PROCEEDINGS
OF THE cochise
formal
BOARD MEETING held 0n
Tuesday, january
26, 2010
A regular board meeting of the Cochise County Board of
Supervisors was held on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Board of
Supervisors’ Hearing Room,
Chairman English called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m.
ANY ITEM ON THIS AGENDA IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
ACTION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
THE ORDER OR DELETION OF ANY ITEM ON THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT
TO MODIFICATION AT THE MEETING
ROLL CALL – All three
supervisors present
CONSENT AGENDA
Attorney
Item 1
Approve the proposed settlement of the tax appeal in
Board of Supervisors
Item 2
Approve Demands and budget amendments for operating transfers.
Warrant No. 24281-24402, 24428-24814 were
issued in the amount of $3,538,143.64.
Pursuant
to A.R.S. §11-217(C), the published minutes shall include all demands and
warrants approved by the Board in excess of one thousand dollars except that
multiple demands and warrants from a single supplier or individual under one thousand
dollars whose cumulative total exceeds one thousand dollars in a single
reporting period shall also be published.
Issued
warrants are listed as an attachment at the end of the minutes.
Item 3
Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of January
12, 2010.
Court Administration
Item 4
Approve the appointment of Superior Court Judges Pro Tempore, John
F. Kelliher, Margaret MaCartney and Ann Battaglia Roberts, pursuant to A.R.S.
12-141 for the period beginning January 26, 2010 and ending June 30, 2010.
Emergency Services
Item 5
Approve acceptance of an additional $40,000 in Homeland Security
Grant Funding released to Cochise County to buy two additional mobile traffic
messaging boards.
Health
Item 6
Approve Amendment #2 to IGA# HG852278, HIV Prevention Program,
between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Cochise County Health
Department, in the amount of $18,666, for the period of January 1, 2010 through
December 31, 2010.
Planning & Zoning
Item 7
Approve the appointment of Mr. Benny Young, the
Sheriff
Item 8
Approve an intergovernmental agreement with the City of
Chairman
English requested item 7 to be removed from the consent agenda for discussion
purposes. Supervisor Call made a motion
to remove item 7. Vice-Chairman Searle seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously.
Vice-Chairman
Searle made a motion to approve items 1 through 6 and 8 of the Consent Agenda. Supervisor
Call seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
Mr. Ortega
stated that the appointment of Mr. Young as interim director to the Planning
and Zoning department was his decision, to meet the requirements that someone
manage the hazard abatement and zoning inspector functions.
The Board
stated that they have confidence in Mr. Young and stand behind Mr. Ortega’s
appointment.
Supervisor
Call made a motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Benny Young, the
ACTION AGENDA
Board of Supervisors
Item 9
Approve a letter of
Mr. Jack
Blair, Chief of Member Services, SSVEC, presented this item using a PowerPoint
presentation. Mr. Blair explained that at issue is the Sonoita/Elgin area; a
distribution line of 360 miles known as the V7 line with an average power outage of 270 hours per year, along the line. He described
the plans for the new line which will significantly increase reliability of
service. The easement was purchased in 1982 when only one person lived in the
area; that person supports the plan. All purchasers since then have known about
the easement. SSVEC has had numerous
public hearings and have made many changes in plans, in response to the public
input received.
Mr. Blair
gave a timeline of events: In June, 2008 SSVEC filed a rate case with the ACC. In
January, 2009 the ACC had a hearing in
Mr. Blair
said SSVEC continued to receive opposition from a few people when they
presented their renewable energy plan; net metering plan; and an amendment was filed
to require SSVEC to have town hall meetings even though they are already a part
of their standard operating procedure.
Mr. Blair stated
that in conclusion, there are a few people objecting to the new line; all
others agree that line needs to be built.
Mr. Blair recounted the costs to rate payers and SSVEC due to these
delays and emphasized the project would require hiring local workers and out of
state workers which will be good for the economy.
Mr. Blair also
observed that SSVEC has been approved for $16 million in federal stimulus package
to put in a smart grid. This will allow SSVEC to control usage and help lower
electric bills.
Mr. Blair then
answered questions from the Board.
Mr. Ortega said
he has drafted a letter for the Board’s consideration that is in their packets
but it does not include any mention of the customer satisfaction or of the
economic benefit, and offered to add this information to the letter.
