Tag Archives: Flagstaff

Maine Consolidated School District seeking Governing Board Applicants for Appointment

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey is seeking applicants for appointment to the Maine Consolidated School District Governing Board. Currently, two seats are vacant.

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.

Application information:

  • Download the application here http://www.coconino.az.gov/schoolboardapplication
  • Deadline to submit is November 30 by 5pm
  • Submit by email to aterhaar@coconino.az.gov (live signature original required)
  • Submit by fax to 928-526-1469 (live signature original required)
  • Mail/Drop off Coconino County School Superintendent, 2384 N Steves Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

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

For more information, please call the Office of the Coconino County School Superintendent at 928-679-8070 or email: aterhaar@coconino.az.gov.

County pays down pension liability, saves nearly $30 million over the next 20 years

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved payments to pension liabilities that will result in a $30 million savings over the next 20 years for county taxpayers. The Board approved a $10 million, one-time payment to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS), with funds from the Capital Facilities Fund. Additionally, the Board also approved the use of Jail District Fund Balance to pay an additional $5.5 million contribution to the Arizona Correction Officers Retirement Plan (CORP).

Over the past several decades pensions have been impacted by lower than expected investment returns, unanticipated impacts from benefit increases (DROP and PBI programs) and adjusted actuarial assumptions such as life expectancy and population growth. These impacts have created a pension system that is substantially underfunded. Recent court cases have reinforced the Arizona Constitution language that protects changes to pension benefits. Pension liabilities are essentially a debt that will be paid, if not now, then in the future at a higher cost to taxpayers.

Coconino County adopted a Financial Planning process in 2007 to establish a process to address financial risks and opportunities as investments for the County over a long-term planning horizon. Included in this process is the alignment of mission critical operating costs balanced with recessionary revenue forecasts that create the capacity of one-time funds to address legacy costs such as lagging investment in infrastructure, including facilities, and unfunded pension liabilities.

These payments approved by the Board will result in reduced pension contributions over the next several decades, secure pensions for retired deputies, provide facility infrastructure funding that keeps the Capital Facility fund and Jail District on track for facility needs and saves a projected $15 million over the next 20 years net of the initial payment and estimated interest expense for a facility related debt issue.

As part of the Board’s approval, the related reduced pension contributions will be accumulated to continue providing funding for capital facility needs and could provide the debt service funding for facilities when needed.

“I’m proud that previous Boards and my colleagues on the Board had the political will to adopt a financial planning model to establish a sustainable financial opportunity and to take this innovative and smart approach to pay down the County’s debt while saving future taxpayer dollars,” said Chairman Art Babbott. “We are tackling the PSPRS and CORP issue now and not passing it on to future Boards or generations of taxpayers. This investment, which has been recognized as a financial industry best practice, will reduce our future liability and allow us to use County resources strategically.”

Over the last few years, the Coconino County PSPRS funded status will have increased from 25 percent to 71 percent and the CORP funded status increased from 60 to 95 percent. These current payments and the additional contributions over the last few years provide a cumulative projected net savings of nearly $30 million over the next 20 years, and the reduced contributions will continue many years beyond this projection.

Closures scheduled in conjunction with I-17, I-40 and Beulah Boulevard improvement project

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FLAGSTAFF – Flagstaff-area drivers should plan for closures while deck work continues on four Interstate 40 bridges that carry traffic over I-17 and Beulah Boulevard. The Arizona Department of Transportation advises motorists to use detour routes and allow extra travel time while the following restrictions are in place:

  • The closure of the ramp from southbound I-17 to eastbound I-40 will remain in place around the clock through Wednesday, October 17. Detour: Use southbound I-17 to the J.W. Powell/ I-17 interchange, then travel north on I-17 to eastbound on I-40.
  • Northbound Beulah Boulevard will be closed from 8:30 p.m. Sunday, October 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, and from 10:30 p.m. Monday, October 22, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, October 23. Detour: Travel south to the J.W. Powell/ I-17 interchange, then north on I-17 to Forest Meadows Street and west to Beulah Boulevard.
  • Southbound Beulah Boulevard will be closed from 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, to 5 a.m. Wednesday, October 24, and from 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, to 5 a.m. Thursday, October 25. Detour: Travel north to Forest Meadows Street, east to I-17 and south onto southbound I-17 to the J.W. Powell/I-17 Interchange, then north on Beulah Boulevard.

