME GRAY COLOR. NOW BENCHMARKS WERE CATEGORIZED AS BEING EQUAL OR ROUGHLY COMPATIBLE THERE IN YELLOW. GREEN INDICATES WHERE THE REQUIREMENT IS GREATER THAN SOME OTHER COUNTIES, AND THE ORANGE INDICATES WHERE THE REQUIREMENT COULD BE VIEWED AS BEING LESSER THAN. AGAIN, THAT'S NOT BAD. EACH OF THESE COUNTIES IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF REGULATING THESE INDUSTRIES IN ARIZONA.
SO OVERALL, WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF OUR REQUIREMENTS IN THAT YELLOW OR GREEN CATEGORIES. NOW SUPERVISORS REMEMBER THE LANGUAGE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION VARIES GREATLY AMONG COUNTIES WHICH CAN CREATE SOME AMBIGUITY. BUT I THINK THIS STILL SERVES AS A GOOD SURVEY COMPARISON. NOW HERE'S AN AGGREGATED VIEW AS WE PUT THIS TOGETHER. THE SURVEY SHOWS THAT NAVAJO COUNTIES ORDINANCE AND DA PROCESS OVERALL IS NOT DEFICIENT COMPARED TO OTHERS. BECAUSE AS YOU SEE HERE, THE MAJORITY OF OUR OUR REQUIREMENTS, THEY'RE ON THE FAR LEFT. NAVAJO IS FAR LEFT. MOST OF OUR REQUIREMENTS FALL IN THAT YELLOW AND GREEN CATEGORIES. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL THERE OF READING SORRY. YELLOW AND GREEN AS COMPARED TO OTHERS. YOU CAN MAKE THE CASE THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND MOST PROTECTIVE SETS OF REQUIREMENTS IN THE STATE. SO THAT'S YOUR AGGREGATE VERSION. HERE'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THIS. AND LEAH HAS COPIES OF THE FULL REPORT WITH ALL THE 79 BENCHMARKS FOR YOU TO SEE. AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE THAT HAS MORE DETAILS ON IT. AND WE WILL PUT THOSE ON THE WEBSITE SO ANYBODY CAN REFERENCE THOSE. SO JUST FOR EXPLANATION THERE, AS YOU SEE THE YELLOW ACROSS WITH THE STARS, THAT THAT MEANS THAT ALL COUNTIES HAD A REQUIREMENT THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR OR ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT. IF WE LOOK AT DOWN AT THE VERY BOTTOM, LIKE THAT LAST ONE, IT SAYS WEED AND REVEGETATION PLAN. COCHISE IS THERE IN THAT ORANGE COLOR. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY HAVE A BAD REQUIREMENT. IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT THE LANGUAGE OF THEIR REQUIREMENT COULD BE VIEWED AS LESS THAN AS COMPARED TO NAVAJO, APACHE, COCONINO AND YAVAPAI, WHOSE REQUIREMENT IN THAT SECTION WERE ALL VERY ROUGHLY COMPARABLE AND JUST COULD BE CONSIDERED A LITTLE STRONGER OR GREATER THAN THAT OF COCHISE. SO THAT'S HOW TO READ THAT, THAT STUDY. SO COMPARATIVELY OUR COUNTY REQUIREMENTS ARE VERY GOOD. WE DID HAVE SIX ITEMS THAT FELL INTO THAT CATEGORY. I'D LIKE TO REVIEW THOSE. SO TOTAL ACREAGE LIMITS FOR SOLAR. YAVAPAI COUNTY CHOSE TO REGULATE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS IN PART THROUGH ACREAGE CAPS. THAT PROVISION IS UNIQUE AMONG ARIZONA COUNTIES. AND THIS CAN BE A GOOD APPROACH FOR YAVAPAI. BUT PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE IN VERY DIFFERENT PLACES THAN YAVAPAI. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, RIGHT NOW THEY ONLY HAVE ONE OPERATING SOLAR DEVELOPMENT. NAVAJO COUNTY, A LONG TIME AGO TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO REGULATE RENEWABLE ENERGY THROUGH ZONING AND OTHER STANDARDS RATHER THAN TOTAL ACREAGE LIMITS. SORRY. SOIL. SO COCHISE COUNTY HAS A PROVISION THAT SOIL TESTING FOR SOLAR MAY BE REQUIRED NOW FOR PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNERS AND SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES INSTALL SOLAR PANELS ON ROOFTOPS, GARAGES, PARKS, SHEDS, AND IN YARDS. BUT ROUTINE SOIL TESTING IS NOT REQUIRED BEFORE OR AFTER INSTALLATION. NOTWITHSTANDING, THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT THE BOARD COULD CONSIDER THE GLARE STUDY. YAVAPAI ORDINANCE REQUIRES A GLARE STUDY IF ONE IS REQUIRED BY THE FAA. NOW, OUR. OUR. OUR ORDINANCE ALREADY REQUIRES THAT DEVELOPERS COMPLY WITH ALL THE FEDERAL AND ALL THE STATE REQUIREMENTS. SO IN PRACTICAL TERMS, WE ALREADY DO REQUIRE THIS. IT'S JUST NOT EXPLICITLY STATED WITHIN OUR ORDINANCE. SOLAR HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS. COCHISE AND YAVAPAI BOTH RESTRICT THE HEIGHT OF SOLAR PANELS, BUT OUR ORDINANCE DOES NOT. CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME ADVANTAGES TO THAT, BUT IT MAY BE WORTH KEEPING THE DISCUSSION OPEN ON THAT POINT. FOR NOW, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE DEVELOPER WHO IS TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE USE OF GRAZING HEIGHT SOLAR AND LIFTING THE SOLAR PANELS HIGHER OFF THE GROUND TO ALLOW FOR CATTLE GRAZING UNDERNEATH. THAT'S AN INTRIGUING IDEA FOR A DUAL USE OF THAT PROPERTY. SO SOMETHING INTERESTING TO THE BOARD MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE. SETBACKS FOR SOLAR. COCHISE, YAVAPAI, AND PIMA ALL HAVE SPECIFIC SETBACKS FOR SOLAR. WITH OUR CURRENT STANDARDS AND THE FENCING AND THE SITING THAT WE HAVE, THIS MAY NOT BE AS URGENT, BUT IT CAN CERTAINLY BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BY THE BOARD. AND THEN GROUND COVER FOR SOLAR, COCHISE, COCONINO, AND YAVAPAI ALL EXPLICITLY REQUIRE VEGETATED GROUND COVER TO BE PUT UNDER SOLAR PANELS. OUR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REQUIRES REVEGETATION OF ALL DISTURBED AREAS. SO IN EFFECT, THIS ACCOMPLISHES THE SAME, BUT IT'S NOT EXPLICITLY STATED THE SAME WAY IN OUR ORDINANCE. SO AS YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS AND ALL THESE REQUIREMENTS. THE ORDINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR NAVAJO COUNTY ARE COMPARATIVELY VERY STRONG. BUT THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT WE COULD CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD. SUPERVISORS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME RESIDENTS DO NOT SEE THE VALUE IN RENEWABLES AND EVEN SEE THEM AS A NEGATIVE. REQUEST TO RESCIND THE UPDATED ORDINANCE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, HOWEVER WELL MEANING, WOULD NOT STOP THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND WOULD ONLY REMOVE ALL THE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS AND SAFEGUARDS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED TODAY.
EVERY ACTION THAT THIS BOARD HAS TAKEN HAS PROVED TO STRENGTHEN STANDARDS AND ADD NEW PROTECTIONS TO REGULATE THESE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS. SORRY, SORRY. THE COMPREHENSIVE. THANKS. SORRY. AS YOU SEE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE ORDINANCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ARE THE COUNTY'S LAWFUL REGULATION POWERS. AND IT'S A BALANCE POINT. IT'S NOT THE BALANCE POINT THAT EVERYONE IS COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH. PUBLIC POLICY REALLY RARELY IS, BUT IT IS AN APPROPRIATE AND PRACTICAL BALANCE OF THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE POWERS TO BOTH REGULATE AND PROTECT SUPERVISOR. I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE, AND I'M HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOU CAN EITHER MAKE COMMENTS NOW AND AFTER, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOUR YOUR PREROGATIVE AND BOTH. AND YOU CAN ALSO ASK OF THE RESIDENTS QUESTIONS. AND CHAIR, IF I COULD AFTER THIS, I DO HAVE A SECOND PART OF THIS PRESENTATION AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS TIME, WE'LL ALLOW THE PUBLIC DO A REQUESTED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM MAY DO SO. I KNOW THAT YOUR TIME WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. FIRST WE HAVE IS ROBERT BAKER. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THIS AGENDA ITEM. SO, MR. BAKER. FIRST CALL, SECOND CALL CHAIR. YEAH. I WONDER IF THAT'S ROBERT BLACK. OH IT WAS. KAREN ALLEN. GOOD MORNING. THAT SPEAKER ADDRESSED MOST OF THE ISSUES THAT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT FROM THE BEGINNING THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS TO THE END. I JUST FEEL LIKE HAVING TWO MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC INPUT IS NOT ENOUGH. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE OPEN TRANSPARENCY REGARDING IMPACT STUDIES AND PLANS, ALL OF THAT. THE OTHER THING IS I THINK I LIVE IN THE HEBREW OVERGAARD AREA. I DON'T FEEL TEN MILES OUTSIDE OF TOWN IS ENOUGH. I THINK IT SHOULD BE SET FURTHER BACK. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY THERE ISN'T, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OPEN LAND OUT THERE. AND THE OTHER THING, I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR WIND AND SOLAR. IF THERE'S A PROPOSED PLAN FOR A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN THE JOSEPH CITY AREA, THERE'S NOT A PROPOSED PLAN. THERE IS NOT. NO. OKAY. THERE'S STUDIES AND AND INQUIRIES, BUT THERE'S NOT A PROPOSED PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BRANT MEYER. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS. I WAS NOT QUITE PREPARED FOR THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC, BUT I'M GLAD THAT IT CAME UP. MY QUESTION IS WITH THE ATTORNEY IS HE FAILED TO PROVIDE US THE REGULATIONS. HE SAYS THE STATE AND EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY IN THE RECLAMATION, THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE IT. WELL, THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE TITLES OF RECLAMATION. AND AGAIN, WE'RE PURSUING A THING. BUT THE BIGGEST CONCERN, AND I JUST LOST IT ON MY PHONE HERE. I'M A LITTLE UPSET. SO YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME ON THIS. THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT I'VE GOT IS I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE BROKEN DOWN OF HOW THE THE COUNTY APPLIES US AS THE PUBLIC. WHERE'S WHERE DO WE WEIGH ON THAT BALANCE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. I DON'T SEE IT. FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT USING REGULATIONS. AND WHY AREN'T YOU USING OTHER STATES THAT HAVE HAD FAILURES? I CAME FROM COLORADO. I RETIRED FROM FORT CARSON. I MOVED HERE TEN YEARS AGO. BUT HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU. I CHECKED THE COUNTY'S CURRENT RENEWABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY PAGE AND THE 250 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THERE'S SIGNIFICANT ISSUE WE'RE PUTTING FORTH IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WHAT THE COUNTY SAYS IS NOW STATES THAT ARE 142 STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED DURING THE 2025 RENEWABLE ENERGY ORDINANCE LISTENING SESSIONS. 51 WRITTEN JOT FORM SUBMISSIONS, FIVE LETTERS, EMAILS, 28 SPEAKERS AND 31 SPEAKERS IN HEBREW 27 IN JOE CITY. THAT TOTALS 142. BUT WHAT YOU'RE NOT PUBLISHING IS, WAS IT A NAVAJO COUNTY RESIDENT OR A NONRESIDENT?
WAS IT UNINCORPORATED OR WAS IT INCORPORATED? WAS IT SUPPORT OR WAS IT OPPOSITION, RENEWABLE ENERGY, EMPLOYEE OR REPRESENTATIVE THEREIN OR JUST AN ORDINARY CITIZEN? HOW ABOUT MY THING IS THE DEVELOPER, WHICH ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE ON HIS SLIDES. THE NEXT ONE UP BEFORE WE, THE AFFECTED LANDOWNER AND WHETHER A COUNTER HAS BEEN THE COMMENTER HAS HAS ANY FINANCIAL ENERGY IN THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. WHERE DOES THAT FIT IN OURS? SO GOING TO WHAT WHAT YOU'RE GIVING US IN THE OPPORTUNITY, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE THAT WE CARE AND PUT IT TO A VOTE. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. PUT THIS TO A VOTE. LET'S PUT IT DOWN. LET'S PUT A FREEZE ON IT AND TAKE A DRIVE UP NORTH ON 77 OR DO MCLAWS ROAD. THE ENVIRONMENT IS JUST BEING TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE MICE, EVERYTHING IS WIPED OUT. THERE'S NO. AND THEN YOU GO LOOK AT THAT. YOU HEAR THE MONSOONS KIND OF STILL HERE. LOOK AT THE WASHOUTS. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING ON THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE WASHOUTS. I SEE THAT THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE. AND OUR COUNTY IS PICKING UP AND HELPING THEM BUILD THESE THINGS. I'M SORRY. IT SHOULD BE RIGHT HERE WHERE YOU CAN RECORD IT. SO. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I HAVE ANOTHER ONE LATER ON IN THE CALL FOR PUBLIC. BUT AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE. BUT PLEASE LISTEN TO US AS AS THE CITIZENS AND THEN LET'S SEE HOW WE'RE BEING WEIGHED AND OUR OUR CHOICE. AND THEN THE NEGATIVE. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING SAYING, WHY SHOULDN'T WE PUT IT IN HERE? COLORADO IS HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME. NOT ONLY WERE THEY INVOLVED IN IT BACK IN THE 90S, BUT NOW THEY'RE HAVING TO DISPOSE OF THE BLADES. AND EVEN BETTER, PUEBLO USE THEIR OLD STEEL PLANT TO MANUFACTURE BLADES. NOW THEY'RE HAVING TO SHUT IT DOWN. THANK YOU. JUST A QUESTION, MR. MEYER. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? OH. I'M SORRY. I'M IN UNINCORPORATED AT THE END OF HAY HOLLOW, ABOUT 14 MILES NORTH AND EAST OF COLORADO SPRINGS. DOWN BY THE LITTLE THE PETRIFIED FOREST OUT THIS WAY. AND THE LITTLE, LITTLE COLORADO. SO YOU CAN GO EITHER WOODRUFF ROAD OR FROM WOODRUFF OR COME UP FROM CONCHO. AND YOU MENTIONED WE, THE PROPERTY OWNERS AREN'T IN HERE. DO YOU OWN PROPERTY? I'M AN 80 ACRES, SIR. AND IF I COULD BUY THE 40 ACRES TO MY NEIGHBORS, TO THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST, I'D BUY THAT. I LOVE THEM, BUT I'D LIKE TO PUSH THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OUT. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT. MR. ROBERT BLACK. CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISORS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME HERE LISTENING TO BRIAN LEIGHTON'S THING. BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS I THINK HE DID NOT TOUCH ON HIM. I'M JUST GOING TO GO THERE FROM HERE. THE COUNTY KEEPS SAYING ITS STRENGTH AND PROTECTION. SO LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S ACTUALLY MEANS FOR LIGHTING. UNDER LONG STANDING COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES, PROPERTY OWNERS ARE ENTITLED TO USE AND ENJOYMENT OF THEIR LAND. AND I TOTALLY SUPPORT THAT. IF YOU OWN LAND, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO MORE OR LESS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO ON IT. BUT WHEN ONE USE INTERFERES WITH THE ENJOYMENT ACROSS PROPERTY LINES TO EVERYBODY ELSE THEN BOUNDARY HARMS THEY CAN OCCUR. TURBINE. TURBINE AVIATION LIGHTING IS EXACTLY THAT KIND OF HARM IN DARK, RURAL DESERT SKY AREAS. THE RED BLINKING LIGHTS ARE VISIBLE FOR MANY MILES. THEY CREATE CONTINUOUS LIGHT, TRESPASS, GLARE, AND SKYGLOW THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE. ONCE PROJECTS ARE BUILT. RESIDENTS CANNOT TURN THEM OFF. THE TECHNICAL STANDARDS ARE CLEAR. SPECTRUM MATTERS. FULL SHIELDING MATTERS EVEN MORE. TOTAL LIGHT AMOUNT MATTERS. AVIATION OBSTRUCTION LIGHTING ON 700 TO 820 FOOT TURBINES IS HIGH INTENSITY, UNSHIELDED FROM THE GROUND PERSPECTIVE AND OPERATES ALL NIGHT OR ACTIVATES OVER LARGE AREAS WITH AIRCRAFT DETECTION SYSTEM. IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF THE PRACTICES THAT USUALLY REDUCE LIGHT POLLUTION. SO AND LEAVING THAT ALONE, WHAT I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GO HERE IS LISTENING TO EVERYBODY ELSE TOO. I MEAN. THESE WERE THESE RENEWABLES, THESE WIND TOWERS THAT WE GOT ON THERE. IT IS IMPACTED A LOT OF PEOPLE. I MEAN, GRANTED, THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE PROPERTY, THEY MADE LOTS OF MONEY AND ALL THIS, HEY, THAT'S FANTASTIC. BUT IT HAS HARMED ALL THE REST OF US. SO WE'RE SITTING HERE LOOK AT THESE LIGHTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THEY DON'T GO AWAY. WE CAN'T MAKE THEM QUIT. AND WE GOT RESIDENTS COMING FROM THE VALLEY THAT WILL NOT TAKE 277377 HOME BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. THEY'LL GO 87 A WINSLOW JUST TO JUST TO COME HOME. SO DOES IT IMPACT THEM? HECK YES IT DOES. AND I MEAN, THEY THEY'RE FRUSTRATED. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. THEIR WAY OF LIFE CHANGED TO MAKE A FEW PEOPLE RICH. AND I MEAN, IT IS NOT THE WAY I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE NEEDED TO GO. THE OTHER THING KIND OF CURIOUS IN INVESTIGATING SOME OF THIS STUFF, TRYING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT, IS WE'RE LOOKING AT FUTURE THINGS ON THE DRY LAKE AREA. ALL WE'RE LOOKING AT STUFF GOING TO HAPPEN THERE, SOLAR, EVERYTHING ELSE GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.
THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT PARCELS, WHO OWNS PARCELS ALL AROUND THERE, THOSE A LOT OF THOSE PARCELS ARE SEALED. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS DONNA. GOOD MORNING SUPERVISOR. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, BRIAN, FOR DOING THAT PRESENTATION. IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE ENLIGHTENING. I THINK IT WAS VERY WELL DONE. I THINK THERE'S SOME GAPS THOUGH. AND AS WE MENTIONED THE FIRE SUPPRESSION TO ME, I WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER THE DISCUSSIONS IF POSSIBLE AND HAVE THE, THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE LOCAL FIRE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FIRE SUPPRESSION. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE IS NOT ADEQUATE. THEY COULD NOT HELP PUT OUT A FIRE ON A 700 FOOT TURBINE, WHICH TO ME LEAVES US SET UP FOR FAILURE. MR. BLACK'S POINT ABOUT LIGHT POLLUTION. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE HONORED AS WELL. YES, THERE'S FREEDOM FOR PROPERTY OWNERS. BUT AGAIN, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WHEN THERE'S A FEW PROPERTY OWNERS OUT OF 107,000 PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY WHO ARE BENEFITING, AND THE REST OF US HAVE TO HAVE 700 FOOT TOWER, VISUALS. THAT TO ME IS IMPOSING ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. WHY? WHY DO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE? BECAUSE MR. DESPAIN OR MR. BROPHY WANT TO HAVE THESE TOWERS. I MEAN, THEY USED TO BE 300FT AND NOW THEY'RE GOING 700FT. TO ME, IT'S JUST. IT'S GETTING GROSS. I MEAN, ANYBODY WANT TO BUY A FERRIS WHEEL THAT GOES 200FT HIGH. AND AND WE RUN THE WHEELS OFF IT FOR EVERY DAY OF THE, OF THE OF THE YEAR. SO THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WANT ON MY PROPERTY. I MEAN, THE IMPOSITION OF 144 700 FOOT WIND TURBINES IS BAD ENOUGH. BUT BUT LET'S DEAL WITH THE FIRE SUPPRESSION BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT'S NOT. SO I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO TOUCH ON THAT. AND AS WELL, BRIAN MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COULD STILL BE ADDED. SO LET'S DO IT AND LET'S DO IT IN A PROCESS THAT'S THAT'S SITTING DOWN TOGETHER. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY RESCIND 17 2025, WHICH IS OUR DISCUSSING THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS OR. RESOLUTION 12025, WHICH WAS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADOPTION IN JANUARY OF 2025. BUT LET'S SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THOSE TOGETHER. LET'S HAVE A HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION AGAIN. AND, AND, AND LET'S IMPLEMENT WHAT HE SAID STILL COULD BE DONE. BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME GREAT IDEAS THAT HE BROUGHT UP AND HE'S HONORING THE SOIL TESTING AND HE'S HONORING WHATEVER ELSE HE MENTIONED AS FAR AS COMPARING HIM TO THE OTHER COUNTIES, WHICH WAS VERY INTERESTING. I THINK THAT WAS GREAT. BUT PERSONALLY, I THINK THERE'S SOME SOME WORK TO DO. AND I SO APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAD US TODAY BE ABLE TO HEAR THE THINGS THAT HE PRESENTED BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY VIABLE AND IT'S GIVING US THE ANSWERS SO THAT I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE HEARING AND LISTENING AS WELL. SO I DO HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS PERTAINING TO MAYBE HIS SECOND PORTION. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO FILL OUT ANOTHER FORM, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING. THANK YOU. I WILL ASK YOU AFTER HE PRESENTS IF YOU WANT ME. RIGHT. SEEING AS I ANSWERED EVERYBODY THAT WAS FILLED OUT, ONE OF THESE. OKAY. THE GLASSES. ARE YOU ROBERT BAKER? YES, I AM. OKAY. I'M HARD OF HEARING. OKAY. I HAVEN'T HEARD MOST OF THIS. CAN YOU PULL UP THE MAP OF WHERE THIS WIND FARM AND AND EVERYTHING IS GOING? WE DON'T HAVE A MAP OF WHERE THE WIND FARM. WE HAVE A MAP OF THE AREA OF OUR ORDINANCE. YOU DON'T HAVE A MAP? WELL, SHE'LL PULL IT UP, BUT IT'S A MAP OF WHERE THE ORDINANCE IS. YEAH, SHE'S WORKING ON IT. WE GOT THIS, SIR. YEAH, BUT THERE ISN'T A MAP IN HERE, SO. SO THE MAP THAT'S PROVIDED, THERE'S NO MAP. IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC. I'M SORRY. AM I SUPPOSED TO SPEAK THERE? IN FRONT. YOU CAN LOOK UP. YOU SEE THIS? SO HOW FAR DOES HOW FAR IS IT FROM YOUR TRANSMISSION LINES? I DON'T HAVE THAT. I MEAN, YOU'RE PUTTING A WIND MILL FARM IN AND A SOLAR FARM IN IT. THEY GOT TO GET TO THE TRANSMISSION LINES. WELL, THERE'S PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINES AND THERE'S EXISTING TRANSMISSION LINES. I'M GOING TO SAY WITHIN TEN MILES. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EXACT. PROBABLY WITHIN TEN MILES. ABOUT TEN MILES. SUPERVISOR WHY WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY? BECAUSE I THINK I THINK I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU'VE ALREADY GOT YOU ALREADY GOT WINDMILLS ALREADY AND TRANSMISSION LINES ALREADY. RYAN. WHAT YOUR PRESENTATION, IF I UNDERSTOOD IT CORRECTLY OUTLINED, WAS THAT WHERE THESE ARE ASKING TO COME CURRENTLY ARE ALONG WHERE THE
TRANSMISSION LINES ARE? THAT WAS YOUR STATEMENT IN YOUR PRESENTATION. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. AND CHAIR, IF I COULD ADD THAT PLACES THEM IN PROXIMITY TO THEIR CUSTOMER BASE TO AS THE TRANSMISSION FOR APPS. AND I JUST GOT ONE MORE QUESTION. IS THIS FOR NAVAJO COUNTY? YES. ALL THE ELECTRICITY IS FOR MOBILE COUNTY. IT IS SOLD TO A P S SRP. ARIZONA, UTAH. CALIFORNIA. ARIZONA. UTILITY COMPANY WHO HAS PUT OUT THE RFP S. A P S SUPERVISOR ANY SRP. GO AHEAD. SO NONE OF IT IS GOING TO CALIFORNIA. IT'S STAYING HERE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA. IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. THAT WOULD BE THE UTILITIES. THE WAY THE LAW IS SET UP IN ARIZONA. THE UTILITIES THE UTILITIES DISTRIBUTE POWER SO IT GOES ON TO THEIR GRID. THESE THESE PROJECTS CAN'T EVEN COME IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH THE UTILITY. THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SELL IT TO UTILITY UTILITIES HERE IN ARIZONA. THE WAY THAT THEY'RE SET UP, CAN YOU PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG? BUT THE WAY THEY'RE SET UP, IT'S THEIR GRID. SO THEY BRING THAT ON TO THEIR GRID. AND THEN THE UTILITIES ARE IN CHARGE OF DISTRIBUTING IT AND WHERE IT GOES. SO UTILITIES IS WHO YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION OF WHERE THE ELECTRICITY GOES ONCE IT COMES ON THE GRID FROM THOSE POINTS. BUT I'M I'M SURE THAT THEY'D BE WILLING TO BE SSPTEP. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE UTILITIES THE SRP HAS, THE NUCLEAR POWER. APS HAS THE ONLY CURRENT NUCLEAR PLANT IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA. THAT'S HELPFUL. DOES THAT HELP? NO. YOUR TIME IS UP, SIR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE'RE DOING HERE IS THE BENEFIT OF NAVAJO COUNTY. IT'S NOT THE BENEFIT. YOUR TIME IS UP. THAT. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR. VICE CHAIR. SUPERVISORS. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. THE COMMENT REGARDING MORE TRANSPARENCY ON THE STUDIES. VERY WELL TAKEN. WE'VE HEARD THAT THE WE POSTED ALL THE STUDIES THAT PERTAIN TO WEST CAMP. THOSE ARE ALL ONLINE AND TO THE COMMENTERS POINT, WE WILL POST THOSE EARLIER AS SOON AS WE CAN AND TRY TO PRESENT THAT INFORMATION FOR ANY UPCOMING PROJECT. WE'LL PRESENT THOSE EARLIER AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AS WELL. YES. SUPERVISOR CHAIR, I JUST NOW THAT THE PUBLIC HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK, I JUST HAD A FEW QUESTIONS, IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT. BUT I DIDN'T ASK YOU. ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR OTHER PRESENTATION? NO. I CAN ADDRESS A FEW MORE ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. OR YOU HAD OFFERED THAT FIRST THE PUBLIC SPEAKING, THEN WE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE. I'D LIKE TO, IF THAT'S OKAY. GO AHEAD. SO MY QUESTION IS, AND THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR CLARIFICATION FOR THE PUBLIC. DOES THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND ITS LAWS ALLOW US TO PROHIBIT RENEWABLE PROJECTS? NO. WHAT WAS NO? THE ANSWER IS NO. IF PROHIBITION IS WHAT IS DESIRED, AS WAS EXPRESSED, BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT EXPRESSED THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT ARE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT, WHICH IS PROHIBITING IT IF PROHIBITED PROHIBITING IT. THAT'S IF THEY WANT TO CHANGE IT TO WHERE IT'S PROHIBITIVE. THAT LAW HAS TO BE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL. CORRECT. THOSE LAWS ARE CREATED AT THE STATE, NOT BY US AT THE COUNTY. THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON WHAT A COUNTY CAN DO TO REGULATE. AN OUTRIGHT. PROHIBITION WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM THE FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT. OKAY, SO THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD GO IF THEY WANTED TO PROHIBIT IT. AND THEN, DOES THE STATE OF ARIZONA ALLOW US, IN ITS LAW TO MAKE IT SO RESTRICTIVE THAT IT'S PROHIBITIVE? THERE WOULD BE RESTRICTIONS YOU PUT IN PLACE, WOULD HAVE TO ACHIEVE A LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT PURPOSE AND COULD NOT BE A CENTRIFUGE FOR PRECIPITATION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE AS TO WHAT THAT DOES. SO THE STATE IS WHERE THE LAWS ARE CREATED. IF THEY WANT TO PROHIBIT, THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO. THEY ALSO GOVERN, DON'T THEY? THE THE COUNTIES ONLY HAVE THE POWERS AND AUTHORITIES EXPRESSLY DELEGATED TO IT BY THE STATE. SO UNLESS THEY STATE DELEGATED TO A COUNTY THE ABILITY TO PROHIBIT AND DO NOT HAVE IT.
THAT MAKES SENSE. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. THANK YOU. I NEED TO ASK THAT QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION. AND IT SOUNDED LIKE SOME HAD THAT QUESTION AS WELL. MR. LANE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WITH SOIL TESTING. THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAT WE POTENTIALLY COULD DO. I'VE HEARD CITIZENS TALK ABOUT SOIL TESTING. IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF AS IT RELATES TO THE SOIL TESTING THAT OTHERS ARE DOING? SUPERVISOR CHAIRMAN. I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE LOOK AT SPECIFICALLY WHAT THAT COUNTY DOES. SEE WHAT THEY RECOMMEND AND SEE WHAT WE CAN BENCHMARK AND LEARN FROM THAT. AND BRING THAT TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION. OKAY. HOW QUICKLY CAN THAT BE DONE? VERY QUICKLY. WE COULD HAVE A RECOMMENDATION BY THE NEXT BOARD MEETING FOR YOU. I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD PRETTY CONSISTENTLY FROM CITIZENS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BE CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, ON THE. CAN I JUST SPEAK ON THAT ITEM WHERE YOU'RE ON THE BASELINE TESTING RATHER THAN IT BE A STUMBLING BLOCK? SOMETIMES IT COULD BE WITH THE DEVELOPER, AGREE THAT THERE IS NO HAZARDOUS IN THE LAND CURRENTLY TO BEGIN, BUT THEN THERE WOULD BE A THREE YEAR OR FIVE YEAR TESTING. AND IF SOMETHING IS FOUND, THEN IT WOULD BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO. THERE'S THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS OF ENTERING IN AND STARTING THAT WITHOUT HOLDING UP THINGS TOO. SO BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO LOOK AT THE, THE LAST QUESTION I HAD, JUST BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE CLARITY AND I WAS HOPING MAYBE YOU COULD HELP ME A LITTLE BIT MORE. YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW OUR ORDINANCE, AS FAR AS I THINK CALL IT SOIL COVER ESSENTIALLY DOES THE SAME THING, BUT THEY'RE SEEN AS HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S DIFFERENT IN BECAUSE I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF WE SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT THEY'RE DOING OR WHY OURS ALREADY DOES THAT. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR CHAIRMAN. THEIR ORDINANCES SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THEIR GROUND COVER NEEDS TO BE PLACED UNDERNEATH THE SOLAR PANELS. OUR ORDINANCE SAYS ANY DISTURBED LAND NEEDS TO BE REVEGETATED IN PROCESS OF SETTING UP THOSE SOLAR PANELS. THEY DO IN GENERAL, DISTURB THAT LAND. SO IN IN EFFECT, OUR ORDINANCE DOES REQUIRE THE SAME THING. IT'S JUST NOT STATED EXPLICITLY IN THE SAME WAY. WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT MORE CLOSELY AND SEE IF THERE'S A UNIQUE PROVISION THERE THAT THAT MAKES SENSE THAT WOULD ENHANCE WHAT WE'RE DOING. I'D LIKE TO TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD AT LEAST LOOK LIKE. SO YOU COME BACK AND SHOW US WHAT THAT COULD COULD BE. DO YOU MIND IF I ASK ONE MORE? THE OTHER THING THAT I'D HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF THE CITIZENS, AND I UNDERSTAND IT WAS. AND I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU FOUND THIS IN THERE. THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT THERE'S COUNTIES THAT HAVE IN THEIR ORDINANCE THAT IF SOMETHING GOES DOWN, LIKE IF IT'S OUT OF SERVICE, THAT THEY HAVE A TIME FRAME, THAT THEY HAVE TO GET IT BACK UP OR IT TRIGGERS WHERE THEY HAVE TO REMOVE IT. IS THAT THE CASE? AND IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT OR UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE OR WHY IT WOULDN'T AS WELL? SURE. SUPERVISORS. CHAIRMAN. YES. THAT IS ALREADY PART OF OUR ORDINANCE. CHAIRMAN. COULD YOU BRING UP THAT PRESENTATION AGAIN? SO WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC WE'RE CALLED CURE PERIODS OR DEADLINES. SO I JUMP TO IT REAL QUICK HERE. SO THIS APPLIES NOT ONLY TO THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE. SO IF THE PROJECT STOPS PRODUCING POWER THAT WOULD TRIGGER RECLAMATION AND RESTORATION. AND IT HAS TO BE IN CONTRACTUALLY AT THAT POINT. BUT THAT ALSO INCORPORATES THE INDIVIDUAL SOLAR PANELS, INDIVIDUAL WIND TURBINES THEY'RE REQUIRED TO MONITOR THEIR SYSTEMS. AND IF THERE'S ANY DAMAGE TO THOSE FOR WIND AGAIN, IT'S IT'S 45 DAYS SECURE PERIOD. THAT IS VERY AGGRESSIVE. AGAIN, IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTY OF SOMETIMES GOING ALL THE WAY UP INTO A TURBINE TO FIX THE SOLAR. THE CURE PERIOD IS 30 DAYS. SO ABSOLUTELY, THAT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND THAT WE ALREADY ENFORCE. AND AGAIN, COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES, THESE ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE TIMELINES. WE SAW OTHERS THAT ARE 90 DAYS, 180 DAYS, EVEN A YEAR FOR THEIR CURE PERIODS. SO OURS ARE VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE. WE DO NOT WANT DAMAGED UNDERPERFORMING MATERIALS SITTING OUT THERE. THANK YOU. THAT'S HELPFUL. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ASKING AND THEY JUST WANTED FURTHER CLARITY. SO THIS SHOWS WHERE WE ACTUALLY ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE. SO THANK YOU. I THINK THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE IT. GO AHEAD. SURE. IF I COULD JUST REAL QUICK THE FOR THE COMMENTS. MR. MEYER, I TRIED SENDING YOU AN EMAIL AFTER THE LAST MEETING. MAYBE THAT DIDN'T GO THROUGH. IT HAD SOME DETAILS ABOUT COUNTY AUTHORITY AND WHERE COUNTY AUTHORITY COMES FROM WHEN IT COMES TO RENEWABLES.
