County Receives $300,000+ In Homeland Security Funds

By Tammy Gray-Searles
   More than $300,000 in homeland security funds have been awarded to Navajo County, members of the board of supervisors learned last week. The supervisors unanimously approved acceptance of the funding.
   The funds will be used for seven different projects, including $75,000 for an emergency back-up generator at the new Show Low emergency operations center, $49,905 for personal protective gear for the sheriff’s office, $7,020 for the Navajo County Citizen Corps program, $50,000 to enhance and update the county’s emergency operations plan, $10,800 for upgrades to the county’s emergency notification system, $22,650 to enhance the county’s ability to respond to mass casualties, $70,000 for a wireless Ethernet wide area network and $19,000 for community emergency response team equipment and training.
   Emergency Management Director Tommy Price noted that the funds will help keep Navajo County prepared for all types of emergencies and disasters. He explained that funds for some of the equipment will replace expired and used safety equipment, such as that used for responding to hazardous materials spills, as well as for the purchase of freezers and body bags in case of an incident that resulted in mass deaths.
   “Those are the things we really hope we never have to use, but we should have on hand in the event we need them,” Price remarked.
   In addition to the homeland security funds, the board also approved the receipt of $195,188 from the Arizona Department of Health Services for H1N1 services, such as mass vaccination clinics, and the receipt of $21,176 from the state for the health district to provide fluoride treatments to children.
   Health services district representative Mary Tyler told the board that the first of the H1N1, or swine flu, vaccines are beginning to arrive, but they are the mist type, not the injectable vaccines, and will only be distributed to those deemed most at risk, such as healthcare workers, pregnant women and children. She noted that a mass vaccination clinic will be planned when more vaccine becomes available, and vaccines for the “regular” flu are currently available.
   In other action Oct. 13, the board:
   * Approved the 2009-10 bio terrorism grant budget as required to receive grant funding.
   * Approved a contract with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) for Safe Routes to School funding.
   * Approved professional service contracts with registered dental hygienists Connie Baine and Regina Rich for implementation of the oral health fluoride program.
   * Approved the abatement of personal property taxes for properties that cannot be located or have been destroyed.
   Treasurer Manny Hernandez noted that property on the abatement list includes items such as heavy equipment that the county has no prospect of locating.
   * Approved polling places and workers for the Nov. 3 election.
   * Approved the renewal of the Navajo County Enterprise Zone, and appointed Laurie Stradling and Supervisor David Tenney as administrators.
   * Awarded a three-year contract to Securus Technologies for inmate phone services.
   * Approved a recertification letter for the national flood insurance program.
   * Approved a memorandum of agreement with the Fort Defiance Agency Division of Transportation for installation of a cattle guard.
   * Approved an intergovernmental agreement with ADOT for paving on Bourdon Ranch Road.
   * Approved a letter of commitment to partner with the City of Show Low on the Fawnbrook annexation project.
   The next regular board meeting is scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Navajo County Complex in Holbrook.