Coconino County supervisors OK contract

By Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors has approved a contract between the Health Department and the Navajo AIDS Network.

The Flagstaff-based board, in approving the $30,190 in February, actually was ratifying a contract extending back to Aug. 1. It will end March 31. The agreement is to manage cases of people infected with AIDS.

Supervisors also approved in February the latest amendment to the contract with the Arizona Health Department for $325,300 from Dec. 16 through June 30, 2008, subject to the Legislature appropriating the money for tobacco use prevention and promote non-smoking everywhere.

The board approved $3,500 from Louise Yellowman's community initiative account to the New Testament Indian Gospel Church to assist with home repairs and renovations for senior citizens, the disabled, single parents, widows or widowers and the unemployed.

Supervisors approved new rules and fees for the county park at Fort Tuthill. laying the foundation for similar regulations and fees for the future Tuba City park.

The board gave its OK to allow department directors to approve out-of-state travel, and adopted the state's reimbursement rates for mileage, lodging, and meals.

Supervisors approved Maryls Cutchen, Elwilda Lee and Tom A. Miller as Justice of the Peace and Superior Court pro tempore judges. In another matter, they approved having the Arizona Attorney General's Office represent the county in the Qwest Corporation property tax appeal against the state Revenue Department.

So far this month, the board has approved $2,500 to the Toys for Tots 2005 drive, including $300 from Yellowman's community initiative account and $700 from District 4 Supervisor Deb Hill's community initiative account.

The one-year disposal of old tires contract was renewed for the third time with Specialty Loaders Limited Liability Company and will expire April 5, 2006. In a related matter, the board approved an increase of more than one-fifth to buy Bridgestone and Firestone tires, raising the limit through the state purchasing contract from $100,000 to $122,000.

— To contact reporter Jim Maniaci, telephone (505) 371-5443.