Apr 27, 2026 SPECIAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

I JUST WANTED THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THAT IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE JUST OVERTLY SPENDING MONEY ON, THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF US IN YEVON COUNTY.

NO, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY...

VERY WELL MANAGED TRUST BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT PROVIDES A VERY GOOD SERVICE HEALTH INSURANCE TO YOUR EMPLOYEES THANK YOU CHAIR YES THANK YOU OKAY HUMAN RESOURCES WILL BE OUR FIRST OH TYLER EXCUSE ME I FORGOT YOU OF COURSE HOW COULD YOU FORGET YOUR THAT'S ALRIGHT THOUGH I COULD FORGET THE BOOT I KNOW YOU CAN'T FORGET THE BOOT AT THIS POINT GOOD MORNING CHAIR VICE CHAIR MEMBERS THE BOARD TYLER GOODMAN ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER I'M GONNA TAKE JUST A COUPLE MINUTES TO TOUCH ON YOUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEPARTMENT BUDGET THERE'S NOT A LOT TO NOTE, BUT TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS.

YOU'LL SEE THAT THE TOTAL BUDGET IS DOWN EXPENDITURE-WISE BY FIVE PERCENT YEAR OVER YEAR.

AND THEN SECOND, YOU'LL ALSO

[00:15:01]

SEE THAT WE'VE BUDGETED 35 MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS AN ANTICIPATION OF GRANT FUNDS RECEIVED THROUGHOUT NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AND THIS IS BASICALLY WHERE WE HOUSE THAT BUDGET CAPACITY FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

THAT'S WHY THE NUMBER IS SO LARGE.

AND THEN SECONDLY, WE HAD TWO BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THAT WERE REQUESTED THROUGH THIS DEPARTMENT.

THE FIRST BEING POLICY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

THIS COMES ABOUT FROM SOME RESEARCH AND A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES WHO LED AN EFFORT TO LOOK AT OUR POLICIES, WHERE THEY'RE HOUSED, HOW THEY'RE HOUSED, AND RECOMMENDED A POLICY, EXCUSE ME, A SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION.

AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO RESEARCH THAT FURTHER AND COME UP WITH SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS AS WELL AND LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE DEEPER.

SO WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

THAT WAS PROPOSED JUST UNDER $25,000.

THE SECOND BUDGET ENHANCEMENT THAT WE DO RECOMMEND MOVE FORWARD IS THE COTTONWOOD BOARDROOM TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES.

THIS IS BUDGETED AT $179,500.

THIS FOLLOWS THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE SET TO BE MADE IN THIS ROOM STARTING MAY 11TH.

WE HAVE THAT PROJECT MOVING FORWARD MAY 11TH THROUGH JUNE 1ST FOR AUDIOVISUAL ENHANCEMENTS, SOME AT-GLANCE DISPLAYS AT THE DAIS FOR THOSE SEATED THERE, AND SOME OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

THOSE SAME IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE HAD IN THE COTTONWOOD BOARD MEETING ROOM, AGAIN AT THAT BUDGET OF $179,500, AND WE DO RECOMMEND THAT MOVE FORWARD.

WITH THAT, CHAIR, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS, SUPERVISOR? NO? SO WILL THIS ALSO INCLUDE OUR ENHANCEMENT ON OUR VOTING? YES.

OKAY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND.

WITH THE NEW VOTING ENHANCEMENTS, THAT WAY THERE'S TRANSPARENCY, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW EACH OTHER'S VOTING, WHICH IS A LITTLE...

DIFFERENT THAN HOW THINGS ARE ROLLING DOWN THE DAIS THESE DAYS.

YES, CHAIR, GREAT QUESTION.

IT WILL.

SO JUST LIKE THIS ROOM, COTTON WOULD HAVE THE DISPLAY OF THE VOTING RESULTS FOR THE PUBLIC.

AND FOR THE PUBLIC TOO, I HOPE THE ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THESE ARE, IT'S VERY HARD TO READ ON THE SCREEN.

I GOT ONE.

YES, SUPERVISOR KUCHNER, WE DO HAVE THAT FOR THE PROJECTOR AND SCREEN, LOOKING TO ENHANCE THOSE, UPGRADE THOSE.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I JUST WANT TO SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE YOUR POLICY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED BASED ON MY OPINION.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT AND HAVE THE REVISIONS UP TO DATE.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WANT TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH, BUT I DO SUPPORT THAT PROJECT.

GREAT.

VICE CHAIR CHECK? AS DO I.

OH, YOU'RE GOOD? OKAY.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO HUMAN RESOURCES, AM I MISSING ANYBODY? THANK YOU.

HUMAN RESOURCES CENTER IS WHERE WE'LL MOVE ON TO.

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

JARED FRIEDLAND, YOU'RE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

REALLY KIND OF WHAT I WANTED TO START OFF WITH TODAY, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A SLIDE UP HERE, I JUST REALLY WANTED TO GO THROUGH WHAT I BELIEVE THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ARE.

WE WEAR MANY, MANY...

MANY HATS, BUT IN MY OPINION, I THINK THE FIVE MAIN FUNCTIONS, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THEM FOR YOU, IS TO BEGIN WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

SO AS WE TALK ABOUT DIRECTING HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPERATING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND STATUTES, THAT WOULD BE A VERY MAIN FUNCTION.

THE SECOND ONE IS OBVIOUSLY OUR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS WHERE WE WANT TO MAINTAIN AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM.

WE'RE GOING TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH AND PROVIDE THE BEST ADVICE POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN AS IT RELATES TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, ENSURE THAT STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND STATUTES ARE FOLLOWED.

AND MAINTAIN THOSE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US.

THE THIRD ONE WOULD BE OUR RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION.

AND SO ONE THING THAT WE HAD NEVER DONE IN THE PAST THAT WE DO NOW IS THAT WE NEVER HAD THIRD-PARTY RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR RECRUITMENTS.

WE ONLY WENT THROUGH OUR ACTUAL WEBSITE, WHICH WAS DIFFICULT.

ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING COVID BECAUSE THE LANDSCAPE CHANGED.

AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS WE WANTED TO REACH OUT TO THIRD-PARTY VENDORS.

SO INDEED, GLASSDOOR, WE WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE CERTAIN SPECIALTIES.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I'M SHRM CERTIFIED.

[00:20:01]

SO IF WE WERE LOOKING FOR AN HR PERSON, WE MAY POST WITH THE SHRM WEBSITE.

AND SO WE WORK WITH ATTORNEYS THAT HAVE THOSE.

CERTIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS.

WE WORK WITH ENGINEERS THAT HAVE THOSE CERTIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS.

AND SO WE POST NOW ON THOSE WEBSITES.

SOME OF THEM ARE FREE, SOME OF THEM ARE PAID.

AND SO WE'RE VERY DILIGENT ABOUT THE PAID ONES AND WHAT KIND OF RETURN ARE WE GETTING AS WE USE THOSE PAID WEBSITES.

BUT THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS OF WHAT WE DO IN HUMAN RESOURCES.

THE OTHER ONE IS OBVIOUSLY AN EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING.

AND WHAT I WILL, AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT, I'M GOING TO BRAG ON MY DEPARTMENT A LITTLE BIT HERE IN A MINUTE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO DO IN HUMAN RESOURCES IS REALLY BUILD A ROBUST TRAINING PROGRAM, BOTH IN PERSON AND THROUGH OUR VECTOR SOLUTIONS, WHICH IS ONLINE.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE HAVE CREATED A TRAINING PLATFORM, MONTHLY SCHEDULE.

IN FACT, WE SOMETIMES DO TWO TIMES A MONTH FROM.

ANY STAFF MEMBER FROM OUR LINE LEVEL STAFF ALL THE WAY UP TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IF THEY CHOOSE TO ATTEND THE TRAINING.

AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE DO PRE-SUPERVISOR TRAINING, POST-SUPERVISOR TRAINING, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT TRAININGS THAT WE PROVIDE IN THAT AND WE CONTINUE GROWING THAT.

AND THESE ARE EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAMS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE JUST MAKE UP.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE GO OUT AND RESEARCH AND ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THAT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, VECTOR SOLUTIONS IS OUR ONLINE TRAINING PLATFORM THAT WE USE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE FOR THE MANDATORY TRAINING, RIGHT, THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING, THE DEFENSIVE DRIVER TRAINING, BLOODBORNE PATHOGEN TRAINING.

BUT ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S ALSO SELF-GUIDED TRAINING THAT ANY DEPARTMENT CAN USE, AND IT'S GOT VARIOUS DIFFERENT TABS THAT YOU CAN GO INTO DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO LOOK AT.

I THINK THE OTHER BIG ONE THAT...

THAT SOMETIMES GETS FORGOT ABOUT IS OUR BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION.

AND SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT MANAGING THE EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE, THE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS, BOTH ASRS, PSPRS, ALL OF THE LEAVE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, ALL OF THAT'S MANAGED THROUGH OUR BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION DESK, AND I THINK THEY DO AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB ON IT.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE BIG PIECE HERE IS THE RISK MANAGEMENT PORTION OF...

HUMAN RESOURCES WHERE HEATHER VINCENT, OUR NEW RISK MANAGER, SHE GOES OUT AND SHE ASSESSES RISK, MITIGATES RISK.

SHE ENSURES THAT EVERYBODY IS FOLLOWING STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES AND GUIDELINES.

AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST DO ON A REGULAR BASIS AMONG ALL OF OUR OTHER DUTIES THAT WE GET INTO ON A DAILY BASIS.

JUST SOME THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, SOME AREAS THAT I THINK THAT WE'VE REALLY ACHIEVED THIS YEAR.

ONE OF THEM IS WE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY WITH ITS AND FINANCE ON THE ERP AND THE FINANCIAL PROGRAM.

MY STAFF HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF GOING OUT AND TRAINING AND CONTINUING TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR STAFF TO FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS ON THE HR SIDE AND HOW IT AFFECTS THEM ON THEIR SIDE.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT DONE YET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO STILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH ITS AND FINANCE TO...

SOLIDIFY THAT AS IT EVOLVES.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF IS THAT WE HAVE TAPPED INTO NEOGOV.

ALL THE THE BENEFITS AND THINGS THAT COME WITH NEOGOV, THAT'S OUR RECRUITMENT, ONBOARDING, AND EVALUATION PLATFORM.

THERE ARE SO MANY FACETS OF NEOGOV THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAP INTO AND ONE OF THE BIGGER ONES THIS PAST YEAR, IF YOU'LL RECALL, IS PERFORM AND THAT'S OUR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PLATFORM THAT WE USE.

WE STARTED OFF IN ITS INFANCY STAGE AND WE HAVE GROWN IT AND INTO WHAT IT IS NOW AND WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH UNLOCKED EVERY ASSET THAT IT HAS TO OFFER AND THE LAST THING THAT WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT HERE SHORTLY IS WHAT'S CALLED JOURNAL ENTERING AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT ALLOWS STAFF SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS TO GO IN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND MAKE A NOTE IN A JOURNAL TO REMIND THEM OF YOU KNOW WHAT HOW THE YEARS TRANSPIRED AS WE KNOW PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IS YEAR-ROUND.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE DO IN OCTOBER.

AND WHEN I USED TO DO TRAININGS, THE ONE THING I ALWAYS USED TO TALK ABOUT IS RECENCY.

AND IT'S VERY EASY FOR MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS TO ONLY REMEMBER WHAT'S RECENTLY HAPPENED, AND IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED 8, 09, 10 MONTHS AGO.

AND WHAT THIS JOURNALING FUNCTION DOES IS IT ALLOWS THEM TO GO IN THERE AND MAKE THOSE NOTES, AND SO THAT WHEN THEY GO IN TO ACTUALLY DO THE EVALUATION, THEY'RE ABLE TO PULL THAT UP AND REMIND THEMSELVES OF THAT, WHATEVER THE SITUATION MAY BE.

[00:25:02]

BUT WE'VE REALLY GROWN THAT, AND SO I'M SUPER PROUD OF MY STAFF ON THAT ONE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, I TALKED ABOUT THE TRAINING THAT WE'VE DONE.

WE'VE REALLY BUILT A ROBUST TRAINING PROGRAM.

WE DO AT LEAST ONE, MAYBE TWO A MONTH THAT WE DO WITH TRAINING.

WE TAKE FEEDBACK.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS.

FOR THOSE OF ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN THROUGH OUR TRAINING, I GET EMAILS ALL THE TIME FROM ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE ATTENDED THE TRAINING AND JUST EXPLAINED HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE IT, HOW WELL IT'S PUT TOGETHER.

RACHEL AND TAMMY DO AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB, AND SO I APPRECIATE THEM VERY MUCH.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE GROWING THOSE AND MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR OPEN ENROLLMENT.

ARE, BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION, THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB.

WHETHER IT'S NEW EMPLOYEE OR CHANGING AN OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHETHER IT'S AN ACTIVE ENROLLMENT OR A PASSIVE ENROLLMENT, THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB OF TRAINING EVERYBODY AND GETTING EVERYBODY ON BOARD AND MAKING SURE THAT NOTHING FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS.

AND THEY'VE JUST DONE A FABULOUS JOB WITH IT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AND GIVE THEM KUDOS FOR THAT AS WELL.

WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NOT ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT, I DO WANT TO TALK.

BRIEFLY ABOUT THE TWO REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE TO THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AT $45,000 FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

WE ARE ASKING FOR A $25,000 INCREASE AND THE REASON WHY IS WE HAVE HAD SOME WAITING LIST ISSUES AND SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS BENEFIT TO AS MANY EMPLOYEES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND ENSURING THAT WE CAN INCREASE THIS NUMBER IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO ADD MORE PEOPLE TO THE BENEFIT.

AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THIS IS, IT'S ALLOWING EMPLOYEES TO GROW.

IT'S GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THEIR EDUCATION.

IT'S GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREER BECAUSE OF THAT EDUCATION.

IT IS A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE INCREASE SO THAT WE CAN ALLOW FOR MORE EMPLOYEES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR THAT.

AND SO I DO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER APPROVING THAT ONE.

I'D JUST LIKE TO CHIME IN THERE ON THAT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAMS I THINK THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, COMPLETE SUPPORT FROM ME, AND I'M SURE MAYBE SUPERVISOR MALLORY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AS WELL.

YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM AND I'VE BENEFITED FROM IT.

I'VE USED IT.

I'LL CONTINUE USING IT.

THERE'S NO BETTER THING THAT WE CAN DO IN THIS COUNTY THAN TO INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A WORK FAMILY I SEE IT AS.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, HELP EACH OTHER GROW, AND THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT GIVE THAT TO THEM.

WITHOUT THE WORKFORCE THAT WE HAVE, YAVAPAI COUNTY JUST WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS TODAY.

SO ABSOLUTELY, I SUPPORT THIS.

I SUPPORT THE EMPLOYEES.

I'LL JUST SAY THAT I HEAR OVER AND OVER, WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE YAVAPAI COUNTY IS.

VICE CHAIR CHIPP.

WELL SAID.

COUNTY IS TO WORK AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN REALLY POSITIVELY IMPACT INDIVIDUALS LIVES AND THEIR TRAJECTORY SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.

SUPERVISOR KUKUM.

YEAH I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN ON SOMETHING YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CAUTION WHEN WE GO TO THIRD-PARTY VENDORS THAT WE GUARD OUR CULTURE AND OUR BELIEFS AND OUR VALUES ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TRAINING ONBOARDING EVALUATIONS BECAUSE REALLY YOU GUYS ARE THE MANAGERS OF CULTURE HERE AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE THINGS IN THE PAST THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY SHIED AWAY FROM.

AND BASICALLY I'M TALKING ABOUT SOME KIND OF, I GUESS IT WOULD BE DESCRIBED AS WOKE IDEOLOGIES AND I'D LIKE TO KEEP SOME OF THAT STUFF OUT OF YOU OUT OF PIKE COUNTY.

YEAH, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM AND I CAN'T SPEAK TOO MUCH TO THAT.

SO WHAT I MEAN BY THIRD-PARTY VENDORS IS WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR POSTINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE CREATING THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THOSE THIRD PARTIES.

THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM TO CHANGE OR ADD OR ALTER THE POSTING THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT THERE.

AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRAINING, WE'RE DOING INTERNAL TRAINING FROM OUR OWN VALUES WITHIN YAVAPAI COUNTY, AND ALL OF THOSE ARE GENERALLY WOULD BE APPROVED THROUGH COUNTY MANAGEMENT IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNS OR ISSUES THAT MAY COME WITH THAT BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING

[00:30:01]

FROM.

THANK YOU SIR PLEASE CONTINUE.

AND SO THE THE SECOND REQUEST THAT I HAVE IS THAT WE ARE REQUESTING TWO ADDITIONAL AED UNITS FOR THE CHS CONNECTION CENTERS THE REASON BEING IS RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SHARING A MOBILE UNIT WHICH IS A LITTLE SCARY.

IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN IN ONE UNIT WHILE THE MOBILE UNIT IS IN ANOTHER UNIT, THAT COULD CLEARLY CAUSE AN EMERGENCY THAT COULD BE MITIGATED BY AN AED UNIT THAT WAS WITHIN THAT FACILITY OF ITS OWN.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS FOR TWO UNITS, ONE FOR EACH OF THE CONNECTION CENTERS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHARE THE MOBILE UNIT.

HR'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PURCHASE, MANAGE, MAINTAIN, AND TRAIN THE AED UNITS, AND SO THAT'S WHERE THIS REQUEST COMES FROM.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? NONE? THANK YOU, SIR.

FINANCE IS NEXT.

CONNIE, JARED TOOK ONE MINUTE OF YOUR TIME.

YOU CAN ROLL THAT INTO BRANDON OR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, EITHER ONE.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

YOUR MIC.

OH, THERE YOU GO.

I'M CONNIE DEKEMPER, FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY.

AND I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU.

IF YOU WANT IT, WE CAN SEND IT TO YOU.

BUT IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

WE, AS A FINANCE DEPARTMENT, HAVE ABOUT FOUR MAJOR DUTIES.

THE FIRST DUTY IS PAYMENT PROCESSING.

EVERY DOLLAR THAT YOU APPROVE IN THE BUDGET GOES THROUGH FINANCE IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.

WE HAVE PROCUREMENT.

THAT INCLUDES THE P-CARDS.

FINANCIAL REPORTING, WHICH INCLUDES ADHERENCE TO GAAP.

GASB AND STATE STATUTE, AND THEN WE HAVE ASSET MANAGEMENT, AND PRIMARILY ASSET MANAGEMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REPORT OUR ASSETS PROPERLY IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ASSETS ACTION.

SO IN 2026, WE HAD A LOT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WE FINALIZED, AS JARED SAID, THE NEW ERP SYSTEM, THE UPGRADE TO THE ERP SYSTEM.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PCARTS, BUT THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED FAIRLY SOON.

WE IMPLEMENTED OPENGOV PROCUREMENT, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO ALL DEPARTMENTS.

OUR DEPARTMENT MANAGES IT PRIMARILY FOR MOST DEPARTMENTS OTHER THAN THOSE THAT HAVE THEIR OWN PROCUREMENT.

HOWEVER, THEY ARE USING THE SOFTWARE.

WE STARTED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYMENTWORKS.

WHAT THIS DOES IS IT AUTOMATES OUR VENDOR MAINTENANCE PROCESS.

AND IT SECURES OUR ACH FILES.

SO, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE ASKS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS, WE JUST BEGAN OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF UKG READY.

OUR TIME AND ATTENDANCE SYSTEM, NOVATIME, HAS END OF LIFE.

SO WE HAVE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER TIME AND ATTENDANCE PROCESS, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE PUSHED OUT PRIMARILY IN 27.

IT SHOULD END SOMETIME AROUND NOVEMBER, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

AND WITH ALL THE CHANGES IN SOFTWARE AND PROCESSES IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS IS TO START DOCUMENTING ALL OF OUR PROCEDURES AND OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS SO THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR THE AUDIT.

THE GOAL IS TO GET IT.

FOR 2027 ARE TO IMPLEMENT SAP CONCUR, TO IMPLEMENT THE UPGRADE TO UKG READY.

WE WANT TO RECONFIGURE OUR FIXED ASSET SYSTEM IN FINANCE ENTERPRISE.

THE WAY IT WAS SET UP IS NOT IDEAL FOR REPORTING PROCESSES, AND SO IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT ON.

AND WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE OUR CENTRALIZATION OF PROCUREMENT.

SO OUR CHALLENGES IN FISCAL YEAR 27 IS THE FIRST IS THE ARPA GRANT CLOSES IN DECEMBER AND SO WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO JUSTIFY ALL OF OUR EXPENDITURES AND DO OUR FINALIZED REPORTING BY THE END OF JANUARY.

WE'LL HAVE THE UPGRADE TO UKG READY, THE CONTINUATION OF UPGRADES TO FINANCE ENTERPRISE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAP CONCUR FOR TRAVEL.

THE OPPORTUNITIES IN FISCAL YEAR 27 COINCIDE WITH ALL OF OUR CHALLENGES IN FISCAL YEAR 27.

AND THE FIRST ONE IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAP CONCUR.

[00:35:03]

IN FINANCE, WE REALLY FEEL THAT THAT IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US.

THE BUDGET FOR TRAVEL IN THE COUNTY IS ABOUT $1.5 MILLION.

THAT'S FOUR-TENTHS OF A PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE EXPENDITURE BUDGET.

BUT IT REQUIRES ONE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE TO MANAGE BECAUSE IT'S ALL MANUAL.

AND IMPLEMENTING THE SAP CONCUR SYSTEM WILL STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE AN ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPARTMENTS.

THE OTHER PIECE THAT SAP CONCUR OFFERS IS SUPPORT.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TRAVELING OVER THE WEEKEND, THERE'S NOBODY THAT THEY CAN CALL TO GET HELP IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEIR HOTEL OR SOMETHING HAPPENS AT THE CONFERENCE.

AND WHEN WE HAVE SAP CONCUR, WE HAVE A TRAVEL AGENT BUILT INTO THAT SYSTEM.

AND IF THEY HAVE ANY ISSUES WHATSOEVER, THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS THEY CAN GET ON THE COMPUTER AND THE COMPUTER AI CAN MANAGE THAT CHANGE THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

WORST CASE SCENARIO IS WE PAY FOR A TRAVEL AGENT TO ACTUALLY MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

BUT IMPLEMENTING SAP CONCUR WOULD BE A POSITIVE.

ENHANCEMENT TO OUR TRAVEL PROCESS.

THE OTHER PIECE THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY IN FISCAL YEAR 27 IS TO ELIMINATE THE CALCULATE MANUAL CALCULATION OF PAYROLL PROCESSING.

SO CURRENTLY OUR OLD ENTERPRISE SYSTEM AND OUR TIME AND ATTENDANCE SYSTEM COULDN'T HANDLE CERTAIN CALCULATIONS IN OUR PAYROLL PROCESSING AND SO WE'RE MANUALLY CALCULATING THAT.

AND WHEN WE UPGRADE TO UKG AND WITH FINANCE ENTERPRISE, WE CAN AUTOMATE THOSE PROCESSES, AND THAT OBVIOUSLY REDUCES ERRORS.

THE OTHER PIECE IS THE PAYMENTWORKS AND IMPLEMENTING THAT IN OUR VENDOR MAINTENANCE.

WITH THE VENDOR MAINTENANCE, WHAT IT DOES IS IT ACTS AS A GATEWAY FOR ALL OF OUR VENDORS TO GO IN.

THEY CAN GO TO PAYMENTWORKS, UPDATE ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION, AND THEN THAT INFORMATION IS INTEGRATED INTO OUR FINANCE ENTERPRISE.

THROUGH AN UPDATE PROCESS THAT ELIMINATES ERRORS.

IT ALSO TAKES A LOT OF MANUAL WORK OFF OF BOTH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE TO HELP WITH THAT PROCESS.

OUR EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 ARE 0.4% DOWN FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

WE HAVE 14.5 FTES IN FINANCE.

AND WE HAVE TWO BUDGET REQUESTS RELATED TO OUR CHALLENGES IN FISCAL YEAR 27.

THE FIRST IS TO UPGRADE OUR PURCHASING COORDINATOR TO A PROCUREMENT OFFICER, AND WE WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE IMPLEMENTING PAYMENT WORKS HAS ALLOWED US TO TAKE A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES OFF OF THAT POSITION, AND SO IT'S IN THE COUNTY'S BEST INTEREST TO ADD TO OUR PROCUREMENT OFFICER.

ROLE AND WITH A NOMINAL AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THEN ENHANCE OUR SERVICES TO THE DEPARTMENTS.

THE BIG QUESTION ASK THAT WE HAD FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 WAS AN ADDITIONAL ONE TIME $100,000 IN THE BUDGET.

AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SINCE THE ERP SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, WHILE IT'S SUFFICIENT TO DO THE PROCESSES THAT WE PERFORM, IT DOES HAVE SOME CHALLENGES.

AND WE WANT TO USE THAT MONEY TO ENHANCE THAT ERP SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN MAKE STREAMLINED PROCESSES EITHER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS OR WITHIN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO.

WE NEED TO ENHANCE THE REPORTING SO THAT DEPARTMENTS CAN GET DATA EASIER FOR THEM TO MANAGE.

WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES WITH THE PAF SYSTEM.

THAT'S THE CHANGES IN PERSONNEL WHEN A PERSON TRANSFERS OR GETS A RAISE OR PROMOTED, ETC.

AND WE CAN USE THAT MONEY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO CORRECT THAT CHALLENGE FOR THE DEPARTMENTS.

AND WE CAN ALSO USE IT TO UPGRADE THE FIXED ASSET MODULE AND CREATE THE SO.

STREAMLINE THE PAYROLL PROCESSES FROM THE MANUAL PROCESSES.

THAT $100,000 WILL RESIDE WITHIN THE IT BUDGET.

WE WANT IT TO MAKE THOSE ANALYSIS AND THOSE DECISIONS THAT WILL BEST ENHANCE THE USE OF THAT DOLLAR THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY RATHER THAN JUST WITHIN ONE DEPARTMENT.

SO IT WOULD BE RELATED TO OUR FINANCE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, BUT IT WOULD BE FINDING THE BEST SOLUTIONS TO...

MAKE THAT SYSTEM WORK BETTER FOR US.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

AND THOSE TWO ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE BUDGET.

[00:40:01]

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAVEL, SUPERVISOR MALLORY? YES, THAT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I DID MENTION TO PHIL, I TALKED TO HIM, AND THIS ERP, I SO REMEMBER IT FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE, I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS MIGHT BE THE FINISHING TOUCH, IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.

WELL, PRAISE GOD, THAT IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT'S BEEN QUITE A LONG FEW YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.

SO, NOW, THE TRAVEL.

I TRY SO HARD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEW IDEAS AND TECHNOLOGY, AND I REALLY DO.

BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, AI...

DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL REAL COMFORTABLE.

I WILL SAY THAT LATELY, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS, BUT I'VE BEEN CALLING DIFFERENT PHONE NUMBERS TO GET HELP.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, MORE AND MORE COMPANIES ARE USING THIS SYSTEM OF SOME SORT THAT ANSWERS THE PHONE, KIND OF LIKE WHAT MICHELLE HAD TALKED ABOUT.

BUT YOU DON'T GET AN OPTION TO TALK TO A PERSON.

I AND THAT'S NOT WHAT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE AND WE NEED HELP.

AND I REALIZE ON THE WEEKEND THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYBODY HERE TO HELP US.

SO I THINK I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

I KNOW THE CHAIR PROBABLY HAS QUESTIONS.

MAYBE WE ALL DO.

BUT ANYWAY, I'M NOT SAYING THAT I DON'T SUPPORT IT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT DOESN'T REALLY WORK OUT, IS THERE AN OPTION NOT TO KEEP IT? SO THAT'S IT.

CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I WAS REVIEWING AS I COME ON BOARD.

SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS JUST INDICATED SOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OVER THE NEXT MONTHS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD INFORMATION ON IT.

BUT THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE, AND YOUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, MS. DEKEMPER, JUST POINTED OUT SOME SIGNIFICANT ONES, THE STAFFING AND PROCESSING OF TRAVEL CLAIMS THAT COULD BE REDUCED.

AND THAT STAFF THEN PUT ON TO OTHER ACTIVITIES WITHIN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT, SUPERVISOR MALLORY, IS IT WILL ACTUALLY PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE FOR YOU WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING OR HAVE CHANGES.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE RESPONDING TO IS SOMETIMES WHEN CHANGES OCCUR, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET THOSE CHANGES DEALT WITH ON AN AIRLINE OR, YOU KNOW, RENTAL CAR OR HOTEL LEVEL.

AND THIS WOULD ACTUALLY PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR YOU.

THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

BUT WHEN I CAME ON BOARD, THERE WERE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON THIS, AND WE DO SEE SOME VALUE AT IT, AND I'D LIKE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR MORE DISCUSSION, GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON IT.

I'M SORRY, CAN I? YES, OF COURSE.

I JUST WANT TO FINISH MY THOUGHT BEFORE IT GOES AWAY.

YEAH, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

GO FOR IT.

SO WHEN I REFERRED TO THESE PHONE CALLS I'M TRYING TO MAKE, UM.

I MADE ONE THIS MORNING AND I GOT THIS AI PROGRAM AND IT SAID THAT WE HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND I WILL SEND A MESSAGE.

AND YOU WILL GET A RETURN CALL, AND IT HUNG UP ON ME.

SO IT DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS.

IT'S GOING TO SEND A MESSAGE.

I DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO GIVE A MESSAGE.

I'M GUESSING IT GOT MY PHONE NUMBER BECAUSE I DIALED IT IN FROM MY PHONE, BUT THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION.

SO MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR WITH AI HAS BEEN A REAL FLOP, AND I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PAYING FOR THAT KIND OF HELP.

YOU THAT'S JUST, I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S A FLOP, BUT I'M OPEN.

VICE CHAIR CHECK.

SO I GUESS I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND SOME COMMENTS.

I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY TROUBLE IN TRAVELING, SO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES PEOPLE HAVE HAD IF THEIR AIRLINE CHANGES.

I JUST, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED.

AND SECONDLY, I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR MALLORY IN THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AI IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYBODY'S WELL-BEING.

IF THE AI SYSTEM FAILS US IN CREATING A PROPER FLIGHT OR MAYBE IT REJECTS SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULD GO THROUGH, THAT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE WITH TRAVEL IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.

WHY DID YOU HAVE AN UBER ON? YOU KNOW, THIS PART OF YOUR TRIP AND NOT THIS PART OF YOUR TRIP, OR MAYBE YOU GOT A BIGGER UBER, WELL, BECAUSE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WERE COMING WITH ME.

YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT'S BEEN THE

[00:45:02]

HUMAN EXPERIENCE, AND I'M HAPPY TO SORT THROUGH THAT.

IF I HAD TO SORT THROUGH THAT WITH A CHATBOT, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE A HAPPY CAMPER.

SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS IN THE BUDGET OR NOT? I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED BECAUSE IT'S...

IT'S IN THE PROJECT LIST, BUT I DON'T SEE IT ON THE BOARD.

YES, IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET, AND IT'S JUST BEING TRANSFERRED OVER SHOULD THE BOARD APPROVE IT.

IT'LL BE AVAILABLE IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT, BUT IT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

MIKE, WELL, IT'S THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT VICE CHAIR CHECK'S TALKING ABOUT THAT I HAVE CONCERNS WITH.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS WAS FIRST PRESENTED TO US, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FLYING, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S A DOLLAR SAVINGS, AND I END UP BOARDING GROUP 9 IN AISLE 43 NEXT TO THE TOILET.

I MEAN, BECAUSE THERE'S A DOLLAR SAVINGS OR SOMETHING.

WHAT IS IT, BOOKING OUR FLIGHTS, NOT BOOKING OUR FLIGHTS? I MEAN, SO THERE'S A NO.

WE SEE THINGS ARE PRESENTED TO US DIFFERENTLY SOMETIMES.

SO PLEASE EXPAND.

YES, THE AI WILL NOT.

WE PUT OUR POLICY INTERNALLY INTO THE SYSTEM.

SO WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BOOK TRAVEL, IT WILL TRY TO LEAD YOU TO TRAVEL THAT MEETS OUR SYSTEM.

IF YOU DON'T TAKE THAT, IT WILL GIVE YOU A WARNING.

BUT IT DOESN'T.

COMPLETELY STOP YOU FROM GOING IN A DIRECTION THAT YOU WANT TO GO.

SO THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

YOU CAN STILL DO IT HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT.

ON THE AI SIDE, IT'S MORE OR LESS, IF YOU BOOK A FLIGHT, LET'S SAY YOU BOOK A FLIGHT FROM ARIZONA TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AND YOU'RE ON THIS X FLIGHT, THOSE FLIGHTS ARE NOT THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT OVER TIME.

THEY CAN DROP, THEY CAN GO UP, AND DROP, AND GO UP.

AND AI WILL KEEP YOU ON THAT FLIGHT BUT CHANGE THE FLIGHT PURCHASE SO THAT WE RETAIN THE LOWEST PRICE POSSIBLE.

AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S LOOKING AT.

NOW, WE HAVE A GUARANTEE PERSON THAT YOU CAN CALL, A TRAVEL AGENT.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN CALL SOMEBODY AT MIDNIGHT AND THEY'RE GOING TO ANSWER THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY.

I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING FOR PERSONAL.

PEOPLE TO HELP ASSIST YOU IF THAT'S THE CASE, BUT YOU CAN LEAVE A MESSAGE AND THEY WILL CALL YOU BACK AND HELP YOU GET SERVICE.

WE HAVE HAD SOME, WE DO HAVE A, I DON'T WANT TO SAY A LOT OF TRAVEL BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE VOLUME OF THE TRAVEL, BUT IT'S LAST MINUTE TRAVEL WHERE THEY MAY NOT HAVE BOOKED A HOTEL BEFORE THEY GET ON A PLANE OR DRIVE TO ANOTHER STATE.

AND SO THEY'RE ON THE ROAD TRYING TO GET HOTEL SERVICE.

THE OTHER THING IS, IS WE HAD ONE, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN THIS HAPPENS, BUT THEY GOT TO THEIR HOTEL AND THE ROOM THEY WERE PROVIDED WAS HAD BED BUGS AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO STAY THERE.

AND SO THEY HAD AT THE LAST MINUTE CHANGE HOTEL SO THEY COULD GET A CLEAN, SAFE PLACE.

AND I DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF YOU, AND I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU GO DOWN TO PHOENIX, IT'S GETTING A HOTEL IS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING A SAFE HOTEL AND YOU CAN GET THOSE THINGS AND IT WILL HELP YOU FIND THE CHEAPEST RATE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE TYPES OF PURCHASES.

IT'S NOT GOING TO TELL YOU NO.

IT'S GOING TO LEAD YOU WITHIN THE.

EMPLOYEE IN WITHIN THE TRAVEL POLICY OF THE COUNTY BUT YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE THAT IT'LL JUST WARN YOU THAT YOU'RE OUTSIDE THE TRAVEL POLICY MARY EXCUSE ME SUPERVISOR MALLORY IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK I MEAN THERE WAS THE ONE INSTANCE WHERE THE PERSON WAS THREATENING TO KILL SOMEBODY IN YOUR ROOM NEXT TO YOU AT 2 A.M.

WE DO REMEMBER THAT DON'T WE YEAH THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE IT WAS QUITE EXPERIENCE I HAVEN'T GONE BACK TO THAT HOTEL BUT I WOULDN'T EITHER.

YEAH, IT WAS QUITE A DEAL THAT WHATEVER WAS GOING ON THERE.

AND SO I GUESS THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS I WORRY ABOUT IS LIKE WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE GET THERE OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW.

AND SOME OF THE, ESPECIALLY IN PHOENIX, IT'S VERY, YOU KNOW, YOU GET OUT OF YOUR HOTEL AND YOU KIND OF JUST, YOU KNOW.

EVEN IN THE CAR, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOCKING THE DOORS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW.

WELL, ANY LARGE CITY THAT YOU GO TO IS GOING TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

SO I GUESS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO AT LEAST BE SAFE.

I THINK PHIL WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A LONG DISCUSSION BEFORE THIS GOES FORWARD.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THIS HAS TO COME IN FRONT OF THE BOARD.

THE WHOLE POINT WAS IT ACTUALLY GOT DELAYED PARTLY BECAUSE THE BOARD WILL BE PROVIDING YOU INFORMATION.

AND ULTIMATELY, IF THE BOARD DOESN'T WANT TO PROCEED, WE WON'T PROCEED.

SEE IT'S YOUR DECISION WE WERE PROVIDING YOU AN OPTION I THINK ONE OF THE KEY ADVANTAGES FOR

[00:50:03]

THE FINANCE DIRECTOR NOT GONNA SPEAK TOTALLY FOR OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR BUT OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT REMAINS SMALL DOESN'T INCREASE STAFFING GREATLY OVER YEARS IT INCREASED TO ASSIST WITH PURCHASING AND TRY TO MOVE THERE BUT THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO LOOK AT THE VOLUME OF WORK ON CERTAIN ITEMS AND AND PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE.

TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND SO THIS IS AN OPTION THEY'VE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD TO BRING ON BUT IF THERE'S CONCERNS ULTIMATELY IT WON'T MOVE FORWARD BUT BUT IT IS YOUR DECISION BUT WHEN I CAME ON BOARD THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AS THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OVER THE NEXT MONTHS TRYING TO PROVIDE YOU INFORMATION AND IF THE BOARD DOESN'T WANT TO PROCEED WE WON'T PROCEED MAY I BE REMINDED HOW MUCH THAT SOFTWARE IS IT'S ABOUT $60,000 TO IMPLEMENT, BUT IT'S ANNUALLY $36,000.

AND THEN WE HAVE A TRAVEL PARTNER WITHIN THAT CONTRACT, AND THEY FEEL THAT A LOT OF THAT MONEY CAN BE SAVED USING THE AI AND BASED ON THE VOLUME OF AIR FLIGHTS, ET CETERA, AND THE SAVINGS ON THE FLIGHTS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH, I'M GOING TO GO OFF THE WHOLE TRAVEL THING IF YOU GUYS ARE DONE WITH THAT.

BUT JUST I'M GOING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS ALL DEPARTMENTS, BUT ESPECIALLY YOU GUYS AS WE START EMBRACING THIS AI.

THE FRAUDSTERS ARE GETTING VERY, VERY GOOD.

AND BE BEST FRIENDS WITH IT.

AND ARE WE DOING ANYTHING TO ENHANCE OUR SECURITY AGAINST BEING VICTIMIZED? SO IN THE...

IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE IMPLEMENTING PAYMENTWORKS, AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST EXPOSURES TO FRAUD.

AND WHAT THAT WILL DO IS IT'S PRETTY CONVOLUTED, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING GETTING IT SET UP.

BUT ONCE IT'S SET UP, IT WILL HELP US PREVENT US FROM PAYING BAD ACTORS.

VENDORS WILL GO TO PAYMENTWORKS TO UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE ALREADY SIGNED UP.

AND SO WHEN THEY HAVE, BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED PAYMENTWORKS, THOSE VENDORS ARE RESPONDING THROUGH THAT SYSTEM.

