Category Archives: Counties

Arizona Secretary of State Visits with County Board of Supervisors and Election Officials

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FLAGSTAFF — Arizona Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, visited Flagstaff on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 to meet with members of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board), County Recorder Patty Hansen, and County Elections staff. Secretary Fontes has visited or plans to visit all 15 Arizona counties to hear directly from local officials about their present and future needs to prepare for the 2024 election cycle and beyond.

 

Among the topics covered during the Secretary’s discussion with the Board members and staff were election staff safety, election integrity, and expanding voter access especially to rural and minority communities in Coconino County.

 

“Elections are bottom-up here in Arizona, counties run our elections,” Secretary Fontes said during his visit. “My office has built a team that reflects that ethos.”

 

Key to Secretary Fontes’ efforts to assist counties is his ongoing effort to revise and refocus the Elections Procedure Manual, a document released by the Secretary of State’s office in odd calendar years that helps ensure election practices are consistent and efficient.

 

To better help counties, Secretary Fontes is requesting funds from the State Legislature for six full-time Secretary of State staff positions to work hand-in-hand with County Recorder and Elections offices that have seen unprecedented turnover. The Secretary also endorsed a bill sponsored by State Senator T.J. Shope (R-LD16) that would expand confidentiality protections for elections staff and volunteers statewide.

 

Other integral parts of Secretary Fontes’ election preparation plans include the creation of a Chief Information Security Officer position to provide counties with the technical assistance and training they need to address physical and cybersecurity threats, and Election Certification Training which will be held in several locations throughout the state in the summer and fall months.

 

“Like many in the state, Coconino County is working preemptively to combat misinformation about the safety and security of our election process and elections in general,” added Patrice Horstman, Chair of the Board and Supervisor for District 1. “Neither Coconino County, nor our Sheriff’s department will tolerate intimidation and threats to voters or our election workers. The Board of Supervisors and Elections Department have worked to increase voter confidence and to actively increase voter access.”

 

For more information about the Coconino County Recorder, please visit: http://coconino.az.gov/Recorder and for information about the Coconino County Elections Department please visit http://www.coconino.az.gov/elections

Coconino County Officials Endorse New Presidential Designation of Grand Canyon National Monument

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FLAGSTAFF —— On April 11, 2023, Coconino County Chair Patrice Horstman and District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler, joined eleven tribal leaders of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, alongside Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), to launch an effort to call on President Joe Biden to use his authorities under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. The proposal builds on Coconino County’s long established and ongoing commitment to permanently protect the region from mining and uranium development.

The Monument designation would protect 1,102,501 acres adjacent to the Grand Canyon by making the current 20-year moratorium on mining permanent across the vast landscape of the Grand Canyon region. This moratorium would protect the water and land, while allowing the area to continue to be used for existing activities like ranching, logging, hunting, and outdoor recreation, so that generations of residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the tremendous natural resources and beauty of the region for decades to come. The monument designation would also honor the deep cultural and spiritual ties of the many tribal nations that inhabit the region.

“Protecting the pristine Grand Canyon landscape has been a longstanding position of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors since adopting resolution 2008-09 to oppose uranium mining near the Grand Canyon within Coconino County,” said Fowler. “This designation won’t have an effect on recreation, hunting, or visitation, but it will safeguard our natural resources, our clean drinking water, our wildlife habitats, and our region’s very fragile natural watersheds.”

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors have long recognized the critical importance of protecting the land and water from the risks of contamination created by uranium mining, which has already left a toxic legacy on portions of tribal lands in the area, and they have worked persistently to engage our federal representatives in putting permanent protections in place. The county applauds the efforts of Congressman Grijalva and Senator Sinema to preserve this special region.

The Antiquities Act of 1906 was the first U.S. law to provide general legal protection of cultural and natural resources of historic or scientific interest on Federal lands and set an important precedent by asserting a broad public interest in the preservation of these resources. Some of the country’s original National Parks, including Grand Canyon, were originally designated as National Monuments by President Theodore Roosevelt under the Act.

“Protecting the greater Grand Canyon area and keeping it forever free of mining would recognize the historic, cultural, and religious importance of this special place and protect the beauty and water sources for many tribal members and the western communities that rely on Colorado River water,” added Patrice Horstman, Chair of the Board and Supervisor for District 1. “It would allow Arizona, the United States, and the whole world the ability to keep our Grand Canyon even grander for now and for all future generations.”

The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition consists of leadership representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

Coconino designates April Earth Month.

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FLAGSTAFF — At their regular meeting on April 11, 2023, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board) unanimously approved a proclamation designating April 2023 as Earth Month in Coconino County.

“Coconino County affirms that all that inhabit the Earth have a right to a healthy, sustainable environment,” the proclamation reads. “… as humans we are caretakers of the planet, and have an obligation to change human behaviors that contribute to climate change and environmental degradation and work to preserve the Earth’s beauty and its resources.”