Chairman
English mentioned that her husband serves on the Board of the SSVEC as an
elected member. She asked the
Mr. Hanson
said the conflict of interest statutes in
Supervisor
Call made a motion to approve a letter of support for Sulphur Springs Valley
Electric Cooperative to the Arizona Corporation Commission encouraging approval
of construction of the SSVEC 69kV Transmission Power Line proposed from Mustang
Corners area to Sonoita. Vice-Chairman Searle seconded the motion.
Mr. Ortega said
he will add the comments mentioned earlier to the letter.
The Board
commented on the importance of the County’s partnership with SSVEC and the
value to county residents.
Chairman
English called for the vote and it carried unanimously.
Highways & Floodplain
Item 10
ADOPT RESOLUTION 10-04 SUPPORTING THE REQUEST FROM ARIZONA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO EVENTUALLY TAKE THREE ROADS INTO
Vice-Chairman
Searle made a motion to adopt resolution 10-04 supporting the request from
Arizona Department of Transportation to eventually take three roads into county
maintenance. Supervisor Call seconded the motion.
Ms. Patricia
Morris, Highways and Floodplain Deputy Director, presented this item. Ms.
Morris explained that this is a request from the ADOT. As part of the reconstruction of the I-10 interchange
at Benson, ADOT will be eliminating the frontage road and constructing roads to
serve the residents in the area:
Chairman
English stressed the importance of maintaining a relationship with ADOT for services
provided to County residents.
Mr. Ortega supports
this resolution and said the key issue here is that construction will be to
ADOT standards and warranty, thus will not require structural maintenance for
sometime.
Chairman
English called for the vote and it carried unanimously.
Housing
Item 11
Approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Sierra
Vista and the Housing Authority of Cochise County for residential
rehabilitation within the city limits of Sierra Vista and authorize the use of
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $110,000 for
the City of Sierra Vista to distribute to the Housing Authority of Cochise
County to be used for Emergency Home Repair for low to moderate income
residents of Sierra Vista.
Supervisor
Call made a motion to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City
of Sierra Vista and the Housing Authority of Cochise County for residential
rehabilitation within the city limits of Sierra Vista and authorize the use of
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $110,000 for
the City of Sierra Vista to distribute to the Housing Authority of Cochise
County to be used for Emergency Home Repair for low to moderate income
residents of Sierra Vista. Vice-Chairman Searle seconded the motion.
Ms. Anita
Baca, Housing Authority Director, presented this item. Ms. Baca explained that
this will be a CDBG effective immediately through the end of 2012, in the amount
of $110,000 administered through the Department of Housing and filtered through
the City of
Chairman
English called for the vote and it carried unanimously.
Human Resources
Item 12
Adopt Resolution 10-05 to approve the proposed amendments to the
Cochise Combined Trust Agreement and Declaration of Trust, effective February
1, 2010.
Vice-Chairman
Searle made a motion to adopt Resolution 10-05 to approve the proposed
amendments to the Cochise Combined Trust Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
effective February 1, 2010. Supervisor Call seconded the motion.
Mr. Michael
Ortega,
Chairman
English called for the vote and it carried unanimously.
WORK SESSIONS (FUTURE)
Item 13
Approve a work session request to update the Board on the status of
the County’s Image Campaign, obtain direction on the establishment of
standardized business cards, letterhead and forms for County departments and
discussion of next steps.
The Work
Session was approved unanimously.
STATE AND FEDERAL
LEGISLATION
Item 14
STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING
PENDING STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION INCLUDING BILLS REFERENCED ON THE COUNTY
SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION WEEKLY REPORT INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: HOUSE BILLS--HB2188 state trust lands,
veterans' cemeteries; HB2159 Boards of Equalization, petitions, review; SENATE
BILL--SB1017 elected county officers authority; the Regional Transportation
Authority; Title 34 and the State's budget proposal.
Mr. Ortega deferred to Supervisor Call since he attended the last County
Supervisors Association (CSA) meeting.
Supervisor Call gave an overview of SB1017: this bill was introduced by
Senator Pearce specifically over a disagreement in
Supervisor Call continued: Apparently Senator Pearce obtained signatures
without folks knowing what it was about; however, many people signed on. The Senate president is not in favor of. This
bill would put the Governor in a bad position if she had to veto the bill. Supervisor Call said Mr. Ortega and he
contacted Representatives Fleming, Stevens and Gowan and asked to meet over the
weekend. Ms. Fleming contacted us right
away; she is not in support of the bill.