SO WHEN WE GO ON, A LOT OF OUR VENDORS WILL ALREADY BE THERE.

AND THEN WE'LL MOVE OUR VENDORS TO THAT PROCESS.

AND THEN IT ACTUALLY ENTAILS US SENDING OUR ACH FILES TO PAYMENTWORKS TO VERIFY THE ACTUAL FILES THEMSELVES BEFORE THEY GET PAID.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH A THREE-FOLD, WITH THE JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, OURSELVES, AND PAYMENTWORKS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE DOLLARS THAT GO OUT OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ON TOP OF IT.

I'M JUST ALSO IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE I AM WATCHING FRAUD MAKE LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

AND I JUST WANT TO KEEP US SAFE.

WELL, CONNIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DO.

YEAH, SO ON THE...

SO EXHIBIT 3 REGARDING THE UKG UPGRADES.

LAST YEAR WE HAD TROUBLE QUERYING HOW MANY FTES WERE IN THE COUNTY SYSTEM AT ONE TIME.

I REMEMBER IT BEING DIFFICULT TO SORT OF SEARCH FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

I'M WONDERING IF THIS UPGRADE WILL HELP SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

SO IT MAY OR MAY NOT.

THE UKG TIME IN ATTENDANCE IS BY EMPLOYEE, NOT NECESSARILY BY POSITION.

AND SO IF AN EMPLOYEE IS TERMINATED VOLUNTARILY OR NOT, THAT PERSON GOES OUT OF, IS NO LONGER ACTIVE IN THE SYSTEM, BUT THE POSITION DOESN'T EXIST THERE.

THE POSITION EXISTS.

IN OUR FINANCE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, AND THAT'S MANAGED BY OUR HR DEPARTMENT, WHICH THAT IS WHY WE ARE WORKING ON ENHANCING OUR REPORTING.

SO WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT WE'LL BE BRINGING TO YOU IN THE NEXT BOARD MEETING TO PAY FINANCE ENTERPRISE TO ENHANCE THE REPORTING THAT WE NEED IN OUR SYSTEM.

YES, CERTAINLY.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE FINANCE ENTERPRISE DATA, THAT'S WHAT WE ALSO CRAFT.

REFERENCE WITH OPENGOV.

SO HR AND BUDGET WORK EXTENSIVELY THERE AND A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE MADE THIS PAST YEAR ON THE BUDGET SIDE OF THINGS WAS TO MAKE SURE EVERY POSITION IS ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE WORKFORCE MODULE BECAUSE I THINK THAT ESCAPED THE PROCESS LAST YEAR AND I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE PERSON SITTING TO THE LEFT OF ME.

SHE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERY FTE IS FULLY BACKED AND ACCOUNTED FOR

[00:55:01]

IN THE SYSTEM.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU BOTH.

YES, CERTAINLY.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I APPRECIATE YOU.

AND I'VE EMBRACED TECHNOLOGY.

YOU KNOW, MY HISTORY IS BEFORE THERE WAS EVEN COMPUTERS.

FOR YOU TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF PERSONNEL IN YOUR DEPARTMENT YOU HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE THE TRANSACTIONS ARE NOT GOING TO DECREASE THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO INCREASE AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE TAKING YOUR TIME TO GO THROUGH YOU KNOW THESE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY NOT ONLY MEET OUR GOALS HERE BUT MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS UM FOR SAP AND THINGS LIKE THAT UM ON ANOTHER LEVEL WITH THE TRAVEL AND OTHER THINGS IS YOU KNOW, I GET THAT AI IS OUT THERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO TALK TO A PERSON.

I'M STILL OLD SCHOOL IN THAT RESPECT, SO I KIND OF OWN THE SAME PATH.

AND, YOU KNOW, MY FRUSTRATION HAS BEEN WITH THE TRAVEL SYSTEM AND IT TELLING ME THAT'S TOO MUCH MONEY FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THAT, AND IT THROWS IT OUT.

AND THERE'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER WAY TO DEAL WITH TRAVEL.

THE ISSUES THAT WE FIND EVERY TIME WE TRAVEL, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME KIND OF GLITCH.

OR IF WE WANT TO PULL TOGETHER AND GO IN ONE VEHICLE, WHO PAYS FOR IT? AND THEN IS SOMEBODY ELSE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY GET IN TROUBLE, BUT IT'S GOING TO LOOK FUNNY ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S TRAVEL REPORT.

I THINK THAT'S MY FRUSTRATION IS LIKE, WHERE DO THESE THINGS GO AND WHAT'S GOING TO GET FLAGGED? SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE TAKING A MUCH DEEPER LOOK INTO THE TRAVEL ISSUE PART OF IT.

BUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU DISCUSSED THAT YOU'RE BRINGING ON BOARD, ANYTIME YOU CAN STOP THE PAPER PUSHING AND LET THE COMPUTER DO IT FOR YOU SO YOU CAN UTILIZE YOUR PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THE OUTLIERS OR THE BLIPS IN THE SYSTEM IS A GOOD THING.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CONNIE.

YOU, MR. BOURDAIN, YOU WANT A BREAK? OKAY, MARK, YOU HAVE TO WAIT.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A RECESS FOR...

13 MINUTES, 10 AFTER THE HOUR.

OKAY, MARK, YOU'RE UP.

I'LL GIVE YOU A SECOND THERE.

THANK YOU, CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MARK LASSONDE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH YAVAPAI COUNTY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

THE MAJOR SERVICES THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROVIDES, WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT UNITS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT THAT CONSISTS OF PERMITTING, BUILDING SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LAND USE WHICH IS CODE ENFORCEMENT, ADDRESSING, OUR PLANNING UNIT AND ALSO THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE.

THIS COMES INTO PLAY BECAUSE OUR DEPARTMENT ISSUES AND PROCESSES MORE THAN 5,000 PERMITS ANNUALLY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

THOSE PERMITS CONSIST OF CONSTRUCTION REVIEW FOR OUR BUILDING SAFETY TEAM AND OUR WASTEWATER CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND DESIGN REVIEW FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT TEAM.

WITHIN THAT WE ALSO CONDUCT FIELD INSPECTIONS FOR BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.

AND OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM ALSO INVESTIGATES AND ENFORCES MORE THAN 2,000 LAND USE CASES ANNUALLY.

OUR PLANNING AND ZONING, THEY COVER CASES AND PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ALSO OUR ADDRESSING UNIT ASSIGNS ADDRESSES TO NEW DEVELOPED PARCELS.

THE DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE ADOPTED THE THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE.

THIS IS A UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR US BECAUSE WE DID GATHER WITH THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS WITHIN YAVAPAI COUNTY AND WE WORKED TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THOSE UPDATES AND WE DIDN'T ADOPT THEM ALL TOGETHER BUT WE ADOPTED THEM ALL WITHIN THE SAME TIME FRAME.

SO EVERY JURISDICTION INCLUDING YAVAPAI COUNTY IS ON THE 2024 BUILDING CODE.

WE'VE REDUCED OUR PERMIT REVIEW TIMES AS REVIEWS HAVE BECOME MORE COMPLEX.

WE'VE BEEN KEEPING OUR REVIEW TIMES WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE LIMIT DESPITE THE INCREASE IN NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS AND WE'RE ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US KEEP THOSE STREAMLINED.

WE UPDATED OUR ZONING ORDINANCE INCLUDING OUR DARK SKY LIGHTING ORDINANCE AND OUR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT SECTIONS WITHIN THE ORDINANCE.

WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED AN EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM FOR FASTER SMALL PROJECT APPROVALS.

TO DATE, WE'VE ISSUED 367 TOTAL EXPRESS PERMITS.

WE'VE UPDATED OUR DEPARTMENT FEE SCHEDULE FOR MORE ACCURATE AND OPERATIONAL COVERAGE.

THE LAST UPDATE FOR THAT WAS SIX YEARS FOR OUR BUILDING SAFETY UNIT, AND OUR OLDEST ONE WAS 25 YEARS AGO FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT.

SO TO GET THOSE UP TO DATE IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT

[01:00:01]

FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.

OUR DEPARTMENT GOALS FOR THIS UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR...

IS WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATES.

WE ARE NOW STARTING YEAR TWO OF THIS UPDATE.

THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WE ACTUALLY PUT PEN TO PAPER.

SO THE FIRST YEAR WE DID A LOT OF ANALYSIS OF OUR OLD ORDINANCE, IDENTIFIED WHAT NEEDED TO BE UPDATED, AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT, WE'RE STARTING TO GATHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A FEW MORE ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATES IN FRONT OF YOU, INCLUDING OUR SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS THIS SUMMER.

AND THEN MORE OF THE OVERALL ORDINANCE IN THE COMING YEAR.

AGAIN, THIS IS A THREE YEAR PROJECT.

IT'S EXPECTED TO COME IN FRONT OF THE BOARD FOR FULL ADOPTION IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OF 2027.

WE'RE CURRENTLY TRANSITIONING TO OUR NEW PERMIT SYSTEM, OPENGOV.

LAST YEAR, THE BOARD APPROVED THIS GOAL FOR US TO LEAVE CITIZENSERVE AND MIGRATE OVER TO OPENGOV, WHICH IS A DEDICATED PERMITTING SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE.

WE ARE STILL KEEPING OUR GOAL OF JULY FOR OUR GO-LIVE FOR THAT, AND SO FAR WE ARE ON SCHEDULE.

WE ARE GOING TO DO A REVIEW AND REASSESSMENT OF OUR ISO RATING.

LAST YEAR, THE COUNTY DID GET AN ISO RATING OF 3, WHICH IS A GOOD NUMBER, WHICH IS ABOUT 85% BETTER THAN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WHICH IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.

ONE THING THAT WE LOOKED AT AS SOME OF THE SHORTCOMINGS WITHIN THAT ISO RATING AND WHAT WE COULD CORRECT INCLUDED ADOPTION OF A MORE RECENT CODE, SO WE DID HIT THAT GOAL WITH A 2024 CODE ADOPTION.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF OUR PLANS EXAMINERS AND FIELD INSPECTORS.

SO WE HAVE HAD A BIG PUSH AND HAVE ABOUT EIGHT ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS WITHIN OUR INSPECTION TEAM.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO DRIVE PERMITS FASTER AND PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE WITH TECH-ENABLED PROCESSES.

WE'VE STARTED DOWN THIS ROAD WITH EXPRESS PERMITS AND WE'RE ALSO EVALUATING INTAKE AND REQUIREMENTS OF WHAT WE NEED FULLY FOR THESE PERMITS TO BE ACCEPTED.

SUPERVISOR MALEFA MIGHT ADD AI IS NOT THE BIGGEST STRONG POINT FOR THIS SO WE MIGHT NOT BE LOOK IN THAT DIRECTION, JUST TO PUT YOU AT EASE.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

COUNTY-WIDE GROWTH IS INCREASING, AND OUR SERVICE DEMAND ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS IS CONTINUING TO INCREASE WITH THAT.

WE HAVE A RISING CODE COMPLIANCE CASE VOLUME.

CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS RISEN TO MORE THAN 700 CASES PER YEAR OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AVERAGE, SO WE'RE AVERAGING MORE THAN 02,000 CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES.

THIS IS UP BY ABOUT 700 OVER THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS.

WE HAVE GREATER COMPLEXITY IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PERMIT SUBMITTALS.

WE ARE NO LONGER DOING YOUR AVERAGE 1,000-SQUARE-FOOT HOME TO 1,400-SQUARE-FOOT HOME.

THESE HAVE INCREASED CLOSER TO 2,400-SQUARE-FOOT HOMES UP TO 3,500-SQUARE-FOOT HOMES.

SO THE REVIEW OF THESE IS A LOT MORE COMPLEX AND A LOT MORE DETAIL IS BEING REVIEWED.

WE HAVE HIGHER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW ACTIVITIES.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT YAVAPAI COUNTY HAS BEEN DISCOVERED BY PEOPLE FROM DOWN IN THE VALLEY AND OTHER STATES AND PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE BUILDING IN DROVES.

AND WE HAVE A HIGHER SUSTAINED VOLUME OF WORKLOAD.

THERE'S TYPICALLY AN EBB AND FLOW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SPRINGTIME, SUMMERTIME IS USUALLY MORE BUSY.

AND THEN IN THE FALL AND WINTER AS THINGS GET COLDER, PEOPLE STOP BUILDING AS MUCH.

NOT THAT AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO WE'RE SEEING THAT CONSTANT HIGH VOLUME OF PERMITS BEING SUBMITTED FOR.

SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR AS WELL, AS WE'RE ROLLING OUT THAT NEW ONLINE PERMITTING SYSTEM, IT'S GOING TO ALLOW OUR CUSTOMERS A 24-7 ACCESS TO DO THEIR PERMITS, SUBMIT THEM, MAKE CORRECTIONS, UPLOAD DOCUMENTS.

WE'RE LOOKING TO STREAMLINE WORKFLOWS THROUGH AUTOMATION AND DIGITAL TOOLS.

SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT SOFTWARES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE WITHIN THE SYSTEM ITSELF THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THAT'LL HELP STREAMLINE AND IDENTIFY REDUNDANCIES, AND WE CAN ELIMINATE THOSE REDUNDANCIES TO HELP STREAMLINE THESE PERMIT INTAKE PROCESSES.

AND WE ALSO WANTED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN STAFF WITH TARGETED CERTIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS.

SO IT'S A REINVESTMENT INTO OUR FOLKS IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO BECOME BETTER, MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE AT THEIR JOBS.

SO FOR OUR DEPARTMENT BUDGET OVERVIEW, OUR ESTIMATED REVENUE FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR IS A LITTLE OVER $5.8 MILLION.

SO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS A REIMBURSEMENT DEPARTMENT, SO OUR COSTS GET RECOUPED THROUGH OUR PERMITTING FEES,

[01:05:01]

WHICH THEN GETS REIMBURSED BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

AND OUR ESTIMATED BUDGETED TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR ARE JUST A LITTLE OVER $8 MILLION.

WHICH IS A 5% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR.

A FEW REQUESTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR IS TWO RECLASSIFICATIONS OF EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE OUR LAND USE SUPERVISOR, WHO HAS GOTTEN AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CERTIFICATIONS AND HAS TAKEN ON A LOT OF ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

OUTSIDE OF HIS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION AS A SUPERVISOR, SO WE ARE ASKING FOR HIM TO BE RECLASSIFIED AS A MANAGER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

AND ALSO A RECLASS OF OUR BUILDING SAFETY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, WHO OVERSEES MORE THAN WHAT HER JOB DESCRIPTION DETAILS.

SHE'S ALSO PART OF THE CONTACT FOR OUR BUILDING SAFETY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS AS WELL.

SO SHE HAS...

A ROLE WITHIN THAT QUASI-JUDICIAL BODY FOR OUR BUILDING SAFETY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR A THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLAR EXPANSION OF THE HOME OF MY OWN PROGRAM TO INCLUDE THE STATUTORY PRE-APPROVED PLANS REQUIREMENTS THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED BY STATE LEGISLATOR OUR HOME OUR CURRENT HOME MY OWN CHECKS OFF A LOT OF THESE BOXES WHICH IS A GREAT THING NOW THERE'S ONLY A FEW LAST TYPES OF HOUSING THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY NEED TO ADDRESS, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, WHICH OUR HOME OF MY OWN CURRENTLY HITS A FEW OF THOSE BOXES, DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES, EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE THAT BOX CHECKED OFF WITH.

ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS, WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH ALL THE JURISDICTIONS ON THE VERDE SIDE OF THE COUNTY AND WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM TO HAVE A PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH A HOME OF MY OWN AND THEN ALSO OTHER PRE-APPROVED PLANS THAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE AS WELL.

WE'RE ASKING FOR A LITTLE OVER $36,000 TO COVER INFLATIONARY INCREASES.

THIS IS FOR TRAININGS AND MEMBERSHIPS.

WITH A DEPARTMENT OF ALMOST 75 PEOPLE, WE HAVE A LOT OF CONFERENCES AND TRAININGS THAT WE DO HAVE TO GO TO TO MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, THOSE TRAININGS HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, GONE UP FROM $100 OR $200 PER PERSON TO NOW THEY'RE LIKE $500 AND $600 PER PERSON TO ATTEND AND MAINTAIN THAT CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS.

AND THEN LASTLY, SUPERVISOR MALLORY? JUST A QUESTION, MARK.

AS YOU BRING UP THE TRAINING AND...

SO EXACTLY DOES EVERYBODY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THESE TRAININGS OR IS JUST SPECIFIC CERTAIN POSITIONS? THANK YOU, CHAIR MERRILL.

SORRY.

DON'T WORRY.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MERRILL.

SHE DOES IT A LOT.

IT'S OKAY.

I DID NOT TAKE THE CHECK.

MY APOLOGIES.

SUPERVISOR MERRILL, GREAT QUESTION.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAININGS.

MOST OF THESE TRAININGS AND CERTIFICATIONS ARE SPECIFIC TO THE ROLES THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TAKING.

WE DO WANT A ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT PERSON TO ATTEND A PLANS EXAMINING, BUILDING SAFETY PLANS EXAMINING CERTIFICATION, JUST BECAUSE THE RELEVANCY ISN'T GOING TO BE QUITE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEM TO OBTAIN.

OKAY, AND I CAN APPRECIATE ALL THAT, BUT I NEED TO SAY THIS.

THE ONE THING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN EVERYTHING WE DO, IN EVERY DEPARTMENT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY, EVEN AT THIS TABLE, ALL OF US IS CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I ALWAYS HAVE A BELIEF THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE COMES FROM WITHIN A PERSON'S HEART FOR PEOPLE TO HELP THEM.

SO ALL THESE TRAININGS WE GO TO ARE GREAT BUT I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE ON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THAT FOR THEM AND EXTENDING THEM.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY'S WAYS.

AND I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HALF THE TIME HOW IT WORKS, BUT THE COMMUNICATION IS SO IMPORTANT AT EVERY LEVEL, EVERY SINGLE LEVEL.

SO I SUPPORT TRAINING.

I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT IT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL HELP OUR CITIZENS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT HEART FOR SERVICE FOR THESE PEOPLE AND GO THE EXTRA MILE.

THANK YOU, MARK.

YEAH, I WOULD ECHO THE SAME THING.

THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT WE HEAR, SUPERVISORS, AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT, IS OBVIOUSLY THE PUBLIC CALLING IN, BUT YOU INTERFACE WITH THE PUBLIC MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT, THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING IN TERMS OF TRAINING I'M CONCERNED WITH BECAUSE IT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT I HEAR ABOUT MOST OF THE TIME IN MY DISTRICT.

SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO FOCUS ON WHAT SUPERVISOR MALLORY AND

[01:10:02]

MYSELF ARE TALKING ABOUT, MAYBE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

VICE CHAIR? SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OF THE EXHIBIT TREES THAT ARE UP.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO NOTE THE OPEN SPACE PLAN THAT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED BUT REQUESTED.

AND JUST THE TIMELINE ON THAT, I WOULD REALLY HOPE TO SEE THAT THIS GET CONSIDERED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET BECAUSE SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT ARE SHAPING UP AROUND HOW YAVAPAI COUNTY COULD CREATE A GREAT PLAN FOR OPEN SPACE BROADLY ARE SHAPING UP NOW.

AND I THINK NEXT YEAR MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME TO RECONSIDER THAT.

YES, CERTAINLY.

YEAH, THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

SO AS WE FOLLOWED YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE DID WANT TO INCLUDE THIS FOR CONSIDERATION.

HOWEVER, LOOKING AT THE TIMING, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS ONE THING, BUT THE TIMING REALLY WITH STAFF CAPACITY, WE'RE ALSO DOING THE ZONING UPDATE, AS YOU KNOW, WHICH IS A HUGE LIFT.

SO WE FOUND THAT WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE THE TIME OR RESOURCES INTERNALLY TO CARRY THIS OUT THIS YEAR.

BUT ABSOLUTELY, WE'RE HAPPY TO RETURN NEXT YEAR AND HAVE IT RECONSIDERED.

THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

AND IN REGARDS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE BACKGROUND EMPLOYEE, MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER SERVICE.

THAT IS ONE OF THE FOREFRONTS TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE REEMPHASIZED STARTING NOW AND MOVING FORWARD.

AND YOU KNOW, MARK, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM WELL AWARE OF THAT WITH YOU BECAUSE I WORKED WITH YOU MANY YEARS OVER AT THE TOWN, AND I HAVE SEEN THAT YOU HAVE HAD GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU DON'T NOW.

I'M JUST SAYING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE CAN'T MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN FOR SOMEBODY, A LOT OF TIMES, 95% OF IT IS THAT THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT WE HEAR THEM, THAT WE'RE INTERESTED, THAT WE CARE.

YOU KNOW, I REALIZE THERE'S LAWS AND THINGS WE'VE GOT TO FOLLOW, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, IT GOES A LONG WAY TO TRY TO DO ALL YOU CAN.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THE DEPARTMENT DOES.

I JUST, THE TRAININGS ARE GREAT, BUT WE AS SUPERVISORS DO HEAR A LOT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND I JUST SAY THE CONVERSATION WITH THE PEOPLE IS SOMETHING THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW.

THEY'RE IN A PREDICAMENT.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT HERE, BUT THEY WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

THEY WANT OUR TIME, AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO WORK FOR THEM.

SO I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU, AND I'M GLAD THAT DEPARTMENTS ARE COMING UP.

I THINK THIS IS FANTASTIC.

IT'S LIKE THE OLD WAYS.

THAT'S YOUR ADVISOR, JENKINS.

JUST A BRIEF COMMENT ON THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY ABATEMENT FUNDS AND I NOTICED IT WASN'T RECOMMENDED.

JUST A NOTE TO STAFF I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DIG DEEPER THROUGHOUT THE NEXT YEAR IN THE WHOLE POLICY WITH PROPERTY ABATEMENT NOT HERE BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TALK ABOUT THE POLICY FOR THAT.

CAN I THROW IN TOO? I DIDN'T SEE YOU.

I AGREE.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR.

THANK YOU MR. LUZON.

I THINK THE ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE'RE TACKLING.

LIKE YOU SAID, HEAVY LIFT.

AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST DRAGGING IN POLICIES FROM OTHER STATES.

WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT DENSITY WHEN I THINK THE PUBLIC IS SAYING WE DON'T WANT THE DENSITY.

IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE LISTENING TO US, AND THAT'S CONCERNING ME.

AND I WOULDN'T EVEN MIND IF WE HAD AN AGENDIZED LINE ITEM FOR CHANGES THAT WE CAN MAKE NOW, BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING A YEAR AND A HALF TO PUT ANYTHING IN, AND SOME OF THEM SEEM PRETTY CRYSTAL CLEAR.

AND THE EXAMPLE IS, I THINK ONE OF THEM SHOULD BE NO MORE ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS TO YOUR DEPARTMENT.

THAT MIGHT EVEN REDUCE YOUR NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT 60% TO 70% OF COMPLAINTS ARE ANONYMOUS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO NARC OUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOU BETTER PUT YOUR NAME ON IT.

WHEN WE DO THE DENSITY, I THINK IT PUTS THE STRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE'RE NOT REALLY LOOKING AT THAT, AND IT'S SOME OF THE STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOW.

I THINK JUST IN MY DISTRICT ALONE, I THINK THERE'S ALREADY 650 HOMES ALREADY PERMITTED TO BE BUILT.

SO WE NEED TO GET ON THIS OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE STRAINED, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN MAKE CHANGES RIGHT NOW.

IF THEY MAKE SENSE, LET'S MAKE THE CHANGES RIGHT NOW.

TO THE WOKE END OF THINGS IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THAT STUFF FROM THE ZONING ORDINANCE WAS BRINGING SOME OF THAT STUFF IN TOO THANK YOU MR LUZON THANK YOU CHAIRMAN UH AND WITH THAT I'M AVAILABLE ANSWERING ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ANY OTHER FEW QUESTIONS SUPERVISORS NOTHING THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION

[01:15:01]

APPRECIATE IT FACILITIES GOOD MORNING, BRANDON.

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, COUNTY MANAGEMENT, BUDGET OFFICE, SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU GUYS.

IT'S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

SO TODAY I'M GOING TO PRESENT THE FACILITIES AND MAILROOM BUDGET.

A LOT OF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHO WE ARE.

I'LL TRY TO MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH A LOT OF THESE THINGS AND SAVE TIME FOR SOME OF THE PROJECT-RELATED QUESTIONS.

JUST A HIGH LEVEL, LOOKING AT OUR MAJOR SERVICES, WE ARE A CAPITAL DEPARTMENT.

IN ADDITION TO THE CAPITAL THAT PUBLIC WORKS, IT, FLOOD CONTROL ALSO PROVIDE, MY CAPITAL DIVISION PROVIDES PROJECT ADMINISTRATION, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OVERSIGHT.

WE ALSO DO BUILDING MAINTENANCE, EVERYTHING FROM THE CARPET TO THE PLUMBING TO THE ROOF.

DOOR SECURITY, CAMERAS, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT FALLS INTO THAT.

WE HAVE A CUSTODIAL SERVICES DIVISION.

ALL THE CLEANING HAPPENS GENERALLY AT NIGHT.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF DAYTIME CUSTODIANS.

GROUNDS AND PARKS CARE.

WE HAVE A FULL LANDSCAPE DIVISION TAKING CARE OF OUR PARKS, GROUNDS.

THEY ALSO DO OUR SNOW REMOVAL.

REALLY KEY IN THE WINTER TIMES WHEN WE GET A LOT OF SNOW AROUND HERE.

WE HAVE A MAILROOM OPERATION DIVISION.

A VERY SMALL UNIT THAT WORKS OUT OF PROSSER, DELIVERING THE MAIL BOTH IN OUR OFFICE AND THAT THAT GOES OUT TO THE USPS.

AND THEN FINALLY WRAPPING IT ALL UP IS OUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS, REALLY KIND OF THE GLUE FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THAT HELPS WITH THE BUDGETING, OUR SOLICITATION, CONTRACTS, SAFETY CODE COMPLIANT, HIRING, ONBOARDING, OFFBOARDING, ALL THAT OTHER GOOD STUFF.

SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT IN THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, ONE BIG ONE WAS THE HEALTH RENOVATION, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RENOVATION OVER THERE ON COMMERCE STREET.

ANOTHER ONE IS THE HVAC THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON IN THIS BUILDING.

CANNOT WAIT TO GET THAT ONE WRAPPED UP.

JUST FINISHED A NEW SIGN SHOP FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND DEMOLISHED THE OLD BUILDING THAT WAS KIND OF A SAFETY HAZARD.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAND UP A NEW CLINIC IN ASH FORK.

WE CREATED THREE NEW FAMILY RESTROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

WE DID A NEW CANOPY FOR THE COTTONWOOD ANNEX BUILDING IN THE JUNE ISLE ENTRANCE.

WE DID A NEW, LITERALLY JUST WRAPPED UP LAST WEEK, GOT A FINAL ON THAT ONE, A NEW CONNECTION CENTER FOR THE CAMP VERDE TO MIRROR WHAT YCSO AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RUN OVER HERE.

WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH AND NEARLY DONE WITH THE CAMP VERDE JAIL SECURITY ELECTRONICS UPDATE.

WE DID A NEW LOCATION FOR OUR PANT DIVISION, A MAJOR EXPANSION TO THE LIBRARY HEADQUARTERS, AND A RENOVATION IN THERE, AND THAT ACTUALLY FOLLOWED MANY MOVES.

WE DUBBED THAT ONE MOVE-A-PALOOZA BECAUSE WE MOVED SO MANY DEPARTMENTS SO MANY TIMES.

WE TOOK ON SOME MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THIS YEAR TOO WITH A RECODING OF THE JAIL ROOF, A PORTION OF THE JAIL ROOF.

WE DID NEW REPAVING OF TWO LIBRARY PARKING LOTS, ONE IN BLACK CANYON CITY AND ONE IN SELIGMAN.

MOVEMENT.

DID A MAJOR REFINISHING PROJECT TO THE UNIT 2 SHOWERS AT THE CAMP VERDE DETENTION.

THE RELOCATION OF PUBLIC FIDUCIARY, WHICH WAS PART OF THE EXPANSION FOR THE LIBRARY HEADQUARTERS.

AND WE'RE ALSO IMPLEMENTING A NEW WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, CARTOGRAPH, WHICH INTEGRATES INTO THE SAME SOFTWARE THAT PUBLIC WORKS USES.

AND MANY MORE.

AS YOU KNOW, MY DEPARTMENT TOUCHES ON A LOT OF THINGS, SO I JUST TRIED TO PICK THE BIG ONES THAT WE'D ALL BE FAMILIAR WITH.

SOME OF OUR GOALS FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.

WE ARE LOOKING TO RELOCATE THE ADULT PROBATION DEPARTMENT OUT OF THE GURLEY STREET AND MOST LIKELY OUT OF THE DEWEY LOCATION.

THAT WILL FACILITATE THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS THE GURLEY STREET REMODEL.

WE ARE CRAMMED IN SPACE IN THERE, SO MOVING ADULT PROBATION WILL MAKE THAT A LOT MORE WORKABLE AND FEASIBLE PROJECT.

MOVING FROM THERE, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE WEAVER MOUNTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING.

THAT'S ACTUALLY LOCATED IN PEOPLES VALLEY.

WE'LL BE LOOKING TO WORK ON THE SLIGMAN AND ASH FORK RURAL SERVICES.

WE'LL BE LOOKING TO WORK ON THE VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK RURAL SERVICES.

MAYOR'S SUBSTATION AND LIBRARY RURAL SERVICES THERE AS WELL.

ANOTHER EXCITING PROJECT IS THE CROWN KING LIBRARY.

WE'LL BE STARTING THAT ONE EARLY THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SEVERAL OF THIS LAST BULLET POINT THERE, JUST SEVERAL REQUESTED PROJECTS, WHETHER IT BE FROM MY DEPARTMENT OR OTHER PROJECTS, OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE USE OF OUR WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND TRY TO HARNESS AS MUCH OF THAT NEW SYSTEM AS WE CAN THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON IMPROVING EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND THIS ONE'S A KEY ONE BECAUSE I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME CHURN IN THE VERY LOW GRADES OF MY DEPARTMENT.

SOME OF MY ENTRY POSITIONS MAY

[01:20:02]

OR MAY NOT BE OUT OF MY CONTROL BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS THE SECURITY UPGRADES FOR THE BADGES AND DOORS.

THAT'S A BIG ONE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DEDICATED A LOT OF FUNDING TO, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING THAT.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE SEE IN THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR, CONTINUED COST INCREASES.

I KNOW WE EXPERIENCE THIS PERSONALLY.

WE SEE IT IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AND EVERY ASK.

JUST EVERYBODY'S EXPERIENCING THIS.

WE STILL, ODDLY ENOUGH, ENCOUNTER SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

WE MAY GO TO BUY A PART AND IT'S ON THE SHELF EVERY TIME WE GO AND THEN SUDDENLY IT'S NOT THERE.

AND THEN WE'RE OUT OF PART FOR THREE, FOUR WEEKS SOMETIMES BEFORE THEY RESTOCK.

WE JUST STILL SEE SOME OF THIS CLUNKINESS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

WE'RE SEEING SOME CODE UPDATES, JUST AS MARK WAS REFERRING TO, HIS OWN CODE UPDATES.

NFPA IS UPDATING ONE OF THEIR CODES THAT IS MOVING SOME OF THE SHOULD INSPECT YOUR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT TO MUST INSPECT YOUR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

AND THAT'LL TIE INTO SOME OF THE POSITION REQUESTS THAT I'VE GOT FURTHER DOWN IN THE SLIDES.

AGAIN, AS I NOTED, STAFF RETENTION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE JUST BECAUSE I CONTINUE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CHURN ON THE VERY, VERY LOW END OF MY SCALE, WHICH, OF COURSE, EVERY PERSON WHO COMES AND GOES CREATES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK, AND IT JUST WEARS ON THE STAFF AND THE PROCESSING OF PAPERWORK, AND NOT ONLY MYSELF AND HR AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

CONTINUING TO GET VENDOR SUPPORT.

WE'VE GOT VENDORS AROUND HERE WHO WOULD LOVE TO HELP US, BUT NOT EVERYBODY IN THIS AREA HAS THE EXPERTISE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO WE COMMONLY HAVE TO LEAN ON COMPANIES OUT OF THE PHOENIX AREA.

AND EVERYBODY SAYS THAT THEY'RE A PARTNER AND THEY'RE WILLING TO COME UP, AND THEN THEY START WANTING TO CHARGE PER DIEM, AND IT JUST COMPOUNDS OUR COSTS.

AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD VENDOR SUPPORT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE FUNDING AVAILABLE AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

AND THEN THE LAST THING.

THING HERE IS THE WORK VOLUME.

AS YOU GUYS HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED AND EVERYBODY'S EXPERIENCED, THERE'S JUST A LOT GOING ON AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST JUST TO KIND OF MANAGE EVERYTHING WE GOT WITH WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.

SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE SEE IN FISCAL YEAR YEAR 27, IMPROVED PUBLIC ACCESS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THIS WAS SPECIFICALLY TIED TO THE STRATEGIC GOALS, AND AS YOU SAW IN SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENT GOALS, IT'S PEPPERED THROUGHOUT THAT.

ENHANCED DOOR SECURITY COUNTYWIDE.

AGAIN, BACK TO THE MAJOR FUNDING COMMITMENT YOU GUYS HAVE MADE, WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THAT TO IMPROVE DOOR SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT MUCH, I THINK, THIS YEAR, IS A SIMPLIFIED PROCUREMENT WITH INCREASED THRESHOLDS.

I'VE RUN INTO THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE THE COST INCREASES HAVE PUSHED US UP TO WHERE I'M FREQUENTLY HITTING THIS COMPETITIVE MARK.

AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR AND EVEN POSSIBLY THE YEAR BEFORE ON WORKING ON SOME OF THESE THRESHOLDS TO MOVE UP SOME OF THE THRESHOLDS TO BETTER ALIGN WITH SOME OF THE INFLATIONARY INCREASES WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE HERE, INCREASE AND IMPROVE SPACE TO BETTER SERVE PUBLIC.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, NOT ONLY IN THE RURAL SERVICES, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF...

WORK THAT WE'LL BE DOING TO BUILDINGS THAT SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENTS, THAT WORK IS WHAT I SEE HERE IN THIS LAST COLUMN.

IT IS IMPROVING BOTH THE SPACE FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO DO THEIR JOB AND THE SPACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME IN AND BE SERVED.

I DON'T HAVE A REVENUE PORTION TO ADD IN HERE.

I AM PURELY AN EXPENSE DEPARTMENT.

MY TOTAL EXPENSES, AS RECOMMENDED THIS YEAR, IS $14 MILLION.

$30,133.

THAT IS AN 8% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR, PRIMARILY SEEN IN UTILITY INCREASES AND VENDOR COST INCREASES.

TOTAL FTE COUNT IS ALMOST 100, 99.904.

THAT'S YOUR CHECK.

YEAH, SO I DID HAVE THE QUESTION.

SO I'M LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS, $160,000 IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR UTILITY INFLATION, AND THEN $100,000 FOR THE INCREASE IN OTHER COSTS.

HOW DID YOU CALCULATE THAT.

THAT SEEMS REALLY PRETTY INTENSE.

I UNDERSTAND HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT YOUR DEPARTMENT MORE THAN OTHERS, BUT COULD YOU JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THOSE INCREASES SPECIFICALLY? CERTAINLY.

WELL, THE BIGGEST ONE ACTUALLY THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS APS IS LOBBYING FOR A 14% RATE INCREASE THIS COMING YEAR.

THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A LARGE RATE INCREASE LAST YEAR, OR WAS IT THE YEAR BEFORE? AND WE FORECASTED THAT, BUT WE ACTUALLY UNDER FORECAST.

AND SO LAST FISCAL YEAR AS THE YEAR CLOSED, I BELIEVE I WAS $200,000 OVER BUDGET ON THE ELECTRICITY.

AND SO MY $160,000 INCREASE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO COVER ALL OF THAT SHORTAGE.

THE PROBLEM WITH FACILITIES AND UTILITIES LIKE THAT IS I NEVER KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

IT GOES UP AND DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

SOME YEARS ARE WORSE THAN OTHERS.

I HAVE TO BELIEVE WE'RE GOING

[01:25:01]

TO HAVE ANOTHER WARM YEAR LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.

SO WE'LL PROBABLY SEE DECREASED NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION, LESS HEATING THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN.

I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE A SURPLUS IN THAT.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT I'M USING TO OFFSET THAT $200,000 SHORTAGE IN ELECTRICITY.

BUT WITH THE WARMER SEASON COMES MORE AC USAGE, AND THAT AC USAGE REALLY HITS THE ELECTRICITY HARD.

AND SO I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED EVEN WITH THESE INCREASES IF I'M STILL IN THE RED IN MY ELECTRICAL ACCOUNT, BUT HOPEFULLY REALIZING SAVINGS IN SOME OF MY OTHERS TO TRY TO BALANCE THAT OUT.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? THIS MIGHT BE FOR KEVIN. THEY ACTUALLY HAD A DECREASE IN FTES.

I MEAN, DID THEY LOSE A PERSON OR WAS THAT JUST AN FTE ADJUSTMENT FOR TIME? THEY DID LOSE.

I BELIEVE WE TRADED TWO FOR ONE POSITION IN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO TALK ABOUT THIS IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CAPITAL AS ITS OWN ANIMAL AT SOME POINT BUT THE MAYOR SUBSTATION LIBRARY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT MORE AT SOME POINT BECAUSE I ALSO SEE THAT THE JUSTICE CENTER DOWN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY BURSTING AT THE SEAMS. AND THE WAY IT'S LAID OUT IS A FUNCTIONAL PROBLEM.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAYOR AT SOME POINT AND THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

I THINK WE NEED TO DELVE INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE AND HAVE THE JUSTICE CENTER BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I THINK WE'RE SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, AND BRANDON WILL BE BACK TO DISCUSS THAT ALSO.

CORRECT? YES, TOMORROW.

OH, SORRY.

NO, TOMORROW AT 1130 WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS FILED BY CAPITAL.

AND, CHAIRMAN, CAN I JUST ADD SOMETHING? CERTAINLY.

DISCUSSION ON INFLATIONARY COST INCREASES.

IF THEY'RE MINOR, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO JUST TAKE CARE OF IT, BUT IF THEY WERE SIGNIFICANT REQUESTS FOR CHANGES IN BUDGET, WE MADE IT AN EXHIBIT 3, A REQUEST, AND WE WENT THROUGH AND REVIEWED IT, AND BUDGET HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

REALLY GOOD JOB TO TRY TO ADDRESS ARE THEY APPROPRIATE AND THEY DID AGREE WITH THESE AS BEING APPROPRIATE SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY KIND OF LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF IS IT NECESSARY BUT TO BE QUITE FRANKLY THESE FRANK THESE WERE WARRANTED VICE-CHAIR JACK I HAVE AN IN THE WEEDS QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RENOVATING GURLEY STREET I SEE THAT THE BOILER CONTROL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT DIDN'T GET RECOMMENDED YES ACTUALLY I HAVE THAT IS ACTUALLY CAPTURED HERE ON ONE OF MY LATER SLIDES I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY REQUESTS JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT AND AND WITH THE OTHER APARTMENTS IN THERE TOO BUT I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE BECAUSE IN THERE, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, SELIGMAN WAS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED.