The proclamation was drafted by Coconino County’s Green Team, a collaboration of County employees from all divisions of the administration and staff that serve Coconino County.

“This shouldn’t be about just one day or one month,” said Jeronimo Vasquez, Vice-Chair of the Board and Supervisor for District 2. “In order to have a sustainable future we need to think of ways we can minimize our carbon footprint and provide opportunities for the community to see the little things that we can each do to contribute to that sustainable future.”

The first annual Earth Day celebration started in April 1970 as a response to the lack of legislation about pollution in America’s air and water. Then, in 1990, the celebration spread worldwide. Now, Earth Day draws over 1 billion people throughout 190 countries to draw attention to worldwide sustainability issues.

“I remember when Earth Day was created,” added Matt Ryan, Supervisor for District 3. “The benefit I got out of it as a high school student was the introduction of environmental sciences to the curriculum and how that started to influence people wanting to make a difference.”

Coconino County’s Green Team and Friends of Coconino County Parks would like to invite the public to celebrate Earth Day and join a cleanup at Ft. Tuthill County Park on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. On that day County employees will also participate in the City of Flagstaff’s Earth Day celebration at Bushmaster Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fraudulent Scam Targeting Individuals in Coconino County

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has received several concerns from citizens reporting an apparent phone scam with the caller identified as “Captain Smith” of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office does not employee a “Captain Smith”.

The scammer poses as local law enforcement, contacting the victims and accusing  them of failing to appear for jury duty, stating a warrant for their arrest will be issued until the fine is paid. CCSO will never call to solicit funds or collect fines over the phone. Jury summonses are sent through the mail and communication through any other medium should be considered suspicious.

Anyone receiving such a call should contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement.

Reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a scam by following these crime prevention tips:

  •  Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, texts, or emails.
  •  Be cautious of mimicked telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. Even if the information displayed on the caller ID appears the same as a law enforcement or government agency, hang up and call the agency directly to verify the caller’s legitimacy.
  •  Never use a phone number provided to you by the caller to verify their credibility.
  •  Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did not initiate contact with.
  •  Take your time and trust your instincts: if an unknown caller makes you uncomfortable or says things that don’t sound right, hang up.

Public Meetings Set for Proposed Increases to County Fair Fees

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Parks & Recreation is hosting public meetings about the proposed Coconino County Fair fee updates. Two meetings have been scheduled for the public to hear the presentation, ask questions, and inform the Department of any concerns they may have.

Those meetings are scheduled for Saturday, March 18 beginning at 10:00 a.m. and on Wednesday, March 22 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Both meetings will be held in person at the Fort Tuthill County Park Mess Hall Conference Room and online through Microsoft Teams. The presentations will last approximately 1 hour including the Q&A.

Residents can learn more, RSVP, and provide comments at coconinocountyfair.com/feeupdate. The public may also post comments and questions to the County Fair’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CoconinoCountyFair.

2.5-mile Stretch of Garland Prairie Road Closed Due to Flooding

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Public Works Department, in conjunction
with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service, has closed the
2.5-mile stretch of Garland Prairie Road between Sycamore Creek to the east and
McDougal Flat to the west due to flooding along the roadway. Access to Garland Prairie
Road from White Horse Lake Road, which intersects from the south, also has been
closed, and signage is in place to direct motorists away from the flooded area.
This closure is necessary for public safety as flows of at least two feet in depth have
been reported on this section of Garland Prairie Road. The closure will remain in effect
until weather conditions allow Public Works to safely reopen the roadway.

After Record-Breaking Snow, Coconino County Roads Will Remain Hazardous Through Weekend

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FLAGSTAFF — Much of Coconino County continues to be under a Winter Storm Warning by the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Flagstaff. The Arizona Department of Transportation reports many state routes and interstates have now reopened, but hazardous road conditions may persist.

“We’ve believe we’ve seen the worst of it, for now at least,” said Coconino County Manager Steve Peru. “We understand our communities have withstood one of the worst winter storm seasons in history. Our public safety agencies are working around the clock to assist the public to the greatest extent possible.”

 

The forecast for the weekend promises the return of sunshine and slightly higher temperatures, the reprieve is greatly needed to make headway on clearing hundreds of miles of county roads.

The County Public Works Department continues to plow and maintain hundreds of miles of county roads. Public Works staff are asking the public to please reduce driving over the weekend and move cars off of streets into driveways so they have the greatest leeway for storm recovery. Public Works community relations staff are available weekdays during business hours at (928) 679-8300 for urgent requests. Frequently asked questions about County roads and snow removal priorities can be found online at www.coconino.az.gov/snow

 

With record-breaking snow amounts, the Winter recreation season in Northern Arizona should last several more weeks. Those looking to travel to Coconino County for winter recreation should consider delaying until after this weekend to allow time for proper road cleanup and snow removal.