THAT'S BEEN POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND THE COUNTY INFORMATION CENTER. AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO LEARN FROM OTHERS, WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT COLORADO IF THERE'S ANYTHING UNIQUE THERE TO LEARN. BUT SUPERVISORS IN DEVELOPING OUR ORDINANCE, IT IT CONTAINED A LOT OF PEER RESEARCH. WE DID LOOK AT WHERE PROJECTS HAVE FAILED, WHERE WERE TURBINES SITTING OUT AND LEFT. WAS IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BOND OR THE BOND WAS UNDERSIZED? WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THOSE AND WE TRIED TO MAKE OUR ORDINANCE AS RESTRICTIVE AND AS COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID UNFORTUNATE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN, IN OTHER AREAS. COUNCILMAN BLACK WITH THE RED BLINKING LIGHTS. WE APOLOGIZE. WE HAD ANTICIPATED THOSE TO BE TURNED OFF. THAT IS PART OF OUR ORDINANCE, A REQUIREMENT. THOSE RED BLINKING LIGHTS ARE FOR THE F A AYE FOR SAFETY. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TURN OFF AND IMPLEMENT ADVANCED RADAR. THAT WOULD ONLY TRIGGER THOSE WHEN AN AIRCRAFT COMES INTO THE AIRSPACE AND THEN TURN OFF WHEN IT LEAVES. WE HAD ANTICIPATED THOSE TO BE ALL COMPLETED BY THE END OF JUNE. THERE'S BEEN SOME DELAYS THERE. COUNCILWOMAN. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I JUST TEXTED CODY. WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE CHECK THOSE. SHOULD BE. IF THEY'RE NOT ALL OFF RIGHT NOW, THEY SHOULD BE TURNING OFF. AND IN THE FUTURE, ANY ANY OF THOSE RED BLINKING LIGHTS SHOULD BE TURNED OFF AFTER FAA CERTIFICATION. AND WITH REGARD TO THE INDIVIDUAL, THE FACILITIES DARK SKY REQUIREMENTS ARE REQUIRED AT THOSE. SO THERE'S DOWN SHIELDING OF LIGHTS AND WHATNOT. SO WE DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY IN GETTING THOSE LIGHTS TURNED OFF FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES FOR SURE. MISS DONNA, YOU TALKED ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT FIRE THAT HAS BEEN HEARD. I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH FIRE CHIEFS AND CITY MANAGERS TO TALK ABOUT THAT. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY IS PLACING A VERY HIGH PRIORITY ON THAT. JUST SPEAKING WITH CHIEF NELSON, WITH TAYLOR SNOWFLAKE THE OTHER DAY, HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT HE'S LEARNING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE SAFETY, WHEN IT COMES TO BATTERY STORAGE AND SOLAR PANELS. AND WE'RE VERY ENGAGED WITH THAT CONVERSATION, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STANDARDS ARE ABSOLUTELY IMPLEMENTED, THAT WE HAVE THE VERY MOST UP TO DATE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE CAN IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING AND SAFETY STANDARDS AND SUPPRESSION. BUT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A FIELD THAT WE WANT TO STAY VERY CURRENT ON AND KEEP GOING ON. AND WITH REGARD TO THE MAP, WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT MAP ONLINE AS WELL IN THE INFORMATION CENTER. GREAT. CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE LIGHTING. AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF YOU'LL KNOW. SO WHEN A WIND FARM IS CREATED AT THE ESTABLISHMENT. IN THOSE LIGHTS, THE BLINKING LIGHTS ARE ON AND WE HAVE TO GET THE CERTIFICATION THAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE REGULATORY THINGS TO BE TURNED OFF. DO YOU KNOW, LIKE THE TIME FRAME THAT THAT TAKES FROM THE TIME THAT IS CREATED TO BEING ABLE TO BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT JUNE AND I REMEMBER THIS JUNE DATE. AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WILL CONSISTENTLY BE LOOKING AT WHEN THESE THINGS ARE ESTABLISHED, JUST SO IN COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. CHAIR VICE CHAIR, THANK YOU. SO BEING MORE UPFRONT ABOUT WHAT WE ANTICIPATE AS FAR AS A TIMELINE WITH THOSE LIGHTS TURNING OFF IF I COULD, I'LL PUT CODY ON THE, ON THE SPOT HERE. MAYBE HE CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXPECTED TIMELINES IN THAT PROCESS. THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU. JUST TO CLARIFY, NO AS FAR AS HAVING THE AIRCRAFT DETECTION LIGHTING SYSTEMS GO INTO PLACE THE WIND FARMS HAVE TO FINISH THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND THEY HAVE A SYSTEM THAT GOES IN THAT ALLOWS THE SINKING FOR THE AIRCRAFT DETECTION LIGHTING SYSTEM. BUT THE, THE WIND FARM HAS TO PHYSICALLY BE IN PLACE BECAUSE THE FAA RUNS THROUGH TESTING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S OPERATING AS NEEDED. AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS. ONE IS GETTING THAT EQUIPMENT ONLINE AND PROPER. AND THE SECOND IS HAVING THE FAA COMPLETE TESTING. AND BETWEEN THOSE TWO, IF THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES GETTING THE SINK GOING OR GETTING THE FAA THROUGH TO COMPLETE THE TESTING TO MAKE THEIR FINAL DETERMINATION THAT CAN CAUSE THOSE DELAYS. BUT WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH SPECIFICALLY THE WEST CAMP WIND FARM, AND THEY'VE NOTED FROM THEIR OPERATOR THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE SYNCING UP NOW FOR IT. UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE MAY STILL SEE BLINKING RED LIGHTS, BUT THAT'S THE DRY LAKE WIND FARM, WHICH HAS PREVIOUS TECHNOLOGY. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT MORE MODERNIZED TECHNOLOGY.
SO IT MAY BE AN INSTANCE OF THAT, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT OPERATING, THEN WE'LL NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE APPLICANTS AND THE FAA. ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU CODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE OTHER INFORMATION? I DO. ON ANOTHER TOPIC, SIR. MAY I HAVE A REBUTTAL? MY NAME WAS MENTIONED ON THIS. IT WASN'T A SPECIFIC QUESTION OR ANYTHING. IT WAS JUST MENTIONED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR. VICE CHAIR. SUPERVISORS, THERE'S BEEN A QUESTION HERE THAT WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH REGARDING THE RECORDER. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE RECORDER WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY. BUT I SPOKE WITH HIM YESTERDAY AND WE COLLABORATED ON THIS AND HE ASKED ME TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION ON THE QUESTION OF WHY WERE EARLY BALLOTS RETURNED BY THE POST OFFICE. SO BALLOTS WERE RETURNED, BALLOTS BEING RETURNED BY THE POST OFFICE IS SOME QUANTITY OF THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED AT EACH ELECTION. BALLOTS ARE DESIGNED NOT TO BE FORWARDED. THEY CAN'T BE FORWARDED, AND THAT TRIGGERS AN ADDITIONAL STEP TO CLEAN UP THE VOTER ROLLS. THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO NAVAJO COUNTY. AS A FOLLOW UP THOUGH THE RECORDER'S OFFICE SENT NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL THOSE WHO WE HAD THEIR BALLOT RETURNED, AND ALSO THE POLITICAL PARTIES PROVIDED OUTREACH TO THOSE VOTERS AS WELL. AND THE REPORTER, MARSHALL, ASKED ME TO EXPRESS HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE POLITICAL PARTIES. THEY DID A LOT OF WORK IN GOING DOOR TO DOOR, CALLING THOSE FOLKS. AND SO HE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THAT COLLABORATION FROM THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND THANKS THEM MOVING FORWARD HERE. OH, I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER. ACTION STEPS. SO THE RECORDER SENT 200 OF THOSE BALLOTS BACK TO THE POST OFFICE. 66% OF THOSE WERE RETURNED BECAUSE THE RECIPIENT HAD A HAS A PERMANENT TEMPORARY OR EXPIRED CHANGE OF ADDRESS ON FILE. OTHER REASONS INCLUDE ADDRESSES VACANT INSUFFICIENT ADDRESS OR P.O. BOX WAS CLOSED. AND SO THIS OUTREACH THAT WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS, IF THEY FEEL THEY'RE IMPACTED OR SUSPECT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, TO CALL THE RECORDER'S OFFICE AND UPDATE THEIR ADDRESS WITH THE RECORDER'S OFFICE. RECORDER MARSHALL IS ALSO IMPLEMENTING AN ADDITIONAL NOTICE. IT'S A NEW MAILER HE SHOWED ME. IT'S VERY, VERY BRIGHT YELLOW. IT HAS BRIGHT RED WRITING ON IT. VERY, VERY NOTICEABLE THAT MAILER IS DESIGNED TO BE FORMIDABLE. THAT WILL ALSO BE COMPLEMENTED BY AN AUTOMATED PHONE CALL, AN EMAIL, AND A TEXT MESSAGE THAT ALL GOES OUT TO VOTERS. SO TRYING TO PROVIDE SEVERAL DIFFERENT AVENUES FOR VOTERS TO UPDATE THEIR, THEIR ADDRESSES. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THEIR HELP. AND THE OTHER BIG QUESTION ON ELECTIONS IS HOW WERE UNUSED BALLOTS LEFT AT THE POLLING LOCATION? SO 3000 BLANK BALLOTS FROM THE 2024 ELECTIONS WERE DISCOVERED AT THE HEBREW OVERGARD LOCATION. THESE WERE UNUSED, NOT CAST. THEY WERE STILL IN THE SHRINK WRAP. AND WE ARE BEGINNING OUR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT BACK. I'VE HAD SEVERAL REQUESTS RECEIVED TO AGENDIZE THIS AND TALK MORE ABOUT THIS. AS OF RIGHT NOW, I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH ELSE TO SHARE. BUT WE ARE LOOKING INTO IT. WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND SEE WHAT WENT WRONG THERE. NOW IN THAT WE WERE, WE, OUR EFFORT WAS TO BE VERY, VERY OPEN WITH THE PUBLIC AS, AS WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS. WE CREATED A PRESS RELEASE TO SHARE INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD. AND IN THAT PRESS RELEASE, IT SAID THAT BALLOTS WERE NOT RETURNED AS REQUIRED. NOW TO TO CLARIFY, POLL WORKERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING BALLOTS AND EQUIPMENT. THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNTY STAFF. AND THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE GOTTEN IS SOME FOLKS SAW THAT THEY INTERPRETED THAT AS, AS I WAS TRYING TO PLACE BLAME OR ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE POLL WORKER. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT. POLL WORKERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING THOSE BALLOTS. THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNTY STAFF. AND SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT BEING TAKEN THAT WAY. NOW AS WE BEGIN OUR INVESTIGATION, WE WILL REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD. WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE MEANTIME? ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S SOME BIG STEPS HERE. SO WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED A SECONDARY AUDIT BY OUR FINANCE TEAM FOR PRE AND POST ELECTION. AND SO FOR THIS MOST RECENT ELECTION OUR FINANCE TEAM YOU KNOW WHO BETTER TO GO IN AND LOOK AT NUMBERS AND A BUNCH OF ACCOUNTANTS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY FOR THE SUPPORT FROM OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND OUR ACCOUNTING TEAM. AND SO THEY WILL PERFORM THOSE SECONDARY AUDITS BEFORE EQUIPMENT AND BALLOTS GO OUT OF THE ELECTIONS WAREHOUSE AND THEN AFTER THEY COME BACK IN. SO HAVING THAT DUAL CHECK ALREADY HAS PROVED VERY VALUABLE. WE ARE ALSO HAVE ALSO BEGAN A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE TRAINING MANUAL AND PROCEDURES. WE'VE RECEIVED FEEDBACK THAT ELEMENTS OF THE TRAINING MANUAL ARE NOT CLEAR. AND SO WE WANT TO FIX THAT AND MAKE THAT JUST AS EASY FOR THE MORE EXPERIENCED POLL WORKER AS IT IS FOR THE BRAND NEW POLL WORKER TO OPEN UP THAT TRAINING MANUAL AND CLEARLY KNOW WHAT STEPS TO DO A, B, C, RIGHT. SO WE'RE EMBARKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW. I'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING WITH OTHER COUNTIES OTHER COUNTIES IN PARTICULAR, EVEN JUST APACHE COUNTY NEXT DOOR, UTILIZE AN ON DEMAND PRINTER, WHICH GREATLY REDUCES THE NUMBER OF PREPRINTED BALLOTS THAT ARE MADE FOR EACH. SO THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT COULD BE A USEFUL WAY TO PROCEED. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THAT SEEING WHAT OTHER COUNTIES DO, HOW THEY IMPLEMENT IT, WHERE ARE THOSE PAIN POINTS? AND TRY TO LEARN FROM THAT AND PROPOSE THAT WITH THE BOARD, THAT MAY BE A GOOD WAY TO PROCEED. SO, CHAIRMAN, THOSE THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. ALL OF IT. HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. I'M JUST GOING TO WEIGH IN A LITTLE THING GOING BACK TO THE SOLAR, TO THE WIND. AND WHEN WE SAY IT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT ME OR IT DOES AFFECT ME, THAT THERE AREN'T ANY BENEFITS TO ME. I THINK WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH OUR REVIEWS, WE'VE GONE THROUGH OUR BUDGETS AND THINGS. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT NAVAJO COUNTY'S TAX RATE IS 0.8114. ONE OF THE FOURTH LOWEST IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA. THE BENEFITS OF HAVING PROJECTS ON A LARGE SCALE BRINGS ADDITIONAL REVENUES INTO THE COUNTY. IT BRINGS ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUES WHICH HELP YOUR SCHOOLS, WHICH HELP YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH HELPS YOUR COLLEGES. ALL OF THOSE THINGS BENEFIT, WHICH HELP YOU IN RETURN. PUT MORE DOLLARS IN YOUR POCKET BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TAKING AS MANY OUT BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGETS AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU DON'T BENEFIT, YOU REALLY DO INDIRECTLY. I TALKED WITH THE GENTLEMAN TODAY ON MY DRIVE DOWN THIS MORNING, AND I JUST ASKED HIM HOW THINGS WERE GOING, IF HE HAD ANY, ANY COMMENTS THAT HE HAD ABOUT THE WIND FARMS, BECAUSE HE'S DOING SOME WORK ON IT. AND THE WORK THAT HE DOES IS SUPPLIES, YOU KNOW, AGGREGATES, ROADS, ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT TIES TO IT. AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO PURCHASE A HOT MIX PLANT, BATCH PLANT AND UPGRADE MY PLANT. BUT HE SAYS THAT IS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT. AND HE SAYS, I JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT. BUT WHEN I HAVE A YEAR WHERE I HAVE PROJECTS ON A LARGE SCALE, IT GIVES ME A BOOST. IT GIVES ME ADDITIONAL REVENUES THAT KICK IN. AND SO THEN I'M ABLE TO HAVE THAT EXTRA BOOST THAT CAN POSSIBLY NOW PENCIL OUT PURCHASING A HOT PLANT, WHICH THEN ALLOWS WORKERS AND JOBS AND MORE THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY HELPS THEM COMPETE AGAINST OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DOING SOME OF THE ASPHALT WORK UP HERE THAT ARE FROM OUT OF STATE AND OUT OF THE AREA. SO THOSE ARE THINGS WHERE INDIRECTLY IT DOES. AND HE SAID, THIS WINTER I HAD A PERSON THAT WORKED FOR ME THAT HAD SOME REALLY HARDSHIPS AND A LOT OF MEDICAL BILLS, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO WORK 60 HOURS THROUGH THE WINTER IS SUSTAINED HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND HIS MEDICAL BILLS. AND HE SAYS, I KNOW SEVERAL OF MY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE HOMES BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE FOR A DOWN PAYMENT BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA WORKLOAD. SO DIRECTLY, INDIRECTLY, THERE'S ALWAYS THE THINGS THAT COME BACK WHEN WE LOOK AT AS A COUNTY AND WE LOOK AT THE TEN YEAR SAYS THAT OUR POPULATION WILL DECREASE. WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT A DECREASE OF POPULATION IN OUR COUNTY. THAT MEANS WE'RE STAGNANT. THAT MEANS WE'RE DECLINING. AND THAT DIDN'T COME FROM OUR COUNTY, THAT CAME FROM THE CENSUS AND FROM THE PEOPLE WHO PROJECT GROWTH. SO THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE GROWTH, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO COMPETE AND KEEP JOBS AND KEEP WHATEVER IT IS. AND I KNOW THE CITY OF HOBART, TALKING RECENTLY WITH THE MAYOR, SHARED THAT HOW MANY OF THE BNBS HAVE SEEN A BOOST AND SEEN DOLLARS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES? THINGS. YEAH, IT MIGHT BE SHORT TERM, BUT IT HELPS YOU GET THROUGH SOME OF THOSE BAD YEARS WHEN YOU HAVE SOME GOOD YEARS. SO IT'S ALL ECONOMIC VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT WILL BE ECONOMIC VALUE ALSO TO MANY PEOPLE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE REVENUES THAT WILL BE SPENT IN
OUR COMMUNITY. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE PUT ON THE BALANCING SCALE, THAT'S HOW YOU GUYS ARE INVOLVED ON THE PLUS SIDE, BECAUSE INDIRECTLY IT DOES CREATE DOLLARS FOR OUR ECONOMY, THINGS GOING FORWARD. AND JUST ANOTHER THING, TIDBIT, YOU MENTIONED THAT THEY'LL USE, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO $3 MILLION, 3 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER. PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE. THE CITY OF SHOW LOW USES 2.3 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY. OKAY, SO THIS PROJECT IS MAYBE A DAY'S WORTH TWO DAY'S WORTH OF WATER IN PROPORTION, AND IT'S DONE. TROY. A POWER PLANT WILL PUMP 3 TO 8 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY TO OPERATE THEIR GAS PLANT WHEN IT'S FULLY OPERATIONAL. SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME THINGS OF WHERE I WANT TO PUT THE WATER. WE'RE DOING MORE STUDIES, MORE INQUIRIES INTO OUR WATER BASINS AND THINGS THERE. BUT BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE DONE AND, AND THE ANSWERS. AND I REALLY WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WE'VE HEARD YOU, WE'VE LISTENED AND WE'RE TRYING TO RESPOND IN A WAY THAT WE CAN. AND SO ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE COMMENTS. DONNA, YOU ASKED IF THERE WAS SOMETHING. I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW SECONDS. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH WITH REGARDS TO THE ELECTION AND THE VOTER, I. JUST ONE SECOND. LEAH IS GOING TO. SHE'S WORKING ON SOMETHING. THANK YOU. DONNA. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO. SO IF WE ARE INDEED GOING TO TRY TO CLEAN UP THE VOTER ROLLS AND PURSUE MAKING SURE THAT THESE VOTERS THAT APPARENTLY WERE DISENFRANCHIZED OR NOT, WE DON'T KNOW. I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING THAT MR. MARSHALL DID FOR FOLLOW UP, AND I'M VERY HOPEFUL. BUT ANOTHER THING I SUGGEST WITH THE COUNTY, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE MONEY THAT WAS RECEIVED SEVERAL YEARS AGO WAS TO BUY VOTER REGISTRATION TRAILERS THAT ARE PARKED OUT THERE IN THE PARKING LOT, NOT BEING USED, AS FAR AS I KNOW. BUT MAYBE THAT IS AN OPTION FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE AS EACH PARTY, LIKE MAYBE POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE THEM AT MAIN EVENTS. AND, AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO GO AND CORRECT THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION, I KNOW OUR PARTY THAT THE PARTY I BELONG TO, WE'RE AT EVERY MAJOR EVENT SETTING UP LITTLE TINY TENTS IN RAIN AND HAIL AND SLEET AND SNOW, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A TRAILER THAT IS RECOGNIZED AROUND THE COUNTY THAT HAS CLEAR MARKING ON IT THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND EITHER REGISTER OR CORRECT THEIR REGISTRATION AND LET THE PARTIES MAN THE TRAILERS. THE MONEY WAS SPENT, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S MONEY AS WELL THAT BOUGHT VEHICLES TO PULL THEM, BUT WHY NOT USE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS WELL? EVEN AT THE COUNTY FAIRS COMING UP, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTY ON THE RESERVATION AS WELL AS IN THE REGULAR MUNICIPALITIES. SO I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND MAYBE WE PURSUE THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DONNA. APPRECIATE IT. THE NEXT ITEM WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ITEM. ARE YOU STILL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ELECTIONS. DID YOU FILL IT OUT PRIOR TO THE MEETING? DID YOU TURN IT IN? I DID NOT. OKAY, THEN YOU HAVE TO TURN IT IN. THANK YOU. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS ITEM. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ITEM SIX. BE AHEAD OF SIX AYE A PRESENTATION ON THE COUNTY'S GRANT PERFORMANCE GRANT FUNDED PROJECT UPDATES. KEN MARUYAMA. I HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH. SO IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TURN IT IN, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND EMAIL THE BOARD OUR COMMENTS. CORRECT? YEAH YOU CAN YOU CAN WRITE US ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE. I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL. I TURNED IN A SLIP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC, BUT YOU MOVED IT TO THE END OF THE MEETING. HOWEVER, IT APPLIES TO ELECTION INTEGRITY ITEM FIVE. WELL, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT THERE AND WE'LL PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA IF WE NEED TO. WELL, WE'RE NOT DONE WITH ELECTION INTEGRITY. OKAY. I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT FIVE OF US THAT WANT TO SPEAK ON ELECTIONS HERE TODAY THAT CAME WITH OUR FORMS. WELL, WE STILL HAVE CALLED THE PUBLIC. IF YOU FILLED OUT A FORM, THEN YOU'LL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK TODAY. OKAY, SO THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE IT CLEARLY. IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA ITEM, WE'LL DO THAT AT THAT TIME. BUT YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM PRIOR TO THE MEETING. AND. JUST WE MAY ALLOW YOU AT THE END. WE'LL SEE IF WE HAVE TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. KEN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY FELLOW COWORKERS TO COME UP HERE AND WAIT FOR THE TIME, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A GROUP PRESENTATION.