THE YARNELL ROOF AND HVAC WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED.

AND DEWEY APO WAS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED.

I ACTUALLY THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, DEPENDING UPON HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CAPITAL PROGRAM, TO HOLD OFF ON THESE FOR A MINUTE.

SO WE'VE GOT TWO OF THEM THAT WERE NOT RECOMMENDED, ONE THAT WAS.

I THINK ALL THREE OF THESE WE COULD SIT ON FOR NOW UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE REASON BEING IN SELIGMAN, IF WE'RE CHASING SOME RURAL SERVICES AND WE'RE POSSIBLY LOOKING AT SOME OTHER BUILDINGS AND MAYBE SOME MAJOR RENOVATIONS UP THERE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MORE APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO THAT WORK.

THAT WAY WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DISPLACE THE EMPLOYEES AND THE SERVICE TO DO THE ROOF AND THEN COME BACK AND DO IT ALL AGAIN WHENEVER THE NEXT PROJECT.

AND THAT REALLY APPLIES TO ALL OF THESE.

THE SAME THING IN YARNELL.

YARNELL BECOMES A FACTOR BECAUSE OF THE WEAVER MOUNTAIN, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING.

IF TRULY THAT GETS BUILT AND YCSO MOVES OVER TO THERE, THEN WE WILL BE REALLOCATING THE SPACE IN THERE AND WE'LL BE DISRUPTING THE ARNELL JUSTICE COURT TO REALLOCATE THAT SPACE.

AND SO THAT ONE, WHEREAS I STILL WANT TO SEE THOSE ROOFS TAKEN CARE OF, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK THE TIMING MAY NOT BE RIGHT.

SO I THINK ALL THREE OF THOSE ARE PROBABLY GOOD TO NOT BE APPROVED AND TO JUST SIT ON THAT UNTIL WE HAVE MORE CLARITY ON EXACTLY THE TIMING.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'LL SEE IS THAT PROBABLY BETTER OFF WRAPPED INTO A BIGGER PROJECT DOWN THE ROAD.

SUPERVISOR MILLER.

YEAH, AND I CAN APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I WILL SAY THAT WHEN WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ROOFS, THAT'S KIND OF CONCERNING TO ME.

SO I'M GUESSING THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THESE ROOFS ARE ABLE TO SUSTAIN FOR A LITTLE LONGER.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY END OF LIFE.

THE HVAC IS END OF LIFE.

WE'RE HAVING TO DO A LITTLE MORE MAINTENANCE.

THE SAME THING ON THE ROOFS.

WE'VE HAD TO DO A COUPLE FEW REPAIRS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR LEAKS.

I'M NOT WORRIED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SUFFERING ANY DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING.

THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I WOULD NOT ALLOW, EVEN IF IT MEANS COMING OUT OF THE MAINTENANCE BUDGET TO

[01:30:01]

ENSURE THAT THE BUILDING IS SOUND NOW.

SO, NO, WE WOULD NOT BE PUTTING ANY OF OUR STRUCTURES IN JEOPARDY.

THAT WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING I WOULD RECOMMEND, EVEN IN THE LEAST BIT.

THEY ARE IN CONDITION THAT IT'S TIME.

IT'S ABOUT TIME.

THE YARNELL ROOF HAS SUFFERED SOME DAMAGE, BUT IT'S NOT LEAKING.

WE HAVE TO GO DOWN AND DO SOME PATCHES OCCASIONALLY, AND I THINK WE CAN STILL MANAGE FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO IN ALL OF THESE BUILDINGS.

UNTIL WE CAN LOOK AT A BIGGER PROJECT.

OKAY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T INCUR ANY MORE DAMAGE OR ANY DAMAGE BY NOT TAKING CARE OF THE ROOFS.

AND I KNOW THAT MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE LOTS OF PASSION FOR THEIR RURAL SERVICES, AND I'M HOPING TO SEE ALL OF THOSE COME FORWARD IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

I KNOW THAT'S A BIG THING TO SAY.

I REALLY SUPPORT THAT FOR ALL OF THEM.

OH, THAT'S PERFECT, AND I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

I AM 100% BEHIND YOU GUYS IN PROTECTING OUR ASSETS.

IT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY DECAY.

AND SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT OFF MAINTENANCE THAT IS ACTUALLY CAUSING FURTHER PROBLEMS. WE THINK WE'VE GOT MORE TIME BEFORE IT BECOMES A PROBLEM, AND SO I THINK WE'RE COMFORTABLE HERE.

2-5, KUDROW.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY, BRANDON, I THINK YOU ARE A MASTER OF LIFE RULE NUMBER THREE, AND THAT'S MAINTAIN A HIGH DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY, AND YOU'RE SHOWING THAT TODAY.

I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US ABOUT THE PRIORITY OF RURAL FACILITIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SERVICES BECAUSE WE SEE HOW BAD THEY ARE.

ONE THING THAT HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND PUT ON THE LIST, SO TO SPEAK, IS OUR MAINTENANCE SHOP NEEDS AN EXPANSION.

WE KEEP ADDING VEHICLES.

AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OVER THERE, BUT THEY ARE REALLY TIGHT.

I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO MAYBE EVEN, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A STRETCH TO DOUBLE IT.

AND THIS WAS MY WHEELHOUSE.

IT'S WHAT I DID FOR A LIVING.

AND I GO IN THERE AND I SEE WHAT THEY GOT, AND IT'S REALLY SET UP WELL.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD THAT, BUT IT NEEDS TO GROW.

AND I DON'T KNOW ON THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT SIDE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ADDING STUFF OVER THERE AS WELL.

SO YOU NEED SPACE INDOORS TO KEEP THIS EQUIPMENT RUNNING, AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB DOING THAT.

YEAH, DON'T DISAGREE.

WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT FLEET MAINTENANCE.

MANAGEMENT, BOTH HEAVY AND LIGHT, AND THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED THERE.

AND I THINK THERE'S ROOM TO DO THAT ON-SITE, ISN'T THERE? THERE IS SOME ROOM.

THEY ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THIS KIND OF EBB AND FLOW AS NEW VEHICLES COME IN, AND THEY'RE GETTING THEM UPFITTED.

THEY GET SWAMPED WITH VEHICLES, AND AS THEY LEAVE, IT EMPTIES OUT A LITTLE BIT.

SO THERE IS SOME CONSIDERATION THERE FOR HOW THEY MANAGE SOME OF THAT.

THEY EVEN HAVE TO USE THE DIRT LOT NEXT TO OUR BUILDING IN ORDER TO STAGE THE AUCTION VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO KEEP IT UP THERE.

PHYSICALLY, YES, THE BUILDING WOULD FIT UP THERE, BUT IT WOULD COMPLICATE SOME OF THEIR OPERATIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH SUPERVISOR HAD ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT THE BOILER CONTROL, BUT THAT IS ONE THAT SUPERVISOR CHECKED.

I APOLOGIZE.

THE BOILER CONTROL SYSTEM IS ONE THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH IT.

BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET JUST BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A PROJECT COMING.

WE'RE A LITTLE UNEASY ABOUT IT.

JUST THE LAST TIME WE HAD TO DO A REPAIR, WE LITERALLY HAD TO BUY PARTS OFF OF EBAY.

AND SO WE'RE AT THAT POINT IN THE LIFE CYCLE OF THIS EQUIPMENT WHERE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND WE SUFFER A FAILURE, WE COULD BE IN A WORLD OF HURT WHERE WE REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

SO IT'S THAT DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.

WE CAN SEE WHERE IT YOU GUYS ARE COMING FROM OR WHERE THE BUDGET OFFICE WAS COMING FROM ON DENYING IT.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH IT, BUT IT DOES LEAVE US A LITTLE EXPOSED FOR SOME RISK THERE.

QUESTION NOW? SO JUST TO RECAP, THE PROPOSED NEW RENOVATION, YOU'D WANT TO DO IT AT THAT TIME.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

DEFINITELY.

IT'S DEFINITELY A VULNERABILITY.

DEFINITELY.

HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VERIFY WITH THE ARCHITECT IF WE COULD DO THIS UPGRADE AND KEEP THAT IN THE RENOVATION.

THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE IF WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

I'D HATE TO JUST THROW MONEY AWAY.

WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT IT TOMORROW TOO, RIGHT? MR. BORDONE? AND THAT WAS THE CONCEPT WHEN WE DISCUSSED IT AT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE IS THAT WE HAVE A PROJECT MOVING FORWARD WITH HIGH PRIORITY ON THIS, AND IT WOULD BE ENCAPSULATED BY THAT PROJECT, NOT DONE SEPARATELY.

SO THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION OF THE COMMITTEE.

AND, CHAIR, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS FITS IN, BUT, I MEAN, HE BROUGHT UP EBAY, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TRAVEL.

SOMEHOW THE ABILITY FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS TO SHOP AROUND FOR BEST PRICE.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO GET, INSTEAD OF JUST GOING THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT DOES IT THIS WAY, IF WE CAN SHOP AROUND, GET A BETTER PRICE, HAVE SOME KIND OF POLICY THAT DOES THAT OR GUIDELINES, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE PENNIES, THE DOLLARS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

THEN THE LAST ONE I'VE GOT ON MY LIST HERE IS THE MAX OCCUPANCY AND EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE PRESCOTT COURTHOUSE.

[01:35:01]

THIS ONE'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING ONE.

WE WERE ACTUALLY CITED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE FOR OCCUPANCY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE SIGNAGE UP THAT MATCHED HOW THEY WERE USING THE ROOMS, AND WHEN WE WENT TO PUT UP THE SIGNAGE TO MATCH HOW THEY WERE USING, WE REALIZED THAT IT DIDN'T ACTUALLY CONFORM WITH CODE, AND SO WE WORKED WITH AN ARCHITECT TO DETERMINE WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO MEET THAT.

IF WE DON'T DO THIS, WE'RE EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COURTS TO REDUCE...

HOW THEY'RE USING SOME OF THESE ROOMS, WHICH MAY IMPACT SOME OF THEIR FUNCTIONALITY, OR POSSIBLY GET WRITTEN UP BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IF WE'VE NOT DONE ANYTHING AND WE'RE STILL USING THEM IN THE SAME CAPACITY.

AGAIN, OUR CONCERN WAS MAYBE A LITTLE BETTER COORDINATION WITH THE COURTS ON THIS AND DISCUSS WHY IT NEEDS TO BE A $235,000 COST.

FOR A CONSULTANT TO DO THE WORK, WE FELT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.

WE WEREN'T IN ANY WAY SAYING IT ISN'T NEEDED TO BE DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED.

WE JUST WANTED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS A MAJOR IMPACT TO THE BUDGET.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, PHIL.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU...

DON'T HAVE REVENUES COMING INTO YOUR DEPARTMENT, WELL, THE COUNTY ARE THE PAYERS OF EVERYTHING IN THE COUNTY.

SO WE PAY FOR EVERYTHING.

SO IT IS GOOD FOR US TO TAKE A PAUSE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE BEST BUCK FOR THE TAXPAYER.

TO MR. BONONE'S POINT, I DO THINK FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ARE WARRANTED.

WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COURTS THAT I THINK WE CAN TRIM DOWN SOME OF THAT SCOPE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT OUT THERE.

THAT THEY DON'T USE SOME OF THOSE ROOMS TO THE CAPACITY THAT WE INITIALLY THOUGHT AND WERE INITIALLY TOLD.

SO I DO THINK WE HAVE SOME ABILITY TO REDUCE SOME OF THAT, BUT DEFINITELY WORTH AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.

I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE POSITION REQUESTS THAT WE HAD MADE.

I HAD MADE QUITE A LENGTHY LIST OF POSITION REQUESTS, INCLUDING THE ASSET MANAGER, HVAC TECH, ELECTRICIAN, PLUMBER, MAINTENANCE JOURNEY, AND A TRADE SPECIALIST.

IT'S REALLY JUST TO KIND OF KEEP UP WITH OUR MAINTENANCE ACROSS THE BOARD.

THE ASSET MANAGER IS TO BETTER UTILIZE OUR PROGRAMMING.

BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HVAC TECH, THE ELECTRICIAN, AND THE PLUMBER POSITIONS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE'RE AT A POINT IN THE...

AT THE COUNTY WHERE WE'VE GOT 930,000 SQUARE FEET OF SERVICEABLE BUILDINGS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THERE'S GENERAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR THESE POSITIONS.

THEY TYPICALLY RANGE IN THE 300,000 SQUARE FOOT PER TECHNICIAN, WHICH BY THAT RULE OF THUMB WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD NEED A LITTLE OVER THREE HVAC TECHNICIANS, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO.

WE WOULD ALMOST NEED THREE ELECTRICAL TECHNICIANS AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE.

AND WE WOULD NEED OVER THREE PLUMBING TECHNICIANS AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS MY STAFF'S AMAZING.

WE RUN ON VERY LITTLE.

WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE WORKING THROUGH THIS.

BUT WE'VE STARTED SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK ON WHY DOES IT TAKE US SO LONG TO GET CERTAIN THINGS FINISHED.

AND IT TENDS TO FOCUS AROUND THESE TRADE POSITIONS BECAUSE THESE POSITIONS NOT ONLY...

CHANGE THE LIGHT BULBS IN AN EXISTING BUILDING WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY ALSO ARE INVOLVED IN SOME OF OUR PROJECTS TO DO SOME OF THE PROJECT WORK TOO.

SO WE'VE GOT THESE POSITIONS REALLY STRETCHED OUT, AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE DELAYS CROP UP.

I'M HOPING YOU GUYS AREN'T HEARING THAT.

I AM STARTING TO HEAR SOME OF THAT, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THAT MESSAGING AND LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.

THE ELECTRICIAN DOES ALSO PLAY INTO THAT COMMENT I MADE ABOUT THE NFPA CODE UPDATES.

HISTORICALLY, NFPA SAYS YOU SHOULD CHECK THESE PANELS, BUT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO A YOU MUST, AND SO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL IS GOING TO COME AROUND AND CHECK FOR THESE PANEL CERTIFICATIONS THAT ARE DONE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY DEPENDING UPON HOW OFTEN THEY'VE BEEN SERVICED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT OUTSOURCING SOME OF THESE ITEMS, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD I STILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE NEED FOR THIS AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW.

WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD POSSIBLY THE MAYBE ANOTHER 80,000 SQUARE FEET WORTH OF SERVICEABLE BUILDING IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, AND MAYBE MORE BEYOND THAT, AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO COMPOUND MY PROBLEM HERE.

SO ANYWAY, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT OR ANY OF THE PROJECTS.

YEAH, SO BRANDON, I CAN SURELY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT RIGHT NOW WE

[01:40:02]

HAVEN'T ACCUMULATED ANY NEW BUILDINGS.

WE STILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT.

OF BUILDINGS, CORRECT? IN FACT, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE KIND OF OFFED SOME PROPERTIES.

WE HAVE NOT OFFED ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN SERVICEABLE.

WE HAVE NET GAINED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

SPECIFICALLY IN THE LAST YEAR, WE ADDED THE NEW PANT LOCATION.

WE ADDED THE ASH FORK LIBRARY AS A LOCATION.

WE'VE ADDED A COUPLE OF, WE'VE EXPANDED PARKS, AND WE'VE ADDED A PARK, AND WE'VE NOT ASKED FOR ANY PERSONNEL FOR ANY OF THAT.

AND SO WE JUST CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE EXISTING WORKLOAD, AND IT AFFECTS TIMING A LITTLE BIT AND LIKE I SAID I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS ARE HEARING IT BUT I'M STARTING TO HEAR A LITTLE WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO GET THAT DONE.

JUST A COMMENT SINCE WE'RE AT THE QUESTIONS PERIOD SO I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER.

BACK IN JANUARY WHEN WE STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS AND I CAME ON BOARD A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE THAT I REVIEWED YOUR BUDGET AND KIND OF MADE KIND OF A THOUGHT PROCESS ON ADDRESSING WHAT YOU BASICALLY HAVE, A REVENUE GAP IN YOUR GENERAL FUND.

MR. SCHULTZ IS NOT EXPRESSING ANYTHING THAT ISN'T VALID ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

THERE ARE NEEDS, I'M SURE, IN EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT COULD BE BROUGHT UP AND WILL BE BROUGHT UP OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS, FOUR DAYS.

I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF GETTING YOU INTO A POINT OF BEING WHERE YOUR GENERAL FUND IS OPERATING ON THE REVENUES THAT'S COMING IN, OR AT LEAST MATCHED UP AND NOT HAVING THAT GAP.

AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE BROUGHT UP JUST THREE CONCEPTS OF TRYING TO, OVER SEVERAL YEARS, GET BACK TO A PLACE WHERE WE MATCH UP AND HAVE REVENUES MATCHING THE OPERATING EXPENSES.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, VERY SIMPLY, YOU KNOW.

ADDRESS YOUR JAIL DISTRICT OFFSET, YOU KNOW, YOUR TRANSFER THAT'S OCCURRING BY HAVING THE PUBLIC APPROVE AN INCREASE IN THE JAIL DISTRICT SALES TAX.

LOOKING AT MAYBE DOING THE FLAT TAX RATE IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE PRIMARY PROPERTY TAX.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, REALLY FOCUSING ON NOT INCREASING ONGOING EXPENSES IN THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THE BIG INCREASE, I HATE TO BE THAT PERSON THAT BRINGS THIS UP.

TO ESPECIALLY TO THE BOARD JUST ALL THE TIME YOU KNOW WHEN YOU INCREASE STAFF YOU DON'T JUST DO THAT STAFF INCREASE THE THE ADJACENT COSTS THAT ARE ONGOING ON ERES WE JUST SAW ONE OF THEM 19% INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE PENSIONS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY UNDER THREAT OF INCREASE AND UNFUNDED LIABILITY INCREASES DUE TO JUST CHANGES IN THE PENSION SYSTEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M THE GUY WHO WILL SIT HERE AND HARP TO YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAUTION AGAINST INCREASING STAFF.

YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU'RE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

THIS IS YOUR BUDGET.

WE'RE LOOKING TO YOU TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS.

I'M GOING TO ALWAYS POINT OUT THOSE ISSUES FROM THE FRAMEWORK OF A BUDGET TO TRY TO CONTAIN IT FOR YOUR FUTURE.

I AM NO WAY I'M SAYING PEOPLE AREN'T NEEDED IN THIS COUNTY.

I WORKED AS A DIRECTOR IN THIS COUNTY FOR MANY YEARS.

BUT I URGE YOU THAT'S THE CONCEPT.

THIS YEAR YOU'LL SEE IN THE GENERAL FUND WE RECOMMENDED ONLY TWO NEW POSITIONS, AN INCREASE IN HOURS TO THE JUVENILE PROBATION COOK POSITION, A NEW MEDICAL EXAMINER.

AND THEN WE ONLY RECOMMENDED TWO POSITIONS BEING TRANSFERRED INTO THE GENERAL FUND FROM A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND THOSE HAD TO DO WITH THE DIVERSION PROGRAM BEING CURRENTLY CONDUCTED BY YOUR YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, A LEGAL AID AND AN ATTORNEY.

AND WE WERE VERY CONSISTENT IN THE COMMITTEE WHEN REVIEWING IT THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU A RECOMMENDATION THAT VERY LIMITED INCREASES.

SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW IT'S I APPRECIATE IT.

I JUST WANTED TO STATE FROM THE BEGINNING WHY THE COMMITTEE PROVIDED YOU THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS, FOUR DAYS.

YOU'LL BE HEARING DEPARTMENTS ABOUT THEIR REQUESTS, NOT ARGUING ABOUT THE NEED IN THE COUNTY, ARGUING MORE FROM A FRAMEWORK OF THE PUBLIC'S MONEY HAS A LIMIT.

AND WE HAVE TO ADVISE YOU ON THAT SO YOU DON'T END UP IN A POSITION IN THE FUTURE WHERE YOU HAVE TO REDUCE STAFF.

SUPERVISOR.

DOWNTURN.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I APPRECIATE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS

[01:45:03]

IN THE PERSONNEL SIDE OF IT.

A COUPLE THINGS WITH THE TRADES.

MY HUSBAND IS A CARPENTER AND A GENERAL CONTRACTOR SO I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRADES AND I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HOLD OFF ON ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS AND HVAC FOLKS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION LATER ON CAPITAL.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT BUILDINGS THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY DO MUCH LAST YEAR, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD OFF ON THESE FOLKS WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE BUILDINGS.

SO WHEN WE KNOW THAT BETTER, I THINK WE CAN RESPOND TO THE TRADES.

BUT I ALSO CAUTION WITH THE TRADES THAT THEY'RE HARDER TO GET THAN IT IS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DOCTOR.

WE HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE STAFF TO DO THIS AND YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSOURCE IT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ALWAYS GET THEM THAT NEXT HOUR.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE AWARE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS QUICK TO GET SOMEBODY AS IF THEY WORKED FOR US.

AND BE PATIENT AND HIRE THEM WHEN WE NEED TO BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPENSIVE.

BUT IT'S ALSO TOUGH TO GET THEM.

TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY ANYWAY.

YEAH, I'D LIKE TO HOLD OFF ON THE DISCUSSION WHEN WE GET PAST CAPITAL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SUPERVISOR JENKINS, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OUTSOURCING, IT PUTS WEALTH BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY, TOO, RATHER THAN INTO GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS ALWAYS GOOD.

I WOULD NEVER BE HERE.

PRESCOTT VALLEY PICKED UP GARBAGE.

BUT ON THE WHOLE THING WITH YOUR STAFFING, HAVE WE EVER EXPLORED AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, MAYBE IN COOPERATION WITH THE COLLEGE, TO GET YOU SOME HELP AT A LOWER COST THAT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE THAT UP, OR WOULD THAT ACTUALLY BURDEN YOUR PEOPLE MORE? THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BURDEN THAT COMES WITH IT IN THE INITIAL ONBOARDING OF AN INTERN.

BUT I DO THINK THERE IS SOME VALUE THERE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE TRADE PROGRAM AND HAVE LEARNED SOME OF THOSE SKILLS.

WE'RE NOT HAVING TO TEACH THEM EVERY SINGLE LITTLE BIT, MORE JUST KIND OF THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE WE'D HAVE TO TEACH THEM.

BUT I WOULD BE VERY OPEN TO SOME INTERNSHIPS IF THAT WAS AVAILABLE.

I KNOW WE WORKED WITH NACOG, AND WE WERE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THAT, AND JUST WE COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE CONTRACTING PART OF IT.

IT GOT FUNNY FOR WHATEVER REASON.

MR. BARDON? THE FOLLOW-UP I WANTED TO POINT OUT.

YES, WHEN YOU...

YOU GO THROUGH AND YOU'RE DOING ADDITIONAL CAPITAL, YOU SHOULD MATCH UP THE MAINTENANCE AND ACTIVITIES THAT NEED TO OCCUR FOR THE BUILDING.

I THINK THAT WAS DONE DURING THE ONBOARDING OF YOUR FACILITY FOR DETENTION.

SO WE DID MATCH UP THE POSITIONS NECESSARY AT THAT TIME.

I DO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE SMALLER INCREASES THAT OCCUR, BUT I DO AGREE WITH THE BOARD THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

FROM THE STANDPOINT WHEN YOU BRING ON NEW FACILITIES, YOU NEED TO ACCOMMODATE NOT ONLY THE FUTURE MAINTENANCE BUT FUTURE OPERATIONAL COSTS.

SO I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT DISCUSSION OCCURRING RIGHT AT THAT TIME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDAN.

APPRECIATE IT.

FLEET MANAGEMENT. MORNING, GIL. THOUGHT THE LIGHT WAS ON.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I'M GIL RIVERA, YOUR FLEET MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR. OUR MAJOR SERVICES, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, PRETTY SIMPLE. WE'RE INTERNAL SERVICES TO THE COUNTY FOR THE DEPARTMENTS.

BASICALLY, WE KEEP THE WHEELS IN MOTION. VEHICLE PROCUREMENT ASSIGNMENTS, PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE, SCHEDULING, ACCIDENT DAMAGE, PREVENTIVE CONTROL, CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE.

ALONG THEM LINES, WE ALSO PROVIDE, WE HAVE TECHNICIANS THAT ARE ON CALL 24 HOURS, 365 DAYS A YEAR. WE DO A LOT OF QUICK FIXES, LIGHT BULBS, WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, FLAT TIRES, WHATEVER THEY NEED. WINDSHIELD REPAIR, WE DO A LOT OF THAT.

WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS. WE ALSO DO FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND REPORTING TO ADEQ. THIS IS VERY, VERY TIME INTENSIVE FOR MYSELF AND MY STAFF. THE STATE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT THERE BE AN OWNER APPOINTED IN WRITING, WHICH IS ME. WE HAD SOME FUEL ISSUES THIS WEEKEND SO ME AND MY STAFF WERE HERE MOST OF THE WEEKEND DEALING WITH THE ALARMS,

[01:50:01]

BUT THAT'S REQUIRED BY ADEQ.

PARTS AND PROCUREMENT AND PARTS INVENTORY. SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS PAST BUDGET YEAR, WE RECEIVED 57 VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS. ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN PUT INTO SERVICE. WE CURRENTLY, I WILL HAVE AN AGENDA COMING TO YOU SOON FOR 44 VEHICLES GOING TO AUCTION. WE ALSO SENT 36 VEHICLES PRIOR TO THIS TO AUCTION, 10 VEHICLES THAT SOLD TO POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, AND ANOTHER ONE OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS MAINTAINING AN AGING FLEET. MY TECHNICIANS PERFORMED 13 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS IN 9 ENGINE REBUILDS, UPPER ENGINE REBUILDS. WE'VE ALSO, I ALSO COLLABORATE WITH DEPARTMENTS REGULARLY AND SOMETIMES THEY HAVE VEHICLES THAT DON'T MEET THEIR NEEDS.

THEY HAVE A SUV, THEY COULD USE A PICKUP, THEY HAVE A SEDAN, THEY COULD USE AN SUV. SO, IF FEASIBLE AND WHEN WE HAVE THE CAPACITY WITHIN OUR FLEET, WE TRY TO REALLOCATE THOSE VEHICLES. I'LL CONTACT OTHER DEPARTMENTS. THAT AREN'T UTILIZING THEM AS SUCH AND WE'LL JUST WE'LL JUST SWAP THEM OUT INTERNALLY AND MY SHOP SUPERVISOR HANDLES A LOT OF THAT AND HE'S REALLY GOOD WITH THAT. OUR GOALS FOR THIS YEAR, PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES. WE WANT TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER SAFE, RELIABLE VEHICLES WITH THE SUPPORT THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR DEPARTMENTS. SO, IN THAT LINE THERE. I'M GOING TO USE BRANDON, FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE PLUMBER'S PACKAGE, THE ELECTRICIAN PACKAGE, THE HVAC PACKAGE. THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES THAT ARE NEEDED TO CARRY THEIR REQUIRED TOOLS, FREON, WIRES, WHATEVER. HE HAS A, EACH DEPARTMENT HAS A LIAISON, SO I WORK WITH THEM AND TRY TO GET THEM WHAT THEY NEED IN THEIR OUTFIT. SO, WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES AND IT'S TURNKEY READY, WE DON'T HAVE TO ORDER A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF AND TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. IT'S READY TO GO. REPLACE OUTDATED AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND ADVANCE TRAINING FOR TECHNICIANS. RIGHT NOW, THE BIGGEST THING WITH OUR SCANNERS IS THE SOFTWARE. SOME OF THE SOFTWARE ONLY COVERS UP TO 2023. SO, WE'RE HAVING TO BUY OTHER SOFTWARE, PURCHASE OTHER SOFTWARE TO UPDATE OUR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM IN ORDER TO READ THE, THE CODES WITHIN THE 2024, 25, AND 26 VEHICLES. WE HAVE PARTNERED UP WITH O'REILLY FOR TRAINING FOR OUR TECHNICIANS. WE DO IT QUARTERLY. WE USE PUBLIC WORKS AS A READY ROOM, AND O'REILLY'S WILL COME. IT'S AFTER HOURS, AND BECAUSE WE PROVIDE THE FACILITY, I WORK WITH ROGER AT PUBLIC WORKS ALL THE TIME TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT INTERFERING WITH ANYTHING. AND WE GET TO SEND FIVE TECHNICIANS TO THE TRAINING FOR FREE. SO, IT'S USUALLY THREE FROM MY SHOP, TWO FROM PUBLIC WORKS. CHALLENGES, I KNOW SUPERVISOR KUKNYO YOU BROUGHT THIS UP, AS WELL AS BRANDON. THE CURRENT LIGHT FLEET FACILITY IS AT ITS MAXIMUM CAPACITY. IT IS NEARING ITS LIMIT TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT NUMBER OF COUNTY-OWNED VEHICLES.

WITH THE GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY AND DEPARTMENTS AND THE COUNTY, IT'S INEVITABLE.

WE NEED, PEOPLE WANT MORE VEHICLES, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED MORE VEHICLES TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR DAILY MISSION, AND WITH THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TECHNICIANS. THE FLEET STANDARD IS 45 VEHICLES PER TECHNICIAN, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 68 TO 70 PER TECHNICIAN. MY STAFF IMPRESSES ME EVERY DAY.

SOMETIMES I LOOK AT THE BOARD AND SEE WHAT'S LINED UP OUTSIDE AND I TELL MYSELF UNDER MY BREATH, NO WAY. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S DONE. SO, I HAVE A GREAT STAFF. OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS COMING YEAR, WE WANT TO SUSTAIN MAINTENANCE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PRACTICES.

THAT'S A REAL BIG THING WITH MY DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT, PEOPLE SHOWING UP THAT HAVE.

AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, A WIPER FELL OFF OR A LIGHT'S NOT WORKING.

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUR PRIORITY. CONTINUED COMMUNICATIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR NEEDS AND DAILY OPERATIONS.

THIS IS BIG. WE'VE STARTED, WITH TYLER'S RECOMMENDATION,

[01:55:02]

WE STARTED WHAT WE CALL A FARB.

IT'S A FLEET ASSET REVIEW BOARD, AND IT'S BASICALLY A LIAISON FROM EACH DEPARTMENT THAT HAS THEIR OWN FLEET. WE TRY TO MEET QUARTERLY. AND DISCUSS THINGS, AND I THINK A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS HAVE CAME OF IT. WE'RE MEETING NEXT MONTH AGAIN, AND WE'RE EXCITED. WE HAVE SOME THINGS ON THE HORIZON, SO ONCE WE FINALIZE THAT, WE'LL BE EXCITED TO BRING IT UP FOR YOU GUYS' APPROVAL.

PROCEED WITH VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS AND UPFITTING.

THAT'S REALLY BIG. I CAN SEE THE LIGHT. I THINK WE'RE, I'M HOPING AFTER THIS YEAR FROM NOT ORDERING VEHICLES FOR A FEW YEARS, I'M HOPING WE MAY, I MAY BE ABLE TO USE THE COMMENT THAT I THINK WE'RE CAUGHT UP, BUT WE WILL SEE. I'M HOPING.

PRESERVE CURRENT FLEET AND DETAILED MAINTENANCE AND CONTINUE THE SCHEDULED QUARTERLY TECHNICIAN TRAINING FOR CONTINUED CERTIFICATION IN MODERN VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS.

MY TECHS ALSO HAVE TO ANNUALLY GO DOWN TO PHOENIX, AND THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR EMERGENCY VEHICLE TECHNICIAN RECERTIFICATION. SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT. THEY HAVE TO GO DOWN TO PHOENIX FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET THAT DONE. THERE'S MY BUDGET SNAPSHOT. MINUS 3%.

THERE'S ANOTHER SNAPSHOT. MOST OF MY BUDGET GOES INTO FUEL, OIL, LUBRICANTS. AUTO PARTS AND SUPPLIES, THAT IS A DECLINE AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT IS DUE TO OUR ROBUST VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, SINCE I BECAME APPOINTED THE DIRECTOR, WE'VE BEEN REALLY, REALLY WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET ALL THOSE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD AND GET NEW VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. SO, I THANK YOU FOR THAT. FLEET MANAGEMENT DOES HAVE A REQUEST FOR $200,743 INCREASE. THIS IS FOR THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS AND UPFITS FOR THIS YEAR.

WITH INFLATION AND THE TARIFFS, I KNOW EVERYBODY'S BEEN HITTING IT, OUR OUTFITS AND PURCHASES FOR VEHICLES HAVE INCREASED APPROXIMATELY 25%. SO, YOU KNOW, YCSO BEING OUR BIGGEST CUSTOMER, THEY'RE ON THE ROAD 24-7, 365 DAYS A YEAR. SO, I'D HATE TO LOSE THE GROUND THAT WE'VE GAINED UP TO THIS POINT. THAT'S WHAT FLEET MANAGEMENT IS REQUESTING THIS YEAR. WE'RE ALSO REQUESTING THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS, IN-GROUND HYDRAULIC LIFTS AT BIRDIE BE REPLACED WITH NEW ABOVE-GROUND LIFTS.

WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET THE LIFTS IN THE PRESCOTT SHOP REPLACED. WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BRANDON'S STAFF.

IT'S GOT TO DO WITH OUR FLOOR HEATING, SO THE ENGINEERS AND BRANDON'S PROJECT MANAGER IS ON IT, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT DONE.

THIS, THE BIRDIE FLEET HAS NO GROUND HEAT, IN GROUND HEAT, SO THIS SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY ONCE, IF APPROVED.

BUT THEM LIFTS WERE PURCHASED, USED IN 05? I WANT TO SAY 05.

THEY WERE 10 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY WERE PURCHASED, SO THEY'RE OVER 30 YEARS OLD.

NOT TO MENTION NOBODY'S USING THEM ANYMORE DUE TO THE EPA. I HAVE SIX ADDITIONAL VEHICLE REQUESTS, ADULT PROBATION REQUESTED TWO VEHICLES, COUNTY ATTORNEY ONE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ONE, PUBLIC WORKS SOLID WASTE, THEY HAVE A FEW VEHICLES THERE, TWO VEHICLES, FACILITIES, TWO VEHICLES WITH A TRAILER AND A SCISSOR LIFT, AND YCSO FIVE VEHICLES FOR A TOTAL OF $774,231. CAN YOU REBUILD THOSE LIFTS? IS THAT SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN JUST REDO THE SEALS AND POLISH THE CHROME? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, IS LAST YEAR'S INSPECTION, WHEN THEY CAME, TWO OF OUR LIFTS NEEDED THE SEALS REPLACED, AND THE LIFT COMPANY COULD ONLY FIND THEM ON THE EAST COAST. AND WE'VE GOT THEM REPAIRED, BUT THEY TOLD US THAT THOSE

[02:00:02]

PARTS ARE OBSOLETE. OKAY. VICE CHAIR CHECK? THAT LIST YOU JUST SHOWED OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS REQUESTING NEW VEHICLES IS NOT IN THIS SECTION.

IS IT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENT'S COST? YES. OKAY, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YEAH, CORRECT. AND NOT ALL OF THEM WERE RECOMMENDED AS WELL, BUT THEY ARE EACH PLACED WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS. SUPERVISOR? YEAH. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO? GIL, YOU RUN A GREAT SHOP. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK MUCH SCARES OUR DEPUTIES, BUT I WAS TALKING VEHICLES WITH THEM THE OTHER DAY, AND THEY SAID, WELL, YOU'RE NOT PROBABLY AFRAID OF GIL. SO APPARENTLY YOU HAVE THE FEAR OF TAKING CARE OF THOSE TRUCKS INTO THE DEPUTIES. SO THAT WAS A GOOD THING. MY ONLY QUESTION TO YOU WAS WE INSTITUTED THE SALE OF VEHICLES TO POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, WHAT I THINK WAS A REALLY SMART MOVE. HOW IS THAT AFFECTING YOUR BUDGET, AND HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT MOVING FORWARD? DO WE HAVE TO BUDGET MONEY FROM US IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE YOU FOR LOSING THAT REVENUE FROM AUCTION? THE REVENUE FROM AUCTION, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, IT DOESN'T AFFECT MY BUDGET. IT GETS DEPOSITED INTO THE GENERAL FUND. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PREPPED AND STRIPPED REGARDLESS WHETHER IT'S GOING TO AUCTION OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. THE ONLY OTHER THING I CAN THINK OF IS JUST THIS. THE TIME WE PUT IN TO GET THE BILL TO SAIL ON THE AGENDA WHICH IS VERY MINOR. SUPERVISOR MALLORY? OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GIL, JUST A QUESTION. YOU BROUGHT UP BRANDON AND HIS, YOU KNOW, HE HAS THESE REQUESTS REGARDING DIFFERENT POSITIONS, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS.

BUT YOU BROUGHT UP THE THING ABOUT THE VEHICLE. SO JUST A QUESTION. LET'S SAY SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE APPROVED OR WHAT HAVE YOU. DOES A VEHICLE GO WITH EVERY, EVERY POSITION IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS OR I MEAN YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT THERE.

OH, SO YOU HAVE FACILITIES TO VEHICLES? THESE ARE FOR HIS POSITIONS, MA'AM. THE NEW ONES? NEW POSITIONS? YES, MAAM. SO, THIS IS FOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS. SO, THESE ARE FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE ALREADY CURRENTLY NOW OPERATING IN OUR FLEET. RIGHT. THE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES WOULD BE TO FOR HIS POSITIONS FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS POSITIONS. OKAY SO THAT'S MY THAT WAS MY QUESTION. YES MA'AM.

WE'RE GETTING A NEW PERSON BESIDES THE BENEFITS WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT A VEHICLE.

CORRECT. EVERY DEPARTMENT WITH A NEW POSITION THAT REQUIRES ONE THEY SEND THIS TO ME. I SEE OKAY WELL ON ANOTHER NOTE YOU DO A GREAT JOB I ALWAYS APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU THE WAY THAT YOU KEEP SUPPORTING THE COUNTY WITH EVERYTHING.

SO, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, YOUR STAFF. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO. AND I JUST GOT ONE MORE QUESTION, GIL. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT LAST SLIDE THAT YOU HAD? YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SHERIFF NEEDS TO JUMP IN THEIR CAR, THEY NEED TO TURN THE KEY, AND IT NEEDS TO START. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE ADULT PROBATION, COUNTY ATTORNEY, CAN WE TREAT THEM LIKE THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH CHILD AND SEND SOME OF THOSE VEHICLES DOWN THE ROAD? OR ARE THEY JUST REALLY, TRULY READY TO BE GONE? SO, THESE ARE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL POSITION REQUESTS.

MAYBE THEY JUST NEED AN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE. I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

WELL, CAN SOME COME OUT OF THE AUCTION LINE AND GO TO ADULT PROBATION? WITH THE MILEAGE ON THESE VEHICLES RIGHT NOW, SIR, THEY WOULD REALLY BE A COST AND LABOR INTENSE BURDEN.

GOTCHA. WE DID THAT FOR SO LONG, AND WE'VE REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING UP WITH AN AGING FLEET, AND I THINK WE'RE READY RIGHT NOW TO MAKE THE MOVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND TRYING TO GET OUR THRESHOLD OF 125,000-MILE REPLACEMENT DOWN TO 100,000. SUPERVISOR JENKINS, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOUR GUYS ARE GREAT. I'M ONE OF THE ONES WITH A BROKEN WINDSHIELD. THEY'RE TERRIFIC.