He urged the rest of the Board to meet with the representatives and urge
them not to support the bill. Supervisor
Call believes this bill is a catastrophe in the making.
Vice-Chairman Searle said the current system has been in place for nearly
100 years, the system works and provides good checks and balances.
Mr. Ortega stated he has forwarded a copy of an e-mail sent on behalf of Supervisor
Call to the Board (it is in their packets); now that this has been on the
agenda, if the Board would like to take an official position on, he could send a
similar letter on behalf of all the Board to CSA and to the legislators.
Chairman English stated that current process works as designed but also
pointed out that many Sheriff’s are under pressure to increase public safety.
Mr. Hanson mentioned the possibility of making this bill specific only to
Mr. Ortega added that in
Mr. Ortega commented on HB2188:
The state’s land department is recommending that some state land be
donated to veterans for cemeteries.
Mr. Ortega added that this Board recommended that CSA explore lowering
the population threshold for establishing a local Regular Transportation
Authority and on Title 34. They are looking for sponsors to move those two
efforts forward.
Mr. Ortega summarized the state’s budget issues: The biggest issue is a shift of juveniles from
state to county facilities. Although we
have some capacity in the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC), we do not have
adequate staffing (at all levels) and this would result in significant increase
in costs to the facility. Eight to ten juveniles
have been identified for transfer, but that number does not include juveniles
on probation under state observation. Mr. Ortega has requested the exact
numbers to determine what the costs would actually be. There is also a discussion
of transferring superior court judges’ salaries to the county level. The state contends that revenue streams from fees enacted by
local boards on constituents would offset the salary shift. If so, the counties
are in favor of the state handling that process themselves.
Supervisor Call was invited to attend with the Executive Committee of CSA
to meet with Governor Brewer and reported on that meeting. The Governor was apologetic with respect to
the Juvenile shift proposal, but she is mandated to balance the budget. Secondly,
the Governor pointed out that this function used to be in the counties, and the
state took it over which is not true.
CSA has two tracks: there is no
useful data about what is involved in running JDCs; they are working with the
Governor’s office to develop. CSA is
trying to make sure that if the counties get this function, they must have the
absolute ability to manage the function—not under direction from
Supervisor Call continued by reporting that the Arizona Department of
Water Resources (ADWR) has been hit with a 57% budget cut and asked to be self
funded. The largest impact is the
elimination of their statewide planning division. This means the three largest
counties will have absolute control over
Mr. Ortega observed that in some cases regarding the state budget, the County’s
position will need to be communicated and responded to quickly as they are
brought before the Board.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC – Chairman
English opened the Call to the Public. Jack Cook addressed the Board regarding
matters of personal concern. No one else
wished to address the Board and Chairman English closed the Call to the Public.
REPORT BY MR. MIKE ORTEGA,
Mr. Ortega reported
that this afternoon he will be speaking at
SUMMARY OF CURRENT
EVENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS
Item 15
REPORT BY
SUPERVISOR PAT CALL, DISTRICT NO. 1
Supervisor
Call stated that there is an attempt to put together a statewide water
committee to make sure that rural water areas will not be excluded from the conversations
and it would require legislative approval to establish. The
Reopened the
Call to the Public: Mr. Thomas Reardon, City of
REPORT BY
SUPERVISOR ANN ENGLISH, DISTRICT NO. 2
Chairman
English attended the CSA legislative reception representing
REPORT BY
SUPERVISOR RICHARD SEARLE, DISTRICT NO. 3
Supervisor
Searle stated he had a meeting in Willcox this afternoon regarding road issues. On Friday he will be attending a meeting of
the Arizona/New Mexico Coalition of Counties in
Chairman
English adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m.
APPROVED:
_____________________________________
Ann English,
Chairman
ATTEST:
______________________________________
Katie
Howard, Clerk of the Board
(SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ OFFICE) at (520)
432-9720, FAX (520) 432-9716, TDD (520) 432-8360, 1415 Melody Lane, Building E,
Bisbee, Arizona 85603.
Az Public
Service Co 1/14/2010 Total $4,149.42; Az Water Company 1/14/2010 Total
$1,847.18; Bisbee, City of 1/14/2010 #24290 $6,899.66; Southwest Gas
Corporation 1/14/2010 #24308 $2,111.33;