MY NAME IS KEN MARUYAMA. I WORK FOR THE COUNTY, THE GROUP DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT GOALS. IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY'S GRANT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT. GRANT PROVIDED FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THE COUNTY'S PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND PROJECT INITIATIVES. GRANTS ALSO ENCOURAGE US TO WORK AS A TEAM AND PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO SHARE THE VISION AND GOALS. AND THIS GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATES THE LIFE CYCLE OF GRANT ACTIVITIES. FIRST, WE IDENTIFY OUR NEEDS, THE NEEDS WE HAVE IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE NEED. HOW WE CAN RESPOND TO THE NEEDS. GRANTS WILL HELP US MAKE A CHANGE. WE EXPLORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE FORM A PROJECT TEAM. DEVELOP GRANT PROPOSALS AND DO THE BEST TO MAKE THE PROPOSAL COMPETITIVE AND SUBMIT THE PROPOSAL BY DEADLINE. WHEN WE GET FUNDED, WE WORK AS A TEAM FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GRANT AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, COUNTY SPENT $13.4 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS. WE ALSO RECEIVED 30 AWARDS AWARDS IN TOTAL AMOUNT OF $5.5 MILLION. THE COUNTY HAS BEEN ACTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL IN GRANT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT. EACH DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING ITS OWN GRANTS. I ASKED MY FELLOW COWORKERS TO SERVE AS PROJECT MANAGERS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR GRANT FUNDED PROJECT. THEIR REPORT WILL PROVIDE A SNAPSHOT OF THE COUNTY'S GRANT PERFORMANCE. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISORS. SO I'VE GOT THREE GRANTS HERE ON THE CAPITAL SIDE THAT FOR AN UPDATE ON THE FIRST ONE IS THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN HOLBROOK. WE'VE GOT AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANT THERE. WHERE FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR NEARLY $79,000. THAT PROJECT WAS INITIALLY TO REPLACE SOME OF THE WINDOWS THERE FOR WEATHERIZATION IMPROVEMENTS. THE BIDS CAME IN OVER BUDGET. SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE THIRD BULLET THERE WHERE WE'RE WE'RE DOING SCOPE CHANGES RIGHT NOW. AND THEN WE'LL BE, WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME, WE'RE HOPING TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO DO SOME WINDOW COVERINGS THERE THAT WILL HELP REDUCE SOME OF THE DRAFT AND SOLAR INTRUSIONS SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SHOW SOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS THERE AS WELL AS SOME HVAC UPGRADES, HOPEFULLY. SO RESCOPING THAT PROJECT. BUT, BUT THAT'S A ZERO MATCH GRANT THERE THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON ANOTHER ONE AT THE SAME FACILITY. THE COURTHOUSE DOWNTOWN IS WE RECEIVED A $42,000 GRANT FROM THE ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. THIS PROJECT IS IN DESIGN. YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE THERE. WE HAVE SOME PARTICULARLY THE NORTH SIDE OF THAT BUILDING HAS SOME STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY CONCERNS, SOME FAILING. SO WE'RE THIS IS A DESIGN PROJECT, A PLANNING AND DESIGN PROJECT TO DESIGN A REFORTIFICATION, IF YOU WILL WHICH WILL THEN MAKE THE PROJECT. THE INTENT HERE IS TO MAKE THE PROJECT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE SHOVEL READY, THAT WE CAN BE MORE COMPETITIVE OR BE COMPETITIVE TO PURSUE A LARGER GRANT FOR THIS RESTORATION THAT'S NEEDED. THERE IS ONE OTHER ONE ON THERE THAT I'LL GO OVER. I THINK THIS ONE HERE, THE PINEDALE LIBRARY. WE BROUGHT THIS BEFORE THE BOARD A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR THE GRANT AGREEMENT. THIS ONE IS A PARTNERSHIP PROJECT BETWEEN THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT AND THE LIBRARY DISTRICT. $50,000 GRANT FROM THE ARIZONA STATE LIBRARY FOR ROOF REPLACEMENT AND HVAC REPLACEMENT. THIS PICTURE YOU CAN SEE IS A SOURCE WITH THE HVAC UNITS WERE ON THE ROOF AND WE'RE EXPERIENCING WATER PENETRATION THERE.
SO WE'LL MOVE THOSE DOWN, INSTALL NEW HVAC UNITS MOVING TO THE GROUND AND REPLACE THE ROOF WITH THIS PROJECT. THIS, THIS PROJECT OR THIS GRANT HAS A $50,000 MATCH REQUIREMENT FROM THE COUNTY. SO A TOTAL OF $100,000 PROJECT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY. THIS IS A PRETTY BIG LIST OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE HAD GOING ON. ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT IN THE DETENTION FACILITY? THERE WE GO. I THOUGHT THE OTHER PART. OH. MY BAD. THAT'S MY STAFF. THAT'S YOU. THERE YOU GO. I'LL GO. I'LL GO FIRST. GUYS. IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE SLIDE THAT I WAS REVIEWING THIS MORNING. SO ANYWAYS, WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY AND WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY BLESSED TO PURSUE THESE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. A LOT OF THE GRANTS THAT YOU SEE UP HERE ARE AWARDED FOR PERSONNEL. SOME OF THEM ARE AWARDED FOR EQUIPMENT, SOME OF THEM ARE FOR ENHANCEMENTS, TARGETED FOCUSED PROJECTS, AND THEN SOME THAT ALLOW US TO FOCUS ON ON THE COUNTY AND THEN ASSIST IN STATE PROJECTS AS WELL. AND SO WE'VE WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY BLESSED WITH THESE, SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF OVER THE LAST 4 TO 5 YEARS, ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS. WE'VE GONE FROM FOUR RADIO SITES FOR OUR COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES. NOW. WE'RE WORKING ON OUR 12TH SITE NOW. AND SO IT'S, IT'S EXPANDED OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE TO INTEROP WITH OTHER AGENCIES. WE'VE SEEN ENHANCEMENTS IN OUR DISPATCH CENTER FOR IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS AND IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE US OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AS WELL. THERE'S A FEW OF THE GRANTS UP HERE THAT HAVE KIND OF BEEN PERPETUALLY A PART OF OUR AGENCY, FOR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN. AND THAT ALLOWS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO FOCUS ON IMPROVED DEPLOYMENTS, IMPROVED PATROLS TARGETING SPECIFIC THINGS LIKE DUI ENFORCEMENT, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT HELP US KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND IT HELPS US KEEP MORE RESOURCES IN THE FIELD, KEEPS US MORE VISIBLE AS WELL. SOME OF ONE OF THE BIG GRANTS THAT I WAS A PART OF THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS OUR ACCREDITATION GRANT. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAME AN ACCREDITED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HERE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA, WHICH WAS THE FIRST SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO COMPLETE THAT. AND THAT'S A HUGE FEATHER IN OUR CAP, AS I LIKE TO SAY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW SHERIFF KLAUS IS IS EXTREMELY PROUD OF AND THAT HE WELL, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR, FOR HAVING THAT. OUR JAIL IS ALSO ACCREDITED THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REACH. AND SO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON IS BRINGING IN FUNDS FOR VEHICLES, SPECIAL VEHICLES. A LOT OF TIMES SOME OF OUR PATROL CARS DON'T REACH THE OUTLYING AREAS THAT WE NEED TO GET TO. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET GRANT FUNDING THAT ALLOWS US TO GET THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS. WE'VE HAD A FEW OF SIGNIFICANT MISSIONS IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, WHERE WE'VE HAD TO GET OUT AND FIND PEOPLE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, BOLSTERING OUR AIR OPERATIONS AS WELL. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND GRANT MONEY AND RECEIVE GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO OFFSET COSTS OFF OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHERE WE CAN GET OTHER FUNDING THAT HELPS COVER THOSE COSTS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE BENEFIT FOR OUR COUNTY AND FOR OUR TAXPAYERS, FOR THE RESIDENTS HERE. AND SO EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT FROM YOU GUYS FROM THE BOARD. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL. SO THAT KIND OF TOUCHES ON ON THAT ON MY SIDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. WHIPPLE. THANK YOU. GRANT. MR. CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT THE DETENTION FACILITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE AS A RESULT OF THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED. SO OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE AN IN CUSTODY TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT GET BOOKED INTO THE JAIL AND ARE SUFFERING FROM A SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAM. THAT PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO START ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE 40 INDIVIDUALS FROM THAT PROGRAM. WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED OPIATE SETTLEMENT FUNDS FROM THE AG'S OFFICE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO HIRE MULTIPLE STAFF TO SUPPORT OUR REENTRY PROGRAM, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR JAIL OR OUR JUSTICE INVOLVED WITH CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED TO HELP THEM STAY OUT OF JAIL, TO STOP MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT LAND THEM IN JAIL, AND IMPROVING OUR OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY AND A REDUCTION IN RECIDIVISM FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO TO ENGAGE WITH SOME COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR SMALLER LOCAL GRANT FUNDING THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND SOME OTHER RESOURCES TO PEOPLE
THAT ARE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO RECEIVE THAT ASSISTANCE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, RIGHT, TRANSPORTATION CAN BE A REAL CHALLENGE. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT GET STUCK HERE AND NEED ASSISTANCE IN GETTING HOME, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES TO PEOPLE BY WAY OF SOME OF OUR GRANT FUNDINGS. OUR NEWEST PROJECT IS A, OUR REENTRY CENTER, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS RELEASING FROM JAIL, BUT ALSO JUST COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CONNECT TO RESOURCES, MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACCESS APPLICATIONS, IF THEY'RE NEEDING TO APPLY FOR MEDICAID CONNECTION TO OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE PROVIDERS WILL ALL BE AVAILABLE AT THAT HUB ONCE OUR REENTRY CENTER IS UP AND GOING. AND THAT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF GRANT FUNDING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE DETENTION FACILITY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING THERE. APPRECIATE IT. OH, THAT'S MINE TOO. SO THERE'S MORE SPECIFICS THERE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING THAT. SO AGAIN, IT GIVES YOU A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF THE SPECIFICS OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE HAVE 20 BEDS FOR MEN, TEN BEDS FOR WOMEN, FIVE DAYS A WEEK OF PROGRAMING. WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP THERAPY AND THEN COMPREHENSIVE RELEASE PLANNING. SO WHEN PEOPLE GET RELEASED FROM OUR PROGRAM AND FROM JAIL, THEY'RE NOT JUST GOING BACK TO THE SAME ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY CAME FROM WHEN THEY WERE ARRESTED, THEY ARE GOING BACK TO HOPEFULLY SOMETHING THAT'S MORE SUPPORTIVE, THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTINUE. WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT FORENSIC PEER SUPPORT SERVICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON FRIDAYS, BUT STARTING NEXT WEEK WILL BE THURSDAY AND FRIDAYS. WE WILL EXPAND TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK PENDING A STAFF PENDING STAFFING ON THAT. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IN CUSTODY MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER. SO WE'RE PROVIDING SOME LIFE SAVING MEDICATIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT SUFFER, THAT SUFFER FROM OPIOID USE DISORDER IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, IS, IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM. WE HAVE A WE HAVE A PRETTY HIGH OVERDOSE RATE IN THIS COUNTY. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO COMBAT THAT. WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE OVER 150 WHITE MOUNTAIN TRANSIT PASSES AND OTHER PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE FOR 43 INDIVIDUALS OVER THE PAST YEAR. SO THERE'S SOME SPECIFICS FOR YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SO FOR PUBLIC HEALTH FISCAL YEAR 26 WAS KIND OF A SOBERING REALITY FOR US IN RELATION TO GRANT FUNDING. AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 25, WE LOST AROUND $1 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNEXPECTEDLY SENT STOP WORK ORDERS AND RESCINDED FUNDING. SO WE STARTED THE FISCAL YEAR DOWN SEVEN POSITIONS THAT WE LOST IN A RIFT DUE TO THAT LOSS OF FUNDING. BUT I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF MY TEAM. OUR STAFF ARE VERY DEDICATED AND DESPITE THIS LOSS IN FUNDING AND REDUCTION IN STAFFING, THEY WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND IN SOME AREAS, EVEN GROW SERVICES. THEY INCREASED IMMUNIZATION NUMBERS, THEY INCREASED NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION, AND WE FOCUSED A LOT ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SO OUR TOTAL FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 IN AWARDS FUNDING WAS JUST SHY OF 3.5 MILLION. OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH DIVISION HAS 11 GRANTS THAT ARE JUST OVER 1 MILLION. OUR CLINICAL SERVICES HAS FIVE GRANTS TOTALING JUST OVER A LITTLE OVER 100,000. AND WE USE THOSE TO TO PROVIDE THINGS LIKE IMMUNIZATIONS TO CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE. WELL, WOMEN EXAMS TO WOMEN WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE. TOBACCO. EDUCATION AND CESSATION. TEEN HEALTH. MENTAL HEALTH. OUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIVISION HAS FOUR GRANTS TOTALING 750,000. AND NUTRITION, WHICH IS OUR WICK PROGRAM. THEIR GRANT IS JUST SHY OF 600 000 A YEAR, AND THEY PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM TO FAMILIES THAT ARE OF AN INCOME LEVEL THAT THAT'S HELPFUL TO THEM. AND THEN OUR DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP MANAGED FOUR GRANTS AROUND 800,000. AND WE WORKED ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY BETTERMENT PROJECTS WITH THOSE. SO I'VE KIND OF KEPT MINE AT A HIGH LEVEL SURFACE VIEW BECAUSE I'M COMING BACK BEFORE YOU NEXT MONTH TO KIND OF REALLY BREAK DOWN OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR GOALS AND ANTICIPATED FUNDING PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SO I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HEAR IT TWICE, BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU JANELLE. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. PUBLIC WORKS, KIND OF A SNAPSHOT OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD AND ALSO