WHENEVER I NEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN, I MEAN, WITHIN A DAY THEY SCHEDULED ME.

THE GAS PUMPS ALWAYS WORK FOR ME. I USE BOTH SIDES ALL THE TIME. I JUST WANT TO SAY KUDOS FOR YOUR WHOLE TEAM. THE ONE THING I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE NAVIGATION BUILT INTO MY VEHICLE. I GET LOST FAR TOO OFTEN. AND I DON'T WANT TO HOOK MY PHONE UP. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BRAIN CELLS FOR THAT.

SORRY, FOLKS. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU GUYS ARE

[02:05:01]

TERRIFIC. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE WHOLE TEAM. THE GUYS ARE GREAT IN THE SHOP. THANK YOU. I DON'T NEED NAVIGATION.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TELLING ME WHERE TO GO. MR. BOURDON? JUST A CLARIFICATION. THE SCISSOR LIFT AND ONE TRAILER AND FACILITIES, THAT WAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

ALL THE OTHERS ARE JUST IF YOU APPROVED A POSITION THAT REQUIRED IT. SO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEARON THAT. THANK YOU. THIS IS PART OF THE ADDITIONAL COST THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YES, THANK YOU.

I'M JUST CLARIFYING. THE VEHICLES, WHEN THEY'RE PRESENTING TO US AND THEY HAVE A NEW POSITION, WITH THAT POSITION, LET'S SAY THERE'S A VEHICLE, ARE THEY TALKING TO US ABOUT THE VEHICLE, OR IS IT GOING TO BE GIL GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE VEHICLE? JUST TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I'M ASKING HIM ABOUT THESE NEW POSITIONS IN, YOU KNOW, THE FACILITIES BUT I DON'T REMEMBER DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER BRANDON SAYING ABOUT VEHICLES, BUT I GOT THE VEHICLES OVER HERE. SORRY. SO, YEAH ESSENTIALLY BOTH AS THESE POSITIONS COME UP, WE'LL FLAG THAT MORE GOING FORWARD THOSE COSTS AGAIN ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE EXHIBIT THREE BOAT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE POSITION REQUESTS, WE'LL ITEMIZE THOSE OUT FURTHER FOR AWARENESS AND DISCUSSION. I MUST ALSO, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS EARLIER WHEN HR WAS UP, BUT HUMAN RESOURCES. FLEET FACILITIES, ITS, ALL OF THEM HAVE OUR CENTRAL SERVICES VETTED AND ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE THE FIRST FILTER AND A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS.

SO, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE EFFORT THEY PUT INTO THE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS.

SORRY, CHAIR. ONE MORE. NO, OF COURSE. I'M SORRY. SO, KEVIN, SO WHEN YOU HAVE A DIRECTOR PRESENTING TO YOU, DID BRANDON? I DON'T THINK BRANDON BROUGHT UP THE VEHICLE OR THE TRAILER. DID YOU SAY YOU APPROVED SOME OF BRANDON'S? YES, THAT TRAILER WAS APPROVED.

IT IS ON THE LIST, BUT I THINK BECAUSE HE HAD CLOSE TO 20 REQUESTS, HE KIND OF CONDENSED THAT PRESENTATION.

BUT WE CAN MAKE SURE GOING FORWARD FOR EACH PRESENTATION THAT EVERY APPROVED ITEM IS PRESENTED. YEAH, AND ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WHEN YOU, SO WE DON'T HAVE WITH 20 REQUESTS AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM DIDN'T GET APPROVED BUT THERE WERE GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPENED AND WE DID GET SOME VEHICLES THERE AND I JUST THINK IT'D BE KIND OF A GOOD THING NOTHING ON YOU FOR THE DIRECTOR TO YOU KNOW LET US KNOW THAT I'M JUST, JUST MY PERSONAL. JUST A MINCING OF WORDS RECOMMENDED NOT APPROVED BECAUSE WE ARE THE APPROVERS AND THEY ARE NOT.

CORRECT, YES AND THANK YOU.

JUST A QUESTION. SO, PER YOUR POLICY FOR THE SALE OF SURPLUS VEHICLES TO POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, THE BOARD CAN ALLOCATE UP TO 10 VEHICLES PER FISCAL YEAR TO DO THAT. WE'RE ASSUMING THAT THAT IS THE CASE GOING FORWARD, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO LET US KNOW IF THERE'S LESS THAN THAT. ANY THOUGHTS FROM THE BOARD ON THAT? I THINK IT'S GOOD. IT MAKES US INVESTIGATE IT A LITTLE BIT, AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS AS WELL. I'VE GOTTEN GREAT FEEDBACK THAT ITS REALLY HELPING SERVICES BEING PROVIDED, SO I'M HAPPY WITH THE PROGRAM AS IT IS.

YEAH, NO, IT'S GREAT. I HAD AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION WITH ACTUALLY SOMEBODY IN JEROME AT THE LAPD CONFERENCE I WENT AND SPOKE AT ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT ACTUALLY HELPED THEM.

AND THEY COULD USE THAT VEHICLE, AND THEY COULD USE THAT SINCE THEY HAD THAT VEHICLE, THEY COULD SPEND THE MONEY THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND ON MAINTENANCE FOR THAT VEHICLE, BUT THEY COULD SPEND IT ON THE EXISTING FLEET THAT THEY HAD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SMALL IN JEROME. GIVING THEM THE VEHICLE, GIVING THEM THE SPARE CASH TO UPFIT THE OTHER VEHICLES THEY HAD. SO, IT'S A FABULOUS PROGRAM. CHAIRMAN, CAN I JUST, I WANT TO CLARIFY, AND THIS CONVERSATION HAS KIND OF COME UP, IS YOU'RE HEARING FROM YOUR FLEET DIRECTOR AND FACILITIES DIRECTOR DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL INTERCONNECTED. WHEN A DEPARTMENT COMES IN AND ASKS FOR AN ADDITIONAL POSITION, IT COMES THROUGH THE INTERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS WITH BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALL ENCOMPASSING, THAT WHEN YOU SEE A POSITION THAT'S REQUESTED BY FACILITIES, THAT IT HAS EVERY COST IN IT.

SO, IF THEY NEED A POSITION, IT'S COMING THROUGH YOUR FLEET. AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HEARING IT DISCUSSED SEVERAL TIMES. WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO MAP THAT OUT THROUGH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. SO, GIL IS TRYING TO BRING UP THAT THESE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE ASKED FOR POSITIONS THAT YOU MAY SEE, SORRY, VEHICLES MATCHING UP WITH POSITIONS OR NOT.

BUT IT ALL IS IN THAT BUDGET OF THAT DEPARTMENT. IF YOU REQUESTED AND APPROVED A POSITION, IF THE BOARD APPROVED IT, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THAT FULL COST IN THAT BUDGET ALLOCATED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HEARING IT

[02:10:01]

IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT ONE STATISTIC RE-SPOKE BY YOU. HOW MANY VEHICLES PER TECHNICIAN IS IT TYPICALLY, AND WHERE ARE WE AT RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING VEHICLES TO THAT NUMBER AS WELL. JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE AND BREAK IT DOWN, YOU KNOW, WITHIN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THEY HAVE A BUILDING INSPECTOR THAT'S REQUESTED. THAT IS A $151,000 LINE ITEM. IT WASN'T RECOMMENDED, BUT WITHIN THAT LINE ITEM, THERE'S $50,000 TACKED ON TO THE SALARY AND ALL THE OTHER EXTRAS THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE VEHICLE, RIGHT? THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH. THE, THE FLEET STANDARD IS 45 VEHICLES PER TECHNICIAN FOR LIGHT FLEET. CURRENTLY 68 TO 70. OKAY, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, GIL.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. I DO MY BEST.

NO, I MEANT. GOOD MORNING, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M JARED PHELAN, THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER HERE IN ITS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ITS BUDGET. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF SHOW YOU WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO. ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS ALL OF THIS BUDGET PREPARATION HAS GONE ON FOR MANY MONTHS. AND THE CULMINATION OF THIS IS TODAY, BUT I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR ALL OF THE EFFORTS AND HARD WORK THAT THEY PUT INTO THIS.

SO, THE FIRST THING I WANT TO KIND OF SHOW YOU IS OUR MAJOR SERVICES, JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW THROUGH AN ORG CHART. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM STARTING ON THE LEFT SIDE TAKES CARE OF ALL THE NETWORKS, THE SERVERS, AND CLOUD SERVICES AS WELL AS SECURITY DEVICES, ADMINISTRATION. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICES TEAM WHICH IS OUR SERVICE DESK AND OUR CLIENT SERVICES TEAM, WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST AND SECOND LEVEL SUPPORT FOR CALLING IN FOR PROBLEMS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. OUR BUSINESS SERVICES TEAM HANDLES THE BUSINESS FUNCTIONS OF OUR DEPARTMENT, BEING THAT OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTING, BUDGET, PROCUREMENT, BUSINESS ANALYSTS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR CYBERSECURITY TEAM, WHICH WAS ONE PERSON TEAM NOT TOO LONG AGO AND THROUGH SOME INTERNAL MOVEMENTS WE HAVE TURNED THAT NOW INTO A FOUR-PERSON TEAM AND NEED EVERY ONE OF THEM AND THEN FINALLY BUT NOT LAST BUT NOT LEAST FOR SURE WE HAVE OUR NEWLY CREATED DATA SERVICES TEAM WHICH WHEN WE GIS CAME INTO THE ITS DEPARTMENT ONE OF MY VISIONS WAS HOW DO I KIND OF KEEP THEM PRODUCING THE SAME THING THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST PHENOMENAL AND WHAT CAN WE ADD TO THEIR PLATE TO EXPAND SERVICES IN DIFFERENT AREAS. SO, ONE OF THE THOUGHTS WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, DATA ANALYTICS AND REPORTING TO HELP OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GET MORE OUT OF THE DATA THAT THE COUNTY HAS. AND THEY ALSO HAVE DEVELOPMENT AND DATABASE ADMINISTRATION IN THERE. AND JUST ONE QUICK COMMENT, THE STAFF IS A 47-MEMBER TEAM AND THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES THAT FOCUS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND ULTIMATELY SOLUTIONS FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS. SO, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THEM JUST FOR TIME, BUT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM GOING LIVE.

THAT WAS A GREAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN OR AMONG OUR FINANCE AND HR DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS MOST DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE THIS IS A CENTRAL APPLICATION AND IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND THIS HAS FREED UP A LOT OF RESOURCES ON-PREM. IT'S MORE STABLE, AND NOW WE HAVE CLOUD ACCESS WHICH IS A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THIS. ANOTHER BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT IS OUR SECONDARY INTERNET CONNECTION. WE HAVE RECENTLY DONE SOME FAILOVER AND FAILBACK TESTS AND AS WE RELY ON THE INTERNET FOR ALMOST 100% OF WHAT WE DO, HAVING THAT ABILITY TO FAILOVER IN A TIME OF NEED IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS RESILIENCY. AND JUST WANTED TO THROW A FEW SLIDES YOUR WAY.

SO AS, AS WE COME TO YOU WITH ITEMS AND THEN YOU APPROVE THEM, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A GREAT MECHANISM TO COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE DID AND THIS IS THE RESULT OF THAT. SO, OUR EMAIL SYSTEM, EMAIL SECURITY SYSTEM, WHERE MOST HACKS, MOST PHISHING ATTEMPTS, MOST THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO DESTROY AN ORGANIZATION FROM A CYBERSECURITY PERSPECTIVE, ALL START WITH EMAIL. AND THIS WAS STAGGERING TO ME, BUT 9.3

[02:15:02]

MILLION EMAILS CAME INTO OUR SYSTEM. AND THROUGH THE VARIOUS TOOLS THAT WERE APPROVED, WE KNOCKED OFF ABOUT 5.3 MILLION THROUGH MOSTLY AUTOMATED CAPABILITIES, BUT SOME MANUAL PROCESSES. AND THEN ULTIMATELY DELIVERED 4 MILLION GOOD EMAILS TO COUNTY INBOXES. SO, THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S GENERATING IS REALLY QUITE STAGGERING. THIS IS JUST A QUICK SLIDE TO SHOW YOU THE VOLUME OF SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDE TO ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER IT'S REQUESTS OR SUPPORT NEEDS OR CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM, THE NUMBERS AREN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE HERE. THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE IS THE CONSISTENCY, THAT SHEER VOLUME. AND AS WE'VE MOVED POSITIONS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND NOT ADDED POSITIONS TO OUR DEPARTMENT, THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO AND STAY ON TOP OF.

BUT THE REASON THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS WAS ACTUALLY THROUGH A COUPLE OF INITIATIVES. AND YOU'VE SEEN THE RESULT OF THESE INITIATIVES RIGHT HERE, WHICH ARE OUR LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT FOR DEVICES, OUR LEASING MODEL FOR PCS, KEEPING THOSE UP TO DATE AND MODERN, DECREASED SUPPORT NEEDS. AND ALSO AUTOMATED TOOLS TO ALLOW REMOTE SUPPORT AND AUTOMATED INSTALLATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T REQUIRE US TO GO TO THE DESK OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING. AND SO, THIS REALLY IS SHOWING YOU FROM THE TIME THAT A CUSTOMER PUTS A TICKET IN TO THE TIME THAT WE SOLVE IT HAS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE YEARS, AND WE ATTRIBUTE IT TO THOSE TWO SPECIFIC THINGS.

SO WHEN WE THINK OF GIS, WE THINK OF MAPS BUT GIS DOES A SIGNIFICANT MORE WITH THE DATA IN THE COUNTY THAN MAPS AND THIS IS JUST TO SHOW YOU ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT GIS INTERFACES WITH AND THIS PLUS THEIR ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS FOR OVER 10,000 HOURS OF OR 10,000 FTE HOURS WHICH IS A DEFINITELY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT SO THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE HAVE ARE NUMEROUS, ESPECIALLY AS ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING AI INITIATIVES AND THE LACK OF TRUST AND THE FEAR OF THOSE. I, TOO, HAVE A VERY HEALTHY FEAR OF AI AND WHAT IT'S DOING TO THE INDUSTRY, REALLY. AND THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO KIND OF POINT TO IS THE CHIP SHORTAGE. SO AS AI IS BUILDING, THEY ARE STEALING EVERYTHING, AND IT'S AFFECTING PURCHASES FOR CARS, COMPUTERS, AND EVERYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES THAT HAVE SOME TYPE OF COMPUTER CHIP IN THEM. AND THAT IN TURN IS INCREASING OUR COSTS, MAKING PRODUCT AVAILABILITY VERY DIFFICULT, AND ULTIMATELY KIND OF PUTTING A VERY HUGE STRAIN ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH VARIOUS INITIATIVES. THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS IS INCREASED CYBERSECURITY ATTACKS, AND REALLY, I WOULD SAY IT'S KIND OF TWOFOLD. ONE WOULD BE BECAUSE OF AI, CYBERSECURITY ATTACKS ARE NOW FASTER AND CONSISTENT BECAUSE MACHINES DON'T SLEEP, THEY CONSISTENTLY ARE ATTACKING, AND THEY ALLOW HACKERS TO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND CAPABILITIES, BUT THE COMPLETE TOOL SET TO DO THAT. AND THEN ALSO, WHEN THE IRAN CONFLICT STARTED, WE NOTICED A 350% SPIKE IN PHISHING ATTEMPTS COMING AT THE COUNTY. SO AS THOSE KIND OF WORLD CONFLICTS HAPPEN, INCREASED CYBERSECURITY ATTACKS ARE ON THE RISE. WITH ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES, THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY, AND THEY KIND OF FIT INTO THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST ONES I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE IMPROVEMENT ON SERVICE PERFORMANCE AND RESILIENCY. SO, AS I MENTIONED ABOUT THE SECONDARY INTERNET CONNECTION, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR SERVICES ARE THERE, THAT PEOPLE CAN ACHIEVE THEM WHEREVER THEY ARE, WHETHER THEY'RE HOME, AT THE OFFICE, OR MOVING AROUND.

BUT THEN THE FOLLOW-UP TO THAT IS HOW DO WE MAKE THEM PERFORM WELL? HOW DO THEY GO? FASTER, BETTER, AND ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE. SO THAT'S A FOCUS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR. AND THEN I'VE DISCUSSED THE DATA ANALYTICS AND REPORTING. AS WE START TO GROW OUR DATA SERVICES TEAM, THIS IS GOING TO BE A FOCUS FOR US MOVING FORWARD. SO, THE ITS BUDGET, THE REVENUE IS A LITTLE MISLEADING. THAT'S REALLY AUCTION PROCEEDS AND THEN SOME INITIATIVES THAT GIS HAS WITH NON-COUNTY ENTITIES.

SO, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT DOING BAKE SALES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TRYING TO GET MORE MONEY FOR THE COUNTY BUT WE MIGHT WE MIGHT START.

BUT SO, THIS YEAR OUR TOTAL EXPENSES WILL BE JUST OVER 12 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH IS A 2% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR AND IN ITS THIS IS EXCLUDING THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SIDE WE HAVE 43 EMPLOYEES AND OVER IN RECORDS MANAGEMENT, OUR

[02:20:01]

COSTS HAVE STAYED PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. IT'S NOT AN AREA THAT WE INCUR A LOT OF COSTS, BUT THERE IS MAINTENANCE ITEMS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THERE'S FOUR TOTAL FTES THERE. SO, ON THE COUNTY MANAGER-RECOMMENDED ITEMS, THESE ARE THE EXHIBIT 3S.

SERVER INFRASTRUCTURE, AS OUR FLEET OF SERVERS AGES, WE NEED TO REPLACE THEM. THIS IS THE MONEY TO TRY AND ACCOMPLISH THAT NEXT FISCAL YEAR. BADGER READERS TO IT LOCATIONS TO MEET AUDITOR DEMANDS AND JUST BEST PRACTICES AND THEN RECLASSIFICATIONS FOR VARIOUS POSITIONS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND HERE ARE TWO THAT DID NOT MAKE THE COUNTY MANAGERS LIST AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER OF FUNDS AND MORE, MORE REQUESTS THAN THERE ARE FUNDS, BUT THESE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I STILL WANT TO KEEP ON THE RADAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NEEDS.

DEPARTMENTAL APPLICATION INCREASES ARE ESSENTIALLY, AS A DEPARTMENT ADDS MORE CAPABILITIES WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT, THOSE COSTS COME INTO THE ITS BUDGET. IF THERE'S INCREASED VENDOR COSTS, THOSE COSTS COME INTO THE ITS BUDGET, AND THEY ADD UP TO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT. WE DID OUR BEST TO FIT THOSE INCREASES IN OUR BUDGET NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BUT THIS IS THE REMAINING AMOUNT. AND THEN THE WORKSTATION REPLACEMENT YEAR FOUR. THAT'S ALSO ONE THAT WE WILL HAVE, IT'S MORE OF A REQUIREMENT FOR US TO DO A REPLACEMENT OF ALL THE DEVICES. THIS IS OUR FOURTH AND FINAL OUT OF A FOUR-YEAR CYCLE. SO, I WHIPPED THROUGH THAT PRETTY QUICKLY.

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN ADDRESS OR ANSWER? SUPERVISOR JENKINS. YOU HAD FTES AT 43, OUR BOOK SAYS 47? CORRECT.

SO, 47 WOULD BE THE COMBINATION OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND ITS.

OKAY, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO? THANK YOU SO MUCH. SURE. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS I'M GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH, BECAUSE LUNCH IS HERE, I'VE BEEN TOLD. AND THEN WHEN IT ARRIVES, IT ARRIVES. AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL DO, COME BACK AT 12.15. OKAY, THANK YOU. EVERYBODY DISAPPEARED.

WE'RE BACK IN SESSION. MOVING ON. GOOD MORNING, JUDD. YEAH, YOU GOT TO PRESS YOUR MIC.

IT'S AFTERNOON NOW, RIGHT? YES, IT IS. YOU GUYS BACK FROM YOUR LUNCH AND NOW EVERYBODY'S IN A FOOD COMA, RIGHT? PERFECT. YOUR TURN. OH, THANK YOU. WELL, CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, THAT'S A TONGUE TWISTER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUDD SIMMONS, ASSESSOR. I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION TODAY, SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM OUR DEPARTMENT AND FIRE AWAY WITH QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD THIS YEAR. SO, MAJOR SERVICES OF THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. WE DISCOVER, APPRAISE, AND UNIFORMLY VALUE ALL TAXABLE AND NON-TAXABLE PARCELS IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. WE PRODUCE AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT ROLE FOR THE PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. AND WE DETERMINE THE NAMES OF ALL PERSONS WHO OWN, CLAIM, AND POSSESS OR CONTROL PROPERTY IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. AND WE JUST MAILED OUT BACK IN FEBRUARY 170,000 NOTICES OF REAL PROPERTY. SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE THE VOLUME THAT WE HAVE. DEPARTMENT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE MAINTAIN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH STATE VALUATION STANDARDS, ENSURING FAIR TAXATION, AND THAT'S THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. STAFF COMPLETED KEY APPRAISAL TRAINING TOTALING 945 HOURS.

WE PROCESSED 4521 PERMITS AND OVER 7800 IMPROVEMENT UPDATES AND WE HAVE 20 APPRAISERS ON STAFF THAT HANDLE THAT. WE HANDLED 11,662 ADDRESS CHANGES AND 17,739 PHONE CALLS.

TRANSFERRED 2,000 PARCELS A MONTH AND CREATED 1,415 NEW PARCELS OF OVER 10,000 ACRES OVER THE LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR, WITH LAST YEAR'S WORK, WE ENDED UP AT A RECORD LOW APPEAL COUNT.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO END UP AROUND 70 APPEALS THIS YEAR

[02:25:02]

FOR LAST YEAR'S VALUES. SO, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE. AND DEPARTMENT GOALS FOR 2027, CONTINUE IMPROVING VALUATION MODELS FOR MORE ACCURATE STANDARD COMPLIANT VALUES, SUPPORT ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICERS DESIGNATIONS AND RESTRUCTURE OF OUR CAMA DIVISION WHICH IS OUR COMPUTER ASSISTED MASS APPRAISALS WITH NEW LEADERSHIP AND IMPROVE TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND COHESION. SOME CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE NOT UNLIKE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. CONTINUE RISING COSTS FOR OUT-OF-COUNTY TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION.

SO, WE USED TO HOST ONE OF THE APPRAISAL COURSES THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE PUTS ON FOR OUR LEVEL ONE APPRAISERS WHICH SAVED US A LOT OF MONEY, TRAVEL, HOTEL, ALL THAT AND UNFORTUNATELY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE DOES NOT WANT TO HOST, HAVE US HOST IN IN PRESCOTT ANYMORE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEND EVERYONE DOWN TO PHOENIX LIKE THE OLD DAYS. SO THOSE COSTS ARE GOING UP. THAT'S ENOUGH ALDO. REALLY? YOU COULDN'T HAVE PICKED ANOTHER TIME TO DO THAT? THEY'RE ALL LOOKING AT TYLER, YOU KNOW THAT. OKAY, CONTINUING ON.

STAFF VACANCIES, NEW HIRES, INCREASING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, ALSO A CHALLENGE. MANAGING WITH FEWER STAFF DESPITE INCREASING POPULATION AND PARCEL COUNTS AND PERMITTING, LIKE MARK INDICATED EARLIER TODAY, AND SUSTAINING EFFICIENCY AMID AGING OFFICE INFRASTRUCTURE.

ARE YOU DOING IT NOW? THIS IS WHY I PUT HIM LAST. AT LEAST HE'S WEARING A COAT AND NOT SHORTS. SO, AND WITH LIMITED SPACE WE WERE PRETTY TAPPED OUT IN OUR IN OUR OFFICE AS FAR AS SPACE GOES. WELL LET ME JUMP INTO THE BUDGET REAL QUICK.

WE'RE JUST A SEVEN PERCENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.

EIGHTY NINE PERCENT OF HIS PERSONNEL. BULK OF THE 7% INCREASE IS PERSONNEL, AS INDICATED EARLIER, HEALTH CARE, MERIT, AND COST OF LIVING. WE HAVE SMALL INCREASE IN TRAVEL AND TRAINING COSTS, AS I JUST MENTIONED. AND THEN NON-PERSONAL EXPENSES INCLUDE SMALL INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS AND POSTAGE. SO THAT'S THE BULK OF THE INCREASE OF THE 7%. I'LL YOU KNOW NINE ALMOST NINETY PERCENT PERSONNEL AND THEN OUR REQUESTS, WE JUST HAVE A SMALL REQUEST OF RECLASS OF SOME STAFF POSITIONS WE WANT A MODELING SPECIALIST CONVERTED TO A CAMERA MANAGER AND THEN AN APPRAISER SUPERVISOR TO APPRAISER THREE SO ONE GOES UP ONE GOES DOWN AND THESE TWO ENHANCEMENTS ARE OFFSETTING AND PRETTY MUCH BUDGET NEUTRAL.

YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

I'VE GOT A LITTLE PIE CHART.

GIL HAD HIS EARLIER, SO HERE'S MINE. THE BLUE, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS STAFF, AND THE REST IS WHERE WE OPERATE.

SO, QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I HAVE ONE QUESTION. HOW MANY OF THOSE 70 APPEALS DO YOU LOSE? NOT TOO MANY. DO YOU LOSE SOME? YEAH, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. OKAY. I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS OF LOSS. YEAH, SO IT'S PROBABLY 5%, BECAUSE WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB. A LOT OF IT'S NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE DO AND THE TAXPAYER NOT PROVIDING THE ACCURATE INFORMATION, COMPARABLE SALES, WHATEVER, INCOME DATA, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO OKAY THANK YOU MOST OF THE TIME IT'S

[02:30:01]

IT'S NOT A WIN OR LOSE IT'S A COMPROMISE. YEAH, IT'S NOT WINNING OR LOSING YOU'RE RIGHT RIGHT YEAH SO YOU KNOW WE BELIEVE ME IF WE'RE IF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG AND OR IF THE TAXPAYER IS IS CORRECT AND WE WERE HAPPY TO ADJUST IT SO.

VICE CHAIR CHECK? I APPRECIATE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW YOUR APPROACH OF REALLY TRYING TO BE A NET NEUTRAL FROM A FISCAL IMPACT IT'S WONDERFUL AND SINCE YOU'RE HERE, I WONDERED IF YOU WOULDN'T JUST TOUCH ON THE ITEM THAT WASN'T RECOMMENDED, THE STAFF BREAK ROOM, AND JUST THE NEED THERE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND. YEAH, SO AGAIN, WE'RE PRETTY FULL OVER THERE. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE. WE WERE TRYING TO REORGANIZE SOME OF OUR STORAGE. A LOT OF THE CABINETS IN THE BREAK ROOM ARE DATED, AND I THINK WE WERE LOOKING AT TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT BACK THERE AS FAR AS YOU KNOW OUR SUPPLIES AND WE, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN OUR OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR AISLES HAVE FILE CABINETS WITHIN OUR AISLES SO WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT MOVING SOME OF THAT STUFF AROUND AND AND FREEING UP SOME SPACE FOR STAFF AND YOU KNOW, GETTING THE SINK OUT OF THE LOBBY OR THE THE MAIN HALL AND GETTING IT INTO THE BREAK ROOM, YOU KNOW, JUST YOU KNOW, LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

MOVING ON TO. THANKS FOR NOT ASKING ME WHAT I HAD FOR LUNCH. THAT'S OKAY. MOVING ON TO LIBRARY DISTRICT, COREY CHRISTENSEN, COME ON UP. OH, I KNOW, I JUST MIXED UP THE ORDER, THAT'S ALL I DID. COME ON UP, COREY. AS I SAID, THERE'S REASONS WHY HE'S GOING LAST. FEEL FREE. WELL, MR. CHAIR, MADAM VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE BOARD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO NEXT, THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR THE LIBRARY DISTRICTS OF BUDGET PRESENTATION TODAY BEFORE I GET STARTED I WOULD LIKE TO DO A HUGE THANKS TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT SUPPORT US EVERY DAY AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO WE HAVE A VERY PROFESSIONAL GROUP OF DIRECTORS AND IT IS, IT IS REALLY GREAT TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY OFFER DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AS WELL AS THE BUDGET TEAM AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. GREAT JOB TODAY. REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS. SO, THE LIBRARY DISTRICT, WE HAVE FOUR MAIN WAYS IN WHICH WE SERVE THE PUBLIC, FIRST OF WHICH IS WE HAVE 15 LIBRARY BRANCHES AND MOSTLY UNINCORPORATED YAVAPAI COUNTY. WE DO HAVE TWO MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES THAT WE OPERATE. ONE FOR CLARKDALE AND ONE FOR DEWEY HUMBOLDT. ALL THE REST ARE THROUGHOUT ALL OF YAVAPAI COUNTY. SO, FROM ASH FORK TO BLACK CANYON CITY TO BAGHDAD, THEY'RE REALLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

NEXT, WE OPERATE THE YAVAPAI LIBRARY NETWORK, WHICH IS A TRULY UNIQUE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ARIZONA. IT IS 57 PUBLIC, ACADEMIC, SCHOOL, ARCHIVAL, LAW, AND SPECIAL LIBRARIES ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

TO PROVIDE LIBRARY SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THAT IS PRESENTS TREMENDOUS SAVINGS TO THE PEOPLE OF YAVAPAI COUNTY WHILE ALSO ENSURING EXCELLENT SERVICE SO VERY PROUD TO HAVE THAT WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT HAS SUCH A THAT TYPE OF CONSORTIUM WE ALSO SUPPORT SEVEN MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES SOME TO SOME THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES SUCH AS OPERATING THOSE LIBRARIES AND OTHERS THROUGH FUNDING AND ANCILLARY SERVICES SUCH AS DATABASES THAT WE OFFER AND THAT SORT OF STUFF. THEN LASTLY, WE SUPPORT COUNTYWIDE PROGRAMMING AND TRAINING. SO, THIS CAN BE ANYTHING FROM SUMMER READING PROGRAM TO DIGITAL LITERACY INITIATIVES SUCH AS THAT. OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FY26, ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR USA 250 PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN VERY EXCITING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IS AS OF JULY 3RD, AFTER THE CHILDREN'S PARADE, WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING OUR TIME CAPSULE ON THE GROUND. SO, WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT HAPPENING.

WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC ON THAT. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ALSO PUTTING TOGETHER A USA 250 BOOK. AND YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE AT YOUR VARIOUS BOARD MEETINGS.

SO VERY HAPPY WITH HOW WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING THE USA 250.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, MY STAFF HAS JUST BEEN DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THIS. A LOT OF THE IDEAS AND ALMOST ALL THE IDEAS HAVE COME FROM THEM, SO THEY'VE DONE REALLY GREAT WORK, AND THEY'VE DONE GREAT WORK OF IMPLEMENTING IT. ALSO, A MAJOR ONGOING INCREASE

[02:35:01]

IN LIBRARY USAGE, AND I'LL SHOW YOU THAT IN AN UPCOMING SLIDE. OUR RURAL SERVICES MASTER PLAN COMPLETION, NOW THAT THE PLAN'S COMPLETE, WE HAVE TO START DOING THE WORK OF PUTTING THAT TOGETHER IN A CAPITAL AND SERVICE PLAN AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP ENSURE THE NEEDS OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE MET.

SO, DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FY 26. I TELL YOU I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF LIBRARY DISTRICT STAFF TO BE SHOWING YOU THESE STATISTICS TODAY. KEEP IN MIND MANY OF THESE STATISTICS MIGHT HAVE A SINGLE DIGIT INCREASE TO THE POSITIVE. SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY NEGATIVE FOR OTHER LIBRARIES. SO, FOR INSTANCE WHEN WE SEE LIBRARY VISITS ACROSS LIBRARY DISTRICT BRANCHES GOING UP 44% OVER THREE YEARS. THAT TELLS YOU THAT MY STAFF IS REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB OF SUPPORTING OUR RESIDENTS IN RURAL AREAS AND MAKING SURE THEY GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED. 162% INCREASE IN PROGRAMS, 111% INCREASE IN PROGRAM ATTENDANCE, 210% IT'S NOT JUST AI, PEOPLE STILL ASK LIBRARIANS QUESTIONS TOO, SO 210% INCREASE THERE AND EVEN CIRCULATION A 7% INCREASE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT. UNTIL YOU REALIZE MANY LIBRARIES ARE SEEING A REDUCTION IN CIRCULATION, AND YET OURS IS STILL INCREASING. NEW USERS UP 5%. COMPUTER SESSIONS UP 49%.

PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO THE LIBRARY TO USE OUR WI-FI, TO USE OUR INTERNET, AND TO USE OUR ACTUAL TERMINALS THAT WE PROVIDE, ALL AT FREE TO THE PUBLIC. AND 25% INCREASE IN NOTARIES. SO, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WHEN YOU START IT, YOU NEVER REALLY REALIZE HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE. BUT THAT IS 2,739 PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL TO PRESCOTT, PRESCOTT VALLEY, CHINO VALLEY, AND THEY COULD GET THAT SERVICE AT THEIR HOMETOWN WITHOUT HAVING TO UTILIZE RESOURCES TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO, ALL THESE STATISTICS POSITIVE. I DON'T THINK WE HAD A SINGLE NEGATIVE STATISTIC ACROSS THE BOARD TO THE LIBRARY DISTRICT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

SO, WE'VE REALLY BEEN PUTTING IN THE WORK AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. DEPARTMENT GOALS FOR FY27, CONVERSION TO A NEW COUNTYWIDE RFID SYSTEM AT THE LAST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE LIBRARY DISTRICT APPROVED THE CONTRACT WITH OUR NEW VENDOR. SO, WE'RE GOING TO START MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT ONCE THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED. BUT THAT WILL BE, THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS PROCESS WAS IN 2008 WHEN WE INITIALLY INSTALLED OUR RFID SYSTEM.

SO, WE'VE NEVER DONE A MIGRATION. THIS IS GOING TO BE EXCITING TIMES.

EXPANSION OF THE YAVAPAI LIBRARY NETWORK. MODEL CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT IS INTERESTED IN JOINING, SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THEM ON BOARD. ALSO, CYBERSECURITY IMPLEMENTATION.

WE RECEIVED ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE FCC TO IMPROVE OUR CYBERSECURITY IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE LIBRARY DISTRICT. WE WERE ONE OF TWO PUBLIC LIBRARIES, THE OTHER ONE BEING YUMA IN ARIZONA, TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDING AND ONE OF 10 IN THE COUNTRY. SO NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE RECEIVED THIS.

WE'RE EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH THAT PROCESS SO FAR. AND LASTLY, OUR CROWN KING LIBRARY RELOCATION AND RENOVATION.

VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RENOVATE THE ORIGINAL RANGER STATION IN ARIZONA AND TURN IT INTO A LIBRARY IS A VERY EXCITING PROJECT. AND THE FOREST SERVICE HAS JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER IN THAT PROCESS. CHALLENGES IN FY27. SO AS WAS ILLUSTRATED IN THE RURAL SERVICES MASTER PLAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE IN OUR OUTLYING BRANCH LIBRARIES. I DON'T THINK A SINGLE ONE OF THEM, MAYBE BAGHDAD, WAS ACTUALLY SPARED FROM NEEDING SOME KIND OF HELP. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH CROWN KING AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE WHERE THE REST OF THAT WILL GO TO HELP ENSURE THAT OUR PUBLIC HAVE THE BEST FACILITIES TO BE ABLE TO USE GOING FORWARD. ALSO KEEPING PACE WITH INCREASED SERVICE DEMANDS.

YOU SAW THE NUMBERS. WE'RE GETTING TRIPLE DIGIT INCREASES IN HOW OUR LIBRARIES ARE BEING USED. SO, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT THE PUBLIC CONTINUES TO EXPECT FROM THEIR LIBRARY AND ALSO WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

KEEPING AHEAD OF INFLATIONARY INCREASES.

SO, THE REQUESTED LEVY INCREASE IS $277,000 FOR THE LIBRARY DISTRICT THIS YEAR. OVER $200,000 OF THAT IS JUST GOING TO GET EATEN UP BY INFLATIONARY COSTS. SO THAT IS A TREMENDOUS HIT TO THE BUDGET WITHOUT ANY SERVICE INCREASE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, STUFF LIKE TONER CARTRIDGES ARE JUST SKYROCKETING AND THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN PRICE AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES WHILE ADJUSTING TO THOSE INFLATIONARY INCREASES.

[02:40:02]

AND LAST, MAINTAINING MOMENTUM WITH DIGITAL LITERACY. WE RECEIVED A GRANT THIS YEAR TO HAVE A DIGITAL NAVIGATOR.

THAT PROGRAM'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE REAPPLIED FOR THAT GRANT.

BUT IF WE DON'T GET IT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLORE HOW WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, ESPECIALLY SINCE BROADBAND IS BEING BUILT OUT TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THAT NEED IS GOING TO INCREASE NOW MORE THAN EVER. OPPORTUNITIES FOR FY27. SO, THE DIGITAL LITERACY AND ACCESS PLAN, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LAST YEAR, WHEN THAT PLAN WAS PUT TOGETHER, WE WERE ANTICIPATING A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN, AND THEN NONE OF IT CAME IN.

SO WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO ADJUST OUR PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND TRY TO CONTINUE OUR DIGITAL LITERACY EFFORTS, TRY TO CONTINUE TO HELP THE PUBLIC WITH ENSURING THEY KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE PERILS OF THE INTERNET AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH IT. SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MEETING WITH OUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS, CELL PROVIDERS, OTHER PARTNERS, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADJUST THAT PLAN NOW THAT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF FUNDING EXPECTATIONS.

INCREASED PROGRAMMING. WE'VE DONE A LOT, BUT WE WANT TO DO MORE, AND WE WANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC GETS THOSE EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED TO THEM THROUGH THEIR LIBRARIES.

TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS.

PEOPLE ARE INCREASINGLY FINDING NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE, AND THIS ISN'T JUST LIKE THE INTERNET OR COMPUTERS OR IPADS.

THIS IS 3D PRINTERS. THIS IS 3D TEXTILE PRINTERS. AND THE LIBRARY IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE DEVICES ALL IN ONE PLACE. A LOT OF GRANTS OUT THERE TO HELP US WITH THAT, BUT IT ALSO MEANS WE NEED SOME SPACE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THOSE THINGS. SO THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE AS WELL. SERVICE EXPANSIONS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR THIS YEAR IS FINGERPRINTING SERVICES. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK AND INCREASINGLY THAT VOLUNTEER WORK REQUIRES THEM TO BE FINGERPRINTED. SO JUST LIKE NOTARIES WHERE IN OUR LIBRARIES THEY CAN JUST GO AND GET THAT DONE. RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER YOU HAVE TO GET THAT FINGERPRINT SERVICE DONE. YOU HAVE TO GO TO A MAJOR CITY TO GET THAT DONE AND OFTEN TIMES YOU DON'T GET THE RESULTS FOR WEEKS.

SO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO LIBRARY'S DONE THIS, AND WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL, AND HOPEFULLY SAVE THEM A FEW DOLLARS IN GAS, PLUS GET SOMETHING BACK TO THEM A LITTLE QUICKER.