Work to repair and replace the decks on the four bridges began eight months ago and is scheduled for completion later this year. Learn more on the project webpage. ADOT advises drivers to slow down in the work zone, follow posted detour routes and use caution around construction personnel and equipment.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

Comments sought on Subdivision Ordinance

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Community Development is seeking public comment on the draft County Subdivision Ordinance. The draft has had input from a citizen advisory group, local design professionals, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.

The Subdivision Ordinance regulates the division of land in the County within State Statutes. The draft Subdivision Ordinance addresses the goals of the County Comprehensive Plan with the concept of Integrated Conservation Design which encourages conservation areas and protects environmentally sensitive natural features. The draft Subdivision Ordinance also incentivizes well planned subdivisions and is intended to improve flexibility and clarity in the subdivision development process.

The draft Subdivision Ordinance is available for review and comment at the Community Development website at www.coconino.az.gov/622/Planning-and-Zoning through the end of October 2018. Community Development also invites the public to attend an open house to discuss the draft Subdivision Ordinance from 4 – 5 p.m. Friday, November 16, 2018 at the Community Development conference room, 2500 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff, Arizona. Light refreshments will be provided.

Coconino County Treasurer offers remote office hours

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar is offering remote office hours for taxpayers seeking help with their property tax bills. From October 1 – October 30, the Treasurer’s Office will be providing services at the Flagstaff Mall in partnership with the County Recorder’s Office. Hours of operation will be, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. October 1 – October 30.

Property tax notices were sent out in September. The Treasurer’s office mails all property tax notices and collects all property taxes for the state, county, incorporated cities and towns, school districts and special districts located within the county.

Annual property tax notices are issued on a calendar year from January through December. Taxpayers have the option to pay their annual taxes in two equal installments. The first installment is due by November 1, 2018 and the second installment is due by May 1, 2019. Taxpayers can also pay in one full payment by December 31, 2018. Tax bills of $100 or less are to be paid in full by December 31, 2018. Taxpayers can pay their taxes in person, at one of the remote sites, by phone, by mail or online.

Due to lack of parking at the 110 E. Cherry building, a white drop-mail box is located near the flagpole inside the parking lot where payment envelopes may be dropped.

For more information, please call the County Treasurer’s Office at 928-679-8188, toll-free at 877-500-1818 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/treasurer.

Coconino Sheriff’s Investigating Human Remains Found

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating human remains found in the area west of Highway 89N, just south of the Navajo Nation boundary.

On October 7, 2018 around 9:00 a.m., hunters reported finding human remains near Cedar Wash and the Navajo Nation boundary. After the initial responding deputies confirmed the remains as human, Sheriff’s detectives and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the area for further investigation.

Although the investigation is still ongoing, the location and condition of the remains leads investigators to believe the remains may be those of Jackie McClellan Jr, who was reported as a Missing Person in December 2007. At that time, the family had reported that Jackie McClellan Jr had last been seen walking from the family’s sheep camp. The remains were found in the same general area as the sheep camp.

Positive identification of the remains is still pending by the Coconino Medical Examiner.

Safety Tips for homemade apple cider

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Public Health Service District (CCPHSD) advises residents to protect themselves against potential foodborne illness from apple cider. There is an abundance of apples in Coconino County this fall due to the lack of an early frost and people may be using apples to make apple cider.

Foodborne illnesses have been attributed to the consumption of fresh, unpasteurized cider contaminated with a foodborne pathogen like E. coli O157:H7. Certain age groups are at a greater risk of complications from harmful bacteria such as children, the elderly and persons with compromised immune systems.

CCPHSD recommends taking the following precautions to protect against foodborne illness when making homemade apple cider:

Avoid using apples that have visible signs of decay or mold growth.
Wash apples thoroughly before pressing or grinding to make cider.
Use a fruit press or small kitchen appliances to crush the fruit.
Wash hands and sanitizing equipment.
Place washed and rinsed utensils and equipment in a mixture of 1 tablespoon household bleach per gallon of water for at least 1 minute.
Squeeze juice through a clean, damp muslin cloth.
Pasteurize cider to ensure safety. Heat to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit and pour into warm jars to prevent breakage.
Store cider in the refrigerator for immediate use, or up to five days. Put cider in the freezer if you want to keep it longer.
Be sure to use strong, sound glass bottles that will not break during fermentation.
Boil unpasteurized apple cider before drinking it or drinking pasteurized cider or juice.