KEN'S EXPERTISE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO GET SEVERAL GRANTS THAT I BELIEVE HAVE BENEFITED THE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WITH CONVENIENCES AS WELL AS WELL AS SAFETY. JUST TO BRIEFLY KIND OF REVIEW THESE RELATIVELY QUICKLY WE HAVE THE JOSEPH CITY SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. THE CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THAT. IT WAS CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE SIDEWALKS IN THE JOSEPH CITY AREA THAT KIND OF CONNECTS THE, THE TWO MAJOR SCHOOLS THERE GIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO WALK TO AND FROM HOME TO EITHER THOSE SCHOOLS AND PROVIDES A LOT OF SAFETY AND GETS THEM OFF THE STREET. WE HAVE A SILVER CREEK BRIDGE AT SHUMWAY ROAD PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IS FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. CURRENTLY WE'RE IN THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR REPLACING THAT EXISTING BRIDGE IN THAT AREA. WE ALSO HAVE THE BORDEN RANCH ROAD AT ROUNDUP DRIVE PROJECT. THAT'S A SAFETY PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT A TURN LANE WHERE WE'VE HAD SOME ACCIDENTS IN THAT AREA. WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH. AND SO WE'RE PLANNING ON THE DESIGN OF THAT PROJECT BEING COMPLETED SOON. AND WE SHOULD MOVE TO THE STARTS OF CONSTRUCTION, PROBABLY THE FALL OF THIS YEAR. WE HAVE THE HEBER SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS. IT'S PRETTY SIMILAR TO THE JOSEPH CITY SIDEWALK PROJECT. WE'RE IN THE DESIGN PHASES OF THAT MOVING FORWARD TO INSTALL SIDEWALKS CONNECTING SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA. THE LAST COUPLE, THE SILVER CREEK DRIVE AND SILVER SILVER LAKE BOULEVARDS CROSSING, THESE ARE STORMWATER CROSSINGS. THEY'VE OVERTOPPED SEVERAL TIMES. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF THOSE STORMWATER CROSSINGS. WE'RE WORKING ON THE DESIGN FOR THOSE AND HOPE TO GET A GRANT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE IN THE FUTURE. AND LAST THE WINSLOW LEVY A PRETTY HIGH HIGH PROFILE PROJECT. THIS IS BENEFITING CONGRESS APPROPRIATED FUNDS. WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN OF THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LEVY WHICH IS, WHICH WILL IMPACT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY OF WINSLOW. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMPLETION OF THAT DESIGN AND MOVING FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION. SO KIND OF AS A SUMMARY PRETTY, PRETTY BIG ARRAY OF DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT WE HAVE THAT BENEFIT PUBLIC WORKS. YOU CAN SEE OVER $14 MILLION IN GRANT MONIES THAT WE'VE USED IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH KEN AND IMPLEMENT THESE GRANTS AS WELL AS GETTING MORE FOR OUR FUTURE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS. SO I'VE TALKED TO YOU BEFORE ABOUT THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT THAT I DO OPERATE FOR THE THREE COUNTIES, NAVAJO NATION OR NAVAJO COUNTY BEING OUR FISCAL AGENT. AGAIN, THIS THIS GRANT IS FOR NON-TRIBAL AREAS. RIGHT NOW WE, WE ACTUALLY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK. WE GOT A 2% INCREASE THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF A CUT OR ONE OF THE FEW LOCAL AREAS, WE WERE NOT AT THE BOTTOM ANYMORE. NOW WE'RE THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM. WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS. HONESTLY, THIS IS THE STRONGEST WE'VE SEEN WORKFORCE IN SOME TIME. WE ARE TALKING TO THE EMPLOYERS, AND EMPLOYERS ARE TALKING BACK TO US AND WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH. AND THAT'S AN UPDATE JUST ON THAT GRANT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS WE'VE ALL HEARD IT IN THE NEWS AND IN GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE IS ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW FOR AXING, FOR CUTTING, FOR TRIMMING. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I PUT UPON MYSELF WAS TO FIND OUT HOW I COULD SUPPORT MY TEAM. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED INTO WAS ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SIGNED AN MOU WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. I MOVED ON IT QUICK WITH SCI-TECH. WE ACTUALLY, I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE'RE GOING INTO THE FINAL STAGES. IT'LL BE $1 MILLION GRANT AND WE'RE RESEARCHING WHY THE SCHOOLS, THE COMMUNITIES, THE GOVERNMENT DO NOT TALK AND WHY WE'RE NOT ALIGNING AND USING THE DOLLARS PROPERLY. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE GRANT AT 400,000 WILL COME TO MY STAFF. IT'S JUST FOR SALARIES TO DO DATA COLLECTION INTERVIEWS. WE'LL BE THE FIRST AREA IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO DO THIS. SO THIS INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND THAT'LL BE A THREE YEAR GRANT, 101 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS. THE BIG ONE THAT I MESSED UP ON THIS, AND I DO APOLOGIZE, BUT IT ACTUALLY IS A 1.5 MILLION PER YEAR FOR THREE YEARS FOR THE HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW MY PRIOR LIFE, I WAS ACTUALLY A VETERAN SOCIAL WORKER.
I WAS A WORKFORCE WAS PUT IN THE HALL OF FAME FOR SOME OF MY EFFORTS. I DID HERE IN NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA AND THE TRIBES. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IS THEY CAME TO ME WITH THIS GRANT. ME AND KIM WERE KIND OF CAUGHT OFF GUARD. BUT I DO. IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION WHEN THEY'RE SENDING YOU TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO COME DO THE GRANT TO GET IT AWARDED. SO THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE GOING TO OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. IT'LL BE 1.5 FOR ALL THREE COUNTIES WHICH WILL ALLOW ME TO HIRE MORE STAFF. WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THE LOAD OFF THE WIOA GRANT. ONE OF THE HARDEST LOADS ON IT IS STAFFING IS TO OPERATE IT, TO MANAGE IT, TO KEEP IT GOING. AND SO ONE OF THE NEAT THINGS ABOUT THIS THIS OTHER GRANT IS THEY ARE MEANT TO BE COMBINED AND WORK TOGETHER. AND SO WE WILL BE OPENING THAT UP. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S UNIQUE TO NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA, AND I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT IN THE PAST, AND I'M NOT COMPLAINING ANYMORE, IS THE AMOUNT OF JOB CENTERS WE HAVE. AND THAT'S THE FINGERS THEY WANT. THAT'S WHAT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BETTS WANTS TO SEE IS THAT WE DO HAVE THAT PENETRATION IN THE AREA, AND WE CAN ASSIST THOSE VETERANS AND BRING THOSE NUMBERS IN. IT WAS FORMERLY US VETS. THEY STEPPED AWAY ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. AND WE WILL BE GOING AFTER THIS GRANT IN MARCH, WHICH I'M REALLY EXCITED. AND ALL MY ALL MY GRANTS ARE NO MATCH FOR THE THE COUNTY, WHICH IS EVEN BETTER NEWS FOR EVERYONE. BUT I'LL KEEP THE BOARD UPDATED. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING FAST, WE'RE MOVING HIGH. AND I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR MY TEAM AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ADAM. I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. WE NAVAJO COUNTY ADMINISTERS ALLOCATION OF CDBG FUNDS EVERY FOUR YEARS. WE RECEIVE ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. I AM PLEASED TO REPORT ON COMPLETION OF 2023 CDBG FUNDED PROJECT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT NEXT YEAR, IN 2027, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ADMINISTER ALLOCATION OF CDBG FUNDS. SO JUST GIVING YOU A HEADS UP. THIS GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATES STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE COUNTY'S GRANT ACTIVITIES. NAVAJO COUNTY HAS BEEN HAS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK FOR MANAGING GRANT. GRANT FUNDED PROJECT. WE DO HAVE BUILT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF GRANTS. GRANTS ARE CUMBERSOME AND COMPLICATED, BUT BENEFICIAL. WE HAVE. WE SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT GRANT POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO PLACE OURSELVES IN A BETTER POSITION. THE US DEPARTMENT OF US OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. OMB RECENTLY PROPOSED MAKING A POLICY CHANGE ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ADDRESSING OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES. BECAUSE THE CHANGES WILL IMPACT THE GRANT PROJECT NOT ONLY IN THE NUMBER OF COUNTY, BUT NATIONWIDE, AND NAVAJO COUNTY PARTICIPATED IN A NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO ADDRESS IN THE THE COMMON CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE CHANGE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. AND WE HAVE. WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU KEN. I APPRECIATE THAT. WELL, REPORT THAT YOU GAVE TODAY. ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD, VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU KEN. I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION AND TO EVERYONE WHO PRESENTED TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION. I KNOW THAT MANAGING GRANTS CAN SOMETIMES BE A CHALLENGE, AND WHEN WE THINK OF THE SUPPORTS THAT IT OFFERS OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON US, I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT ALL OF YOU ARE SO INVESTED IN THAT. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN A PART OF THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR SPEARHEADING THAT, KEN. SO APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SUPERVISOR BENALLY.
YEAH I JUST WANT TO THANK SAY THANK YOU AS WELL, KEN, FOR ALL WORKING ON THESE GRANTS AND INCLUDING THE ARPA GRANTS THAT YOU HAVE THAT SOME OF MY CHAPTERS HAVE BEEN FOR SO AND RECEIVED. AND I THINK TWO OF THEM ARE IN COMPLETION AND THE OTHER ONES AT THE TAIL END OF COMPLETION. SO REALLY COMMUNICATING WITH THE MANAGERS OF THOSE CHAPTERS. THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR BENALLY. I PASSED THE GUY. SORRY. THAT'S QUITE A WAY. THANK YOU. KEN AND ALL THOSE THAT HAVE PRESENTED. I JUST HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. FOR THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT FOR NON NON-TRIBAL COMMUNITIES FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR PROGRAM AND YOUR SERVICES THAT YOU'RE, THAT YOUR WORKFORCE OFFICE PROVIDES FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS THAT DO RESIDE OFF RESERVATION, ARE THEY ABLE TO GO THROUGH YOUR OFFICE IF THEY SO WISH TO SEE? WHAT THEY WOULD BE THAT ACTUALLY IS LAW. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT. THEY JUST CANNOT USE THE SECTION 166 OR THEIR STATE AWARDED FUNDS. THEY CANNOT USE THEM AT THE SAME TIME AS ANOTHER LOCAL AREA. THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER. BUT WHAT WE CAN, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE PITCHED IN SOMETHING, THEY PITCH IN SOMETHING WE WORKED TOGETHER ESPECIALLY WITH THE LOCATION. SOMETIMES THE TRIBE CAN DO CERTAIN THINGS LIKE PAY TUITION, SOMETHING THAT'S EASY ELECTRONICALLY, WHEREAS THE GAS CARDS AND HOTELING, WHAT DO THEY NEED? THAT'S WHERE WE WE COME IN AND HELP. ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY JUST CAN'T GET TWO TUITIONS AT THE SAME TIME. WE CAN'T PAY THE SAME BILL. THAT WOULD JUST BE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I HAVE I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST IN REGARDS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, THE 11 GRANTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF DO WE AS SUPERVISORS HAVE ACCESS TO BE PROVIDED COPIES OF THOSE GRANT APPLICATIONS? I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE SCOPE OF WORKS ARE IN REGARDS AND IN THE SERVICE AREAS THAT THESE GRANTS ARE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO. JANELLE, DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT? SO THESE ARE NOT APPLICATIONS. THEY'RE MOST OF OUR GRANT FUNDING IS NON COMPETITIVE. AND SO THEY'RE FUNNELED THROUGH AWARDS FROM THE STATE. BUT YES COPIES OF THOSE CONTRACTS COME BEFORE YOU AS A BOARD FOR APPROVAL, AND WE SHOULD HAVE COPIES OF THOSE FOR YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? OKAY. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU. GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOUR TEAM. AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN THE GRANT AREA AND HELPS WRITING. AND I THINK WHAT'S GREAT WITH KEN IS HE ISN'T JUST LIMITED. HE SHARES HIS KNOWLEDGE AND SHARES HIS RESOURCES WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE COME TO HIM. AND HE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE ANOTHER ONE. NEXT CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2006 2007 PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR ALL OF NAVAJO COUNTY TAXING DISTRICTS. MR.. JASON. VAL. CHAIRMAN, VICE VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I COME BEFORE YOU AT THIS TIME. I'M LOOKING FOR APPROVAL OR CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATES FOR ALL TAXING DISTRICTS WITHIN THE COUNTY. SO THAT INCLUDES THE THE NAVAJO COUNTY PRIMARY DISTRICT THE LIBRARY DISTRICT, THE HEALTH SERVICE DISTRICT AND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES THE EXTERNAL ENTITIES SUCH AS OUR FIRE DISTRICTS, ROAD DISTRICTS, SANITARY DISTRICTS, CITIES AND TOWNS, AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FOLLOWED THEIR BUDGET PROCESS AND THEIR APPROVAL PROCESS THROUGH THEIR GOVERNING BOARDS OF APPROVING THEIR, THEIR LEVY AMOUNTS AND RATES. AND SO I'M COMING TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL OF THESE RATES, SO WE CAN SUBMIT THESE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TREASURER TO APPLY THESE TO THEIR FISCAL 27 TAX RULES. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. I'LL BRING IT BACK UP FOR A MOTION. CHAIR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL BY SUPERVISOR WHITESINGER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY VICE CHAIR. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. THANK YOU, JASON, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM SEVEN A CONSIDERATION OF THE TAX YEAR 2026. FISCAL YEAR 2027 TAX RATES AND LEVIES FOR ALL OF NAVAJO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
PRESENTED BY PRESTON COLTON. THANK YOU FOR CALLING YOU. YOUR DAD. SORRY ABOUT THAT, COLTON. GOOD MORNING. CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, BOARD AND STAFF. MY NAME IS COLTON. I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OFFICE. I OVERSAW THE CALCULATION OF THE RATES THIS YEAR, SO SUPERINTENDENT LEWIS ASKED ME TO REPRESENT US HERE. I'M HONORED TO BE PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF OUR OFFICE. SIMILAR TO WHAT JASON SAID, FOR THE RATES HE PRESENTED, EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THEIR GOVERNING BOARD HAS GONE THROUGH THEIR REQUIRED STATUTORY PROCESSES TO ADOPT A BUDGET. AND THE FIGURES THAT WE CALCULATE HERE PULL NUMBERS FROM THOSE BUDGETS. SO WE'RE NOT ASKING THE BOARD TO VALIDATE ANY OF THOSE PROCEDURES, BUT THESE ARE THE NUMBERS FROM THEIR LEGALLY ADOPTED BUDGETS. SO WE'RE HERE PER ARS 15.991, WHICH REQUIRES THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OFFICE TO PROVIDE IN WRITING THE AMOUNTS REQUIRED TO BE LEVIED FOR EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PROPERTY TAX RATES BY THE THIRD MONDAY IN AUGUST. SO THIS DOES START A BIT EARLIER THAN THAT BEGINS IN FEBRUARY, WITH THE COUNTY ASSESSOR PROVIDING THE ASSESSED VALUES FOR EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT. SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS START PREPARING THEIR BUDGETS EVEN EARLIER THAN THAT, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO PREPARE A PROPOSED EXPENDITURE BUDGET BY JULY 5TH. SO THAT IS WHAT OUR OFFICE USES TO PULL THESE VALUES FROM, TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR REQUIRED LEVIES ARE, AND THEN DETERMINE THE TAX RATES FOR EACH OF THEIR DISTRICTS. WE PROVIDE THAT AS AN ESTIMATE TO THE BOARD BY JULY 25TH, AS WELL AS TO THE PROPERTY TAX OVERSIGHT COMMISSION. AND THEN WE WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REVIEW THOSE ESTIMATES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING. THAT I DIDN'T THROW ANY OF THE WRONG NUMBERS IN THERE OR SWITCH THEM AROUND. AND WHAT WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY ARE THE FINALIZED VALUES THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH THE DISTRICTS TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE'VE INPUTTED ARE ACCURATE AND CORRECT. SO NOW THAT WE HAVE SOME BACKGROUND ON IT, THESE ARE THE RATES FOR EACH OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A RATES. YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A LINE FOR THE PRIMARY LEVY AND THE SECONDARY LEVY. SO THE SECONDARY LEVIES ARE ATTRIBUTED TO DISTRICTS THAT HAVE AN OVERRIDE FOR THEIR, KNOW, THEIR GENERAL OPERATING FUND AS WELL AS ANY BONDS THEY HAVE. BOTH OF THOSE ARE VOTER APPROVED MEASURES. SO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO GET APPROVAL BEFORE THEY CAN PUT THAT IN THEIR BUDGET OR LEVY FOR IT. YOU'LL SEE THAT ALL OF THE DISTRICTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SNOWFLAKE USD, HAVE A SECONDARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY. THOSE ARE THE RATES. THE TWO THE PRIMARY AND THE SECONDARY RATES ARE COMBINED FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT SHOWN ON THE LAST COLUMN. WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL DISTRICTS ON TRIBAL LAND. THOSE ONES DO NOT LEVY ANY PROPERTY TAXES FOR IT. THEY DO HAVE A SMALL ASSESSED VALUATION, BUT THEY THEY DON'T LEVY A PROPERTY TAX. WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY. THERE'S NAVIT AND THERE'S NATIVE. AND THEIR TAX RATES ARE ACTUALLY SET BY STATUTE AT 0.0500. THOSE DON'T CHANGE YEAR TO YEAR. THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES IS THE ASSESSED VALUATION THAT THE ASSESSOR PROVIDES US, AND THAT RATE IS APPLIED CONSISTENTLY OVER. WE ALSO HAVE THE NAVAJO COUNTY ACCOMMODATION DISTRICT, AND I NEGLECTED TO UPDATE THE PRESENTATION, BUT THAT SERVES OUR HIGH DESERT HIGH SCHOOL. THAT'S NO LONGER NCIS. IT'S DHS, WHICH IS AN ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL, THE JUVENILE DETENTION AND OUR ADULT JAIL EDUCATION. WE DON'T LEVY ANY PROPERTY TAXES FOR THAT, AND OUR REVENUE COMES FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES. WE ALSO HAVE COUNTY EDUCATION DISTRICT LEVY, AND THAT SERVES STUDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN THE COUNTY, BUT THEY'RE NOT WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THIS HELPS MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S FUNDING FOR THEM IN PLACE AND THEY CAN THAT WE CAN COORDINATE FOR TRANSPORTATION FROM THEM TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT IF THEY SO DESIRE. TO PUT THOSE TAX RATES IN REFERENCE, WE PROVIDED THE CHANGE FROM TAX YEAR 25 TO TAX YEAR 26. YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL OF THEM DECREASED THIS YEAR. THE EXCEPTION OF HOLBROOK IS MAINTAINED RIGHT ABOUT THE EXACT SAME. AND THOSE CAN BE TO THOSE CAN BE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE, THE LARGEST DECREASES. THEY'RE HEBER-OVERGAARD AND I BELIEVE IT WAS SNOWFLAKE. THOSE ARE ATTRIBUTED TO DECREASING ENROLLMENT, DECREASING POPULATION. THE BUDGETS REFLECT THAT AND THE LEVY REFLECTS THAT. SO IT'S JUST KEEPING THE THE AMOUNTS LEVIED ACCURATE WITH WITH THEIR BUDGETS. SO FACTORS THAT CAN DRIVE THE RATES. THERE ARE OF COURSE THE ASSESSED VALUES. THOSE ARE WHAT ARE FED INTO THE FORMULA. IF THERE ARE ANY BONDS OR OVERRIDES WHICH ARE VOTER APPROVED MEASURES THAT GO ON THE SECONDARY RATE, THOSE THOSE OBVIOUSLY IMPACTED THE DISTRICTS WITH THEIR GOVERNING BOARDS. THEY ADOPT THEIR OWN BUDGETS. THERE ARE BASE SUPPORT LEVELS, WHICH IS A FIGURE THAT IS CALCULATED BY THE BY THE LEGISLATURE EACH YEAR THAT'S CALCULATED BY THEIR AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP, WHICH IS ATTENDANCE.