ALSO, WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPANDING OUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SERVICES AND OUR PASSPORT SERVICES, BUT THE FEDS HAVE BEEN BLOCKING US ON THAT, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY'LL SEE THE VALUE OF HAVING THAT SERVICE IN RURAL AREAS AND NOT JUST IN POPULATION CENTERS. WE DID IMPLEMENT IT IN BEAVER CREEK AND IT'S BEEN VERY POPULAR THERE. AND LASTLY, THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK RESOURCE CENTER. WE APPLIED FOR THAT, WE WERE ON TRACK, AND THEN THINGS SHIFTED THIS LAST YEAR AND THEY PUT A PAUSE ON ALL PATENT RESOURCE CENTERS.

SO THAT JUST ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO HELP BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS GET ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO UNDERSTAND IF WHAT THEY HAVE IS A NEW IDEA, A MODIFICATION OF AN IDEA, OR WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO HELP THEIR IDEA GET SOME MONEY.

ALSO, WE'RE WORKING TO TRY TO SAVE SOME MONEY ON A COUNTYWIDE BOOK PURCHASING CONTRACT. WE'RE ABOUT READY TO RELEASE THAT RFP AND THEN ALL 57 MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY NETWORK WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE OFF THAT. SO THE LIBRARY DISTRICT, FOR INSTANCE, HAS ABOUT $100,000 IN BOOKS WE PURCHASE A YEAR.

WHEN YOU PUT ALL THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES TOGETHER, THAT'S ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

SO IF WE ALL PURCHASE IT TOGETHER, WE'RE GOING TO GET A GREATER DISCOUNT THAN IF WE JUST PURCHASE IT SEPARATELY.

DEPARTMENT BUDGET OVERVIEW, ABOUT $6 MILLION IN REVENUE WITH ABOUT $6.2 MILLION IN EXPECTED EXPENSES WITH AN INCREASE OF 8.29% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S EXPENSES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT DOES INCLUDE AN AUTOMATED MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM THAT WE'LL HAVE TO PURCHASE AS A RESULT OF OUR RFID RFP, BUT THAT WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY THE LIBRARY NETWORK AND THERE IS FUNDING ALREADY AVAILABLE FOR THAT. SO THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY. THAT BUDGET NEUTRAL AS FAR AS THE COST WITH MONEY BEING AVAILABLE TO FUND IT. SO OUR TOTAL FTE OF 37.53, WHICH HOPEFULLY MATCHES WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BOOK. SO OUR REQUESTS FOR THIS YEAR, I HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN. HOPEFULLY I GOT THOSE RIGHT, THOSE WHICH ARE APPROVED BY THE BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE. I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE BRIEFLY. THE NEW POSITION, LIBRARY OUTREACH MARKETING COORDINATOR. WE'VE SEEN TRIPLE DIGIT INCREASES IN OUR NEED TO SUBMIT, TO SEND INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS, EMAILS, FACEBOOK POSTS, INSTAGRAM POSTS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE FULL-TIME FTE AND A SEASONAL PERSON THAT IS ABOUT A HALF FTE FOR THE

[02:45:01]

SEASONAL PERSON THAT IS DOING THIS WORK. WE'D LIKE TO CONVERT THAT HALF-TIME SEASONAL POSITION TO A FULL-TIME PERSON, LIBRARY AND OUTREACH AND MARKETING COORDINATOR TO HELP WITH THOSE EFFORTS. THE TRUTH IS BECAUSE THESE ARE HOURLY EMPLOYEES. I CAN'T JUST MAKE THEM WORK MORE HOURS TO DO IT. THERE IS MORE WORK COMING IN THAN THEY CAN REALISTICALLY ACCOMPLISH.

INCREASING FTE FOR LIBRARY TRANSIT PERSONNEL.

WE DISCOVERED THAT WHILE THESE POSITIONS ARE AT 12 OR 13 HOURS FOR THEIR FTE, THERE ARE THREE OF THEM IN TOTAL, THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING 19 HOURS. SO WE JUST WANT IT TO ALIGN WITH WHAT'S REALISTICALLY HAPPENING IN THE BUDGET. THIS ONE WAS APPROVED BY THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE. IN ESSENCE BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY EXPENDING IT ANYWAYS SO BEST TO HAVE IT BE WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.

IF THIS DIDN'T GO THROUGH I WOULD LOOK AT REDUCING OUR TRANSITS TO THE WEST SIDE LIBRARIES TO ONE DAY PER WEEK WHICH WOULD MAKE IT SO IT'S ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS LONGER FOR PEOPLE TO GET BOOKS THAT THEY PUT ON HOLD IN THOSE COMMUNITIES IN THE WEST. NEW CROWN KING LIBRARY, $203,974. I HAVE THIS IN AS A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE WHICH WOULD COME OUT OF OUR RESERVE. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT AN $850,000 RESERVE, WHICH IS GOOD. IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE EXTRA FUNDS. AND THIS, IF WE HAD IT, WOULD COME OUT OF THAT. ALSO, THE AFFILIATE CONTRIBUTION REINSTATEMENT, THAT'S $57,040. IT'S AN ODD NUMBER BECAUSE I DID NOT INCLUDE DEWEY HUMBOLDT AND CLARKDALE. SINCE WE OPERATE THOSE LIBRARIES, WE APPLY THAT DIRECTLY TO THEIR BUDGET HERE. SO THE INCREASE WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABOUT $57,000. EXPANSION OF LIBRARY HOURS, SERVICES, AND STAFFING. WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT CONTINUING OUR EXPANSION OF LIBRARY SERVICES. THE ONE THAT WE'RE REALLY CONCENTRATING HERE FOR THIS ONE WOULD BE CLARKDALE BECAUSE THEIR HOURS ARE NOT GREAT HOURS. THEY'RE IN THE AFTERNOON, THEY'RE KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND IT'S REALLY IMPACTED ATTENDANCE AT THAT LOCATION BUT WE DO BELIEVE WITH SOME INCREASED HOURS WE COULD SEE SOME PRETTY PRETTY BIG GAINS AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT THE NEXT SLIDE RFID EQUIPMENT WE HAVE IN THERE AT 365,000 AGAIN PART OF THAT WILL BE PAID BY THE YLN ABOUT 55,000 OF IT WILL BE PAID BY THE LIBRARY DISTRICT TO REPLACE OUR ANTIQUATED EQUIPMENT WHICH THOSE ESTIMATES ARE HIGH WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE LESS THAN THAT WITH THIS THIS PROPOSAL THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. SO THAT'S ON THE HIGH END. IT'LL PROBABLY ACTUALLY BE ABOUT TWO-THIRDS TO HALF THAT AMOUNT, GOOD SAVINGS. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT INCLUDES OUR AUTOMATED MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM. ALL THE BOOKS ARE RFID TAGGED. IT RUNS THROUGH THAT CONVEYOR SYSTEM, AND THEN IT DUMPS IT INTO WHICH BRANCH IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO, WHICH GREATLY REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT ARE NEEDED TO MAKE THAT WORK AND IT ALSO INCREASES EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY. NEXT WE HAVE THE FURNITURE REPLACEMENT. SO MOST OF OUR LIBRARIES HAVE NOT HAD ANY FURNITURE REPLACED SINCE THEY WERE BUILT. SO WE'RE TALKING 10, 20, 30 YEARS IN SOME CASES. SO WE'RE TRYING, SIMILAR TO OUR TECHNOLOGY REPLACEMENT PLAN, WE'RE TRYING TO GET A FURNITURE REPLACEMENT PLAN IN PLACE SO THAT WE'RE REGULARLY EACH YEAR REPLACING ABOUT $30,000 WORTH OF FURNITURE. WE TRIED TO GET THIS LAST YEAR, MAYBE THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, BUT WE COULDN'T MAKE THE MONEY PENCIL OUT IN THE END. SO OVERALL, ABOUT $568,000 OF CAPITAL AND $352,000 IN ONGOING. BUT KEEP IN MIND ABOUT $300,000 OF THAT CAPITAL, $310,000 WILL COME FROM THE LIBRARY NETWORK, NOT FROM MY REGULAR BUDGET. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ABOUT HALF THAT AMOUNT ANYWAYS.

SO A BIT OF SAVINGS THERE. SO A LITTLE BIT OF FURTHER DISCUSSION HERE ON THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION, THE $22,000. IF WE DO THE, WHAT I'M RECOMMENDING IS THE THE CROWN KING LIBRARY, $203,000, $204,000 ALMOST, THE RFID IMPLEMENTATION. THOSE ARE FROM CAPITAL RESERVE. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, BASED ON REMAINING OPERATIONAL CAPACITY, SO I HAVE ABOUT $41,000 THAT'S LEFT OVER IN MY BUDGET FROM THE INCREASED REVENUE, AND ANYTHING OVER THAT WOULD EITHER REQUIRE A BUDGET REDUCTION OR IT WOULD REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN THE LEVY. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE OTHER THINGS I ASKED FOR AS WELL.

BUT WHAT I WOULD LOOK AT DOING IS IF WE HIRED LIBRARY OUTREACH AND MARKETING COORDINATOR, I WOULD HAVE THAT PERSON COME ON IN MARCH, AND I WOULD ALSO REDUCE THE BUDGET BY THEIR SEASONAL AMOUNT, SO

[02:50:01]

THAT THAT WAY WE'RE GETTING A BIT OF A BUDGET OFFSET TO HELP COVER THE COST OF THAT. AND THEN WITH THE CLARKDALE-ONLY LIBRARY EXPANSION, I'D LOOK AT HAVING THAT COME ON BOARD JANUARY 1, 2027, WITH $34,761 SINCE WE WOULD BE IMPLEMENTING IT PART OF THE WAY THROUGH.

NOW AGAIN KEEP IN MIND THIS IS YOUR GUYS'S BUDGET. YOU GUYS ARE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE LIBRARY DISTRICT.

THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR CHANGE ANYTHING PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW. VICE CHAIR CHECK? YEAH I WOULD SAY DISAPPOINTED AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT SEEMS TO BE MAYBE AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD ON THE LIBRARY BUDGET THE ONLY THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'VE NAVIGATED A FLAT TAX FOR THE LIBRARY DISTRICT AND I BELIEVE THE ONLY REASON YOU HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL ON THIS FROM THIS BOARD TO KEEP THAT TAX FLAT IS BECAUSE OF THE DESPERATE NEED THAT WE SEE WITHIN OUR AFFILIATE LIBRARIES WHERE THE MAJORITY OF TAXPAYERS LIVE AND USE THE LIBRARIES WITHIN MUNICIPALITIES THEIR BUDGETS AS YOU KNOW WERE CUT AND MY PLEA IS TO ADD 25 OF THOSE CUTS ONTO EACH YEAR'S BUDGET UNTIL WE MAKE THEM WHOLE TO 2022 FIGURES THIS IS NOT ADDING TO AFFILIATE BUDGETS IT'S MAKING THEM WHOLE FROM CUTS THAT REALLY MADE A NEGATIVE IMPACT IN OUR MUNICIPAL LIBRARY'S ABILITIES TO DELIVER SERVICES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THOSE SAME FACTORS BUT THE ONLY REASON THAT THERE'S TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS RECOMMENDED TO BE ADDED TO THIS BUDGET IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE'S THE DESIRE FROM THIS BOARD TO SEE THE AFFILIATE LIBRARY BUDGET INCREASE AND I DON'T THIS HAS COME UP NOT IN LAST YEAR'S LIBRARY WORK STUDY. IT CAME UP IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET STUDY.

IT CAME UP IN THE JANUARY BUDGET RETREAT. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN UNCLARITY ON THIS MATTER AND THE BOARD'S DESIRE, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE $57,000 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY. THANK YOU, CHAIR. YEAH, SO AGAIN, IT IS ABOUT THE AFFILIATES, AND WE WENT LAST YEAR. I KNOW WE KEPT THAT FLAT TO BUILD THIS BACK UP TO WHERE WE WERE. WE HAVE KIND OF MADE OUR STATEMENT THAT WE WANT TO GET BACK WITH THEM AND GET THINGS RIGHT.

SO, I HAVE PRESCOTT VALLEY AND THEN SOME OF US ARE IN TWO DISTRICTS, PRESCOTT, SO WE ACTUALLY THREE YOU KNOW THREE SUPERVISORS SIT IN THE PRESCOTT LIBRARY. I'M THE ONLY ONE FROM PRESCOTT VALLEY. AND THEN YOU HAVE OVER THERE ON THE MOUNTAIN, YOU HAVE SUPERVISOR JENKINS AND, OF COURSE, VICE CHAIR AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

COREY, IT REALLY IS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IN THE FOREFRONT FOR US AND WE WERE WILLING TO KEEP THAT TAX RATE FLAT TO MOVE FORWARD AND I THINK AS THE VICE CHAIR SAID WE ARE STILL IN THAT SAME STANCE THAT WE PROBABLY WERE LAST YEAR. SO, THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND, YOU AND IT YEAH I'M JUST GONNA SAY DITTO DITTO AND I THINK WE SHOULD SHOOT FOR A GOAL AT SOME AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO MAKE THEM WHOLE HOW DO WE GET THERE I'D LIKE TO SEE THE NUMBERS ALL RIGHT I SO FIRST OF ALL I THIS GETS TO BE TRICKY WITH THE LIBRARY DISTRICT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO OPERATE WITHIN THE EXISTING FUNDS THAT WE HAVE. WE DON'T HAVE A BIG CONTINGENCY. WE DON'T HAVE A BIG CAPITAL RESERVE. SO WHEN WE GET SOMETHING LIKE $200,000, $210,000 OF INFLATIONARY INCREASES, IT HITS US HARD. AND SO, RUTHIE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND PASSING OUT THAT. OH, YOU ALREADY GOT IT. SO I DID ANTICIPATE THIS BECAUSE I KNOW SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, I NEED TO EXPLAIN MYSELF FIRST BECAUSE THE INFLATIONARY INCREASES HIT US MUCH HARDER THIS YEAR THAN WE WERE EXPECTING. LAST YEAR, WE HAD $300,000 THAT WE GOT AS A RESULT OF THE FLAT TAX. THIS YEAR, WE HAD $277,000. SO WE

[02:55:01]

HAD LESS RIGHT OFF THE BAT AS A RESULT.

PLUS, WE HAD TO ABSORB A MASSIVE INCREASE TO HEALTH INSURANCE, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS. SO, YEAH. I GET IT, WE DID HAVE SOME OTHER STUFF THAT HIT US AS WELL, BUT IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, I DID PREPARE A DOCUMENT THAT TALKS ABOUT, GIVEN THAT WE ONLY HAVE $41,000 ROUGHLY LEFT OVER IN THE BUDGET AFTER INFLATIONARY INCREASES AND MAINTAINING SERVICE LEVELS, SO NOT INCREASING ANYTHING, JUST HAVING THINGS REMAIN NEUTRAL. LET'S SEE HERE. SO ON THIS SHEET HERE WITH KIND OF THE MULTICOLORED, BAR CHARTS OR THE MULTICOLORED ROWS, IT STEPS THROUGH EACH DIFFERENT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO THE LIBRARY DISTRICTS BUDGET BASED ON A ZERO DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION ALL THE WAY UP TO INCREASING IT TO $120,000.

SO BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE $41,000 LEFT OVER IN THE BUDGET IT MEANS WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME REDUCTIONS TO THE LIBRARY DISTRICTS BUDGET IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT $120,000 HAPPEN. SO BASED ON THAT, THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS I HAVE FOR GETTING TO THAT $120,000 MARK. I DID TRY TO NOT, I TRIED TO ENSURE STAFF WOULD NOT BE CUT FROM THIS. AND ANY SERVICES THAT WERE CUT TO THE PUBLIC, I LOOKED AT FIRST THOSE SERVICES WHICH WERE GETTING, I WOULDN'T SAY GREAT USE, BUT NOT BAD ENOUGH USE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CUT PREVIOUSLY.

SO SUCH THINGS SUCH AS MANGO LANGUAGES WOULD BE SOMETHING.

MR. CHAIR, I THINK YOU HAVE DIRECTION FROM THREE SUPERVISORS AT LEAST. I WOULD PREFER TO SEE THIS BUDGET COME BACK TO US WITH THIS $57,000 FOR THE AFFILIATE LIBRARIES INCLUDED.

MR. COUNTY MANAGER, GO AHEAD.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? YEAH, I WAS JUST KIND OF LETTING IT UNFOLD A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR HAS PROPOSED WHAT CUTS WOULD OCCUR, AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE AFFILIATE LIBRARY INCREASE. I TOO WAS TALKING TO BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING THIS THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR REVIEW COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE HAD HEARD FROM THE BOARD THE PRIORITIES OF SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES LIKE THE CROWN KING LIBRARY WHICH WOULD COME OUT OF THE RESERVE FUND AS WELL AS THE RFID WHICH WE THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANT WHICH WOULD COME OUT OF THE RESERVE FUND. I THINK YOU'RE AT A POINT, AND WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS ONGOING FUNDING COMING OUT OF THAT RESERVE FUND. IT WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF OPERATING DOLLARS. AND SO IF INDEED THE BOARD WANTS US TO DO A SET AMOUNT OF THE AFFILIATE LIBRARY RESTORATION, WE'LL JUST BRING IT BACK AND ADJUST THE BUDGET.

BUT I WANTED TO HAVE, I WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE LIBRARY DISTRICT DIRECTOR. I WANTED TO HAVE THIS INITIAL DISCUSSION SO THAT. I CLEARLY GOT DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD ON THIS BECAUSE A LOT OF MY DISCUSSION WAS DURING THE BUDGET STUDY SESSION WHICH I HEARD FROM BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD I WANT TO BE FAIR AND JUST SAY THAT AND BEING FAIR TO OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR TOO.

AND TO BE FAIR TO YOU YOU WEREN'T THERE AT THE LIBRARY STUDY SESSION THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, SO THAT MAKES SENSE.

BUT I HEARD IT, AND I JUST WANTED TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND MAKE SURE I HAD CLEARED BOARD DIRECTION BECAUSE I TALKED TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY, WHICH IS NOT I DON'T TAKE DIRECTION LIKE THAT. I WANTED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION HERE TODAY. SO CAN I CLARIFY SOME STUFF REAL QUICK? AND I SEE THAT WE HAVE THE NEW CROWN KING LIBRARY AND RFD COMING OUT OF THE RESERVE FUND. THOSE ARE TWO AREAS THAT I HEARD DURING THE CAPITAL DISCUSSION THE NEW CROWN KING LIBRARY BEING A PRIORITY. WE CAN AFFORD THAT OUT OF THE RESERVES BECAUSE IT'S A ONE-TIME OCCURRENCE. THE AMOUNT, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S VERY CLEAR, THE AMOUNT YOU'RE LOOKING AT COMING BACK TO YOU, BACK TO THE AFFILIATES, IS IT THE $60,000 OR $120,000? IT'S $57,000 AND $40,000 THIS YEAR, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT A SIMILAR FIGURE WOULD BE ADDED ON NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE CAN EVENTUALLY BY 2028 YOU KNOW MAKE MAKE WHOLE THE CUTS THAT WERE MADE IN 2020. ARE YOU SAYING 57 IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR OR JUST 57 TOTAL? EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU.

SO 57,000 IS CURRENTLY RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THE LIBRARY DISTRICT DIRECTORS BUDGET. I THOUGHT WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS DOUBLING THAT AMOUNT.

SO IT WOULD RESTORE 25% OF WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY CUT, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. RIGHT, BECAUSE WE INCREASED THAT TOTAL BUDGET BY AT LEAST $300,000 LAST YEAR.

NOW WE'RE INCREASING IT BY

[03:00:02]

$277,000. SO YES, WITHIN EACH OF THOSE INCREASES, WE WANT TO SEE THOSE FUNDS. SO THEN 25% OF THE REDUCTION WAS RESTORED LAST YEAR. 25% WOULD BE RESTORED THIS YEAR. THEN THAT WOULD KIND OF SET THE PATH MOVING FORWARD TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION RAISED BY SUPERVISOR JENKINS EARLIER IS WHEN DO WE POTENTIALLY GET TO FULL RESTORATION OF THE AMOUNTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY CUT. YEAH. SUPERVISOR MALLORY? YEAH, I, I'D LIKE TO GET THAT BECAUSE I'M HOPING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT WITHIN THIS TERM ON THE.

ANYTHING TO SUPERVISOR KUKNYO? NOTHING TO ADD? OKAY. YES, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY THAT SAID THAT THEY WERE FILLING OUT A SUPPORT LETTER FOR GRANTS FOR THE CROWN KING LIBRARY. AND I KNOW THEY'RE NEVER GUARANTEED. IF WE GET A GRANT, DOES THAT REDUCE THE 203, OR DID YOU ALREADY FACTOR THAT IN THERE? IT WOULD REDUCE THAT. YES, AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T. WE HAVE TO GET CONFIRMATION THAT WE RECEIVED THE GRANT BEFORE WE BUILD IT IN AND WE'VE PROBABLY PUT IN FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF GRANTS PLUS THERE'S ONE MORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY FOR SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT AMOUNT COULD BE REDUCED SOME. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE QUICK NOTE THE REASON WHY I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MUNICIPALITIES ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE A NEW LIBRARY DISTRICT.

THEY ARE STUCK WITH THE COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT. SO THERE'S NO WAY FOR THEM TO ADVOCATE AND GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY REALLY NEED IN THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS. SO IT FUNNELS DOWN TO A GOOD GOVERNANCE MODEL, IN MY OPINION. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HAVING SO MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE, MR. COREY? AND I WOULD SAY IF THE WILL OF THE BOARD IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE 120, THEN I WOULD IMPLEMENT WHAT'S ON THE LAST PAGE OF THIS SHEET, AND I CAN GET THAT SENT BACK TO YOU. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. BOURDON, AS THE CHAIR, YOU DO HAVE DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD. IT'S THE CHAIR'S JOB TO GIVE THAT DIRECTION. WE HAVE ONE PERSON LEFT, I THINK.

WELCOME TO THE DISCUSSION, SIR. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP. SORRY WE'RE LATE. AT 1130, WE HAD SCHEDULED FOR A MILITARY FLYOVER IN THE HONOR GUARD TO POST THE COUNTY FLAG FOR THE TREASURER'S PRESENTATION, BUT APPARENTLY YOUR CALENDAR'S A LITTLE OFF TODAY. THESE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN IT COMES TO GOOD GOVERNANCE, SIR.

WELCOME TO THE GOVERNMENT.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE, SIR. SO WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF GOING ON FOR THIS YEAR. AM I RUNNING THIS? OKAY. SO A QUICK OVERVIEW AS THE ASSESSOR GOES OUT AND ASSESS THE VALUE OF ALL THE PROPERTIES WITHIN YAVAPAI COUNTY. THEY ESTABLISH THE NUMBERS THEY NEED TO RUN THEIR DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PASSES THE LEVY. AND THEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND THEN WE BUILD A TAX BILL. AND THEN WE RECEIVE THE TAX MONEY AND THEN WE DISTRIBUTE IT ALL BACK OUT TO EVERYBODY. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE GOT DONE THIS YEAR, THIS MAY SOUND UNUSUAL, BUT WE SPENT NINE MONTHS BUILDING A BANK CONTRACT THAT WAS 350 PAGES LONG. WE KEPT COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BUSY AND THE BANKING ATTORNEY STAYED BUSY BUT OTHER THAN THAT WE WE FINALLY GOT THAT CONTRACT COMPLETED. WE'RE FORMALIZING OUR TAX BILL PROCESS WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS DOCUMENT EVERY STEP THAT WE DO IN OUR DEPARTMENT WE DOCUMENT KEEP IT IN A HANDBOOK SO WE JUST DID THAT WITH OUR TAX BILL. WE PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY ASSESSOR OR THE RECORDER TO DO OUR MASTER'S TOUCH CONTRACT. I THINK COREY MENTIONED THAT AS FAR AS THE LIBRARY IS TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE AND GET A DISCOUNT FOR VOLUME AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID WITH YAVAPAI COUNTY THIS YEAR. WE'RE NOW TRYING TO TAKE THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND HAVE IT DO PRESENTATIONS AND LET THE

[03:05:01]

PUBLIC KNOW WHAT THE TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT DOES.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF WHAT THE TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT DOES AND THE INTEGRAL PART THAT IT PLAYS WITHIN YAVAPAI COUNTY AND THE ENTITIES WITHIN IT. AND WE'VE STREAMLINED OUR AGENDA PROCESS BY RATHER THAN EVERY TIME WE GET AN ABATEMENT SET IT ON YOUR AGENDA, WE DECIDED NOW WE'LL DO IT QUARTERLY. WE JUST PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND DO ONE MOTION AND GET EVERYTHING DONE ON OUR ABATEMENT PROCESS. WE DO HAVE AN IT SPECIALIST WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT NOW THAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH.

ON BANKING, WE HAD A SLEW OF FRAUD ATTEMPTS IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. I MEAN, WE HAD HUNDREDS OF CHECKS THAT WERE ALTERED.

WE HAD ACH BANKINGS THAT WERE INTERCEPTED. IT WAS GETTING TO BE QUITE A PROBLEM. SO WHAT WE DID IS CHANGED OUR BANKING PROCESS, THE CHECKS NOW, RATHER JUST CONFIRMING THE AMOUNT, WE ARE CONFIRMING WHO IT'S PAID TO, WHO'S THE SIGNATURE ON IT, THE PAYEE. SO WE'VE ADDED THREE MORE STEPS INTO OUR CHECK PROCESS TO STOP FRAUD AND SO FAR SO GOOD. WE TRIED TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS RATHER THAN DEPARTMENTS WORKING INDIVIDUALLY. WE TRY TO LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENTS WE WORK WITH.

WE MEET WITH THEM QUITE OFTEN, AND WE TRY TO COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS SO THAT WE DON'T DUPLICATE OR WE'RE MORE EFFICIENT IN WHAT WE DO. AND OUR INVESTMENT TEAM, EVEN AS OF TODAY, WE'RE STILL LEARNING MORE AND MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE INVESTMENT WORLD.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO PERFECT THAT BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT THAT'S A GREAT REVENUE SOURCE FOR ALL OF THESE DISTRICTS IN YAVAPAI COUNTY AND YAVAPAI. SO WE'RE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AT THAT. LINE OF CREDITS WE HAVE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE BANK RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE'VE NOW EMBEDDED IT IN THE YAVAPAI COUNTY TREASURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. AS YOU KNOW, OUR REVENUES ARE VERY CYCLICAL BASED ON PROPERTY TAX, REAL PROPERTY TAX, AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX COMING IN. A LOT OF DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, FIRES, THEY GO INTO THE NEGATIVE AND IT'S JUST PART OF THE CYCLE BECAUSE THEN WE REPLENISH WHEN TAX SEASON COMES IN. SO RATHER THAN HAVING THOSE ENTITIES BORROW MONEY FROM THE BANK, WE LOAN THEM MONEY FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, WHICH IS LESS THAN 50% THAN WHAT THE BANK RATES ARE. AND OUR PHILOSOPHY IS WE'RE ALL TRYING TO HELP THE SAME CITIZENS, THE SAME LITTLE DISTRICTS. SO IF WE CAN JUST GET A RETURN ON OUR MONEY, WHAT WE'RE MAKING ON AN INVESTMENT, WE'LL LOAN YOU THAT MONEY AT THE SAME RATE. SO IT'S REALLY HELPED OUR SMALLER DISTRICTS. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR, AND THEY'RE IN OUR EXHIBIT THREES, IS AN ADDITIONAL IT SUPPORT PERSON, A REMODEL IN PRESCOTT AND COTTONWOOD. WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED AGENCY ROLLOUT. SO WE HAVE 94 DIFFERENT PUBLIC ENTITIES TAXING AUTHORITIES WITHIN YAVAPAI COUNTY AND WE WORK FOR ALL OF THOSE FOLKS. RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY THEY NEED A MONTHLY REPORT AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH SO WE PRINT OUT 94 DIFFERENT REPORTS TO GO OUT TO FOLKS MONTHLY. SO WE'RE INTRODUCING A PROGRAM CALLED AGENCY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW ACCESS BY ALL 94 OF THOSE ENTITIES TO COME INTO THE ALBUQUERQUE COUNTY TREASURER'S BANKING IT SOFTWARE SYSTEM AND LOOK AT THEIR OWN STUFF. THEY CAN DO IT 24-7. THEY DON'T NEED A MONTHLY REPORT. THEY CAN LOOK ANY DAY. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR BALANCES ARE. THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS 94 ENTITIES AND WE WANT TWO PEOPLE PER ENTITY TO UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM. SO WE NEED TO TRAIN 188 PEOPLE AROUND YAVAPAI COUNTY HOW TO GET IN AND RUN OUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. AND SECURITY IS VERY, VERY, VERY TOP-NOTCH. SO SECURITY IS BUILT INTO IT. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT OR ANY WORRIES, I CAN TELL YOU THE STEPS THAT WE WENT THROUGH TO DO THAT. GOALS FOR 27 IN INVESTMENTS, EVEN AS OF TODAY, THERE IS NO CERTAINTY IN THE ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES. I MEAN, BETWEEN TARIFFS AND WARS AND THE CHANGING OF THE FED CHAIR, I MEAN, THINGS ARE SO IN FLUX. I MEAN, WE GEARED UP TWO MONTHS AGO FOR A FALLING ECONOMY AND THE TREASURIES TO GO DOWN. LO AND BEHOLD, THE TREASURIES DIDN'T GO DOWN.

THEY ACTUALLY STARTED NOTCHING THEIR WAY BACK UP AND IT'S LIKE WE'RE SCRATCHING OUR HEAD.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO FORECAST THE ECONOMY AND KEEP YAVAPAI COUNTY AND ITS ENTITIES IN A GOOD PLACE. AND THEN CROSS-TRAINING. WE HAVE A VERY SMALL DEPARTMENT AND SO WE TRY TO CROSS-TRAIN FOLKS BOTH FOR JOB ENRICHMENT BUT ALSO

[03:10:03]

DURING THOSE SPORADIC TIMES LIKE WHEN WE GET INTO TAX SEASON WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE FISCAL FOLKS COME OVER AND HELP US KEEP THE LINES DOWN AND KEEP FOLKS MOVING. SO IT SERVES A COUPLE OF PURPOSES AND OUR FOLKS ARE SUPER HAPPY. OUR CHALLENGES AND THERE IT GOES WITH AGENCY AND THAT'LL BE TRAINING THAT 188 PEOPLE, MODERNIZING OUR INVESTMENT POLICY AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AND I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE BOARD AND PASS BOARDS IS THAT Y'ALL MADE AN INVESTMENT IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND THAT IS PAYING OFF SO AS WE ROLL OUT MORE OF THESE PROGRAMS WE BECOME MORE EFFICIENT. SO AS WE ROLL OUT AGENCY WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO PRINT OUT 94 REPORTS, NOW THOSE SAME FOLKS CAN BE DOING MORE WORK EITHER ON THE BANKING SIDE OR AS OUR PROPERTY PARCELS ARE EXPANDING, WE CAN DO MORE WORK IN THERE.

AND THERE'S TWO REQUESTS FOR REMODELS IN THERE AND THEY WERE APPROVED SO FAR BY OUR BUDGET FOLKS.

BUT IT'S NOT FOR A LUXURIOUS REASON, IT'S FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE INTEGRATED WITH ARIZONA LEGISLATURE'S INFINITE WISDOM PUT ELECTION TIMES THE EXACT SAME TIME AS PROPERTY TAX TIME.

WHICH, IF WE COULD SWITCH IT, IT WOULD REALLY BE GREAT BECAUSE WE COULD RUN OVER AND HELP THE ELECTIONS DURING THEIR BUSY TIME AND THEY COULD COME HELP US.

BUT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

SO NOW WE HAVE IN THE SAME OFFICE ELECTIONS PEOPLE COMING IN AND VOTERS COMING IN. AND THEN YOU HAVE NOISE MIGRATION AND THEN YOU HAVE CITIZENS ARE DISTRACTED FROM THEIR VOTING AND THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS THAT THEY'RE MAKING. ANYWAY, WE'RE TRYING TO SEPARATE THAT. SO IT'S FOR THE CITIZENS IS THE MAIN REASON THAT WE WANNA PROPOSE THAT. SOME OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS UPCOMING MONTH OR THIS UPCOMING YEAR, WE'RE GONNA KEEP BUILDING OUR REGISTERED WARRANT SYSTEM.

SO WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTIES DOING THAT, BUT WE WANNA PERFECT IT AND WE'RE GETTING IT TOGETHER.

CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND HOPEFULLY GET THOSE REMODELS. AND HERE'S THE BEST PART THAT Y'ALL PROBABLY ARE INTERESTED IN. SO LAST YEAR, IN JUST THE INTEREST THAT WE GAINED, WE BROUGHT IN $20,500,000 OF REVENUE TO ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, IT WAS $12,281,000. SO THAT GIVES US INCENTIVE. I MEAN, WE REALLY WANT THAT INVESTMENT PROGRAM TO BE SOLID. WE'RE TRYING TO ARRANGE IT SO THAT YOU COULD KIND OF RUN YOUR BUDGET ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE WANT TO TRY TO BRING IN A REVENUE SOURCE OF, SAY, $15 MILLION A MONTH TO GO OUT ON INTEREST DISTRIBUTION. SO THAT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW IT'S CYCLICAL. IT GOES ON WHATEVER'S MATURING AND WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR SYSTEM WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE FLAT FOR MOST EVERYBODY AND THEY CAN KIND OF HANG HAD ON, OKAY, WHEN WE BUILD OUR BUDGET, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET X AMOUNT IN REVENUE FROM INTEREST EARNED. THE COST TO RUN OUR DEPARTMENT, $1,711,000. SO WE HAD AN INCREASE, AND I SUSPECTED THAT CHAIR COMPTON WAS GOING TO CHALLENGE ME ON THIS BECAUSE I SAID WE NEVER RAISED OUR EMPLOYEE NUMBERS, AND THIS YEAR WE DID. I HAVE SAID NOTHING. I WAS WAITING FOR YOU. ANYWAY, SO THAT PERSON WAS AN IT PERSON.

SO IT WAS IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. IT WAS ALREADY PAID FOR, ONLY IT WAS GOING THROUGH THE IT DEPARTMENT. SO YOUR IT DIRECTOR AND THE TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS AND AGREE THAT THAT PERSON SHOULD BE EMBEDDED IN THE TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT.

SO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET. SO IF WE HADN'T DONE THAT REPLACEMENT OF STAFF. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT LESS THAN HALF A PERCENT OF INCREASE FOR OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. SUPERVISOR MALLORY? YEAH, THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST A QUESTION ON THIS, CHIP. SO I REMEMBER A WHILE BACK, A FEW YEARS BACK, IN THE LAST TERM, I THINK, THAT YOU HAD SOMEBODY THAT WAS A FULL-TIME PERSON. THEN I THINK THEY WENT BACK TO A PART-TIME PERSON.

ON THE IT. SO IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE? ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT THAT? OR AM I WRONG? IT IS. SO FOR FIVE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ASKING

[03:15:01]

FOR THIS IT BACKUP. AND THE REASON BEING IS SO BECAUSE WE'RE THE BANKING FOR THOSE 94 DIFFERENT ENTITIES, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS A STEP. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MOST DEPARTMENTS, IF YOU BREAK DOWN, YOU COULD PROBABLY BAND-AID IT TOGETHER AND KEEP IT GOING UNTIL YOU FIX IT.

IN OUR SYSTEM, IF WE GO DOWN, WE SHUT DOWN ALL 94 DIFFERENT PUBLIC ENTITIES. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A BACKUP PERSON FOR FIVE YEARS. AGAIN, CONSULTATION WITH THE IT DEPARTMENT. THEY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN EMBEDDED SECOND PERSON IN THERE. AND, AGAIN, IT'S NOT A LUXURY. IT'S BECAUSE WE WANT TO TRAIN THOSE 188 PEOPLE. WE HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM WHERE WE WANT ALL MORTGAGE COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND DOWNLOAD ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY'RE PAYING TAXES ON, RATHER THAN US DOING THAT MANUALLY. WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS IN TECHNOLOGY THAT WE PROPOSE THAT IS GOING TO MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT, MORE EFFICIENT. AND THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS SAFETY. I MEAN, IF SOMETHING BREAKS ON TRUCKS AND MY GUY'S ON VACATION, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO WAIT FOR TWO WEEKS FOR SOMEBODY TO GET BACK? THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN. WE HAD A CONFERENCE WITH YOUR BUDGET MANAGER, KEVIN, AND BROUGHT OUT THE FACT THAT THAT BACKUP PERSON WAS FUNDED LAST YEAR FOR HALF-TIME. SO IT WAS FUNDED FOR HALF-TIME FOR US, HALF-TIME FOR IT. THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT WE ONLY SAW THAT BACKUP PERSON TWICE SINCE WE'VE HIRED THAT POSITION. IT'S NOT WORKING.

AND IN CONVERSATION WITH THE IT DIRECTOR, HE'S LIKE, NO, YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE THE SECOND PERSON. SO OUR ASK IS FOR A HALFTIME AD BECAUSE THE HALFTIME ALREADY EXISTS FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. AND, KEVIN, IF YOU WANT TO CLARIFY, BUT. SUPERVISOR MALLORY, YOU HAD A CALL? I'LL WAIT UNTIL I HEAR FROM KEVIN, BUT, YEAH, I THINK I'M GETTING THE STORY.

IT'S THE SAME STORY, I THINK, I'VE BEEN HEARING. GOTCHA, GOTCHA. SO RIGHT NOW THERE IS A POSITION FULLY FUNDED UNDER ITS AS IT STANDS TODAY.

HALF THEIR WORKLOAD IS ITS.

HALF THEIR WORKLOAD IS ALLOCATED TO TREASURER'S OFFICE, BUT AGAIN, FULLY WITHIN THE ITS DEPARTMENT. SO WHAT THE TREASURER IS LOOKING FOR IS ESSENTIALLY A NEW FTE.

SO IT WOULD BE THAT WORKLOAD WOULD THEN GO UP TO A FULL WORKLOAD, BUT HE WOULD HAVE HIS OWN FTE WITHIN HIS DEPARTMENT AS A BACKUP. AND THEN THAT PERSON CURRENTLY WITHIN THE ITS DEPARTMENT, THEIR WORK ALLOCATION WOULD GO FROM 50% ITS ALL THE WAY TO 100% ITS. SO IT WOULD BE A TRUE ONE FTE ADD. SO JUST QUESTION, CHIP, BACK WHEN YOU STARTED THIS, WASN'T ORIGINALLY THAT PERSON FULL-TIME THE ORIGINAL DIDN'T YOU HAVE IT FOR A WHILE FULL-TIME AND THEN THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THAT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE JUST THERE HALF TIME. NO, SO WE HAD, IT'S AN IT POSITION, AND THIS BOARD WILL PROBABLY GO THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION OF DO INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS HAVE THEIR IT PERSON, OR DO ALL IT THINGS GO THROUGH IT? AND SO THE DECISION WAS ALL IT THINGS GO THROUGH IT, SO THAT WAS THAT THEORY. SO OUR IT PERSON. HE'S IN THE IT DEPARTMENT AND FUNDED BY IT, BUT HE'S STILL OUR GUY. AND SO THAT HADN'T CHANGED. THAT HAPPENED IN BUDGET OF 2020 IS WHEN THAT CHANGE OCCURRED. AND THEN WE KEPT SHOOTING FOR THE HALFTIME. AND THEN OUR GUY THAT'S FULL-TIME NOW WORKED FOR US PART-TIME UNTIL THE OTHER GUY RETIRED, AND THEN HE GOT TRAINED UP AND TO REPLACE HIM. I'M EVEN CONFUSING MYSELF. I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT CONFUSING THINGS FOR THE BOARD. I LOOK AT THIS REAL STRAIGHTFORWARD.