 

Coconino County Storm Information
Snow Removal Information
County Twitter
Emergency Management Twitter
Public Works: (928) 679- 8300 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 

Arizona Department of Transportation
ADOT Traveler Information and Closures
ADOT Twitter

National Weather Service
Local Forecast and Alerts
NWS Twitter

Flood Control District Board Approves Two Essential Funding Sources for County Flood Mitigation Projects

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FLAGSTAFF — At this week’s special session of the Coconino County Flood Control District Board of Directors they approved acceptance of two new Federal grants that will enable the District to immediately proceed with the first phase of long-term flood mitigation projects in the Schultz-Pipeline Flood Area.

The Schultz-Pipeline Flood Area is defined as the neighborhoods downstream of nine major watersheds damaged by the Schultz Wildfire in 2010 and the Pipeline Wildfire this past year. The District, along with several engineering partners, have determined that without extensive on-forest and neighborhood mitigation measures, the risk of life-threatening floods affecting our communities will only increase.

“The priority of local government is the health and safety of our citizens, and our citizens’ lives and homes were severely impacted this past monsoon season by the nine watersheds compromised by two major wildfires,” said Chair of the Board Patrice Horstman.

“We want to thank Senators Kelly and Sinema and former Congressman Tom O’Halleran for their strong support with securing this unprecedented funding. Without it, the District and County would have likely had to cut other services to provide flood mitigation.”

The two funding sources include $42 million from the United States Forest Service, which allows the District to commence with on-forest watershed restoration projects. After the Pipeline Fire damaged the nine watersheds, the downstream water flows increased 10 to 26 times resulting a massive amount of sediment leaving the burn area and moving into the downstream neighborhoods. On-forest watershed restoration is the most critical piece of the District’s flood mitigation plans, as these measures help reduce the flow of dangerous sediment and other debris that is impacting downstream neighborhoods.

“The Coconino National Forest is thrilled to continue our amazing partnership with Coconino County and support the important work to manage the impacts from wildfire and flooding in and around our communities,” said Aaron Mayville, Forest Supervisor on the Coconino National Forest. “We’re all in this together and I look forward to seeing the great work this funding will make possible.”

The second funding mechanism is $9 million through an agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service as a part of their Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) to begin neighborhood flood mitigation projects in the Wupatki Trails and Brandis Way flood corridors. These projects will focus on improvements to channels and box culverts that will better manage the increased flood waters within these neighborhoods. The neighborhood flood mitigation from the Schultz Fire era was overwhelmed by the increased water flows during 45 major flood events in June, July, and August of 2022.

The Emergency Watershed Protection Program, a federal emergency recovery program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, helps local communities recover after a natural disaster strikes. The program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural disasters that impair a watershed.

“These grants are the product of great teamwork between the District and our partners and representatives in Washington D.C.,” added District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler. “I’m so pleased that we have this good news about being able to address the impacts of both the wildfires and the flooding afterwards.”

For the status of the Flood Control District’s ongoing flood mitigation efforts, important information about proper water management on private property, and information about private flood insurance and FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, please visit: https://www.coconino.az.gov/2926/SchultzPipeline-Flood-Area

Yavapai County Sheriff warns of jewelry fraud.

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Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the ongoing investigation of fraudulent sales of fake gold jewelry being sold as real in the Verde Valley, and more recently, Chino Valley and Ash Fork/Seligman areas. There have been multiple reports from citizens and a local jewelry store of an unknown suspect scamming people by approaching them with a sob story about why he needs money and offering to sell his “gold jewelry” to unsuspecting victims. YCSO would like to encourage our citizens and visitors to refrain from engaging in private sales of expensive goods during random encounters with strangers. These situations often pose a significant risk of malicious schemes designed to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. Don’t fall victim to this fake jewelry scheme occurring across Yavapai County.
If you have any information, please contact YCSO non-emergency line (928)771-3274 or Yavapai Silent Witness 1-800-932-3232.

Applicants Sought for Three School District Governing Board Vacancies in Coconino County

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for appointment for the following School District Governing Boards:

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

Applications can be downloaded at this address: http://www.coconino.az.gov/schoolboardapplication

Completed applications may be submitted by email to mdespain@coconino.az.gov, by fax to 928-526-1469, or by mail addressed to:
Coconino County School Superintendent, 2384 N Steves Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

For all applications an original, signed document is required. The deadline to submit is January 31, 2023, by 5 p.m.

An advisory committee may be assembled consisting of district residents and a current
board member to conduct interviews and advise Superintendent Mango-Paget on the appointments.

For more information, please contact Michelle Despain, program coordinator for the Coconino County Superintendent of Schools office, at 928-679-8070 or email – mdespain@coconino.az.gov.