THEY ALSO HAVE TRANSPORTATION THAT IMPACTS IT. DISTRICT ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS ANOTHER FACTOR THAT'S SET BY STATUTE AND APPLIED AGAINST ATTENDANCE IMPACT AID, WHICH IS FEDERAL REVENUES FOR DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BOUNDARIES WITH FEDERAL ON TRIBAL LANDS. NOT ALL OF THE DISTRICTS HAVE THIS, BUT SOME DO. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO ADJACENT RACE WAYS, WHICH HELPS DISTRICTS MAINTAIN ROADS, RIGHT OF WAYS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE ON THEIR LAND. ANOTHER ELEMENT IS THE QUALIFYING TAX RATE. AND THAT'S SET BY STATUTE. AND IT CHANGES A BIT EACH YEAR. BUT THAT'S DETERMINED BY THE STATE AND FED INTO THE FORMULA. SO THERE'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED MATH THAT GOES INTO THIS BUT VERY VERY TOP LEVEL EXPLANATION FOR YOU. SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE. THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS. I'D BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER THOSE. THANK YOU COLTON. THAT WAS A GREAT SUMMARY OF OUR TAX DOLLARS THERE. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION IS THERE BY SUPERVISOR BINALI. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL. SECOND. SECOND. BY SUPERVISOR WHITESINGER. ANY DISCUSSION? CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M JUST GOING TO TIDBIT. YOU MENTIONED HIGH DESERT SCHOOL. HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO LEAH HERE. LEAH WAS PART OF SUBMITTING NAMES FOR THAT HIGH SCHOOL. AND HER NAME THAT SHE SUBMITTED WAS THE ONE THAT WENT. SO SHE HELPED NAME HIGH DESERT HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU. LEAH, FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT THERE. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS TREASURE REPORT HERE. CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL OF FOLLOWING ITEMS. RECEIPT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF COLLECTIONS AND DELINQUENCIES ACCORDING TO STATE STATUTE AND SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO INVEST FUNDS PURSUANT TO STATE STATUTE. AND MISS DANIELLE EARL. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. VICE CHAIR. DANIELLE. I AM HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE BY STATUTE A RS4218002. THE REPORT OF THE AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT WERE COLLECTED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2526. AND HERE I'VE INCLUDED A LONGER VERSION IN YOUR REPORT THAT SHOWS WHERE EXACTLY ALL THE TAX MONEY IS COMING FROM AND GOING TO. BUT THE THE BASIC INFORMATION HERE IS THE TAXES PRESENTED FOR COLLECTION WAS 100,007, 71, 270, 36 AND WE HAD A BOARD ORDER, NET CHANGE OR OTHER CORRECTIONS THAT BROUGHT IT DOWN $30,000 ROUGHLY TO BRING THE REVISED TAXES TO $100.7 MILLION AS OF THE END OF JUNE 90TH 7000. I'M SORRY, $97,255,986.42, WHICH REPRESENTS 96.54%, WAS COLLECTED. AND THAT LEAVES ABOUT JUST UNDER 3.5% LEFT AS OF JUNE. WHICH WITH JULY WE DID, WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS. SO THAT'S NOW DOWN TO 2.5% LEFT TO COLLECT. AND THAT IS CONTINUING TO BE COLLECTED. FOR EXAMPLE LAST YEAR WE WE'VE BROUGHT THE 2024 TAXES DOWN TO 0.03% LEFT TO COLLECT. SO THAT'S EFFECTIVELY FULLY COLLECTED. WE DO HAVE ANOTHER 31,000 LEFT, BUT THAT ISN'T THAT MUCH COMPARED. AND SO AS FAR AS INVESTMENTS GO I AM HERE PURSUANT TO STATUTE. SORRY. GET THE PAGES HERE. ARS 35327 G THAT I'M REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO CONTINUE TO INVEST AND REINVEST COUNTY SCHOOL AND SPECIAL DISTRICT FUNDS AS NECESSARY FOR THE 20 2026 AND 27 FISCAL YEAR. THIS IS REPRESENTING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS INVESTED IN OUR IN THOSE FUNDS AND RECEIVING INVESTMENTS. THIS IS NOW REPRESENTING JUST OVER $460 MILLION THAT WE HAVE INVESTED. AND WE MEANS THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF MONEY THAT IS IN THE TREASURER'S FUNDS. SO THAT'S NOT JUST THE COUNTY LIKE NAVAJO COUNTY MONEY. THAT INCLUDES ALL THE SCHOOL MONEY. THAT INCLUDES THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THAT INCLUDES BONDS THAT ARE DEPOSITED AND KEPT AND IT GOES CLEAR DOWN
TO OUR TO OUR. PUBLIC FIDUCIARY PUBLIC FIDUCIARY FUND. SO THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY OUR COUNTY. THEIR MONEY IS MANAGED BY OUR COUNTY. SO THIS IS THE LEAST AMONG US ARE ALSO INVESTED IN THIS FUND. SO WITH THEIR MONEY BEING IN THE COUNTY'S INCLUDED WITH THE COUNTY MONEY, INSTEAD OF A BANK ACCOUNT, THAT DOESN'T GET ANY ADDITIONAL INTEREST. THEY'RE ALSO RECEIVING INVESTMENT FUNDS FROM THE BULK OF THE COUNTY MONEY. WE ALSO HAVE HEALTH GROUPS AND OTHER OTHER COUNTY GROUPS THAT ARE INVOLVED HERE. AND SO THAT BRINGS UP THE ENTIRE INVESTED AMOUNT ALONG WITH, I THINK I'VE TOLD YOU LAST YEAR THAT I HAVE TAKEN ALL THE COUNTY MONEY THAT IS IN THE GENERAL LEDGER. SO THE MONEY IN THE CHECKING ACCOUNT THAT IS ALSO INVESTED AS WELL. I HAVE THAT IN A SWEEP ACCOUNT. SO THAT IS BRINGING ALL MONEY INTO A MONEY MARKET FUND NIGHTLY AND INVESTING THAT MONEY SO THAT THERE ISN'T A DIME LEFT OUT THERE THAT ISN'T EARNING INTEREST. AND THAT ALSO HELPS TO, TO KEEP US LIQUID AS WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN THE GENERAL LEDGER TO ALLOW US TO, TO REMAIN TO REMAIN LIQUID. THIS IS THE INVESTMENT INCOME THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THIS YEAR IN COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS YEARS. THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED JUST OVER $17 MILLION. AND THAT IS ABOUT $3 MILLION OVER LAST YEAR'S INTEREST. OBVIOUSLY, THE ECONOMY HAS GOTTEN BETTER, THE INTEREST RATES HAVE GOTTEN BETTER. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IS, IS GETTING BETTER. AND SO WE WE HAVE RECEIVED QUITE A BIT OF MONEY. AGAIN, THAT GOES TO NOT ONLY THE COUNTY, IT GOES TO THE SCHOOLS, THE FIRE. AND I, EVERY TIME I DO AN INVESTMENT I DO THIS EVERY MONTH AND EVERY TIME I DO AN INVESTMENT, I GET ABOUT 50 PAGES OF PRINTOUT AS TO WHERE THAT INVESTMENT HAS GONE. SO IT IS, IT IS WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SO EVERY DEPARTMENT EVERY OFFICE, THEY, THEY RECEIVE A BIT OF THIS MONEY BASED ON THEIR, WHAT, THEIR WHAT THEIR BALANCE IS. AND I INCLUDED AN EXTRA SLIDE THIS YEAR. THE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE, THEY, THEY ARE RECEIVING THE MONEY IN THEIR EVERY MONTH WHEN I DO THE INVESTMENTS OR THE INVESTMENT PAYOUTS, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S A REALLY HIGH MONTH. SOMETIMES IT'S A REALLY LOW MONTH. THE ONE THING I'VE TRIED TO DO IS GET IT TO WHERE WE'RE INVEST, OR WE'RE PAYING OUT A TOTAL OF OVER $1 MILLION A MONTH SO THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE BALANCED. INSTEAD OF ONE MONTH BEING $2 MILLION PAID OUT, ANOTHER MONTH BEING $500,000 PAID OUT, THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST $1 MILLION GETTING PAID OUT THROUGHOUT EVERYBODY SO THAT THEY CAN COUNT ON THIS MONEY A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO I'VE SPREAD THIS OUT THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER 2027 TO SHOW YOU THAT BETWEEN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WHICH IS IN THE BLUE, THAT IS ALREADY INVESTED MONEY TO PROJECTED, WHEN THINGS MATURE, WE'LL BE REINVESTING THAT THE MONEY THAT'S IN THE GREEN. AND SO THOSE WILL BE THE PAYOUTS THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE END OF DECEMBER 2027 TO SHOW YOU THAT THAT'S BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE STABILIZED SO THAT THE INVESTMENT MONEY IS SOMETHING THAT THE DIFFERENT OFFICES AND THAT EVERYONE CAN COUNT ON. AND THEN THE FINAL THING IS THE TREASURER'S PROCESSING FUND. I DON'T THINK I MADE A SLIDE FOR THAT. OH YEAH, I DID JUST THAT. OKAY. SO THE TREASURER'S PROCESSING FUND. SO THIS IS AN ESTIMATE ACCORDING TO ARS 11 FOR 95. SEE THE COUNTY TREASURER SHALL ANNUALLY SUBMIT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THE AMOUNT OF ANTICIPATED REVENUES UNDER THIS SECTION AND BASED ON THE ESTIMATED SALE OF CERTIFICATES OF $1.2 MILLION THIS YEAR, OR 1.25 MILLION, WE'VE CALCULATED THE PROCESSING FUND COLLECTIONS WILL BE ABOUT $15,000. AND WITH THAT, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? SUPERVISOR WHITESINGER, I JUST HAVE A COMMENT. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. IT'S OBVIOUS HOW HARD YOU GUYS ARE WORKING, A GREAT JOB YOU'RE DOING AND HOW MINDFUL YOU ARE OF THE DAY TO DAY AND THE OVERALL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OR CHAIRMAN? VICE CHAIR.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REITERATE THOSE SAME THINGS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK, YOU KNOW THE TRANSPARENCY AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND HOW ARE WE UTILIZING OR PROTECTING THOSE DOLLARS TO INVEST IN THE ORGANIZATION AND ALL OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND SO FORTH THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, YOUR EFFORTS JUST ON THE INVESTMENTS. DO YOU FEEL THEY'RE VERY SOUND AND VERY, YOU KNOW YES, I DO THAT. WE, WE DO KEEP THEM IN THE THEY'RE ALL TRIPLE A AYE TO TRIPLE A RATED COMPANIES AND JUST SO YOU KNOW. I DO HAVE A PAPER I THINK I BROUGHT HERE WITH ME. DID I JUST WRITE THAT? BUT THE ABOUT HALF OF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE IS IN A LITTLE BIT LONGER TERM, I THINK IT WAS POINT 51 OR 51% OF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IS IN THE LONGER TERM TREASURY BONDS. THOSE ARE VERY STABLE AND THEY'RE A GOOD REVENUE PRODUCER WITH THEIR OVER 4% IN INTEREST. AND SO THOSE ARE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO KEEP THAT MILLION DOLLAR AMOUNT. AND THEN THE REST OF IT IS VERY LIQUID WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO REINVEST EVERY MONTH. THE REST OF THE MONEY, IF WE DO NEED THE MONEY TO COME BACK INTO THE GENERAL LEDGER, THAT'S ABLE TO BE PULLED BACK IN. SO SO NOT ONLY IS IT STABLE, BUT IT IS LIQUID SO THAT WE CAN THAT WE'RE NOT IN ANY TROUBLE BY KEEPING THINGS LOCKED UP FOR TOO LONG. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. I KNOW LAST YEAR WE HAD A LITTLE GLITCH ON IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT. IT WAS A COMPUTER ISSUES THAT WE HAD. AND HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT WILL PROCEED THIS YEAR? DO YOU YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WITH WITH TECHNOLOGY. BUT YEAH, WE NEVER KNOW UNTIL WE GET. AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEY WERE BEING THE RATES WERE BEING MULTIPLIED BY THE WRONG ASSESSED VALUE. AND SO ONCE I PUT THE STUFF THROUGH TO END UP SENDING OUT THE PROPERTY TAX BILLS THAT THREE OF THE AREAS CAME UP WITH WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. AND SO ONCE WE LOOKED INTO THAT, THAT DID NEED TO BE SORRY, MOUTH IS GETTING DRY. ONCE WE LOOKED INTO IT, WE FOUND OUT THAT THAT DID NEED TO BE PUT BEFORE THE BOARD AGAIN AND REAPPROVED. SO THAT'S WHY PROPERTY TAX STATEMENTS DO GO OUT. BUT WE DID HAVE BY STATUTE, WE DID HAVE THE STUFF AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET. SO PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THEIR BILLS ONLINE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TEAM, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. THANKS. OH, WE NEED A MOTION. I'M SORRY. NEED A. LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN I MOTION FOR APPROVAL. I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND A MOTION AND SECOND, A MOTION BY VICE CHAIR. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. THIS BRINGS US TO CALL THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW HERE ON CALL THE PUBLIC. I'M GOING TO REMIND YOU TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS THAT AREN'T REPETITIVE. WE ALSO HAVE FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT TURNED IN ON TIME. WE WILL LOOK AT THAT AT THE TIME WE GO, BUT WE DO ASK IF YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO SPEAK ON CALL TO THE PUBLIC THAT IS BE TURNED IN PRIOR TO THE MEETING. AND SO. WE'LL SEE IF THE BOARD WANTS TO YIELD TIME TO THOSE. AND LIKE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL GETTING THEM. SO FIRST PERSON IS BRANT MEYER. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS BRANT MEYER. I'M 14 MILES NORTH AND EAST OF SNOWFLAKE WHICH IS MY POST OFFICE. THE DECISIONS MADE BY THIS BOARD AFFECT MY FAMILY AND MY NEIGHBORS IN THE COUNTY. TODAY I ASK YOU TO ALLOW COUNTY DISCUSSION AND A VOTE ABOUT FLOCK CAMERAS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF CAMERAS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THESE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS CAN PHOTOGRAPH PASSING VEHICLES, RECORD A PLATE NUMBER, DATES, TIMES, BUMPER STICKERS AND IN THE PROCESS CREATE A SEARCHABLE DATABASE THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH WHOM AND BY WHOM. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS IS NOT AN ANTI LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITION.