THERE USED TO BE, PRIOR TO ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, A POSITION OF A PROGRAMMER, AND THAT WAS HALF-TIME IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, HALF-TIME IN ITS, RIGHT? BUT IT WAS ONE PERSON, AND IT WAS FUNDED IN BOTH BUDGETS. AND SUPPOSEDLY SPENDING HALF TIME IN EACH DEPARTMENT. WE, OVER IN THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM, SAID, WORKED WITH BOTH THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND RECOGNIZED THAT MADE NO SENSE. THAT POSITION

[03:20:02]

REALLY WAS NEEDED TO DO THE FULL-TIME WORK OVER IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

THAT POSITION HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO THE TREASURER'S OFFICE. WE HAVE THE EXISTING, YEAH, WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT. I KNOW, I'M JUST GOING THROUGH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GETTING CONFUSING. SO WE MOVED AND WE MADE THAT POSITION WENT FROM A HALF-TIME TO A FULL-TIME IN MR. DAVIS'S OFFICE, OKAY? SO THAT HE COULD PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THEM WITHOUT BEING SPLIT BETWEEN TWO MASTERS. OKAY, THAT'S ONE ISSUE. THE TREASURER IS ASKING FOR A SECOND POSITION. SO WE'VE DONE ONE THING. WE MOVED OVER A POSITION SO HE HAS A FULL-TIME PERSON WORKING FULL-TIME FOR HIM ON HIS COMPUTER SYSTEM, TROX.

AND HE IS NOW ASKING FOR A BACKUP POSITION. SO ARE WE ARE WE CLEAR ON THIS? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS.

WE MOVED. STAFF WENT AHEAD AND WORKED WITH ITS BECAUSE ITS RECOGNIZED IT DID NOT WORK OUT THAT WELL. NOW, I'M GOING TO HAVE YOUR ATTORNEY TOSS SOME OTHER INFORMATION MAYBE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR BECAUSE I THINK IT GOT A LITTLE MUDDY THERE THAT WE HAD THESE POSITIONS, THIS ONE POSITION SPLIT BETWEEN TWO DEPARTMENTS. THE TREASURER'S OFFICE WAS SUPPOSED TO ONLY GET A HALF TIME OF THAT PERSON'S TIME. THAT MADE NO SENSE. THEY REALLY NEEDED TO MOVE OVER THERE, SO WE DID THAT. ITS AGREED.

HE'S ASKING FOR A TOTALLY NEW POSITION. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ON THAT? OKAY. CHAIR? CAN I ADD ONE MORE PIECE? OKAY. SORRY.

SO IN THE IT WORLD, THERE ARE SOME THAT BELIEVE THAT PROGRAMMERS ARE DINOSAURS, OBSOLETE, OF NO USE. AND I AM OF THE OPPOSITE PHILOSOPHY OF THAT. BECAUSE I BELIEVE IF YOU HAVE A PROGRAMMER WITHIN YOUR BOUNDARY, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND NEEDS CHANGE, YOU CAN CHANGE IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL YOUR CONTRACTOR AND PAY $280 AN HOUR FOR AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR TO COME DO A FIX IN YOUR IT SYSTEM. SO IN TALKS WITH JARED PHELAN, THE IT DIRECTOR, WE'RE NOT GOING TO, IF THERE ARE PROGRAMMING NEEDS WITHIN YAVAPAI COUNTY, OUR FOLKS ARE AVAILABLE. WE ALL WORK FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY. IF YOU GUYS NEED SOMETHING BUILT, I MEAN, OUR GUYS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO OPERATE ON AN ISLAND OF THIS IS JUST TREASURER BUSINESS. WE'RE WILLING TO, IF ANYBODY ELSE THAT NEEDS PROGRAMMING WORK OR CHANGES OR INVENTIONS OR MAGIC MADE, I MEAN, OUR GUYS CAN DO IT, OUR FOLKS. SUPERVISOR JENKINS. I THINK I'M TRACKING THIS. LAST YEAR THE FTES WERE 13, THIS YEAR 14, AND THAT IS, THIS IS NOT A NEW PERSON, THIS IS JUST A SHIFT FROM ONE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE NOT, THIS IS NOT ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT FOR THE COUNTY.

HOWEVER, WHAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT, WHICH WAS NOT RECOGNIZED, IT'S THE BACKUP. EXACTLY. SO WE'RE NOT REALLY ADDING AS IN WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET WE'RE NOT ADDING A POSITION WE'RE JUST SHIFTING FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO THE OTHER. CORRECT. THE EXCHANGE THAT HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO WAS NET NEUTRAL FOR THE COUNTY FTE COUNT AND BUDGET. THE EXHIBIT 3 THAT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED WOULD ADD A NEW FTE IF RECOMMENDED OR APPROVED.

BUT CLARIFY THAT THAT ONE POSITION WOULD BE IT WAS ALREADY FUNDED. IT'S ALREADY IN IT THE PERSON THAT ALREADY EXISTS, BUT THEY'RE ASSIGNED HALF-TIME US HALF-TIME THEM, BUT WE'RE GETTING ZERO. SORRY, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT TRANSFER THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE IN AGREEMENT THAT THE TWO DEPARTMENTS AGREED THAT POSITION SHOULD NOT BE SPLIT AND THAT ALREADY OCCURRED. WHAT THE BOARD'S CONCENTRATING ON IS, THERE'S A NEW POSITION, A BACKUP POSITION, A SECOND POSITION THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN ANYBODY'S BUDGET. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN ASSIGN IT TO ME, AND THEN JARED'S GOING TO BE SHORT ONE. SORRY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, YES. YEAH, I WAS WONDERING, WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INVESTMENT ADVICE? DO YOU DO THAT INTERNAL? DO YOU TALK TO KIMBERLY YEE? DO WE PAY OUTSIDE PEOPLE? NO, WE WORK WITH STIFLE INVESTMENTS. SO WE USE WELLS FARGO AS OUR SAFEKEEPING PERSON IN BETWEEN. SO WE DO OUR TRADES WITH STIFLE. THOSE ARE BASED ON WITH THE INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIVE STIFLE AND WE MEET. THERE'S THREE OF US THAT MEET WITH HIM DAILY AND EVALUATE WHAT'S OPPORTUNITY AND THEN BREAK DOWN WHAT A REAL COST WHAT'S THE COST BASIS TO BUY THE INVESTMENT YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE YIELD WHAT'S THE MATURITIES WHAT'S THE CALL DATES SO WE PUT ALL THAT AND SO WE TRACK BECAUSE WE TRY TO KEEP A LADDER

[03:25:02]

SO WE'RE RESTRICTED TO A FIVE-YEAR INVESTMENT WINDOW SO WE TRY TO KEEP OUR FIVE-YEAR INVESTMENT WINDOW TOMORROW I'LL BUY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MATURE FIVE YEARS FROM TOMORROW SO WE TRY TO KEEP THAT ROLLING OVER SO IT KEEPS THAT CONSISTENCY BECAUSE AS WE START TAPPING INTO OUR RESERVES FOR THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS GOING ON, THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT YOU AND THE AMOUNT OF RETURN YOU GET BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO START EATING AWAY AT THAT PRINCIPLE. WHAT KIND OF EFFECT IS IT GOING TO HAVE WHEN YOU SEE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WE WANT TO DO? SO WE RUN A CASH FLOW ANALYSIS ON EVERYBODY. VERDE VALLEY FIRE JUST DID $15 MILLION, I THINK. ANYWAY, WE TRY TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THEIR PROGRESS AND WHAT'S THEIR PROJECTIONS AND HOW MUCH MONEY.

BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF BUDGET CEILINGS, Y'ALL CAN'T SPEND ALL THE MONEY YOU HAVE. I MEAN, WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN WE CAN SPEND, SO THEREFORE WE'RE INVESTING IT MAKING MORE TO GO BACK. AND THEN WE STAY IN CONTACT, YOU KNOW. I MEAN, IF Y'ALL HAVE PROJECTS COMING UP, WE CAN DO A FORECAST OF HOW TO GET YOUR MONEY OUT.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO ARBITRAGE AND MAKE MORE MONEY THAN WE BORROWED. AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT HOW WE'RE PROTECTING OURSELVES THROUGH IT AND ALL THAT STUFF.

AND I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY THE ASSESSOR, THE TREASURER, AND THE RECORDER CAN'T TALK TOGETHER BETTER. WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY KIND OF SYSTEM IN PLACE TO STOP THE FRAUD AND THE PROPERTY FRAUD OURSELVES.

IT'LL GO LONG. I MEAN, WE HAVE RECORDED DOCUMENT ALERT THAT WE SET UP FOR THE PUBLIC, WHICH LETS THEM, WHEN THEIR NAME COMES THROUGH, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW COME THERE'S NOT A BETTER WAY TO TALK TO BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS TO ALERT US TO WHEN FRAUD COMES THROUGH BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAIN RED FLAGS THAT ALWAYS COME WITH FRAUD. SO ON OUR FRAUD STUFF WE DIRECTLY GO TO THE BANK LIKE IMMEDIATE FIX AND THEN WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHICH WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION SOMEDAY BUT WE STAY PRETTY COMMUNICATED AND THEN THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE ISN'T REALLY AFFECTED IT USUALLY IS SCHOOLS THAT WAS THE BIGGEST TARGET HERE THIS LAST SIX MONTHS. BUT, YEAH, WE WORK WITH THE BANK TO GET THINGS STOPPED, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE CHANGE OUR CHECKING SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, NO LONGER ARE WE CHECKING TWO THINGS ON EVERY CHECK WHEN IT COMES THROUGH, EVERY WARRANT. NOW WE'RE CHECKING FIVE THINGS TO MAKE SURE. WELL, I MEAN, JUST SOMEBODY SELLS A PROPERTY, DOESN'T GO THROUGH A TITLE COMPANY, IT GOES THROUGH THE RECORDER.

THEY RECORD THAT DOCUMENT. NOW THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE WHO THAT TAX BILL GOES TO. BUT THEY'LL STILL GET THE TAX BILL, BUT IT'LL BE A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD THROW A FLAG THAT WOULD MAKE US CALL FRED AND SAY, HEY, FRED, DID YOU KNOW YOUR LOT GOT SOLD? YOU KNOW, WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE UNLESS SOMEBODY SIGNS UP FOR IT, BUT IT WOULD BE EASY INTERNALLY TO HAVE SOME KIND OF PROGRAM THAT TRIGGERS THAT SHIFT. I'LL THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER. YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER ON YOUR? NO, SIR. I JUST APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING CARE OF US. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE BEING BACK, WORKING WITH YOU ALL. I WASN'T SURE IF YOU GOT CUT OFF ON YOUR PRESENTATION.

NO, WE'RE ABOUT WRAPPED UP. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. I'LL TELL YOU. SO WHEN WE MAKE UP THE TAX BILL THIS IS A MAP OF THE TAX CODES, KIND OF LIKE A ZIP CODE. SO THIS IS HOW WE MAKE UP A PROPERTY TAX BILL.

AND THERE'S THE PRESCOTT-PRESCOTT VALLEY AREA.

SO EVERYWHERE WE LIVE, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT AFFECT US. YOU KNOW, WE ALL PAY INTO YAVAPAI COLLEGE AND YAVAPAI COUNTY AND THE LIBRARY DISTRICT AND FLOOD, BUT YOU MAY BE IN SELIGMAN STREET LIGHTING DISTRICT OR, YOU KNOW, CONGRESS WATER DISTRICT. SO ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS MAKE UP INTO ONE TAX CODE TO MAKE UP A BILL. AND I THINK THAT'S IT. OKAY. WELL, THEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. DAVIS. I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A SINCERE COMMENT. I WITNESSED YAVAPAI COUNTY TURNING INTO A BIG YAVAPAI COUNTY BEHEMOTH GOVERNMENT. AND I'VE WITNESSED YOU FIVE, AND I SEE YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR MONEY INTO YAVAPAI COUNTY PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES AND NOT INTO THIS ENTITY IN AND OF ITSELF. SO FOR THAT, I COMPLIMENT YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. HAVE A GOOD DAY. WELL, THERE'S ANYTHING FURTHER FROM YOU, SIR? JUST TO WRAP UP REAL QUICK IS WHAT WE HAVE IS DIRECTION TO MODIFY THE LIBRARY DISTRICT BUDGET TO ADD AFFILIATE LIBRARY CONTRIBUTIONS, A REINSTATEMENT OF, I BELIEVE, 25%. ABOUT $120,000 FOR FY26-27. WE'LL

[03:30:01]

TAKE CARE OF THAT. AND WE'VE GIVEN YOU INFORMATION ON WHAT CUTS, WHAT OFFSETS WOULD BE IN THE DEPARTMENT. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CHAIR, I THINK THAT WARRANTS A FURTHER DISCUSSION LIKE SUPERVISOR CHECK WAS SUGGESTING. BECAUSE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR LIBRARIES AS WE MAKE THIS SHIFT? BECAUSE ALREADY I KNOW SELIGMAN IS OPERATING ON NOTHING. SO ARE WE GOING TO SHORT THEM AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LOSE WITH THIS LIBRARY DISCUSSION? I MEAN,

[ Tuesday, April 28, 2026 9:00 a.m. Public Fiduciary 9:15 a.m. Community Health Services/Medical Examiner 10:00 a.m. School Superintendent 10:15 a.m. Recorder/Voter Registration 10:30 a.m. Elections 10:45 a.m. Flood Control District 11:00 a.m. Public Works/Solid Waste/Emergency Mgt/HURF/Regional Roads 11:30 a.m. Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Daily wrap-up The Board will recess and reconvene at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.]

IT'S A WHOLE DAY TALKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEETING'S ADJOURNED. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. TODAY IS TUESDAY, APRIL 28TH. THIS IS OUR SECOND DAY OF STUDY SESSION. AND TODAY, THE INVOCATION WILL BE DONE BY SUPERVISOR MALLORY AND THE PLEDGE BY SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

GOOD MORNING, LORD. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL, SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR COUNTRY, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND ALL OF OUR COUNTIES, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE.

WE ARE THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF THAT PUBLIC SERVICE. WE ASK BLESSINGS UPON THIS DAY AS WE GO THROUGH INFORMATION, LORD, AND WE UNDERSTAND AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT OUR DECISIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. SO LET US PONDER AND REALLY TALK ABOUT AND SEARCH OUT WHAT IS BEST FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY THAT WILL LEAD THE FUTURE. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. JAMIE, COULD YOU DO THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? CHAIR COMPTON. HERE.

VICE CHAIR CHECK. HERE.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS. HERE.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO. HERE.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY. HERE.

YOU HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, FIRST UP TODAY, 9AM, IS PUBLIC FIDUCIARY. YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. IS IT GREEN? YEAH. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING SUPERVISORS, DEPARTMENT MANAGERS, ADMINISTRATION.

CATHERINE BLAIR, PUBLIC FIDUCIARY. I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU THIS YEAR.

I DID LAST YEAR AND IT WAS A SIMILAR GROUP OF PEOPLE SO DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS NECESSARY THIS TIME. OUR DEPARTMENT'S DOING GREAT. WE'RE FULLY STAFFED. LAST YEAR I ASKED YOU ALL FOR AN ADDITIONAL PERSON FOR OUR STAFF TO HANDLE INDIGENT CREMATION, AND YOU APPROVED THAT, AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL. THAT'S BEEN A HUGE ASSET TO OUR DEPARTMENT. THE ONLY BUDGET ITEM I HAVE THIS YEAR IS TO OFFICIALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT'S ALLOCATED FOR INDIGENT CREMATION.

FOR MANY YEARS NOW, WE HAVE HAD A MARKED INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIGENT CREMATION CASES.

AND THEN LAST YEAR, WE DOUBLED THE FEE THAT FUNERAL HOMES ARE PAID IN REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE CREMATIONS TO $1,100 A MONTH. SO THE COMBINATION OF THE INCREASED NUMBER OF CASES AND THE INCREASED FEE THAT WE'RE PAYING JUSTIFIES THE ADDITIONAL $81,000.

TO BE ALLOCATED TO COVER THE INDIGENT CREMATION PROGRAM. WE HAVE JUST HAD TO GO AHEAD IN THE PAST AND JUST PAY IT, GO WITH IT, ROLL WITH IT. BUT IN MY MIND, IT'S TIME TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL. AND I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES GOING FORWARD. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? SUPERVISORS, ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL? JUST ONE.

CERTAINLY. SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST WHAT WERE WE PAYING BEFORE? WE'RE INCREASING IT TO $1,100. I MIGHT BE MISSING IT, BUT WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT BEFORE WE INCREASED IT? WE USED TO PAY $650, AND THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR MANY FUNERAL HOMES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. WE REALLY ONLY HAD ONE THAT WAS IN WICKENBURG, NOT EVEN IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. SO LAST YEAR THERE WAS A AGENDA ITEM TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT TO

[03:35:03]

$1,100 AND THE BOARD APPROVED THAT AND THAT IS WHAT WE PAY NOW. OKAY FANTASTIC THANK YOU FOR THAT HISTORY. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO? YEAH HOW YOU DOING ON SPACE AT THE CEMETERY? I KNOW WHEN I VISITED OVER THERE WE WERE TALKING HOW IT WAS GETTING PRETTY TIGHT. DO YOU? IT'S LIMITED FOR SURE OUR DEPARTMENT DOES NOT MANAGE THE CEMETERY THAT'S FACILITIES AND I KNOW THAT I'VE BROUGHT THAT UP SEVERAL TIMES TO FACILITIES THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE NEEDING MORE SPACE AT SOME POINT. SO THAT'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE FOR THE FUTURE. I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHEN SOME POINT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, JUST SO WE CAN START LOOKING.

OKAY, THEN I WILL TALK TO FACILITIES ABOUT COORDINATING HOW THE REST OF THE SPACE THERE IS GOING TO BE USED. THANK YOU.

WELCOME. SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

YOUR REQUEST IS IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT YOUR ACTUALS ARE IT SEEMS LIKE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET OF 19 DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUALS OR YOU'RE AGREEING WITH ME I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRENDS FOR 24 25 I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT'S 19. AND YOU'RE PROBABLY HAVING TO TAKE MONEY FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE BECAUSE YOU'RE WAY OVER BUDGET YEAH BUT IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SPENDING SO IT'S IT'S NOT ANYTHING ON YOUR DEPARTMENT'S ERROR SO HUNDRED THOUSAND ABSOLUTELY MAKES SENSE THANK YOU YEAH WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS RECOMMENDATION IT JUST MADE COMPLETE SENSE TO BRING THE ACTUALS UP THE BUDGET AMOUNT UP TO THE ACTUALS THERE'S ESSENTIALLY NO NEW SPENDING IT'S BEEN HAPPENING AND THERE'S NO ANTICIPATED DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES SO OKAY FORTUNATELY MORE AND MORE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MRS. BLAIR. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR ANY WAY I CAN BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ENJOY YOUR DAY.

THANK YOU. YOU AS WELL.

COMMUNITY HEALTH. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, LESLIE HORTON WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES. AND WE HAVE KATHY YANCEY HERE. SHE'S OUR ADMINISTRATOR AND PRETTY MUCH OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL EXPERT ON ALL THINGS BUDGETED. SO I REALIZE WE WERE GIVEN A LOT OF TIME THIS MORNING, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GIVE A QUICK LITTLE PRESENTATION ON WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AND THEN ALSO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. AND SO, ALL RIGHT, OH, WE HAVE A SLIDE. DOES THIS WORK? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDE PUBLIC HEALTH, CLINICAL SERVICES, AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE OUT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT. OUR MAJOR SERVICES ARE PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION, EPIDEMIOLOGY, IMMUNIZATIONS, WIC, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND A BUNCH OF COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES.

WE ALSO HAVE THE CONNECTION CENTER NOW AS A PART OF PUBLIC HEALTH. WE ALSO HAVE OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS WITH FOUR LOCATIONS.

OUR PRIMARY CARE DENTAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES ARE ALL OFFERED IN MOST OF THOSE LOCATIONS. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE. SO WE HAVE PARTNERED THOSE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. SO IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW SINCE WE MERGED COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES AS PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLINICAL SERVICES AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO TRY TO GAIN EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN SERVING OUR POPULATIONS THROUGH THAT MERGER AND COMBINING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE'VE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON BECOMING MORE VIABLE IN TERMS OF OUR REVENUES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN AFFORD OURSELVES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WE'VE BEEN ALSO WORKING TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES SO KNOWING THAT NOT ONLY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, BUT AT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE'S A PRIORITY ON SERVING RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WE MADE OUR FIRST,

[03:40:01]

I CALL IT A BIG EXPANSION, OUT TO ASH FORK, WHICH HAS PROVEN TO HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES, BUT BEEN SO WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THOSE TYPE OF EXPANSIONS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WELL EQUIPPED, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S TAKEN US OVER A YEAR NOW TO BE ABLE TO BILL FOR SERVICES OUT OF A NEW LOCATION. THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES THERE. SO JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE. WE ALSO HAVE THE MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC VANS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO PUT TO MORE USE IN THE COMING YEAR, BUT IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF EXPANDED SERVICES. AND EXPANDING PROVIDER STAFFING HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT.

AT ONE TIME, OUR CLINIC HAD 20 PROVIDERS. AND THEN WHEN KATHY AND I CAME IN ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, WE WERE DOWN TO 13 PROVIDERS. SO OVER TIME, WE'VE BEEN ASKING YOU AS A BOARD TO ADD BACK SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS THAT WERE LOST BECAUSE THAT IS TRULY THE WAY THAT WE MAKE REVENUE IS HAVING THOSE PROVIDERS ON STAFF AND BEING ABLE TO BILL FOR THEIR SERVICES IN THE CLINIC. NOW WE HAVE SOME GOALS FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR AND ONE WOULD BE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE MOBILE CLINICS. THAT'S OUR BEST AND PROBABLY QUICKEST EMPLOYABLE WAY TO REACH THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES. WE WANT TO GET OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY, AND GET CLOSE TO THEM WITH THE SERVICES, SO WE'RE NOT ALWAYS ASKING THEM TO DRIVE TO PRESCOTT VALLEY, COTTONWOOD, OR ASH FORK. BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE ALSO LACKED THE STAFFING TO GET OUT THERE IN THE MOBILE CLINICS, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, BUT ALSO WE'RE HOPING THAT HERE IN ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO, AS RURAL TRANSFORMATION FUNDS COME AVAILABLE, MAYBE THEY'LL ALLOW US TO APPLY FOR MONEY TO HELP US FUND THOSE MOBILE CLINICS.

BUT THEN WE ALSO WORK TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PREVENTION AND REDUCING BARRIERS TO HEALTHY BEHAVIORS. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR SERVICES IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY. AND SO WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOLKS THAT GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND SERVE IN THE SCHOOLS AND IN SENIOR CENTERS AND ALL OVER AS FAR AS WE CAN REACH, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE TO DO BETTER AND DO MORE OF IN THE COMING YEAR. AND THEN INCREASING RECRUITMENT AND STAFFING OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. TO ENSURE THAT OPTIMAL HEALTH CARE CAN BE PROVIDED. AND SO, AS WE KNOW, RECRUITMENT IN AN AREA LIKE OURS IS DIFFICULT. WE DON'T PAY AS MUCH AS SOME OF THE OTHER LOCAL PROVIDERS, BUT WE DO FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY MISSION-ORIENTED AND MISSION-DRIVEN AND REALLY WANT TO SERVE ANYONE WHO WALKS THROUGH OUR DOORS. AND SO THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WE'RE LOOKING FOR, AND ACTUALLY EVEN OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WRITE UP CONTRACTS ON THREE NEW PROVIDERS, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING. THOSE WERE VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAD BUT WE NEED TO FILL THEM BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PATIENTS HAVING TO WAIT A LONG TIME TO GET APPOINTMENTS IN SOME LOCATIONS AND THEN OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE RUN INTO OVERTIME IS THAT WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE BOARD APPROVES COLAS AND MERITS I THINK I'VE WORKED HERE THROUGH MANY YEARS WHERE WE HAD NONE OR MAYBE ONE PERCENT INCREASE IN OUR PAY AND IT'S FRUSTRATING AND YOU START HAVING A SENSE OF WANTING TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL INCREASE YOUR PAY OVERTIME AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT'S BEEN A PRIORITY OF THE BOARD AND YOU'VE APPROVED THOSE COLAS AND MERITS. WHAT I FOUND WITH A DEPARTMENT LIKE OURS THAT'S PRIMARILY GRANT AND FEE FUNDED IS THAT OUR GRANTS ARE NOT RISING TO THE OCCASION OF THOSE COLAS AND MERITS AND SO THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN OF OURS AND A BUDGETARY ISSUE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT HAVING TO INCREASE PAY, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CUTTING HOURS FOR PEOPLE.

SO IT DOESN'T REALLY EQUATE TO AN INCREASE WHEN WE'RE TELLING THEM, WELL WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE YOUR PAY BY 6% THIS YEAR, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CUT YOUR HOURS BY 6%. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR STAFF AT FULL CAPACITY, BUT ALSO INCREASE WITH THE COLAS AND MERITS.

ESPECIALLY THOSE STAFF THAT WORK WITHIN THE GRANTS, BUT THEN EVEN OUR REVENUES, IT'S TOUGH TO CONTINUOUSLY INCREASE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE THINGS LIKE INSURANCE COSTS GO WAY UP, AND WE TRY TO COVER THAT COST OFTEN WITHIN OUR GRANTS AND FEE PROGRAMS TOO. SO WE MENTIONED THAT IN THE SECOND BULLET THERE, STATUS OF FUNDING AND REDUCED FUNDING FROM BOTH A PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE FOR GRANTS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE AND PREVENTION AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO STAYS TOP NOTCH AND THAT WE CAN DELIVER IT IN A WAY THAT IS NOT SHRINKING.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THOSE GRANTS STAY LEVEL

[03:45:02]

FUNDING OR REDUCE FUNDING, SOMETIMES IF A GRANT REDUCES FUNDING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REDUCE STAFFING AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REDUCE SERVICE PROVISION.

BUT IN A LOT OF CASES WHERE THEY'RE LEVEL FUNDING, WE WANT TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME LEVEL OF WORK. AND TO ALSO SHOW THOSE EMPLOYEES THEIR VALUE BY ALSO INCREASING THEIR PAY WITH THE COLAS AND MERITS. AND THEN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER COVERAGE. YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE. YOU MAY HAVE EVEN HEARD FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE APPROACHED YOU ABOUT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER NEEDS BECAUSE WE ARE AT A POINT NOW, THE LAST THREE MEDICAL EXAMINERS HAVE TOLD ME WE NEED A SECOND MEDICAL EXAMINER. AND COUNTIES LIKE OURS, IN TERMS OF POPULATION, THEY HAVE TWO AND IN COCONINO AND SEVERAL OF THESE OTHER COUNTIES THAT HAVE MEDICAL EXAMINER OFFICES OF THEIR OWN, THE MODEL IS TO HAVE TWO. AND THAT WAY, TOO, LIKE LAST TIME WE LOST ONE, IT TOOK US TWO YEARS TO FIND DR. CROSS AND FILL THAT POSITION. AND WE'RE PAYING TOP DOLLAR FOR COVERAGE WHEN WE HAVE THOSE VACANCIES. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HER. SHE'S AN AMAZING MEDICAL EXAMINER. AND YET SHE'S ALSO SIMILAR TO THE LAST TWO MEDICAL EXAMINERS SAYING SHE REALLY NEEDS SOME HELP IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THE CASELOAD. AND AS WE KNOW, YAVAPAI COUNTY IS NOT NECESSARILY A YOUNG COUNTY.

PEOPLE COME HERE TO RETIRE AND EVENTUALLY WE'RE SERVING THEM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. AND GENERALLY THE NUMBERS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CASELOAD HAS INCREASED OVER TIME AS OUR POPULATION HAS INCREASED.

THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES COMING OUR WAY. LIKE I MENTIONED, RURAL TRANSFORMATION FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLINIC.

WE'VE LEARNED THAT WE'RE GETTING ABOUT $550,000 IN RURAL TRANSFORMATION FUNDS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO WAITING FOR THE APPLICATION TO BE AVAILABLE FOR MEDICAID AND CMS ARE APPROVING A BUDGET FOR RURAL TRANSFORMATION FUNDS FOR HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND GEARING UP OUR STAFF TO BE READY TO WRITE COMPETITIVE GRANTS BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR US TO RECEIVE MONEY FOR THE CLINIC. THEN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION. I LOOK AT THIS VERY CONSERVATIVELY. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CLINIC HAD NOT EXPANDED FOR YEARS. IT WAS ACTUALLY SHRINKING ITS FOOTPRINT IN A LOT OF WAYS. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO BE OVERLY ZEALOUS AND THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST EXPAND EXPONENTIALLY THROUGH THE COUNTY. BUT IN A VERY METHODICAL WAY OF LEARNING FROM OUR SUCCESSES AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US EXPAND MORE INTO OUR RURAL SPACES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S AN EASY OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW IS TO EXPAND STAFFING IN ASH FORK. WE'VE ONLY BEEN THERE ONE DAY A WEEK AND WE'RE ACTUALLY BILLING, OR I'M SORRY, BOOKING PEOPLE OUT AT THE END OF THE SUMMER ALREADY BECAUSE WE'RE SO BACKLOGGED WITH NEED. WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE COME IN FROM KINGMAN TO RECEIVE SERVICES FROM US, MANY FROM WILLIAMS, MANY FROM PAULDIN AND THE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA IN THE REGION, LOTS FROM SELIGMAN, BUT PRETTY MUCH YOUR WHOLE DISTRICT IS COMING INTO THAT ASH FORK CLINIC AND WE'RE ONLY OPEN ONE DAY A WEEK.

SO, WE FOUND A PROVIDER THAT'S WILLING TO COME IN AN ADDITIONAL DAY A WEEK THAT WE'RE CONTRACTING TO START THIS SUMMER BUT WE ALSO NEED STAFFING AND THEN OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR OR CMO DR.

CRUMRIN SHE'S WILLING TO DO MORE DAYS IN ASH FORK BUT WE HAVE TO STAFF IT SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE FLOATING STAFF OUT THERE ON FRIDAYS AND THAT'S A SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR NOW BUT WE REALLY NEED TO EXPAND DAYS AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN FILL THAT SCHEDULE VERY EASILY. WE ALSO HAVE LOOKED TO OTHER EXPANSIONS. WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PEOPLE'S VALLEY EVENTUALLY. THAT'LL PROBABLY BE ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IF IT COMES TO FRUITION IN THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTER THERE. BUT WE'VE ALSO LOOKED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO FINALLY DO SOMETHING IN CAMP VERDE. IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD OF DISAPPOINTING GRANTS GOING AWAY AND DIFFERENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES GETTING CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE AND NOT BEING FUNDED.

BUT EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO COST US TO GET THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPAND STAFFING EVEN FURTHER SO AGAIN YOU KNOW BEING I'M HONEST AND UPFRONT ABOUT THE COSTS INVOLVED IT TAKES US NEARLY A YEAR TO BECOME FINANCIALLY BILLABLE AND THEN A LITTLE LONGER TO CATCH UP ON ON FINANCIAL VIABILITY BUT I DO BELIEVE IT'S WORTH IT I BELIEVE IT'S AN INVESTMENT THAT WE SHOULD MAKE IT THE COUNTY TO GET OUT CLOSER TO WHERE PEOPLE LIVE BUT IT DOES TAKE SOME WORK, AND SO WE DID PUT IN FOR CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING AGAIN THIS YEAR, AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT OUR PROJECT WAS PRIORITIZED AGAIN,

[03:50:01]

BUT WE'LL FIND OUT MORE. LAST YEAR WE HAD THE SAME PROCESS, AND IT'S A LONG PROCESS, AS YOU KNOW. SO AS SOON AS, THOUGH, IF HRSA, OUR FEDERAL GRANTING SOURCE, IF THEY COME OUT WITH NEW ACCESS POINTS OR OTHER GRANT AVAILABILITY, WE WILL ALSO BE APPLYING FOR THAT JUST AS SOON AS WE SEE ANYTHING AVAILABLE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND THEN REOPENING THE PRESCOTT YCCHS LOCATION. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE WERE EXCITED TO BE TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE OPEN BY AROUND THANKSGIVING. I HAD HOPED FOR A CLOSER TO VALENTINE'S DAY, AND HERE WE ARE TODAY STILL WAITING FOR LICENSING.

SO THE CONSTRUCTION IS DONE.

HOWEVER, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS, AND IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN OUR BUILDING, WE'RE USING A HALLWAY AS A LOBBY. WE'VE HAD TO COMMUTE A LOT OF SERVICES AND MOVE A LOT OF THE SERVICES TO PRESCOTT VALLEY. AND WE NEED TO GET BACK OPEN. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEW CLINIC TO USE AND WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR STATE LICENSING. THEY SHOULD BE HERE THIS WEEK OR NEXT. BUT IT FEELS LIKE A HURRY UP AND WAIT PROCESS WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE THERE. BUT THE CLINIC'S GONNA BE BEAUTIFUL AND I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN KIND OF A FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT ON US THOUGH THIS YEAR. OUR REVENUES ARE DOWN BECAUSE OF HAVING TO OPERATE OUT OF OUR LITTLE CLOSETS AND CONFERENCE ROOMS, USING THEM AS EXAM ROOMS FOR THE PAST YEAR.

SO, OUR TOTAL REVENUE FOR THIS COMING YEAR, 26-27, IS $36,300,252. OUR TOTAL EXPENSES ARE CLOSER TO $40,494,368. COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S EXPENSES, THAT'S UP 17.87%. A LOT OF THAT BEING EXPANDED STAFFING, BUT ALSO THOSE COLAS, MERITS, AND INSURANCE COSTS. WE HAVE NEARLY 200 EMPLOYEES. I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE AROUND 170, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF INCREASE IN THAT OVERALL BUDGET WHEN WE SEE THOSE COSTS DRIVE UP PRETTY QUICKLY. AND THEN WE HAVE THE PROPOSED 203 FTE TOTAL FOR THIS COMING YEAR. SO, THOSE BUDGET REQUESTS, BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR. AS WE KNOW, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE POSITION. WHEN YOU ADD IN ALL THE OTHER ACCESSORY COSTS, THE BENEFITS AND OTHER THINGS RELATED TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER COMES OUT TO ABOUT $406,276. IT IS, I THINK, A NECESSARY COST AT THIS POINT, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT COMES WITH A HIGH PRICE TAG. WE HAVE ALSO REQUESTED $14,244 FOR BUILDING A WEB INTERFACE DASHBOARD, AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY TO GET SERVICE AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER THAT ONE'S THE MEDICAL EXAMINER ONE SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE PROCESS AND WHERE THEIR REQUESTS ARE FOR SAY DEATH CERTIFICATES OTHER PROCESSES WITHIN THIS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE BUT ALSO SEEING LIKE HOW CLOSE TO MOVING ALONG THEIR LOVED ONES ARE I'M NOT EXPLAINING THIS VERY WELL BUT GIVES PEOPLE WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THE PROCESS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE FROM INTAKE WHEN SOMEONE PASSES AWAY TO THE POINT WHERE THEY GO TO THE FUNERAL HOME OR THEY'RE READY TO BE RELEASED TO THE FAMILY YOU KNOW WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING TO BE RELEASED AND THIS WILL GIVE PEOPLE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YES, THANK YOU CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO MENTION GOING BACK REAL QUICK TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER BY GETTING THIS POSITION DONE IT ALSO BRINGS OUR CREDENTIALS WHICH WE'LL BRING REVENUE IN HAVING A SECOND MEDICAL EXAMINER. I REALLY WANT TO GET THAT OUT THERE ON PUBLIC RECORD. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT HAVING THIS POSITION WILL ACTUALLY OPEN OTHER DOORS OF FUNDING FOR THE COUNTY AND FOR THE OFFICE, NOT ONLY THAT AND, OF COURSE, THE EXTRA HELP THAT IS SO NEEDED WHEN THIS JOB IS BEING DONE. ABSOLUTELY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE WANTED TO DO, OVER THE PAST MANY YEARS IS TO GO AFTER NAME CREDENTIALING AND ACCREDITATION AND SO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS HAS STRICT GUIDELINES ON HOW MUCH CASELOAD A CURRENT MEDICAL EXAMINER CAN CARRY AS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AND IT'S ABOUT 250 CASES.

RIGHT NOW OUR MEDICAL EXAMINERS ARE EXPECTED TO DO ALMOST DOUBLE THAT.

WHICH DOES EQUATE TO IF WE EVER WANT TO BE ACCREDITED, WHICH DOES BRING IN THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE GRANT DOLLARS

[03:55:02]

TO GET EQUIPMENT GRANTS, THINGS LIKE THE LODOX MACHINE THAT'S A FULL-BODY X-RAY, REALLY HIGH-QUALITY MACHINES.

WE CAN GO AFTER AND GET THOSE FOR FREE OFTEN IF YOU'RE ACCREDITED.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE TYPES OF GRANTS. AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE POST A JOB ON THEIR WEBSITE ON NAME. IF WE'RE NOT ACCREDITED, WE'RE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST IN LITTLE TINY LETTERS, WHEREAS ALL THE ACCREDITED AGENCIES ARE RIGHT UP AT THE TOP AND HAVE HIGH PRIORITY ON RECRUITMENT OF STAFFING AS WELL. AND SO THERE'S REASONS WHY ACCREDITATION IS GOOD, BUT THE REASON I LOVE ACCREDITATION IS THAT IT TELLS US THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AND AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS POSSIBLE THAT WE'RE EXPECTED TO TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THAT OFFICE. AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THAT AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS TOO THAT WE WOULD NEED A SECOND MEDICAL EXAMINER IN ORDER TO GO AFTER THAT REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT OUR CURRENT MEDICAL EXAMINER IS REALLY, REALLY IN NEED OF HELP. SO THAT IS DEFINITELY ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF POSITIONS TO GO AFTER. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO PAUSE AT ANY POINT FOR QUESTIONS ON DIFFERENT THINGS. NO, THE SUPERVISORS WERE ADVISED YESTERDAY TO ASK QUESTIONS WHENEVER THEY WANT, DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR. SO THEY JUST LET ME KNOW, INTERJECT, AND THAT'S JUST FINE.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. SO THEN WE ARE ASKING FOR $989,526 TO OFFSET THE INCREASED HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS AND PROPOSED COLAS AND MERITS. THIS IS FOR NON-CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES.