Caution: Young children, elderly and immunocompromised individuals should never drink fresh apple cider unless it has been heated to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

After each day’s cider making, all equipment should be:

Rinsed with potable water to remove apple and cider residue.
Washed with warm soapy water and a clean brush.
Sanitized with bleach diluted with clean, potable lukewarm water in a ratio of one-tablespoon bleach to one-gallon clean water. All utensils and equipment that contacted cider should be rinsed with this sanitizing solution.

Learn more about steps that can help keep you healthy and your fruits and vegetables safer to eat at https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/steps-healthy-fruits-veggies.html.

FRAUD ALERT – Phone Call with Person Posing as Sheriff Deputy

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is getting reports of fraudulent phone calls in which the person is claiming to be a Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputy and claiming to be calling about an outstanding warrant. The person goes on to say that you need to pay to take care of the outstanding warrant. THIS IS A SCAM – DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM!

Unfortunately – Phone Scams have become a part of everyday life – so protect yourself by being informed.

  • Scammers often pose as real people affiliated with financial institutes, police officers, court officers, utility companies, credit card company, IRS, computer company, voter registration agency, a distant relative in need of help, etc. – they often use “authority” type positions to “bully” and “scare” people into falling victim to their scam. DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR DATE OF BIRTH, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH A LEGITIMATE AGENT.
  • Scammers also use “feel good” scams and pose as a volunteer asking for donations for a charity, as a company offering you a prize, as a lawyer trying to contact you over an inheritance, as an agency offering to help you fix your credit. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE VARIATIONS OF SCAMS THEY COME UP WITH – IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS
  • Scammers often “spoof” phone numbers to show up on caller ID to look like they are legitimate agency or local numbers
  • Scammers often ask for payment through Green Dot, Gift Cards, Smart Cards – The Sheriff’s Office would never ask you to pay a fine in this way. If they ask that payment be mailed to an address or post office box, you can confirm using the phone book or official web page of the agency if it is a legitimate address of the agency
  • Be very careful not to give out your personal information – even guard your phone number. Many phone apps actually access all of your contact information (the little “I accept” fine print when you download an app) which then gives an app developer access to information on your phone which they may then sell – This allows scammers to know your network of friends and to pose as them.
  • Be wary of calling back the number listed on caller ID (or replying to a text message) unless you can verify it’s legitimate. For example – you would want to use the phone number on the back of your credit card rather than a phone number provider by a caller to confirm whether what the caller told you was legitimate
  • Use Government pages in the phone book or the agency’s official website to get the official phone number to call back.

DON’T FALL VICTIM TO PHONE SCAMS

PROTECT YOURSELF:

  1. – Ask for written information
  2. – Ask a lot of questions
  3. – Check out the company on the Better Business Bureau
  4. – Tell the caller to put you on their do not call list
  5. – DO NOT SEND a check, cash, money wire, or give out your account information to anyone insisting immediate payment with which you did not initiate the contact

REPORT SCAMS TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

Coconino County Sheriff Investigating Single Vehicle Fatality Accident on Ashurst Road

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FLAGSTAFF – On September 28th at 10:53pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a single vehicle accident with multiple injuries involving four occupants on FS 82E (Ashurst Lake Road).

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies from Flagstaff, Mormon Lake Fire Department and Guardian Medical responded to Mile Post 0.5 on Forest Service Rd 82E. Reports indicated that a white Ford ½-ton pickup had gone off the road striking a tree on the driver’s side of the vehicle near the back-passenger door area, and that all four occupants were injured.

Upon arriving on scene, first responders found the passenger who was riding behind the driver had sustained traumatic injuries from the vehicle’s impact with the tree. The victim, Justin Denault, age 19 of Imperial, CA, was transported by Guardian Medical to Flagstaff Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The victim was later transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation.

The other three passengers also were transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center where they were treated and released for lesser injuries.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is still on going. Sheriff’s Office investigators will be at the accident location the remainder of the day conducting scene investigation. More information will be made available as the investigation continues.

Missing Person Andrew Bauer Found Deceased

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of Andrew Bauer who was found deceased in the Baderville area. Andrew had been reported as a missing person on September 17, 2018.

On September 20, 2018, a person reported finding the body of a deceased person under a tree near a road bordering Baderville and the forest. Deputies and Detectives responded to the scene for further investigation, and the body was transported by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

On September 21, 2018 the deceased was positively identified as 18-year-old Andrew Bauer.

His death is still under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Public Health Services District Medical Examiner’s Office, however indicators exist that lead detectives to believe suicide may be a factor.