I PRAY DAILY FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR LAW OFFICERS, DEPUTIES, EMS AND FIREFIGHTERS. AND AS A VOLUNTEER PILOT FOR THE NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THERE'S ONE EXPERIENCE THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW. AFTER A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A BICYCLIST ON OLD WOODRUFF ROAD ONE NIGHT, I FLEW A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY THE NEXT MORNING WHO WAS HIGHLY SKILLED AT IDENTIFYING THE VEHICLES AND GOOD AT AIR TRACKING FROM THE AIR. SO WITH OBSERVATION, TECH TECHNIQUES, COMMUNICATIONS, THE TRAIL LEFT BY THE DAMAGED VEHICLE AND SOLID POLICE WORK, THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES LOCATED THE VEHICLE AND IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT BY ABOUT 8:00 THE NEXT MORNING. DURING THE NIGHT, THOUGH, THE SUSPECT HAD CHANGED VEHICLES AND FLED THE SCENE. YET WITHIN HOURS, THE HOURS, THE VEHICLE THE SUSPECT WAS DRIVING WAS IDENTIFIED BY OFFICERS IN GLOBE IN THE AREA AND THEY WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND THE SUSPECT. AND IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS OF THE INCIDENT. THIS CAMERA ISSUE IS NOT IS IS THIS CASE WAS SOLVED WITHOUT USING ANY AUTOMATED CAMERAS, WATCHING EVERY INTERSECTION. THIS CAMERA ISSUE IS ALL ABOUT ANY AGENTS OR ANY GOVERNMENT THAT CAN RECORD THE MOVEMENTS OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AS A DAILY ROUTINE PRACTICE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE SPIRIT OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT OF THE US CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE TWO, BOTH OF WHICH PROTECT PEOPLE FROM UNREASONABLE GOVERNMENT INTRUSION. A FREE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THEIR DAILY TRAVELS, PHOTOGRAPHS SEARCHED OR DATA STORED AND SHARED UNLESS THERE'S A SPECIFIC REASON OR A SPECIFIC INVESTIGATION FOR IT. THE PUBLIC DESERVES CLEAR ANSWERS. WHO OWNS THE DATA THAT'S GATHERED? WHO CAN ACCESS IT? HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO BE STORED, AND WHETHER THEY CAN SHARE IT, AND TO WHOM. THESE ANSWERS SHOULD COME BEFORE INSTALLATION, NOT AFTER THESE CAMERAS ARE OFFERED AS SAFETY TOOLS FOR OUR PROTECTION, BUT THEY ALSO CREATE A PERMANENT SURVEILLANCE LAYER OVER ORDINARY LIFE. FREEDOM IS RARELY LOST ALL AT ONCE, BUT MORE OFTEN IT IS SURROUNDED IN. ONCE IT IS, IT IS SURRENDERED IN ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME, AND EACH IS JUSTIFIED AS A SAFETY CONCERN OR AS A CONVENIENCE TO HELP US AND TO PROTECT US. PLEASE RESPECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS, PRESERVE THE FREEDOMS, AND REMEMBER THE STEWARDSHIP TO PROTECT THIS LAND AS GIVEN TO US BY OUR KING JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU. I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THAT WE LOOK MORE INTO THESE CAMERAS AND JUST HAVE A REPORT. I KNOW OUR SHERIFF IS GOING TO WORK ON THAT TOO, SO WE'LL HAVE THAT TO TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, IF I MAY, AS A SERVICE TIME IS UP. THANK YOU DONNA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME UP HERE A SECOND TIME. IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT MEETING. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE AGENDIZED. AND, ONE THING THAT I SEE, AND I REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO PURSUE IS, IS WEAVING TOGETHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IDEAS. I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY HAS SIDESTEPPED OFF INTO FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO REALLY. Z AND USING THAT AND A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 90% OF THEIR WORK SEEMS TO BE WITH RENEWABLE ENERGIES. BUT I HEAR THESE PRESENTATIONS ON REENTRY PROGRAMS, AND I HEAR FROM KEN ABOUT ALL THE GRANTS THAT HE'S PURSUING, AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING MENTIONED EXCEPT THAT THERE WAS SOME TAX COLLECTION FOR IT. WHY ARE WE NOT USING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE? WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT RESOURCE WITH THAT IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY ONE OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES HAS A CAMPUS, BUT WHY DON'T WE GROW THAT MORE AND WORK MORE WITH THAT? I THINK IT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD CONNECTION WITH NIU AS WELL. WE TALK ABOUT THE LOSS OF OUR POPULATION AND THE DECREASE OF OUR POPULATION. AND THESE KIDS DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM DON'T. AND WHY NOT GROW IT SO THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING? YOUR FRIEND SIR WANTED A NEW HOT MIX PLANT. AND IN BUILDING A NEW HOME, OUR MY FAMILY HAS GONE TO A WOODWORKING PLANT IN SNOWFLAKE, WHO STARTED IN 1954. AND IT'S SITTING THERE. IT HAD HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES NOW AND THEY'RE SIX AND HE NEEDS MONEY. WE WENT AND MET WITH HIM AND HE SAID, IF I COULD HAVE HELP GETTING GRANT MONEY SO THAT I COULD BUY A SAWMILL OR WORK WITH THE LOCAL SAWMILLS. BUT IT'S ALMOST AS IF, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE PIECES AND PARTS AREN'T BEING PUT TOGETHER. AND IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF REALLY WE COULD DO SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST FOCUS ON THE THE REAL, THE RENEWABLE ENERGIES OR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO REFER IT TO. I'VE TALKED ABOUT CATTLE INDUSTRY AS WELL. I KNOW THERE'S A MEAT CUTTER IN, IN SNOWFLAKE IN ROUND VALLEY WHO COULD PROCESS MORE MEAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE CATTLE INDUSTRY ANYMORE OR IT'S DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANTLY. WHY DON'T WE WORK WITH THEM? THERE'S A CDL SIMULATOR THAT ELI CRANE WAS LOOKING AT OVER IN SHILOH. I GUESS. I MEAN, THAT'S ANOTHER THING. HOLBROOK. HOLBROOK. YES, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS. MEAT CUTTING, WOODWORKING. I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN WHO IS IN SNOWFLAKE ABOUT HIS WOODWORKING FACILITY, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I COULD HELP TEACH. I MEAN, SO LET'S PURSUE LET'S DIVE IN DEEPER. TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE WE NEED TO ADDRESS MORE CHILDREN'S NEEDS AND KIDS NEEDS.
NOT EVERYBODY IS BOOK SMART. NOT EVERYBODY CAN GO TO A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR HAVE THE ABILITY TO. BUT WHY NOT GIVE THEM THE VO TECH TRAINING? AND NOW THAT IS AMAZING. AND MY DAUGHTER WENT THROUGH IT AND I REMEMBER SPEAKING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED IT. THEY SAID THEY PUT THESE AT JOB FAIRS AND THEY PUT THESE TABLES INFORMATION OUT AND NOBODY EVEN COMES TO IT. THEY HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. NOBODY TAPS INTO IT. SO WHY DON'T WE PURSUE THAT AS WELL AS SOMETHING WITH OUR, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A PORTION OF NAVAJO COUNTY. I WOULD JUST HIGHLY RECOMMEND WE LOOK INTO THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. NEXT, MISTER JERRY HUBBARD. GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND OTHER COUNTY OFFICIALS. MY NAME IS JERRY HUBBARD AND I LIVE IN OVERGAARD. I'VE BEEN A POLL WORKER IN EVERY ELECTION SINCE THE PRIMARY ELECTION OF 2022, SERVING IN THE POSITION OF MARSHAL AT THE HEBREW OVERGAARD POLLING LOCATION. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ON THE JULY 21ST PRIMARY ELECTION, OUR INSPECTOR WENT INTO THE STORAGE ROOM AT THE WEST END OF THE MAIN ROOM, USED AS THE. USED AS THE POLLING LOCATION, HE CALLED ME INTO THE STORAGE ROOM TO HELP HIM CARRY OUT THREE BOXED UP BALLOT MARKING BOOTHS AND A LARGE PLASTIC BIN CONTAINING WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE 3000 BALLOTS THAT HE HAD DISCOVERED IN SPITE OF COUNTY MANAGER LEIGHTON'S JULY 31ST LETTER TO THE CRC STATING THAT THIS BIN WAS SEALED. IT WAS NOT AND DID NOT HAVE ANY NUMBERED SEALS ON IT. THE BALLOTS WERE UNMARKED AND PACKAGED IN CLEAR PLASTIC WRAP BUNDLES. I DID NOT REMOVE ANY OF THEM, BUT I COULD READ THE CONTEST AT THE TOP LEFT OF THE BALLOT AS TRUMP, VANCE AND HARRIS WALTZ INDICATING THAT THESE WERE BALLOTS FROM THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION. WE STACKED ALL THESE ITEMS NEXT TO THE ROLLING CAGE CONTAINING THE PRIMARY ELECTION MATERIALS SO THEY COULD BE PICKED UP BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES ON JULY 27TH. THE COUNTY PUT OUT A NEWS RELEASE DESCRIBING THIS INCIDENT, PRESUMABLY WRITTEN BY MANAGER LAYTON, AND HE'S ALREADY ADDRESSED, ADDRESSED THAT TODAY AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE IMPLICATION THAT POLL WORKERS WERE SOMEHOW CARELESS OR INCOMPETENT AT HANDLING BALLOTS AT THAT ELECTION. HOWEVER, I WOULD QUESTION WHY HE WOULD THINK THAT IN THE BEGINNING, SINCE POLL WORKERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE POLLING PLACE UNTIL THE BALLOT COUNT IS BALANCED AND RECONCILED. A BALLOT COUNT DISCREPANCY OF 3000 WOULD BE INCONCEIVABLE TO PEOPLE WHO. I PERSONALLY KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, WANT ONLY A SMOOTH AND SECURE ELECTION AT THEIR POLLING PLACE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CASE OF SHIFTING THE BLAME FOR THIS INCIDENT TO POLL WORKERS AND AWAY FROM THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, WHERE IT PROPERLY BELONGS. ONCE THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS WITH BALLOTS, BALLOT COUNTS ARE COMPLETED AND ALL ELECTION MATERIALS AND BALLOTS ARE ASSEMBLED FOR TRANSPORT BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AND COUNTY WORKERS IS NOT THE FAULT OF POLL WORKERS. IF THE COUNTY DECIDES TO LEAVE BEHIND NOT ONLY BALLOTS, BUT THREE EXPENSIVE BALLOT MARKING BOOTHS, HOW COULD THE LOSS OF THESE MATERIALS NOT BE DETECTED IN A VERY SHORT TIME? WHY DID IT TAKE POLL WORKERS AT THE NEXT ELECTION, OVER ONE AND A HALF YEARS LATER TO FIND THEM? THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE CARELESSNESS AND BREAKDOWN OF THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY THAT HAPPENS WITH THIS ELECTION DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. NEXT. BELINDA. BELINDA. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS JOAN LEWIS OR JOANNE, MISS JOAN. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS IT STILL MORNING? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOAN LEWIS. I'M A CITIZEN OF NAVAJO COUNTY FOR OVER 35 YEARS. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. MANY PEOPLE IN NAVAJO COUNTY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED HERE, INCLUDING LARGE SCALE SOLAR AND WIND PROJECTS, FLOCK OR OTHER SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, AND THE AI DATA CENTERS ACROSS POLITICAL PARTIES, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND OTHER DIFFERENCES. RESIDENTS ARE BEGINNING TO COME TOGETHER AROUND A SHARED CONCERN PROTECTING OUR COUNTY, OUR LAND, OUR WATER AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. SOME PEOPLE SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY, OTHERS SUPPORT SURVEILLANCE OR AI INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT REGARDLESS OF WHERE PEOPLE STAND POLITICALLY, AND MANY OF US ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUTSIDE AGENDAS AND LARGE SCALE PROJECTS BEING PUSHED INTO OUR COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ENOUGH PUBLIC INPUT. WE KNOW LOCAL OFFICIALS AND STAFF ATTEND NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES TRAININGS, AND WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW THESE IDEAS ARE INFLUENCING OUR LOCAL POLICY.