THIS WOULD BE FOR THE, OUR CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES ARE THE PROVIDERS THAT WE CONTRACT SEPARATELY, THOSE DOCTORS, NURSES, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PAS. BUT THIS IS FOR OUR GENERAL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND ARE GOING TO GET THE COLAS AND MERITS.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO OFFSET THAT INCREASE IN THOSE COSTS THAT ARE COMING OUR WAY. AND THEN THE $446,979 IS A COMBINATION OF STAFFING FOR THE ASH FORK CLINIC FOR A NURSE PRACTITIONER, A NURSE, A MEDICAL ASSISTANT, AND CLINICAL SERVICES CLERK.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD, TOO, IS WHEN WE HIRE A PROVIDER, WHETHER THAT BE A DOCTOR, A NURSE PRACTITIONER, OR A PA, OFTEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE THE MATH AND ON AVERAGE, IF THEY'RE FULL-TIME, THEY CAN BRING IN ABOUT $600,000 IN REVENUE PER YEAR. SO WHEN WE HIRE SOMEONE AND WE ASK FOR ACCESSORY STAFFING TO GO WITH THEM THAT SUPPORTS STAFF, SO IT'S THE CLERKS, IT'S THE MAS, THE NURSES, THOSE ARE OFTENTIMES FULLY PAID BY THE REVENUES WE BRING IN.

SO JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE COME TO YOU WITH THOSE ASKS, WE ARE PLANNING ON INCREASING OUR REVENUES TO MEET THAT DEMAND OR THAT COST.

WE JUST NEED YOU TO KNOW WHAT THAT COST IS FOR THE NEW POSITIONS. MR. CHAIR, SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE YESTERDAY IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS COMMUNICATIONS WITH CSA, THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION, THAT WE WOULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS IN COSTS. BUT IS THAT THIS OR IS THAT A DIFFERENT THING? NO, GOOD QUESTION. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE, ALL TECHS AND ACCESS COSTS THOSE ARE SEPARATE FROM YOUR COMMUNITY HEALTH BUDGET THOSE ARE IN THE GENERAL SERVICES BUDGET AND AND SO BECAUSE THE WORDING IS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING TO HELP OFFSET INCREASED SO INSURANCE COSTS ARE WE IS IT THE COLA AND MERIT THAT'S HELPING TO OFFSET THAT OR HOW ELSE ARE WE OFFSETTING IT. I CAN HELP HERE IF YOU WANT SO YOUR CHANCE YOUR QUESTION REAL QUICKLY. THAT IS AN AGREED UPON AMOUNT THEY ASKED FOR TO DEAL WITH THE COUNTY'S COLA AND MERIT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEIR REGULAR EMPLOYEES, IN HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE CLINIC. THE PAST PROCESS HAS BEEN TO TRY TO INCLUDE THOSE IN THE GRANTS, AND IT'S CAUSED REDUCTION IN SERVICES.

BUT THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE ALTEX AND ACCESS DISCUSSION, WHICH IS A DIRECT PAYMENT TO THE STATE. THIS IS TO YOUR EMPLOYEES. AND SO HOW ARE WE OFFSETTING THE COSTS FOR EMPLOYEES? IT'S THROUGH COLA AND MERIT.

BY INCLUDING THIS $989,000, YOU'RE OFFSETTING THAT FROM THE NEED TO INCLUDE IT IN THEIR GRANTS, WHICH IS A PROBLEM. AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE HOURS AND SERVICES IF WE DON'T DO THIS.

THEIR TERMINOLOGY IS PROBABLY FUNDING COLA AND MERIT. YES, AND THAT'S A BETTER TERM. CAN I GO OVER THAT? YEAH, AND HEALTH INSURANCE. IF I CAN TAKE A MOMENT JUST ON THAT QUESTION TO FULLY ANSWER IT,

[04:00:01]

I KNOW I TRY NOT TO TALK.

THERE NEEDS SOME CLARIFICATION.

SO IN THE PAST, THIS DEPARTMENT RUNS A MAJORITY ON FEES AND GRANTS AND DOES A GREAT JOB, AND THE COUNTY PROVIDES A TRANSFER TO THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND CLINIC.

LET'S PUT MEDICAL EXAMINER ASIDE, THAT'S PURE GENERAL FUND. BUT THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS ARE FUNDED A MAJORITY BY FEES AND GRANTS, PROBABLY 95%. YOU THEN TRANSFER SOME MONEY OVER TO THEM FROM THE GENERAL FUND. AND TRADITIONALLY, PAST COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS, ME ONE, HAVE BEEN KIND OF NEGLECTING THIS ISSUE. I'LL ADMIT THAT. I KNOW LESLIE WILL AGREE ON THAT. SO WE HAVE HAD THEM INCLUDING THAT. INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE AND COLAS AND MERITS AS PART OF THEIR GRANTS. THEY'VE COME TO A POINT WHERE THAT CANNOT BE ABSORBED. AND THEY CAME TO US WITH THIS TO OFFSET THAT COST. AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GETTING THAT TERMINOLOGY. WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE KIND OF BEEN REALLY A LITTLE RIGID AND THAT'LL FORCE A CONVERSATION THAT MANAGEMENT HAS HAD OF THESE ARE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE OR WE'RE GOING TO START REDUCING SOME OF THE SERVICES. SO THAT'S THE TERMINOLOGY. I REMEMBER HAVING THAT CONVERSATION PROBABLY MY FIRST COUPLE WEEKS IN OFFICE WITH LESLIE SO BUT THE WORDING HAD ME CONFUSED AND NOW I UNDERSTAND SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? SO, I DON'T WANT TO MUDDY THE WATERS HERE SO I'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO PIVOT OVER TO ANOTHER PART OF WHAT THIS DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS WE HAVE A BOARD A COMMUNITY BOARD PEOPLE COME THEY SERVE ON THE BOARD AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD FROM THE COMMUNITY DO FUNDRAISING, AND THEY ALSO TRY TO HELP THE CLINIC AND HELP WITH THE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED TO GIVE SOME MORE MONEY INTO THAT. THIS IS ANOTHER PART, NOT ONLY ON THE GRANTS, AS MR. BOURDON MENTIONED, BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR THE CLINIC, THE BOARD MEMBERS, ARE FOREVER LOOKING AT WAYS TO HELP WITH EXTRA THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE NEED IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE IN THE CLINIC THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUT THERE. WE MEET EVERY MONTH ON THIS BOARD. WE ARE FOREVER ACTIVE. I'M ON THIS BOARD AND A LOT OF GOOD WORK COMES FROM THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE SERVICES AND THE HELP WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THAT FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THEM. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND ALL THAT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S THE COMMUNITY COMING IN TO HELP SUPPORT THIS. IT'S A 501C3. AM I CORRECT ON THAT? THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

PLEASE CONTINUE. ALL RIGHT.

AND MR. BOURDON, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT, YES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT OUT TO MAKE MONEY.

THAT'S THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE CLINIC IS IT IS ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET. IT SEEMS LIKE A LARGE BUDGET, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF, SOME OF THOSE REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO THE REPORTING AND ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO AS A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER. BUT WE DO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND WE USE THAT 501C3 COMPONENT OF OUR DEPARTMENT TO HELP WITH SERVICES BEYOND WHAT WE CAN COVER WITHIN THE CLINIC. SO IF SOMEONE IS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, WE TRY TO GO AND FUNDRAISE TO HELP WITH THEIR TREATMENT OR THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE CAN'T DO OURSELVES AT THE CLINIC. AND SO THINGS OVER AND ABOVE OR EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED. LAST YEAR WE FUNDED SOME AMAZING NEW DENTAL X-RAYS BECAUSE THE DENTAL X-RAY MACHINES THAT WE HAD WERE CREATED BEFORE I WAS BORN. AND SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE US BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE TECHNOLOGIES, BUT ALSO HAVE THAT EXTRA ARM OF THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES. IT IS A WONDERFUL ASSET. AND SUPERVISOR CHECK, ONE OF THE REASONS TOO THAT IT LOOKS DIFFERENT IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE GRANTS AND FEES. MOST OF THE DEPARTMENTS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT AS AN ADD-ON.

THAT'S JUST WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT'S A KNOWN THING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO COVER COLAS AND MERITS WITH OURS, IT LOOKS LIKE AN ADDED COST BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE CAN AFFORD THIS YEAR. ALL RIGHT, SO THOSE OTHER REQUESTS ARE $135,536 FOR A NEW DENTAL HYGIENIST FULL-TIME POSITION, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE PEDIATRIC DENTAL SERVICES. THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED AFFILIATED HYGIENE THAT IS A NEW AND UP-AND-COMING BEST PRACTICE IN IN PEDIATRIC OFFICES AS WELL AS FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS WHERE A LOT OF OUR KIDDOS COME IN AND THEY SEE THE PEDIATRICIAN BUT THEY NEVER MAKE IT INTO

[04:05:03]

DENTAL AND WE SEE NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES WE SEE ALL KINDS OF ISSUES COMING UP WITH CHILDREN'S HEALTH BASED ON ORAL HYGIENE AND SO WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES IS ALLOW A DENTAL HYGIENIST TO STEP INTO A PEDIATRIC APPOINTMENT AND DO A QUICK EXAMINATION AND SOME CLEAN UP OF THE MOUTH AND THEN TRY TO IF THE PERSON AND THE CHILD AND THE PARENT AGREED TO GO SEE THE DENTIST BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING MORE ADVANCED GOING ON IN THEIR MOUTH OR OR THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD AN APPOINTMENT EVER WITH A DENTIST, IT HELPS US TO GIVE THAT AVENUE A KIND OF A WARM HANDOFF INTO DENTAL AND IT'S A BILLABLE SERVICE SO THAT'S ONE THING WE'LL BE ABLE TO BILL FOR THAT SERVICE AND BRING IN REVENUE AS WELL AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH A LOT OF KIDS THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T SEE THE DENTIST. THEN WE HAVE 68,649 FOR A NEW CARE COORDINATOR.

THIS IS SOMEBODY, IT'S MORE OF ACTUALLY A CASE MANAGER, BUT IT'S CALLED A CARE COORDINATOR IN THIS REQUEST, BUT IT'S SOMEBODY TO HELP MANAGE PATIENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ARE, WE DON'T HAVE A PERSON ON STAFF TO MEET SOME OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS, AND WE'RE ALWAYS HAVING TO PULL PEOPLE FROM THEIR CURRENT POSITIONS TO DO SOME OF THE WORK THAT WOULD BE NEEDED FOR THIS TO MEET OUR FEDERAL GRANT REQUIREMENTS.

THEN WE HAVE $9,588 TO RECLASSIFY A MEDICAL ASSISTANT TO AN APPLICATION SUPPORT SPECIALIST. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE DO TO SUPPORT OUR PATIENTS. WE HAVEN'T HAD NAVIGATOR GRANTS BEFORE, AND THOSE, AS MANY OF US KNOW, GOT CUT THIS LAST YEAR ANYWAYS.

BUT THAT IS A COST THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD WITHIN OUR OWN SERVICES. AND SO WHEN SOMEONE'S ON MEDICAID, THEY HAVE A LOT BETTER ABILITY TO SEE THE PROVIDERS AND BE ABLE TO AFFORD SERVICES.

OFTENTIMES, MEDICAID IS GOING TO PAY FOR MOST OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

BUT THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO APPLY, AND AS WE KNOW, ACCESS IS STARTING TO COME UP WITH DEEPER REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT. THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING INTO THIS NEXT YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF CHANGES TO ACCESS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM AND ENROLLED.

THAT POSITION IS TO HELP TO RECLASSIFY THAT POSITION TO TAKE ON THE ADDITIONAL WORK. AND THEN $85,865 FOR A HEALTH EDUCATOR, TOO.

FOR THE CAMP VERDE CONNECTION CENTER, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A GRAND OPENING COMING SOON. I HOPE SOME OF YOU CAN BE THERE, OF THE CAMP VERDE CONNECTION CENTER.

BUT WITH THAT, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO STAFF IT, TOO. SO WE'LL BE COMING TO YOU IN JUNE WITH SOME REQUESTS FOR OPIOID FUND POSITIONS, TOO.

BUT THIS IS A POSITION THAT WE'D LIKE TO ADD IN AS SOON AS THE NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS, WHICH IS A HEALTH EDUCATOR, TOO, AND THAT PERSON HELPS TO FOLLOW UP WITH FOLKS AS THEY COME OUT OF JAIL AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MAINTAINING SERVICES AND ABLE TO GET THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED SO THEY DON'T RECIDIVATE AND END UP BACK IN OUR JAIL.

SO THOSE POSITIONS ARE VERY VALUABLE, BUT WE ARE BUILDING THAT PROGRAM. AND SO OVER TIME, IT DOES TAKE MORE STAFFING, ESPECIALLY IF WE DON'T WANT THOSE PEOPLE HAVING TO BE PULLED FROM THE PRESCOTT CONNECTION CENTER ALWAYS TO GO TO CAMP VERDE.

TO GET STARTED, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. WE'RE GOING TO PULL PEOPLE A COUPLE DAYS A WEEK.

AND THEN AS WE HAVE THE BUDGET TO ADD PEOPLE WE WILL BE ADDING STAFFING TO STAFF THAT CONNECTION CENTER. SO THOSE ARE OUR ASKS. I REALIZE IT'S A LOT TO GO THROUGH. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE HAD TIME TO LOOK THROUGH KIND OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

BEFORE I LEAD OFF WITH EVERYBODY'S ANSWERS, I'LL JUST START OFF REAL QUICK. FOR ME, IT'S THE ACCREDITATION AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER. THAT'S JUST HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO WHAT SUPERVISOR MALLORY WAS TALKING ABOUT. AND WHAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT, ACTUALLY, IS PEDIATRIC DENTAL. I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THAT IN THE BUDGET. SO, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, YOU WANT TO START? SURE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT'S BEEN EXCITING WATCHING YOU GET THE ASHFORD CLINIC UP AND RUNNING, AND JUST THE DEMAND IS SO APPARENT. YOU SAID THE END OF SUMMER. LAST I CHECKED, YOU GUYS ARE BACKED UP INTO AUGUST. IS IT LATER THAN THAT NOW, OR ARE WE? WE'RE AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER, SO YEAH, WE'RE GETTING THERE. AND HOPEFULLY AS SOON AS WE ADD STAFFING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE IN QUICKER. SO WE'LL BE CALLING AND RESCHEDULING THEM INTO SOONER SPOTS. BUT YEAH, WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THAT CREDENTIALING WAS IN PLACE TO REALLY EXPAND DAYS BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE COULDN'T BILL FOR THE TIME. AND WE ALSO HAVE A SHORTAGE IN COTTONWOOD WHERE DR. CRUMRIN, WHO SERVES ASH FORK AS WELL, HAS BEEN SERVING. SO WE'VE NEEDED HER IN COTTONWOOD AND CAN'T PULL HER AWAY FROM THERE.

BUT WE HAVE ALSO HIRED SOMEONE TO START IN COTTONWOOD AS WELL.

SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO RE-SITUATE SOME THINGS, GET MORE STAFFING THERE, AND THEN HOPEFULLY RE-BOOK PEOPLE INTO SOONER APPOINTMENTS. AND THEY EVEN HAVE AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME GET FOOD THAT'S

[04:10:01]

NECESSARY. THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE FOOD BANK AREA AND THE PHARMACY THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED. AND, I MEAN, DISTRICT 4 DOESN'T END UNTIL YOU'RE 30 MILES WEST OF SELIGMAN. IT'S ABSOLUTELY HUGE OUT THERE. THE PEOPLE THAT DRIVE ON THOSE ROADS, A LOT OF THEIR VEHICLES AREN'T IN THE CONDITION TO EVEN GET IN THE LARGER POPULATION CENTERS, SO BEING ABLE TO GET MEDICATIONS, AND I LIKE HOW YOU DESCRIBED THAT WHOLE AREA THAT'S COMING IN THERE.

AND I THINK ONE THING THAT WE'RE CREATING IS A MODEL THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT WE GET DONE IN ASH FORK, AND THAT CAN GET PLOPPED INTO ANYBODY'S COMMUNITY, AND WE'LL KNOW WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK, WHAT'S THE REAL NEED. SO THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE. YEAH, AND THANK YOU.

I DIDN'T EVEN BRING UP THE PHARMACY, BUT WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE OUR FIRST PHARMACY OUT THERE. IT'LL BE A SMALL ONE, BUT WE DO, WE WILL HAVE DISTRIBUTION POINTS AT OUR OTHER LOCATIONS AND DOWN THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, AS RESOURCES PERMIT WE WOULD LOVE TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM TOO, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A NEED IN ASH FORK AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE. THAT'S ANOTHER REASON FOR STAFFING THE BUILDING BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A PHARMACY THERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED FULL STAFFING AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING. WE DON'T JUST WANT A STANDALONE PHARMACY OUT THERE, WE WANT TO HAVE A FULL-FLEDGED CLINIC WITH PHARMACY AND THEN AND BE ABLE TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES. SO THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR JENKINS? THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR YOU. WHAT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW HIRES? I COUNTED LIKE EIGHT OR NINE, BUT YET THE HEAD COUNT WENT UP 13. EIGHT. IT'S EIGHT. EIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I COUNTED WAS EIGHT. FOR THIS CYCLE, YES.

BUT THE HEAD COUNT WENT UP 13.

FROM MID-YEAR ADJUSTMENTS, WE HAD FIVE. OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE. I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK WITH YOU ON THAT. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY, MY NEXT COMMENT IS I WAS, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY LUCKY ENOUGH TO GO HAVE A VISIT AT THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS. SHE WAS GREAT IN SHOWING US THE FACILITY, EXPLAINING, MARY, YOU WENT AS WELL, EXPLAINING EVERYTHING.

SHE REALLY REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AN ADDITIONAL MEDICAL EXAMINER.

SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS SOMEBODY INTERESTED IN COMING UP HERE. SO THAT IS REALLY EXCITING. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A TWO-YEAR PROCESS. YOU COULD GET SOMEBODY ON BOARD AND BE ACCREDITED PRETTY DARN SOON.

SO I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE THIS COME THROUGH. MY LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE THE GENERAL FUND HAS TO MOVE OVER THOSE FUNDINGS FOR THE COLA MERIT AND THE INCREASE THAT'S THIS YEAR THEN THESE ARE ONGOING COSTS THESE ARE GOING TO BE THERE EVERY SINGLE YEAR DO YOU THEN BUILD THIS YEAR'S COST INTO NEXT YEAR'S FEES OR IN YOUR BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION NEXT YEAR WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COLA SO I JUST IF YOU COULD CLARIFY WHAT IS THE PROCESS THEN TO EMBED THEM IN YOUR CURRENT AND NOT HAVE IT BUILT YEAR AFTER YEAR? DO YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT? THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION BECAUSE I BROUGHT THAT UP TOO BECAUSE THESE ARE COMPOUNDING COSTS. THEY DON'T GO AWAY AND YOU'RE STARTING FROM SCRATCH THE NEXT YEAR. SO WE DID ASK FOR SUPPORT LAST YEAR AND WE RECEIVED IT, BUT THEN GOING INTO THIS YEAR WE BUDGET FOR.

AND KATHY IS VERY GOOD ABOUT INCLUDING COLAS AND MERITS IN OUR BUDGET. THIS YEAR, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S WE FOUND OUT WE GOT SOME FUNDING CUTS.

WE FOUND OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD INCREASE OVER TIME ARE NOT BEING INCREASED. SO WE DO WORK THAT, THOUGH, INTO OUR REVENUE. SO AND AS WE GET NEW GRANTS, SO AS WE GET, SAY, RURAL TRANSFORMATION FUNDS OR OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUDGETING OUR STAFFING TO EQUATE TO BEING ABLE TO PAY THOSE IN THE INCREASED REVENUE. SO EACH YEAR OUR FUNDING CHANGES.

AND SO WE DO OUR BEST TO PREDICT OUT, YOU KNOW. THIS IS GOING TO BE THREE MONTHS FROM NOW UP TO 15 MONTHS FROM NOW. AND WE'RE TRYING TO PREDICT OVER TIME WHAT OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO END UP BEING, YOU KNOW, ZEROED OUT AND BEING ABLE TO AFFORD OURSELVES. BUT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BUDGET IN THE CURRENT COLA AND MERIT, MAKING SURE THAT IF WE HAVE TO COME TO YOU TO REQUEST ADDITION, IT'S ONLY FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S ADDITION. I FIGURED THAT'S WHAT YOU DID, BUT I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU.

YES, IT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, LESLIE, ALL OF YOUR STAFF.

YOU'RE ALL AMAZING. AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE OUTREACH ALSO WITH YAVAPAI REGIONAL. WE HAVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND TOGETHER WITH THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP EVEN MORE PEOPLE.

THERE'S SO MUCH THIS COMMUNITY DOES AND GETS BENEFITS FROM AS WE WORK TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD SO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT

[04:15:02]

YOU D, THANK YOU. FOR SURE THANK YOU. YEAH, SO ONE THING THAT I MET WITH DIRECTOR HORTON ON THIS YEAR IS CONCERNS OVER HEAVY METAL EXPOSURE SO THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY ANNEX IS ABOUT HALF A BLOCK AWAY FROM A SLAG PILE THAT'S BEING PROCESSED AND FREQUENTLY DYNAMITED AND SO I KNOW WE'RE DOING WORK ON OUR END FACILITIES WISE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE IN OUR BUILDING BUT ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS I KNOW WE DO PEDIATRIC LEAD TESTING OUT OF OUR CLINIC BUT THERE'S NOT AN OFFERING FOR ADULT LEAD OR ARSENIC TESTING AND WE HAD DISCUSSED PUTTING IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET A SMALL AMOUNT OF SEED MONEY TO SEE IF THERE'S INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY TO GET TESTED, EITHER URINE TESTS. I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A PHLEBOTOMY LAB, BUT BLOOD TESTS ARE PROBABLY MORE ACCURATE.

IT'S NOT JUST AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS COTTONWOOD AROUND THE SLAG PILE. THERE ARE SO MANY WELLS THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE ARSENIC OR OTHER HEAVY METALS. WITHIN THEM, I THINK THERE REALLY COULD BE, AND NOT TO MENTION THE ABANDONED MINES THAT WE HAVE HERE, IS A POTENTIAL. SO I KNOW THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE PARTNER WITH THE STATE. I JUST WONDERED, WHERE DID WE GET, AND IS THERE ANY ASK OR ABILITY TO INSERT A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET THAT STARTED? YOU KNOW, THIS CONVERSATION'S GONE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, BUT WE DID. BRANDON SCHULTZ AND I JUST MET WITH THE STATE, THE CHIEF OFFICER WITHIN THE LAB, AND THEN THE FOLKS WITHIN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, SO THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH STUDIES AND OTHER SOMETIMES PILOT FUNDING FOR TESTING AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. THERE IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT PEOPLE CAN APPLY TO THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEND US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RIGHT NOW THAT PEOPLE COULD SIGN UP FOR. IT'S KIND OF RANDOM SELECTION, SO NOT EVERYONE GETS SELECTED, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED FOLKS THAT COULD SIGN UP VOLUNTARILY FOR SOME TESTING THAT WOULD BE EITHER BLOOD OR URINE. THEY DIDN'T GO INTO GREAT DETAIL, BUT THEY WERE GOING TO SEND MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S JUST A BRAND NEW PROGRAM. WE DIDN'T PUT ASIDE A BUDGET FOR IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY, I MEAN, WE'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE THE LEAD ON REFERRING PEOPLE TO GET THEIR LABS OR FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN A MODEL PROGRAM HERE, BUT I DO THINK MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS HAVE AREAS THAT ARE AFFECTED. AND SO I DON'T THINK IT'S NOT JUST COTTONWOOD.

WE'VE WORKED FOR MANY YEARS WITH DEWEY HUMBOLDT AND OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS OVER HEAVY METALS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT OR IN THE WATER THAT THEY DRINK AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD EXPLORE POSSIBLY DOING A COUNTYWIDE PROGRAM IF WE WANTED TO FUND THAT TESTING. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE AS A BOARD.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE VALUABLE FOR PEOPLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR OWN HEALTH. THE DIFFICULTY WITH HEAVY METALS IS THERE'S SOME NATUROPATHIC METHODS TO CLEANSE METALS OUT OF YOUR BODY, BUT YOU CAN ALSO DO PREVENTATIVE MEASURES AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FURTHER CONTAMINATION, WHICH IS KIND OF WHERE OFTENTIMES IN PUBLIC HEALTH WHERE WE'RE LOOKING IS, YOU KNOW, WEARING MASKS ON WINDY DAYS HAVING A YOU KNOW DRINKING A LOT OF WATER TO TRY TO GET YOUR BODY TO CIRCULATE ITSELF BUT ALSO THERE ARE SOME THERE'S SOME METHODS OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN DO SOME METAL DETOXES AND CLEANSES BUT I THINK THAT IS THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE WITH THE FULL BOARD AND SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO FUND BECAUSE I WOULD WANT TO OFFER SOMETHING LIKE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD TO ALL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE I THINK YOU'LL HAVE SOME JEALOUS COMMUNITIES IF WE JUST DO IT IN COTTONWOOD SO MAKING SURE IT'S AVAILABLE TO ALL.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? YES. SO I'M REALLY, I DON'T KNOW. I'M GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION. IT MIGHT BE MORE TO PHIL OR THE STAFF.

SO WE GO AND WE HAVE OUR PRIORITIES FOR CSA, AND I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT THERE. WHAT IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR CSA SUMMIT TO SEE ARE THERE OTHER COUNTIES? WHAT ARE THEY DEALING WITH? HOW COULD IT BE? SOMETHING THAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION TO NOT JUST MAKE IT FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY BUT MAYBE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING ACROSS THE STATE AND I'M JUST KIND OF PUTTING THAT OUT THERE JUST A THOUGHT IF IT'S A GOOD ONE GREAT, AND IF IT'S NOT A GOOD ONE I'M GOOD WITH THAT TOO. JUST AN IDEA.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY IF I MAY RESPOND. YES, I MEAN THE WHOLE STATE GEOLOGICALLY ANYWHERE YOU HAVE MINING YOU HAVE OTHER HEAVY METALS SHOWING UP AND YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT EVEN JUST SPECIFIC TO YAVAPAI COUNTY. THERE ARE CERTAINLY HOT SPOTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM UNDERSTANDING THE MATTER BETTER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR

[04:20:03]

CONCERNS, SUPERVISOR? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, MR. BOURDON.

THE ONLY COMMENT I WOULD MAKE IS I WOULD SUGGEST NOT WAITING FOR A LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT DISCUSSION. YOU ATTEND CSA MONTHLY. I KNOW YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THE MEDIUM COUNTY CAUCUS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING THIS UP AND ENGAGE YOUR COUNTERPARTS, AND I'LL ENGAGE OTHER COUNTY MANAGERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SUPERINTENDENT, THERE YOU ARE. YOU'RE RIGHT BEHIND ME. I COULDN'T SEE YOU, STEVE. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING. GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN AND BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS HERE.

TODAY, I'M SURE YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE BUDGET. I DO NOT HAVE A POWERPOINT, BUT YOU HAVE THE BUDGET THAT WE SUBMITTED FOR THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT THIS YEAR. BUT I'D LIKE TO START, FIRST OF ALL, BY JUST GIVING MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND I'M SURE YOU ALL RECALL, THERE WAS A VERY STRANGE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED ME TO THIS MEETING LAST YEAR, AND YOU ALL STEPPED UP IN A HUGE WAY. SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. I'VE BEEN GIVING YOU REGULAR UPDATES, SO THERE'S NO SURPRISES HERE, BUT WE'VE REALLY BEEN PUSHING HARD ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY FOR THE SCIENCE OF READING AND BREEDING AND STRUCTURED LITERACY OR PHONICS-BASED EARLY READING INSTRUCTION, K-5.

WE'RE NOW EXPANDING THAT INTO OUR WRITING. WE HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM GOING ON THAT'S ALSO GRANT FUNDED BUT TIED INTO THE PROJECT FOR BRINGING THAT INTO OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND UP INTO OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. SO WE HAVE A CONTINUATION ARTICULATION OF OUR CURRICULUM ALL THE WAY UP FROM K THROUGH EVENTUALLY INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS. THIS COMING YEAR, AS YOU'LL SEE, AND I CAN'T EXPRESS DEEP ENOUGH THE GRATITUDE. REALLY, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ANYWHERE IN THE STATE THAT IS FUNDING SUCH A PROJECT. AND I KNOW THAT, MR. COMPTON, YOU HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE STATE TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND EVERY TIME I TALK TO SOMEBODY, OH, YEAH, I TALKED TO MR. COMPTON ALREADY AT SUCH AND SUCH A MEETING OR SOMETHING ELSE. AND THAT REALLY DOES GO A LONG WAY BECAUSE THAT ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS. THIS NEXT YEAR WE ARE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THESE PROJECTS, DEEPENING AND THEN EXPANDING THESE PROJECTS TO OTHER SCHOOLS. CURRENTLY WE'RE FOCUSED ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF TRAININGS FOR TO GET THE LITERACY ENDORSEMENTS FOR OUR K-5 TEACHERS. SO THAT ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN TRAINING TRAINERS SO WE GROW OUR CAPACITY AND IN MY MIND IT IS ALL ABOUT CAPACITY HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. NO ONE'S COMING TO SAVE YAVAPAI COUNTY IF THIS IS THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT TO GO. WHICH IS WHAT I'M GETTING FROM ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ALL THE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT, THEN WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS OURSELVES.

AND GROWING THEIR CAPACITY IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL. AS YOU SEE FROM LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T EVEN SPEND ALL THE MONEY THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR. WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE, AND I DO PRIDE MYSELF ON SPENDING MONEY AS IT COMES IN.

BUT WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF LEFTOVERS, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO EVEN CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT THIS COMING YEAR AND NOT TO HAVE ANY LEFTOVERS WHEN I HOPEFULLY COME BACK IN FRONT OF YOU NEXT YEAR. ADDING ADDITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL TRAININGS.

WE'VE GOT TWO TRAININGS THAT YOU'LL BE RECEIVING INVITATIONS FOR OVER THE SUMMER. ONE IS ON JUNE 9TH AND 10TH, WHICH IS A COUNTYWIDE TRAINING GOING TO BE HELD AT PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY AND THAT IS WITH CURRICULUM DIRECTORS, LEAD TEACHERS, SUPERINTENDENTS TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THEIR STANDARDS ALL THE WAY FROM K THROUGH 8 TO SEE HOW WE ARE ARTICULATING THE STANDARDS AND THEN BRING THESE STANDARDS TO OUR CHILDREN TIED AROUND STRUCTURED LITERACY.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A PHONICS READING INSTRUCTION FOR K-5 TEACHERS. AND THAT IS ALSO AGAIN THIS SUMMER AND YOU'LL BE RECEIVING AN INVITATION FOR THAT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND ANYTHING THAT WE DO ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND ALL OF THESE BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. BRINGING IN A LITTLE BIT OF THE DEEPENING AS FAR AS THE ASSESSMENT AND THE INSTRUCTIONAL PIECES, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO ADD MORE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS THIS YEAR. CURRENTLY WE HAVE FIVE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE'D LIKE TO ADD SIX AND EVEN SEVEN, MAYBE EIGHT. WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THIS, WE ARE BRINGING THEM IN. A LITTLE BIT OF THE ISSUES IS THE VAST THE SIZE OF OUR COUNTY, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, IS THE SIZE OF NEW JERSEY, AND GETTING PEOPLE THERE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME IS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING AND DIFFERENT SCHEDULES.

BUT IF THEY CAN'T COME TO US, SO WE'RE LOOKING TO COME TO THEM, EITHER THROUGH VIRTUAL TRAININGS OR THROUGH IN-PERSON TRAININGS.

SO THE REQUEST FOR NEXT YEAR IS VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO THE REQUEST FOR LAST YEAR, AND THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE.

VICE CHAIR CHECK, DO YOU WANT TO START OFF? WELL, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU IMPLEMENT THIS.

REALLY WONDERFUL TRAINING THAT I KNOW IS GOING TO SET UP OUR YOUTH FOR SUCCESS. I MEAN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW HOW

[04:25:01]

CLOSELY ACADEMIC SUCCESS BROADLY IS TIED TO THOSE THIRD GRADE READING STANDARDS BEING ACHIEVED. I MEAN IT'S HUGE AND SO I REALLY COMMEND THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT KING FOR THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN REALLY, YOU KNOW. GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OUR KIDS WITHOUT DEPENDING ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT IN GENERAL FOR SCHOOL FUNDING. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE SUCCESS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY ACHIEVED HERE. I GUESS I DO JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION TO MAKE SURE. THIS IS, THIS IS, YOU'RE MAKING THE SAME MASK THAT YOU MADE LAST YEAR, SO IT'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL. IT IS NOT AN ADDITIONAL. I CAN ALWAYS MAKE ADDITIONAL. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER PROJECTS GOING WITH CAREER EXPLORATION FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND WE'RE FINDING SUCCESS WITH THAT. WE'VE HAD GRANT FUNDING THIS YEAR. AND ALSO THE THIRD PIECE OF THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL WE HAVE ARE THOSE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND GETTING KIDS ENGAGED IN ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES. BUT RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE ONLY ASK.

WELL, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I WAS ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL DURING ONE OF THESE TRAININGS AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT TEACHERS ARE RESISTING IN ANY WAY. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE HUNGRY TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEIR STUDENTS ANY WAY THEY CAN, AND IT WAS REALLY A WONDERFUL SIGHT, SO THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? THANK YOU, CHAIR. STEVE, YOU DO A GREAT JOB. IT'S BEEN EXCITING SINCE YOU'VE COME ON BOARD, DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO. I LOVED GOING TO ONE OF THE EVENTS OVER THERE IN THE VERDE. THAT WAS FANTASTIC. THE ENGAGEMENT, THE COMMUNICATION, AND THE POSITIVE FEELING LIKE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THEIR HEART, THEY'RE MOTIVATED, THEIR SOUL, IT'S MOVING FORWARD. SO, THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU. SPIRIT MOVES. WE REALLY DO HAVE AN AMAZING GROUP OF EDUCATORS ACROSS THIS ENTIRE COUNTY, AND THERE IS SIGNIFICANT BUY-IN FROM EVERYONE. THEY ARE HUNGRY FOR THESE THINGS AND THESE LEVELS OF SUPPORT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME TO THIS POSITION, I INHERITED THE MOTTO, LISTEN, INNOVATE, AND SERVE. AND THAT IS, WE'VE KEPT THAT, AND I DO A LOT OF LISTENING, A LOT OF TRAVELING AROUND, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO INNOVATE. YOU'RE A HUGE PART OF THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MY OFFICE AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? YEAH, I KNOW. I CALLED YOU THE OTHER DAY. I SAID, ARE YOU SURE THIS IS ALL YOU'RE ASKING FOR? I THINK WE'RE ALL KIND OF ON THE SAME PAGE, AND HE SAID, WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR. YOUR ENTHUSIASM, YOUR EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT YOU DO IS CONTAGIOUS.

EVERY TIME I TALK TO YOU, IT'S ALWAYS THE EXCITEMENT THAT I FEEL FROM YOU FOR YOUR JOB AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING. SO I JUST HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU. I AM VERY EXCITED. I GET UP EVERY MORNING AND I GET TO WORK WITH FABULOUS PEOPLE.

AND ON THE BACK OVER THERE IS SHERRY STERLING, AND SHE REALLY IS ONE OF THE MANY BRAINS OF THE OPERATION BECAUSE IT AIN'T ME, BUT IT'S AN EXCITING TIME, AND ONE CONNECTION LEADS TO ANOTHER, LEADS TO ANOTHER, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE TRYING TO BREED SUCCESS BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND KEEPING THESE CHILDREN HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY AND HAVING THEM FIND THEIR FUTURES HERE WHICH IS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR US.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO? YEAH, YOU BROUGHT UP HUNGRY, AND I THINK THAT'S IT. I THINK PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY TO DO THINGS RIGHT. AND I WAS TALKING WITH KIMBERLY YEE, WHO'S RUNNING FOR STATE, BASICALLY YOUR JOB, AND YOU GUYS SOUND EXACTLY THE SAME.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ENERGY, I THINK SHE'S BRINGING ENERGY TOO. WE'LL SEE WHO WINS THE ELECTION, BUT IF THAT'S TO HAPPEN, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE STATE DOWN. YEAH, THANK YOU. ALL THE SUPPORT GOES A LONG WAY. WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU. FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW, THE STRANGE OCCURRENCE WAS ACTUALLY AN ARTICLE IN THE DAILY COURIER. AND YOU HAD SUGGESTED YOU NEEDED HELP. YEAH. AND I JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE ONE PERSON THAT CALLED HIM UP AND SAID, WHAT DO YOU NEED? AND THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT I GOT FROM YOU WHEN YOU TOOK ME OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN TO SCHOOLS THAT I WAS JUST SHOCKED, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEEDED, I WAS HAPPY TO PROVIDE MY SUPPORT AND I THANK THE BOARD DEARLY EACH AND EVERY MEMBER BECAUSE I KNOW IT CAME OFF THE CUFF HERE HERE'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS I NEED THIS THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO GO I WAS A NEW SUPERVISOR AND THE AND YOU SUPPORTED ME IN IT AND I APPRECIATE IT WAS A WISE DECISION BY THIS BOARD AND I TRULY APPRECIATE AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT THIS YEAR AND AGAIN AND EVEN FURTHER WHATEVER YOU NEED. I LOVE HEARING THAT, SUPERVISOR, CHAIR. WHATEVER WE NEED, YEAH. LIKE I SAID, THOSE EARLY CTE PROGRAMS, BECAUSE I'M VERY MUCH INTO CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

I REALLY THINK IT'S THE FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN HERE. MOST OF OUR KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO BE GOING TO A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY. AND IF THEY DO, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT WE'VE GOT FABULOUS, FABULOUS CTE PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTY. BILL STILER WITH MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE IS DOING A TERRIFIC JOB ON THIS SIDE OF THE HILL, AND BOB WEIR WITH V-ACT ON THE VERDE SIDE. THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE, AND THEN A COLLABORATION WITH BUSINESS. AND SO OUR JOB, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HIRED SOMEONE THROUGH OUR AGENCY, NOT COMING TO YOU FOR THAT, TO SUPPORT THOSE CTEDS

[04:30:01]

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

AND I WILL WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, I'VE TOURED ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL. I JUST GOT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING TO VISIT THE LAST SCHOOL IN THIS COUNTY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN TO YET.

BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL. AND LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF SCHOOLS, BUT I WAS BLOWN AWAY WITH THE LACK OF CELL PHONES I SAW IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS ACROSS THIS SCHOOL, AND I SAID TO THEM, I SAID TO MR. NEELY, WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL, THEY'RE A REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE MAN, AND HE SAID, STEVE, IT WAS NOT EASY. WE HAD TO COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND IMPLEMENT THOSE POLICIES IN PLACE, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING POLICIES IN PLACE, IT'S ABOUT HAVING THOSE PRACTICES.

