By Linda Kor–
Steve Brophy, president of the Aztec Land and Cattle Company, went before the Navajo County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 9 with a request for the formation of the Little Colorado Conservation District.
During the May 24 meeting of the board, Brophy, who represents the company’s 228,040 acres of land located between Snowflake, Heber, Holbrook and Joseph City, received approval for inclusion of his company’s area plan in the county’s comprehensive plan and this was the next step in the process in preparing those lands for potential industrial and residential growth.
Aztec Land and Cattle Company came to the area in 1884, bringing 36,000 head of cattle to settle on one million acres of land. When the company fell on hard times in 1905, much of the land was sold and the rest was, and still is to some degree, leased to local ranchers.
“We have since changed our corporate view and started adding land, all of it in Navajo County,” stated Brophy.
Brophy held a meeting in Woodruff the previous evening in order to allay concerns by residents in that area regarding the formation of a water conservation district and how it may affect their water rights. Two residents from Woodruff were present at the Tuesday meeting with county supervisors. They stated that they felt comfortable with the formation of the water district and that it wouldn’t impact their water rights.
“The water conservation format has no effect on water rights and no effect on pending litigation on water adjudication,” explained attorney David Brown, who represents Aztec Land and Cattle. “Whatever rights Aztec has are the same with or without the district. In a way this reduces their ability to pump as much water as they want. It affects no one else and that’s under state law. The need to state a water provider is just part of the planning process required by the Department of Water Resources.”
The meeting was held as a public hearing and with no negative response from the public, the board unanimously approved the request.
In other action Aug. 9, the board:
* Approved a fiscal year grant agreement in the amount of $18,800 from the Office of the Attorney General for the Navajo County Sheriffs Office Victims’ Rights Program.
* Authorized the re-appointment of Judge Robert B. Van Wyck as Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore through July 2012.
* Approved an application for temporary extension of premises/patio permit to the Arizona Department of License and Control for the Wild Women Saloon and Grill in Overgaard for Sept. 3 and 4, and Oct. 17-19.
* Authorized the acceptance of two federal Library Services and Technology Act grants awarded to the Navajo County Library District by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public records. One is for $16,770 to provide a brochure about the county’s museums and libraries, and to create an online local history page with historical photo albums; the second for $2,500 will be used to purchase a sample of PlayAway Views that contain a collection of DVDs that will not require Internet access or a DVD player.
* Approved a resolution providing that special assessments levied for the payment of the Hilltop Drive Improvement District bond be collectible in the manner and by the officer provided by law for collection and enforcement of general taxes of the district.
* Authorized the Navajo County Improvement District Revolving fund to purchase Hilltop Improvement District bonds.
* Approved the cancelation of the Silver Creek Flood Protection Board of Directors election, and the appointment of Jim Bruce and Cory Johnson to four-year terms on the board, as they were the only candidates who filed nomination papers for the two vacant positions.
* Approved a proclamation declaring the month of August 2011 as Child Support Awareness Month.
* Approved a liquor license application to be submitted by Grover B. Mays for Mr. B’s in Lakeside.
* Approved an application for a bingo license for the Cedar Hills Senior Center in Snowflake.
* Approved the name Castle Creek Lane for an existing road in Shumway.
* Approved the renaming of Joseph Drive to Squaw Tank Vista Drive in Chevelon Canyon Ranches.
* Authorized an intergovernmental agreement amendment between the Arizona Department of Economic Security and the Navajo County Board of Supervisors for Workforce Investment Act incentive dollars in the amount of $37,809 and verbiage changes in the contract.
* Approved an addendum to the memorandum of understanding between the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and Navajo County Library District for the AzPAC (Arizona Public Access Computers) Project as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant.
* Authorized the appointment of Jerry Keeley, human resources manager for Catalyst Papermill, to the Navajo County Disciplinary Action Review Commission.