OUR CONCERNS ARE NOT SMALL. WE ARE FACING DROUGHT CONDITIONS, PRESSURE ON WATER RESOURCES, IMPACTS TO WILDLIFE, AND THREATS TO FARM AND RANCH LAND. WE DO NOT WANT NAVAJO COUNTY TURN INTO A NETWORK OF SUBSTATIONS. WE DO NOT WANT TO SELL OUT OUR COUNTY TO FOREIGN INTEREST OR GLOBAL AGENDAS. WHAT MAKES NAVAJO COUNTIES SPECIAL IS ITS PEOPLE, ITS LAND AND ITS OPEN SPACES. WE WANT TO PRESERVE THOSE THINGS FOR OURSELVES, OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE WHITE MOUNTAIN INDEPENDENT POLL SHOWED THAT 80% OF THOSE PARTICIPATED DISAGREED WITH THE LARGE SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS, AND ALL THE PETITIONS DID NOT MEET THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF SIGNATURES. THEY STILL SHOWED THAT MANY RESIDENTS WANT A VOICE ON HOW NAVAJO COUNTY MOVES FORWARD. ONLY 9% VOTED YES. THAT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE RESIDENTS WANT TO SLOW DOWN AND DECIDE FOR OURSELVES WHETHER THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE TRULY IN OUR BEST INTEREST. NO NEED TO FURTHER SPEND MONEY ON MARKETING TO THE PEOPLE. MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT AGAINST WIND OR SOLAR IN GENERAL. MANY RESIDENTS USE SOLAR ON THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY AND WE SUPPORT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT LARGE SCALE PROJECTS ARE DIFFERENT. THEY CAN PERMANENTLY CHANGE OUR LANDSCAPES, AFFECT NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, USE VITAL RESOURCES, AND ALTER THE CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WHAT WE DO NOT WANT IS LARGE SCALE OR WIND DEVELOPMENT, OWNED BY FOREIGN INTERESTS OR DRIVEN BY OUTSIDE PRIORITIES. WE DO NOT WANT THE PROJECTS THAT OBSTRUCT OUR BEAUTIFUL VIEWS, DESTROY WILDLIFE HABITATS, USE OUR WATER, OR CONSUME OTHER RESOURCES THAT BELONG TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE. PLEASE ALSO PASS THE ELECTION SAFEGUARDS PRESENTED TO YOU BY KELLY METZLER AND THE TEAM, DARRYL, JASON, DON FERN AND ALBERTO. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE PEOPLE OF NAVAJO COUNTY. IF YOU FEEL PRESSURED BY OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, YOUR TIME IS UP, MA'AM. PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE'LL STAND BY YOU IF YOU STAND BY US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE FIVE PEOPLE WHO SUBMITTED THEIR DESIRE TO SPEAK PART OF THE MEETING. PAUSE FOR A MINUTE AND JUST ASK BOARD MEMBERS WHAT YOUR WISHES ARE TO GO FORWARD HERE. I MEAN, WE'RE VERY CLEAR THAT THESE NEED TO BE TURNED IN PRIOR TO THE MEETING STARTS. EVEN IF WE CHANGE THE THE TIME, IT'S AGENDIZED THAT WE HAVE THAT RIGHT TO DO THAT. BUT WE HAVE FIVE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE DID THIS. SO THERE'S NATIVE OR NATIVE VOTE. THESE ARE ALL FROM NATIVE VOTE. AND I HAVE ONE SPEAKER AND THEN THE OTHERS. SO IF YOU WISH TO DO IT TO ALLOW THEM THIS TIME. CHAIR, IF I MAY. YES. I, I, I, ME, I AM AWARE OF OUR PROTOCOL HERE AND AND PROCEDURE AS FAR AS COMING BEFORE THE BOARD. HOWEVER, SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS I BELIEVE THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME COMING BEFORE THE NAVAJO OR SEEKING TO COME BEFORE THE NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AND BASED ON THE VICINITY OF WHERE THESE INDIVIDUALS MAY BE COMING FROM, I, I FEEL THAT IF IT WOULD BE OKAY, IF THE, IF THE, IF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOR THEM TO SPEAK. OKAY. I SUPPORT SUPERVISOR PESHLAKAI. SUPERVISOR. I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR. I KNOW IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME. YOU MIGHT BE STILL BE NERVOUS AND NOT ABLE TO READ ALL THE WORDING. SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY. SOME OF THEM HAVE TRAVELED QUITE A WAYS TO, TO GET HERE. MAYBE EVEN IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM WERE PROBABLY NERVOUS THAT THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME BEFORE CALLED TO THE PUBLIC. SO I WOULD AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR PESHLAKAI. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL MAKE THIS EXCEPTION FOR YOU. THIS TIME. I'M GOING TO ASK EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IF THEY'LL YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THESE PARTICIPANTS. AND THEN THAT WAY YOU'VE YIELDED YOUR THREE MINUTES AND WE CAN COVER IT THAT WAY. YOU ALL AGREE ON THAT. I AGREE WITH THAT. SUPERVISOR. OKAY. AND AGAIN, IF YOU CAN BE BRIEF OR DON'T COVER THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN COVERED, THAT'D BE APPRECIATED. JANE PARRISH. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. YES. I DIDN'T THINK I NEEDED TO COME HERE, BUT THERE'S SOME CONCERNS I HAVE, SO I NEED. I'LL KNOW THE PROCESS NEXT TIME, BUT.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M A NAVAJO COUNTY VOTER. I'M FROM ARIZONA AND A CITIZEN OF THE NAVAJO NATION. I'M HERE TO ASK THE BOARD TO COMMIT TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND SHOWING HOW WE RUN ELECTIONS HERE IN A COUNTY WITH SO MANY NATIVE VOTERS. I'LL BE HONEST, I'M CONCERNED. I'VE READ VARIOUS ARTICLES, NOT ONLY THE WHITE MOUNTAIN INDEPENDENT VOTE, BEAT, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, ARIZONA FAMILY, AND SO MANY MORE. AND I'M PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING STATEWIDE. THE CONCERN IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ARE NOT JUST GUESSES, BUT DOCUMENTED, THOROUGHLY AND DOCUMENTED FAILINGS. WHAT STARTED THIS CONCERN IS WHEN THE COUNTY ELECTED A MAN IN 24 AS OUR COUNTY RECORDER, WHO PULLED A GUN ON TWO YOUNG ON TWO YOUNG MEN, NATIVE MEN, DURING A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT. HE WAS LATER INDICTED, APPOINTED AND REPLACED. HE THEN RESIGNED. THE BOARD THEN APPOINTED HIS REPLACEMENT, A FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR WHO, BY HIS OWN VOTING RECORD IN THE LEGISLATURE, SUPPORTED BANNING VOTE CENTERS AND RESTRICTING MAIL IN VOTING. HE'S THE ONE OVERSEEING OUR ELECTIONS NOW. JUST LAST MONTH, THE RECORDER ANNOUNCED THAT OVER 1300 MAIL IN BALLOTS CAME IN MARKED UNDELIVERABLE. RIGHT BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION. VOTERS SAID THEIR ADDRESSES WERE CORRECT. NOBODY SAID FOR SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT I GUESS WE'LL LEARN MORE. BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF OPERATIONAL BREAKDOWN THAT CAN ERODE TRUST. AND THIS WEEKS BEFORE A GENERAL ELECTION. NAVAJO COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CRITICAL INDIGENOUS AND RURAL VOTING COMMUNITY. FOR YEARS, I'VE BEEN PROUD TO SAY HOW I AM OF THE HOW THE COUNTY RAN ITS ELECTIONS. WE USUALLY SMOOTH, TRANSPARENT AND. IT DID NOT MATTER WHO WAS IN CHARGE. THE PROCESS WAS NEVER PERFECT, BUT I THINK WE'VE HAD DECENT, TRANSPARENT FOLKS WHO WERE FAIR AND WORKED WITH TRIBAL NATIONS AND CITIZENS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY VOTE WAS COUNTED. WE NEED THIS BOARD TO UPHOLD THE LAW AND DEMAND TRANSPARENCY FROM OUR COUNTY OFFICES, ESPECIALLY OUR RECORDER OFFICE, WHOSE CRITICAL JOB IS TO MANAGE VOTER REGISTRATION. I WILL BE WATCHING AND CONTINUE TO PAY ATTENTION, AND SO WILL MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY IN KAYENTA AND ACROSS THE NAVAJO NATION AND IN OTHER TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. I WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO TRUST OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE PROCESS. WE DON'T WANT ELECTION DENIERS WHO PROMOTE VOTER SUPPRESSION TO BE EMBOLDENED OR AMPLIFIED. IN FACT, WE NEED MORE OF THE BARRIERS TO MAKE VOTING EASIER, NOT HARDER FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. AND WE KNOW THE LEGACY OF HOW HARD IT'S BEEN FOR NATIVE PEOPLE TO VOTE. AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING FOR THAT, RIGHT, TODAY. EVERY VOTER SHOULD HAVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY, AND EVERY VOTE MUST BE COUNTED. WE ALREADY HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE ELECTED AND NOT THAT ARE WORKING EVERY YEAR TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR OUR COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE TO VOTE. INSTEAD, WE NEED NAVAJO COUNTY TO BE A BRIGHT SPOT FOR WHAT ELECTION SHOULD BE. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT. TERESA. ROSS. HELLO. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. OKAY. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN. THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I'M FROM THE HOPI TRIBE, AND I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT MY VOTE COUNTS AND THAT EVERYONE IS CLEAR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ELECTIONS. WE SEE TOO MANY NEWS, NEWS STORIES ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY OUR VOTE, OR THEY COME UP WITH TRICKS THAT MAKE VOTING HARDER OR EVEN IMPOSSIBLE. AS MEMBERS, YOU, AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN STOP THAT BY MAKING SURE THAT THIS COUNTY IS CLEAR ABOUT THE ELECTION PROCESS. THAT MEANS THAT THE COUNTY OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INVENT RULES THAT DO NOT EXIST, AND THE MEANS THAT THE POST OFFICE SHOULD WORK WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL AS IT HAS ALWAYS DONE, INSTEAD OF CREATING NEW BARRIERS FOR VOTING. AND WE EXPECT THE LAW TO BE FOLLOWED. AND WE HOPE THAT THE NAVAJO COUNTY SETS THE STANDARDS FOR A SMOOTH AND FAIR ELECTIONS FOR STATE OF ARIZONA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. SHERIFF. SHERIFF. SHERIFF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, FOR GRACIOUSLY ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE AT THE NAVAJO COUNTY VOTER AND CITIZEN OF THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE. I WANTED TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE RETURN BALLOT. SO I MYSELF DID NOT RECEIVE MY BALLOT FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION. I DID CALL THE NAVAJO COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE TO REQUEST ANOTHER BALLOT.
THEY DID CONFIRM THAT INITIAL BALLOT HAD BEEN SENT, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT. THANKFULLY I DID GET MY BALLOT AFTER CALLING AND I GOT CONFIRMATION THAT MY VOTE WAS COUNTED. MY FIRST REQUEST FOR YOU, THE BOARD, IS TO PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS PROVIDED WITH DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT HOW AN ADDRESS IS DETERMINED, INSUFFICIENT OR VACANT, OR HOW YOU HANDLE THE RETURNING AFTER A CHANGE OF ADDRESS. AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS VOTERS TO FIX THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THE 60% OF THE RETURNED BALLOTS BECAUSE OF CHANGE ADDRESS. HOW ARE THOSE DEALT WITH? ARE THEY SENT OUT? ARE THEY SENT TO THE NEW ADDRESS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN RETURNED? DID BOTH GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. SO TRANSPARENCY ON THAT INFORMATION. SO WE KNOW WHERE OUR BALLOT IS. THIRD. I WANT TO KNOW HOW FAR THE NAVAJO COUNTY GOES TO ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY THE VOTERS OF THEIR RETURN BALLOT IF THEIR BALLOT WAS RETURNED BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT ADDRESS, AND YOU'RE SENDING A LETTER TO THEM THAT THEIR BALLOT WAS RETURNED. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING THEY'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION. ARE THEY BEING CALLED? ARE THEY BEING TEXTED? ARE THEY BEING EMAILED? HOW DID YOU SEND TO ALL FOUR OF THEM TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOTIFIED THAT THEIR BALLOT WAS RETURNED? LAST, I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM OF CLERKS AND OTHER ELECTION WORKERS WHO CARRY OUT THE MECHANICS OF DEMOCRACY. THESE ARE DIVIDED TIMES, WHICH IS WHY IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT THE BOARD SET HIGH STANDARDS OF TRANSPARENCY AND REQUIRE THAT THE STATE LAW BE FOLLOWED PRECISELY TO PROTECT OUR RIGHT TO VOTE. VOTING SHOULD BE EASY, FAIR AND ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SHERRY. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT IS TRISTAN BLACK. MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS TRISTAN BLACK. I LIVE ON THE NAVAJO NATION, BUT I WAS RAISED AND I GREW UP IN BLACK MESA AND CEQA, WHICH IS BABY ROCKS OUTSIDE OF KAYENTA. YOU KNOW, TODAY I'M SUBMITTING THIS COMMENT TO URGE THE BOARD TO PRIORITIZE ELECTION PROTECTION, BUT ALSO ACCESS FOR VOTERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY. SO VOTERS IN NAVAJO COUNTY CONTINUE TO FACE REAL BARRIERS TO FULL PARTICIPATION. YOU HEARD TODAY AREAS OF LIMITED TRANSPORTATION, BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY TO CHECK THEIR VOTER STATUS AND UNRELIABLE MAIL DELIVERY IN RURAL AND RESERVATION AREAS, BUT ALSO ENSURING VOTER BALLOTS THAT ARE COUNTED AND HELP MINIMIZE THE ERROR IN THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION PROCESS. SO I ASK THE BOARD TO SUPPORT CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN SOVEREIGN LANDS, BUT ALSO CORONATION, BECAUSE ON ELECTION DAY WE SAW A LOT OF FLOODING, WE SAW SOME POWER OUTAGES AND A LOT OF UNFORESEEN ISSUES ON ELECTION DAY. SO WHAT IS THE CORONATION PLAN FOR THAT? AND I TEACH AN INDIGENOUS DEMOCRACY CLASS FOR OUR YOUNG STUDENTS IN TRIBAL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY. IN THIS CLASS, WE TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORKS, WHY COUNTY LEVEL DECISIONS IMPACT ROADS, WATER, HEALTH, AND OUR ELECTIONS. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING INFORMED, SHOWING UP TO BOARD MEETINGS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT THEIR VOICE MATTERS AND DECISIONS ARE MADE HERE IN NAVAJO COUNTY. SO FOR A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH, THEY'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY. AND THEY ARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF VOTERS LEADERS, AND THEY DESERVE A COUNTY THAT PROTECTS THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE WITHOUT ANY OBSTACLES. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. KAREN STEVENSON. YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I HAD TWO PARTS THAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT. FIRST IS ELECTION INTEGRITY. AND I HAD BROUGHT THIS UP AND MR. LAYTON HAD HELPED ADDRESS THIS WITH ME. BUT MY MOTHER AT 84, WHO HAS BEEN AT THE SAME RESIDENCE FOR OVER 59 YEARS, SHE'S NOW NERVOUS, DID NOT RECEIVE HER EARLY BALLOT. THAT'S ONLY ONE CITIZEN THAT DOES NEED MY HELP TO GET TRANSPORTED HERE LATELY. THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. THAT'S ONE THING. ELECTION INTEGRITY AND THE OTHER. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THE SUBSIDIES WORK FOR THE WIND TURBINES. WHEN I WAS KIND OF LOOKING IT UP, IF I MAY READ THIS, IT SAYS THAT FEDERAL TAX SUBSIDIES WERE BOARD.
I'M SO SORRY. I'M SO NERVOUS FOR NEW WIND TURBINE PROJECTS EXPIRED ON JULY 4TH, 2026 UNDER THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT. PROJECTS THAT DID NOT BEGIN CONSTRUCTION BY THAT DATE MUST BE FULLY PLACED IN SERVICE BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2027 TO RECEIVE INITIATIVES. SO HOW HOW DOES THAT WORK IN NAVAJO COUNTY? IF YOU DON'T MIND? WE CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT CALL TO THE PUBLIC. SORRY. OH I APOLOGIZE. I'LL GET I'LL GET MORE INFORMED ABOUT THESE MEETINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR COMING BACK TO SHAUN LIVINGSTON. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS. THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS REGARDING I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED LATER ON IN THE MEETING ARE AI DATA CENTERS, IS THAT CORRECT? NOT IN THE MEETING. IT WILL BE A WORK SESSION. OKAY. WELL THEN WILL THIS BE OPEN THEN TO THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, AND HERE, LIKE WE ARE TODAY REGARDING THE WIND TURBINES AND ALL ANNOUNCED THAT IN A MINUTE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BEAUTIFUL. WELL, MY MY $0.02 WORTH ARE REGARDING THE AI DATA CENTERS AND HOW THIS IS KIND OF LIKE LINKING WITH THE ON THE OPPOSING SIDE OF THE WIND TURBINES AND THE, THE SOLAR FARMS THE WIND TURBINES AND SOLAR FARMS, IT'S A BLIGHT ON, YOU KNOW, ON THE LAND, THE, AND IT'S SOMEBODY USED THE TERM EARLIER LARGE SCALE THE NOW THOUGH THEY HAVE SMALLER AI DATA CENTERS, WHICH ARE ACTUALLY ENERGY PRODUCING. AND SO I JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO THINK OF THAT. AND IT'S NOT I KNOW A BIG CONCERN IS, IS WATER, BUT THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS OF, OF THEM USING WATER WHERE IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS WHAT THE PUBLIC IS THINKING. IT'S KIND OF A A MYTH THINKING THAT IT CONSUMES ALL THIS WATER, BUT DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF SYSTEM THAT YOU USE, IT CAN BE A SMALLER AMOUNT. BUT ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, THOUGH, IT GENERATES THE NECESSARY, NECESSARY ELECTRICITY THAT WE NEED FOR AI. AND ALL OF US, IF IF YOU'RE ON COMPUTERS OR WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING AND YOU ASK A QUESTION, YOU ASK AI THAT'S YOU KNOW, USING A DATA CENTER. SO, AND THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT THAT I JUST WANT TO THROW OUT THERE FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THIS HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING. I REALLY ENJOYED BEING HERE. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. IS ANYONE ELSE THAT I MISSED? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT IT RIGHT. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER THING TO TALK ABOUT. I JUST THOUGHT I MIGHT ADD SOME INFORMATION ABOUT NOT SPECIFICALLY WINDMILLS AND SOLAR, BUT POWER GENERATION IN GENERAL. I'M A RETIRED ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT ONCE A POWER GENERATING FACILITY IS PUT ON THE GRID, THE POWER THAT IT GENERATES GOES TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED. OKAY. IT'S YOU CAN'T LOCALIZE POWER THAT'S GENERATED IN NAVAJO COUNTY TO BE USED IN NAVAJO COUNTY. IT GOES TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED ON THE GRID. THE ELECTRONS DON'T KNOW WHERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THERE WAS A SUBMITTAL ONLINE WITH SOME DIFFERENT PETITION. AND SO I'M KELLY METZLER CONCERNING ELECTIONS. OUR MANUALS CHAPTER NINE AND CHAPTER TEN. I'VE JUST ASKED STAFF TO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THAT. I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF TO CONTINUE TO TO WORK ON THESE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORTH ABOUT THE ELECTIONS AND INITIATIVES THERE AS WE GO FORWARD. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS CONCERNING ANYTHING I'LL CALL THE PUBLIC TODAY? WISH TO COMMENT ON THAT. I JUST SHARE THE SAME DIRECTIVE IN LOOKING INTO THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED. I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN ANSWERED IN THE PRESENTATION. SO WE FIND WAYS TO COMMUNICATE THOSE THINGS. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR BENELLI. YEAH. I'M FULLY AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED OVER IN OUR AREA WITH THE FLOODING. AND I KNOW FROM BLACK MESA, WE MOVED THE ELECTIONS TO FOREST LAKE AND STILL THERE WERE COMPLAINTS FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO I'M REQUESTING THAT THE COMMUNITIES ON THE RESERVATION. WE DID HAVE TO SEND SOME OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES OUT TO TO DO POLL WORKING.
SO WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYBODY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME ALSO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF THE AREA TO GET STRANDED. WE DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. SO I ENCOURAGE OUR NATIVE MEMBERS, IF THEY CAN VOLUNTEER TO BE POLL WORKERS IN THEIR AREA SO THAT, YOU KNOW, CONDITIONS LIKE THAT. SUPERVISOR. WE NEED TO KEEP THIS TO CALL TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THOSE, PLEASE. WELL, THAT OKAY. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY WE ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATIONS THAT OCCURRED AND WE TRIED TO REMEDY IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TODAY TO OUR PARTICIPANTS. IN CONCLUSION, HERE TODAY WAS A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. I APPRECIATE THE TONE OF THE MEETING TODAY AND FOR THE DEMEANOR. SO THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO JUST GIVE SOME INFORMATION. WE WILL BE HAVING A WORK SESSION AFTER TODAY'S MEETING. THAT WORK SESSION, WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY TAKE A 1015 MINUTE BREAK. IT WILL BE HELD HERE. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT NECESSARILY, BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THAT MEETING. IT'S MOSTLY FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR OUR STAFF BACK AND FORTH. AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND WE'LL MEET BACK ABOUT, LET'S JUST SAY, FIVE MINUTES AFTER NOON BACK HERE. THANK YOU.