AND I WAS ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDED, AND I SAID, THIS SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR OUR ENTIRE COUNTY FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. AND SO I ASKED THEM IF WE WOULD COME AND PRESENT AT OUR COUNTYWIDE SUPERINTENDENT OR COUNTYWIDE ADMINISTRATORS MEETING IN SEPTEMBER ON HOW THEY FOUND THAT SUCCESS SO WE CAN REPLICATE THOSE THINGS.

AND THAT'S THE KEY RIGHT THERE IS MY OFFICE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, ONE OF THE MODELS OR THE MODEL THAT WE'RE UTILIZING IS ACTUALLY UTILIZING THE THE EDUCATORS THAT ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THERE'S TREMENDOUS TALENT OUT THERE BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING THEM AWAY AND THEN HAVING THEM MOVE INTO OUR AGENCY THEY ARE ACTUALLY EXPANDING THEM AND THEN HELPING SOME OF OUR SMALLER DISTRICTS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THAT CAPACITY AND THEY REMAIN IN THEIR REGULAR JOBS I REALLY THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF EDUCATORS I MEAN WE HAVE DESPERATE NEED FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS IN THIS COUNTY AND IF WE CAN KEEP THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT DOING THEIR GOOD THINGS THERE AND THEN HELP GROW WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE WAY FORWARD FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR CHILDREN.

WELL, FOR MY SON WHO'S 18 AT PHS, I HEAR ABOUT THE CELL PHONE EVERY DAY THAT HE CAN'T HAVE IT. RIGHT? SO THAT'S FABULOUS. I LOVE IT. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT AGAIN.

YOU SEE THAT? THAT'S PERFECT TIMING RIGHT THERE. IT WAS HEAVEN SENT. WE ARE THE FIRST COUNTY TO EVER DO THIS. COUNTY GOVERNMENT CAN FUND EDUCATION AND PARTNER WITH EDUCATION AND YOUR OFFICE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES. THANK YOU, SIR. NO, THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. RECORDER, PLEASE.

CHAIRMAN. YES. EXCUSE ME, CHAIR. WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT 15 MINUTES EARLY. THE RECORDER IS SCHEDULED AT 10:15. SO MAYBE I MADE AWARE THAT I MOVED THE SCHEDULE AROUND YESTERDAY.

THEY SAW THAT YOU CAN JOKE.

THIS IS A JOKE. YOU CAN CHANGE THE ORDER. IS SOMEBODY HERE, BUT THE TIMES ARE IMPORTANT.

FOR OPEN MEET. YOU WANT A BREAK? YEAH WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY THAT MR. BARTLE YOU DID IT YESTERDAY. OKAY, WE'LL COME BACK AT 10:15. 10:15, THANK YOU. OKAY 10:15. OKAY. TODAY'S 10:15 WE'RE BACK IN SESSION WE'RE MOVING ON TO RECORDER. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR COMPTON AND VICE CHAIR CHECK AND BOARD MEMBERS. I'M KAREN MCCRACKEN, CHIEF DEPUTY RECORDER, AND MATT WEBER, THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, IS HERE. THERE'S TWO OF US BECAUSE MICHELLE'S NOT HERE. IT TAKES TWO PEOPLE TO FILL IN FOR HER. SHE'S IN WASHINGTON, D.C. RIGHT NOW ASKING FOR GRANT MONEY FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS. CAN I ASK WHICH BUTTON IT IS, THE TOP BUTTON? TO THE RIGHT.

THE MOST USED ONE. OKAY. SO RECORDER VIRTUAL, HER MAJOR SERVICES ARE DOCUMENT RECORDING SERVICES AND VOTER REGISTRATION. AND OUR DOCUMENT RECORDING SERVICES, WE OFFER PEOPLE IN SERVICE, BY MAIL, ONLINE, TO BE ABLE TO RECORD DOCUMENTS. WE HAVE OUR RECORDING DOCUMENT ALERT AND A WEBSITE THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK UP ANY DOCUMENTS THAT ARE RECORDED IN THE COUNTY. VOTER REGISTRATION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. IT CONTAINS

[04:35:01]

REGISTERING TO VOTE, EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING, EARLY BALLOT BY MAIL REQUESTS, AND WE DO THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION ON THE BALLOT. SO SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 26, WE WERE RECOGNIZED BY TYLER TECHNOLOGIES AT THE LATEST CONFERENCE FOR OUR SCAN FIRST INNOVATION FOR RURAL COUNTIES FOR WHEN PEOPLE COME IN TO RECORD THEIR DOCUMENT. WE SCAN THE DOCUMENT FIRST, GIVE IT BACK TO THEM, WRITE BACK TO THEM, SO THEY CAN TAKE THE ORIGINAL BACK VERSUS HOLDING THE DOCUMENT FOR ABOUT A WEEK VERSUS GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AND MAILING IT BACK. SO IT'S A QUICKER WAY FOR THEM TO GET THEIR DOCUMENTS BACK.

SO MICHELLE WAS RECOGNIZED FOR THAT AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WE ARE CONTINUING TO POST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1870 TO CURRENT THAT WE HAVE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS POSTED. I HAD 1911 THERE, BUT MY STAFF TOLD ME NO, THAT THAT WAS INCORRECT. SO WE'RE BETTER THAN I THOUGHT.

AND WE TRANSITIONED TO A NEW PAYMENT SYSTEM WITH OUR RECORDING SOFTWARE THAT ACTUALLY HELPED THE CREDIT CARD FEES THAT PEOPLE PAY, REDUCED THAT BY A DOLLAR. SO THAT HELPS WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO COME IN. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE WAY THEY WANT TO PAY RIGHT NOW. SO FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, WE SUCCESSFULLY ADMINISTERED ELECTIONS IN 2025 FOR THE DISTRICTS LAST YEAR AND WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A NEW, HOW DO YOU SAY, DPOC, DOCUMENTED PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP CHECK FOR VOTERS THROUGH THE SAVE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS ACTUALLY REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED TO GIVE US THEIR DPOC AT THIS POINT. WE FOUND BY USING SAVE FOR 255 OF THE 299 RECORDS THAT WERE RUN THROUGH SAVE, WE FOUND THOSE PEOPLE'S DPOC FOR THEM, VERSUS THEM HAVING TO GIVE THEIR DPOC TO US. AND CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 31 OF OUR 171 FEDERAL-ONLY REGISTRANTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE DPOC. THE REMAINDER OF THE REGISTRANTS ARE FEDERAL-ONLY BECAUSE THEY JUST LACK THE DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF RESIDENCY. IT'S AN ADDITION TO REGISTERING TO VOTE NOW. SO THAT'S BEEN VERY FRUITFUL IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT DPOC. AND WE WILL ALSO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE DPOC. WE CAN STILL RESEARCH FOR THEM AND SAY, OKAY, WE FOUND IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE US THAT DOCUMENTATION.

AND WHEN WE SENT OUT ALL THOSE VOTER NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT DPOC, WE ACTUALLY USED GRANT FUNDS FOR THAT THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, SO THAT WAS ABOUT $45,000 THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND. SO OUR GOALS FOR BOTH DEPARTMENTS, ACTUALLY, IS ONE THAT WE WILL BE KICKING OFF AT A FRIDAY MEETING NEXT FRIDAY FOR HELPING OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLS THAT COME IN WHEN WE HAVE THE HEAVY VOLUMES.

DURING ELECTION SEASONS, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK MICHELLE HAD A BOARD MEETING TO GET APPROVAL FOR THAT, SO WE'RE GOING TO START THAT OFF PROBABLY NEXT WEEK. AND THAT'LL HELP BOTH DEPARTMENTS IN THAT ON THE RECORDING SIDE, MOST OF THE QUESTIONS WE GET ARE THE SAME, BASIC QUESTIONS. PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR THOSE QUESTIONS AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, HEAR THE ANSWER, AND PROBABLY NOT HAVE TO SPEAK TO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES. NOT THAT THAT'S A BAD THING, BUT THEY'LL GET THEIR ANSWERS ANSWERED QUICKLY. SO HOPEFULLY DURING THE ELECTIONS, THAT'S GOING TO HELP WITH THE VOLUME OF CALLS THAT WE GET. WE ARE LOOKING TO DO AN AUTOMATED MANUAL. WE HAVE AUTOMATION. WE'RE LOOKING FOR AUTOMATION FOR MANUAL PROCESSING WHEN WE'RE INDEXING OUR RECORDING DOCUMENTS. RIGHT NOW IT IS A MANUAL PROCESS.

AND IT TAKES US ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN WORK DAYS TO WORK THROUGH A DAYS OF RECORDING, WHICH SLOWS US DOWN IN GETTING THE DOCUMENTS ONLINE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN VIEW THEM. WE'RE LOOKING AT AUTOMATING THAT PROCESS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT VENDOR WE HAVE AND OTHER VENDORS TO HELP US WITH THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT THAT IN PLACE THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR WORKFLOW GOING.

MATT IS ALSO CHECKING OUT A GPS TRACKING SYSTEM FOR THE BALLOTS THAT WILL BE PICKED UP FROM THE BALLOT DROP BOXES WHEN THE ELECTION IS GOING TO

[04:40:03]

TRACK THE AUDITING AND MAKING SURE THOSE BALLOTS ARE BACK IN OUR POSSESSION AND ALWAYS IN OUR POSSESSION. THE OTHER GOALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING IS THE NEW, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO DROP OFF THEIR BALLOT, WE WILL CHECK THEIR ID AND VERIFY THAT THEIR SIGNATURE IS GOOD AND WE WILL NOT HAVE TO VERIFY IT AGAIN.

THAT WILL HELP SPEED UP THE VERIFICATION OBVIOUSLY IN THE COUNTING PROCESS, GET THEM STRAIGHT TO COUNTING. SO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN 27 AND GOING FORWARD IS OBVIOUSLY SPACE AND LOCATION ISSUES. WE ARE GETTING A NEW LOCATION IN PRESCOTT VALLEY THAT IS A LITTLE BIT, I GUESS, LARGER THAN THE ONE WE HAD THAT WAS IN THE CITY OF PRESCOTT VALLEY OR THE TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY. BUT MICHELLE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A ONE-TIME FIX FOR THE 26 ELECTIONS AND WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING FOR 28. AND GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, FOR PRESCOTT ALSO.

CHAIR? YES. JUST RIGHT HERE.

BECAUSE WILLIAMSON VALLEY NO LONGER HAS A VOTING CENTER LOCATION AND I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO GET FIXED WITH THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS THERE'S A LOT OF PRIVATE BIG BUILDINGS BUT APPARENTLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WON'T WORK WITH THE METAL ROOF IT'D BE NICE TO GET SOME KIND OF VOTING CENTER THERE OKAY AND YOU KNOW I THINK LAUREN WILL BE UP NEXT AFTER ME AND THAT'S REALLY HER I JUST SAW YOUR SLIDE SO I WON AND THAT'S FINE I LIKE THAT I KNOW THAT LAUREN KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE FIRE STATION SHE'S MORE ELECTION DAY AND THAT'S WHAT WE USE AT THE WILLIAMSON VALLEY FOUNDATION WE'RE THE EARLY VOTING SIDE OF IT FOR 27 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING. THANK YOU.

PLEASE CONTINUE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING THE NEW PHONE SYSTEM THAT WE WERE GOING TO PUT IN FOR THE ELECTION AND HELP WITH OUR HEAVY CALLS AND CONTINUING TO USE THE SAVE FOR VOTERS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE FOR DPOC. AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH OUR LEGISLATURE ABOUT GETTING SPACE FOR FUNDING FOR THE COUNTY. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MICHELLE HAS CONTINUED TO DISCUSS. AND WE ARE GOING TO PILOT A SMART DROP BOX. I DON'T KNOW IF MICHELLE'S MENTIONED THAT TO YOU. SHE JUST SAW A SMART DROP BOX WE WANT TO PUT HERE AT THE FAIR STREET LOCATION. SUPERVISOR MALLORY? OH. I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GRABBING YOUR MIC. NO, I DID, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST, YOU MENTIONED THE SMART BOX.

SO WE HAD AN ELECTION COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MONTH, AND SHE ELABORATED A LITTLE BIT ON IT. BUT I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD. I CAN'T REALLY TALK TO IT LIKE YOU CAN OR EVEN MICHELLE.

BUT I THINK THIS IS FANTASTIC, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS REALLY ROLLS OUT.

BUT I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT I HAVE TO SAY IT'S A GREAT, GREAT PROJECT. IT SOUNDS REALLY GREAT. IT BASICALLY I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT AN ATM, BUT IT ACTS LIKE AN ATM BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET MONEY BACK, OBVIOUSLY.

YOU PUT YOUR ENVELOPE INSIDE.

IT SCANS BOTH SIDES OF THE ENVELOPE. THERE'S A CAMERA THERE THAT TAKES A PICTURE OF THE PERSON DROPPING OFF THE BALLOT. IT SCANS THE BARCODE, AND IT KNOWS THAT THAT PERSON DROPPED OFF THEIR BALLOT. AND THEN IT COUNTS HOW MANY BALLOTS HAVE BEEN DROPPED OFF, AND WE CAN AUDIT THAT WAY KNOWING, YOU KNOW, 10 BALLOTS WENT IN. WE KNOW WE'VE GOT 10 BALLOTS. I THINK THERE'S FUTURE CAPABILITIES OF IT, MAYBE COMMUNICATING WITH, UPLOADING THE INFORMATION TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW THAT IT WILL DO. I THINK THAT'S HELPED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IT'S A LITTLE MORE SECURE THAN JUST DROPPING OFF LIKE IN A MAILBOX.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO TESTING IT. IT DOES HAVE ITS OWN, YOU KNOW, BATTERY SYSTEM, BACKUP, THAT KIND OF THING.

WE'RE EXCITED. AND WE'RE GOING TO USE HAVA FUNDS FOR THAT TOO. DIDN'T ASK FOR TOO MUCH THIS YEAR, JUST LOOKING TO COVER ELECTIONS PRETTY MUCH.

WE'RE UP JUST ABOUT 3%. AND THE REVENUES THAT COME IN FOR OUR DOCUMENT RECORDING, PRETTY MUCH, I WAS PROBABLY THINKING WE'D GET A LITTLE BETTER AT 230. WE'RE USUALLY ABOUT 200. I'M TRYING TO BE POSITIVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE RECORDINGS AND MAYBE INTEREST RATES WILL COME

[04:45:01]

DOWN OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW. OKAY. THAT'S ABOUT IT.

AND AGAIN, WE HAD TWO EXHIBIT 3S. WE ASKED FOR COTTONWOOD ANNEX LOBBY TO BE REMODELED.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS A KIOSK LIKE WE HAVE HERE IN OUR PRESCOTT FAIR STREET OFFICE. SO THAT THERE IS A KIOSK THE BIG RECEPTION ROUND KIND OF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING WE NEED TO REDO THAT SO THAT WE CAN REALLY MOVE PEOPLE BETTER WHEN WE'RE USING IT FOR EARLY VOTING AND THEN ANY OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THERE CAN USE THAT KIOSK WHEN WE'RE NOT USING IT FOR ELECTIONS FOR ANY PURPOSES AND THEN OUR OTHER BUDGET ENHANCEMENT WAS FOR THE DOCUMENT AUTOMATION OF DOCUMENT INDEXING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DO SUCH A MANUAL PROCESS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MAY I ASK WHAT'S THE KIOSK DESIGN LIKE WHAT HOW WOULD YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT I BELIEVE MICHELLE HAS TALKED TO BRANDON WHERE THE THE ROUND IS GOING AWAY AND TO THE SIDE I THINK UP AGAINST THE WALL WHERE THE SORT OF THE ROUND IS THERE'S GOOD THE KIOSK IS GOING TO BE LOCATED THERE I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DESIGN BECAUSE IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SPACE THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT WILL PROBABLY BE IMPACTED BY.

ABSOLUTELY, YEAH. WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU FOR SURE. KEVIN, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO ADD? YEAH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY BRANDON WILL BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON, SO I'LL REACH OUT TO HIM AND SEE IF HE HAS A DRAWING OR DESIGN READY. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO? ANYTHING? NO. SUPERVISOR JENKINS? SUPERVISOR MALLORY? YOU ALREADY ASKED YOUR QUESTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. HAVE A GOOD DAY. YOU TOO. ELECTIONS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LAUREN CUSTIS, DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS. YOU CAN SEE I GET TO DO THIS, DON'T I? SO MAJOR SERVICES, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW. IT'S EXTENSIVE. WE KIND OF LISTED THEM ALL HERE. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RUN THROUGH THEM? BOARD, ANY QUESTIONS? NECESSARY? NO, NOT NECESSARY. I THINK WE KNOW WHAT YOU DO. I FIGURED SO. ALL RIGHT, OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WE'VE BEEN HARD AT WORK THIS YEAR. SO WE SUCCESSFULLY ADMINISTERED THE 2025 JURISDICTIONAL AUGUST AND NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. WE OFFER FOLLOW-YOUR-BALLOT TOURS AS WE HAVE A WAITING LIST, AND THAT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S A VERY FUN PART OF OUR JOB. WE PARTNER WITH ACO TO ANALYZE THE BILLS COMING OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE. THE ELECTION TEAM, ALL OF US ATTENDED RECERTIFICATION TRAINING THIS YEAR ALONG WITH SIGNATURE VERIFICATION TRAINING JUST IN CASE WE HAVE TO HELP VOTER REGISTRATION. WE ALL WANT TO BE TRAINED. WE ALSO PARTICIPATED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IN REWRITING THE ELECTIONS PROCEDURE MANUAL THAT WAS SIGNED LAST DECEMBER. WE SUCCESSFULLY PURCHASED ALL NEW 5G CRADLE POINTS FOR USE ON ELECTION DAY. AND WE ALSO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PURCHASED THE IPADS THAT WILL BE USED AT THE VOTE CENTERS AND DURING INTAKE, ALL FOR OUR ROVERS. WE'VE KIND OF REVAMPED THE WAY WE DO THINGS WITH THAT TECHNOLOGY, AND IT'S VERY EXCITING. WE'VE ACQUIRED EIGHT NEW VOTING LOCATIONS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE WILLIAMSON VALLEY SITUATION. WE'RE SUCCESSFULLY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS, ONBOARDING WITH OMNIBALLOT, THE UOCAVA VOTING PLATFORM. WE ARE RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH CHAMPION DATA FOR OUR LIVE STREAMING.

RECENTLY, OUR LIVE STREAMING PROVIDER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO US, AND SO WE ARE NOW ONBOARDING WITH...

CHAMPION DATA AND WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH MICHELLE AND HER TEAM WITH THE ONBOARDING OF POLYMORPHIC THE GOVERNMENT HELP DESK SORRY I DID FORGOT TO MOVE THE SCREEN HERE SOME OF SOME REALLY EXCITING THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND I THINK A COUPLE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE USED OUR NEW TECHNOLOGY WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY PARTNERED WITH CANVA AND AIRTABLE.FORM TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT THE CANDIDATE AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILING PORTAL WHERE CANDIDATES AND COMMITTEES ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME?

[04:50:04]

WILL SUBMIT DOCUMENTS ONLINE.

THERE IS STATUTE REQUIRING US TO PROVIDE THE ABILITY FOR OUR CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNS TO FILE ELECTRONICALLY.

WE WERE USING FILLABLE PDF FORMS BEFORE, WHICH I REALLY DIDN'T FEEL WAS YOU THE LETTER OF THE LAW, IF YOU WILL.

WE'VE KIND OF GONE OUT ON A LIMB HERE.

WE'RE THE FIRST COUNTY TO PROVIDE TRUE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WITH THE HELP OF DOCUSIGN.

SO THAT IS NEW.

WE'VE ALSO CREATED THE POLL WORKER HUB, WE'RE CALLING IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ALL OF OUR POLL WORKERS WILL GO TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE POLL WORKER MANUAL THAT IS NEW, WHICH THEY CAN ALSO VIEW ALL THE TRAINING VIDEOS THAT WE WILL BE PROVIDING TO THEM THAT IS NOT YET FULLY FUNCTIONAL WE ARE JUST FINISHING UP WITH THAT AND AS SOON AS THAT GOES LIVE WE CAN SHARE THAT LINK WITH YOU WE'VE ALSO CREATED A SEASONAL HUB WHERE ALL OF OUR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES CAN GO TO FIND THEIR WORK SCHEDULE TO FIND THE POLL WORKER MANUAL TO FIND TIMELY INFORMATION FOR THEIR WHERE THEY'RE TO BE TO REPORT THAT DAY SO THOSE ARE VERY EXCITING THINGS OUR GOALS FOR 2027 PROCESS ALL ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE PETITIONS FOR BALLOT READINESS, PROCESS ALL REQUIRED CANDIDATE AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE SUBMISSIONS, EVALUATE OUR 27 VOTE CENTER LOCATIONS FOR ADA REQUIREMENTS, AND SUCCESSFULLY MITIGATE ANY OF THOSE CHALLENGES, SUCCESSFULLY HIRE AND TRAIN ALL OF OUR ELECTION BOARD WORKERS AND POLL WORKERS, SUCCESSFULLY PARTNER WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

I SEE THEY'RE BACK THERE.

THEY HELP US DELIVER ALL OF OUR ELECTION EQUIPMENT, SUCCESSFULLY PARTNER WITH IT AND FACILITIES TO MONITOR CYBERSECURITY AND PROVIDE 24-7 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, SUCCESSFULLY LOGIC AND ACCURACY TEST OUR EQUIPMENT, PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY, MAINTAIN ALL OF OUR CHAIN OF CUSTODY, DOCUMENTATION OF OUR PROCESSES, PARTNER WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS FOLLOWING ALL REVENUE EXPENDITURE AND PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES.

AND OF COURSE SUCCESSFULLY ADMINISTER THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

WE ALWAYS ARE LOOKING TO EXCEED THE STANDARDS.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MONITOR NEW AND EXCITING ELECTION LAW.

ATTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH ELECTION CENTER, ACO, SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, AND THE ELECTION OFFICIALS OF ARIZONA.

MONITOR AND MAINTAIN OUR ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR ANY CHANGES.

SO THOSE APPLICATIONS THAT WE CREATED, THEY WILL NEED TO BE UPDATED AS WE GO.

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH ALLIANCE PATHFINDERS AND WORKING ON CERTIFICATION FOR POLL WORKER EXCELLENCE.

AND WE WILL HOPEFULLY ACHIEVE THAT BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR.

YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YAVAPAI COUNTY ARE LEADERS.

WE ARE LEADERS WHEN IT COMES TO SO MANY THINGS.

YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED SO HARD TO ACHIEVE SO MANY GREAT THINGS, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST YEARS, ALL THE DIFFERENT...

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.

YOU'RE A FANTASTIC DIRECTOR AND YOUR DEPARTMENT'S FANTASTIC AND I KNOW I'VE BROUGHT SOME HARD THINGS THAT WE HAD TO CONQUER IN REGARDS TO PRECINCTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU I JUST AM SO IMPRESSED WITH BOTH DEPARTMENTS BUT YOU GUYS ARE A GREAT TEAM AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH LAUREN.

YOUR KIND WORDS MEAN A LOT.

SO OUR CHALLENGES IN 2027, OF COURSE, LEGISLATIVE CHANGES PRIOR TO THE 2026 GENERAL, AND GENERALLY THERE'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT COMES WITH THOSE, SO THAT'S ALWAYS A SURPRISE TO WORK WITH.

OF COURSE, WE'RE ALWAYS DEALING WITH MIS- AND DISINFORMATION.

CHAIR, BEFORE SHE MOVES OFF OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATES, THAT WAS MY BIGGEST QUESTION THERE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE STATE IS REALLY PUSHING NOW FOR SAME-DAY RESULTS AS THE ELECTION.

THAT'S GONNA COST UP PILE OF MONEY.

HOW ARE, IF THIS COMES DOWN, DO WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY AND A PLAN KNOWING WHAT THE COST IS IN ORDER TO PULL OFF THE ELECTION IF ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STATE SAYS WE'RE DOING THIS NOW? SO YES, WORKING WITH OUR NEW BUDGET MANAGER, KEVIN, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND KIND OF SORT OF SET ASIDE SOME MONEY IN OUR CONTINGENCY BUDGET.

KEVIN? YES, AS OF RIGHT NOW IN THE DRAFT BUDGET WE HAVE $7.5 MILLION BUILT-IN CONTINGENCY, OF COURSE, SOME OF THAT MONEY WOULD COVER THAT NEED IF NEEDED.

[04:55:01]

DO YOU HAVE A BALLPARK PRICE TAG OF THAT NEED TO PULL THAT OFF? DO WE HAVE A PLAN? SO THE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED YET.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YET IS COMING.

WE KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA, BUT UNTIL...

THE SIGNATURES ARE SIGNED AND ALL OF THAT IS DONE.

WE AREN'T THERE YET.

WE'RE AWARE OF SOME THINGS, BUT AGAIN, WE WILL BRING THOSE TO YOU AS THE NEED ARISES.

WE'RE A PRETTY RESOURCEFUL BUNCH.

WE WILL DO IT ON A SHOESTRING, WHATEVER THAT IS.

SO STAY TUNED.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

AND THANKS FOR ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES.

YOU GUYS DO THAT REALLY WELL.

WELL, THAT'S PART OF THE, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE MOST LIKELY GOING TO ENCOUNTER IS BALLOT REAL ESTATE FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT WE WILL BE BACK AT A TWO-PAGE BALLOT.

AND AGAIN, PROCESSING THOSE LATE, EARLY BALLOTS, THAT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

YOU SPOKE ABOUT WANTING THOSE ELECTION RESULTS TO COME PRACTICALLY IMMEDIATELY.

THOSE FOLKS WHO CHOOSE TO VOTE LATE, DROPPING THEIR BALLOT OFF AT A VOTE CENTER, THOSE NEED TO BE PROCESSED, AND SO WE DO THE BEST WE CAN.

TO GET THOSE DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

MY TEAM AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS YEAR REVIEWING OUR PROCESSES AND THE WAY WE DO THINGS.

WE ARE MAKING SOME CHANGES TO HOPEFULLY GET THOSE RESULTS, GETTING OUR ELECTION DAY BALLOTS TABULATED QUICKER.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TESTING OUT A THEORY THAT WE HAVE.

SO STAY TUNED.

AND CHAIR, ON THE LATE EARLYS, THEY'RE ALWAYS THE PROBLEM.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO HAVE SOMEONE SET UP AT THE DROP BOXES WHERE THEY COULD CHECK ID, VERIFY IT'S THAT PERSON AT THE DROP BOX, WHERE YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, WHERE THOSE LATE EARLYS COULD ACTUALLY GO RIGHT INTO A SECURE BOX TO BE BROUGHT IN AND COUNTED? SO DROP BOXES ARE MAINTAINED BY THE RECORDER'S OFFICE, AND THAT ISN'T MY LANE.

THE LAST LADY SAID THAT TO ME.

I KNOW.

WE'RE JUST SUCH A CRANKY BUNCH, AREN'T WE? YEAH.

SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED? THE LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED LEGISLATION TWO YEARS AGO THAT REQUIRE US STARTING IN 2026 TO PROVIDE THE OPTION FOR A VOTER DROPPING OFF OF A LATE EARLY BALLOT AT A VOTE CENTER, SO THAT WOULD BE MY AREA, TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THEIR ID AND MARK THAT EARLY BALLOT AS BEING RECEIVED.

AND THEN THAT WOULD ALLOW THAT EARLY BALLOT TO SKIP THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION PROCESS.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR VENDOR, 10X.

WHICH IS WHAT TAKES THE TIME, RIGHT? THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION? IT WILL SAVE A LITTLE TIME, A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME.

IT STILL HAS TO GO TO THE RECORDER'S OFFICE.

IT STILL HAS TO BE MARKED AS RECEIVED BY THEM.

IT STILL HAS TO HAVE A REPORT.

IT STILL HAS TO BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

THE ENVELOPE STILL HAS TO BE OPENED.

THE BALLOT HAS TO BE PREPARED FOR TABULATION.

SO THERE IS STILL ALL OF THAT HAS TO BE DONE, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SIGNATURE VERIFIED.

SO IT WILL SAVE A LITTLE TIME.

SO...

BUT THAT IS NOW AN OPTION FOR THOSE VOTERS WHO CHOOSE TO VOTE LATE, WHO WANT TO DROP THEIR EARLY BALLOT OFF AT A VOTE CENTER.

THEY CAN NOW STAND IN LINE, SHOW THEIR ID, AND THEIR ACCOUNT IN THE POLL PAD WILL SHOW THAT THEY HAVE DROPPED THEIR EARLY BALLOT OFF.

SO WE CAN STILL MAINTAIN OUR CHAIN OF CUSTODY ON THAT.

OKAY? DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY.

FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE.

SO YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE HAVE A PRETTY LARGE INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET OVER LAST YEAR'S ASK, BUT I DO WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT LAST YEAR'S ASK WAS MUCH LESS BECAUSE IT'S AN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS ON THE GROUND.

THERE ARE NO ON-THE-GROUND ELECTIONS DURING THE ODD YEARS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL VOTE-BY-MAIL AND WE NEED A LOT LESS MONEY.

SO THE ASK LAST YEAR WAS MUCH LESS THAN WE'RE ASKING THIS YEAR AND SO WE'RE KIND OF EVENING THAT OUT NOW BY ASKING FOR A BUMP IN OUR BUDGET.

OKAY, WELL, I'LL START THIS IN THIS TIME.

FIRST, THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE FORMS ARE GREAT.

THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT ADDITION.

YES, I DID USE IT.

IT'S GREAT.

AND I JUST SAY THANK YOU.

YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN 2024.

WE HAD OUR CHALLENGES FOR SURE.

VICE CHAIR CHECK? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY, ARE YOU REACHING FOR THE GREEN BUTTON? I AM.

THERE IT IS.

[05:00:01]

I HAVE TO SAY IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING IN THE CONVERSATION WHEN YOU HEAR THE LATE EARLY.

RIGHT.

PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO WONDER.

I MEAN, SEVERAL YEARS BACK, I WOULD BE LIKE, LATE EARLY.

HOW WHAT IS THAT? SO IT'S JUST VERY INTERESTING.

AND AND LIKE MICHELLE, I YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU GET YOUR BALLOT EARLY.

SO VOTE EARLY, PLEASE.

AND IT WILL BE A BLESSING TO HAVE THOSE IN ALL EARLY.

ABSOLUTELY.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

ANYTHING FURTHER, SUPERVISOR KIPNO? YOU BETCHA.

YOU GUYS ARE LIKE THE KINGS OF THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY WHEN YOU HANDLE IT.

BUT WE STILL HAVE MAIL-IN BALLOTS, WHICH I THINK REALLY NEEDS TO GO AWAY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S TOUCHED THEM, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S DONE WHAT.

CAN WE CHANGE THAT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL? NOT ALLOW MAIL-IN BALLOTS OR DOES THAT HAVE TO BE A STATE RIGHT THAT WOULD BE A STATE STATUTE THAT WOULD NEED TO CHANGE AND IS THERE YOU KNOW IS THERE LEGISLATION TO GET RID OF THAT NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE NOT NOT THIS SESSION BECAUSE YOU KNOW JUST I MEAN ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE SCREAM ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS THEY WANT FAIR CLEAN TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS AND YOU GUYS HAVE MADE LEAPS AND BOUNDS UPSTAIRS MAKING THINGS WHERE EVERYONE CAN WATCH EVERYTHING BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT MALE END OF THINGS REALLY IS THE ONE THING WE HAVEN'T FIXED? WELL, WE DO WANT TO JUST SORT OF REITERATE THAT, AND I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE ON MICHELLE'S BEHALF HERE, THAT WE REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO RETURN THEIR BALLOT IN A DROP BOX.

THEY'RE THE MOST SECURE WAY TO GET THAT BALLOT BACK TO THE RECORDER'S OFFICE DIRECTLY WITHOUT GOING BACK DOWN TO PHOENIX AND BACK UP, RIGHT? AND THAT JUST SHOULD GIVE EVERYONE A LITTLE MORE FEELING OF SECURITY THAT THOSE BALLOTS ARE STAYING IN YAVAPAI COUNTY.

THEY'RE BEING PICKED UP BY TWO PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT PARTIES BY THE RECORDER'S OFFICE, AND THEY GO STRAIGHT TO OUR PROCESSING AND STRAIGHT TO TABULATION.

MAILING A BALLOT OUT, I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, BUT AGAIN, IF YOU'RE GETTING A BALLOT FROM SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T LIVE AT YOUR HOME, PLEASE RETURN TO SENDER SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT PROCESSED AND GET OUR SYSTEM UPDATED.

IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK WITH OUR PEOPLE, ALL OF OUR VOTERS WHO ARE ON THE EARLY VOTING LIST, AND WE DO HAVE NEARLY 80% OF YAVAPAI COUNTY VOTERS ARE ON THE EARLY VOTING LIST.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LARGE CONTINGENT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL CALL IN AND REQUEST A ONE-TIME EARLY BALLOT, AND WE WILL MAIL THOSE OUT.

SO IT'S VERY POPULAR.

AND ARE YOU GUYS STILL MAKING YOUR ROUNDS OF THE NURSING HOMES? MICHELLE IS DOING THAT.

SHE WILL CALL IN AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH EACH OF THE FACILITIES, AND SHE WILL SEND HER TEAM OUT WITH A DROPBOX, AND THOSE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE FACILITY MAY BRING DOWN THEIR EARLY BALLOTS AND DEPOSIT THEM RIGHT THERE.

THAT WAY THEY HAVE AN ABILITY TO ACTUALLY VOTE THEIR BALLOT IN A DROPBOX.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

FLOOD THERE YOU ARE.

GOOD MORNING, STILL MORNING.

GOOD MORNING CHAIR, GOOD MORNING VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS LYNN WHITMAN, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.

OKAY, OH WOW, OKAY.

OUR MAJOR SERVICES ARE REGULATING AND PERMITTING, OUR FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM, FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, AND FLOODPLAIN MAPPING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT.

PRETTY MUCH ARE THE SAME FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE EXPANDED OUR WATER FESTIVAL AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.

WE HAD MORE SCHOOLS JOIN THIS YEAR.

WE HAD OUR FIVE-YEAR AUDIT OF OUR REGULATIONS AND MAINTAINED OUR CLASS SEVEN, WHICH FEMA LIKES TO CHANGE THE PROGRAM AROUND AND TRICK US, TRY TO TRICK US.

WE MAINTAINED OUR SEVEN.

WE WERE VERY EXCITED.

THAT GIVES OUR RESIDENTS 15% SAVINGS ON THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE.

WE COMPLETED OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN MAYER THAT PROTECTS THE WATER MAIN.

THAT WAS A GRANT FUNDED PROJECT.

WE ADVANCED SEVERAL DRAINAGE STUDIES THAT WERE GRANT FUNDED.

THOSE IDENTIFIED PRIORITY PROJECTS.

WE COMPLETED OUR STORMWATER FEASIBILITY STUDY IN THE VERDE THAT HELPED WITH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECHARGE PROJECT IDENTIFICATION.

AND WE DEVELOPED A PROJECT PRIORITIZATION MATRIX.

WE DO ALL OF THESE DRAINAGE STUDIES THAT DEVELOP PROJECTS FOR US TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEN TRYING

[05:05:01]

TO DECIDE WHAT PROJECTS TO FUND CAN BE TRICKY, SO WE CREATED A MATRIX TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS, WHAT HAS A HIGHER COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, WHERE DO WE GET THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, SO TO SPEAK.

OUR GOALS FOR THIS YEAR, SO I KNOW MOST OF YOU KNOW WE HAVE MANAGED TO HIRE SOME PEOPLE THIS YEAR, SO WE'VE HAD SOME PROJECTS ON HOLD BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN UNDERSTAFFED.

WE WANT TO ADVANCE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FROM OUR MATRIX.

WE'VE STARTED OUR DRAINAGE DESIGN MANUAL UPDATE, WHICH IS ALSO GRANT FUNDED.

WE'RE COMPLETING OUR ALERT TO SYSTEM TRANSITION.

WE'RE BRIDGING TO THE NEW PERMITTING SOFTWARE WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND ALIGNING PROJECTS WITH GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.

WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROJECT BACKLOG BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN UNDERSTAFFED, BUT WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP ON THAT THIS YEAR.

AND SO...

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT LESLIE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE FUNDING FOR GRANTS IS CHANGING A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THAT.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES ARE COMING UP.

THE OLD OPPORTUNITIES ARE KIND OF COMING BACK.

I THINK THEY LOST IN A LAWSUIT THERE.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT EXPANDING OUR ALERT SYSTEM TO INCLUDE SOME MONITORING WITH CAMERAS, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THERE WILL BE LIVE CAMERAS THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE.

WE'VE GOT SOME REGIONAL COLLABORATION THAT WE'RE PLANNING WITH OUR DRAINAGE DESIGN MANUAL THAT WILL HAVE STANDARDIZED DRAINAGE DESIGN ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES WE'RE FOCUSING ON GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AS EVERYONE KNOWS AND THEN USING OUR PRIORITIZATION TOOLS SO THAT'LL HELP BETTER DECIDE WHAT WE'RE USING OUR FUNDING FOR SO WE HAVE WE TEND TO CARRY OVER A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY YOU KNOW, WE GIVE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO THE COMMUNITIES, AND AT THE TIME THAT WE PUT OUR BUDGET TOGETHER, I ASSUME THAT THAT'S ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND JUST IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS, SO THAT WHEN THE NEW YEAR STARTS, IF ANYTHING DID HAPPEN, WE STILL HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR THAT.

SO OUR BUDGET PROBABLY WON'T BE $11.4 MILLION, BUT JUST IN CASE, WE LIKE TO TRY TO CARRY THAT OVER.

BUT YEAH, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

ARE YOU FINISHED WITH THE PRESENTATION? I AM.

SUPERVISOR KOOP, NOW DO YOU WANT TO START OUT WITH ANY QUESTIONS? SURE, I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE PROJECTS YOU'RE DOING IN COOPERATION WITH OTHERS TO RECHARGE THE FLOODWATERS AND THE SHEET RUNOFF.

PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS SAID IN THE PAST WHEN YOU TALK TO THE COUNTY WE GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH WATER BUT THERE'S TONS OF STUFF WE CAN DO AND YOU'RE PART OF THAT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO RECHARGE SO THANKS FOR THE EFFORTS.

SURE, ABSOLUTELY WE TRY.

WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT FOR SURE.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? LYNN ALREADY KNOWS I APPRECIATE HER SO MUCH IN MY AREA.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? WELL, YOU ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB, AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE AS THE COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT, THEY'RE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE TAXING THAT YOU HAVE IN THE FLOOD CONTROL AREA, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP WITH THEIR PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN THEY GET SOME REALLY EXPENSIVE FLOOD PROJECTS THAT THEY WANT TO DO.

WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE THEM A COUPLE OF YEARS IN ADVANCE, AND THEN THEY GET THAT DONE, AND IT WORKS OUT GREAT.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

I DID NOTICE, AND MAYBE KEVIN MIGHT TALK A LITTLE BIT TO THIS, WAS THE TAXING GOING DOWN OR SOMETHING WAS DECREASING A LITTLE? I DID SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO FORGIVE ME ON MY WAY OF ASKING THE QUESTION, BUT I THINK YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO ASK.

SO FLOOD CONTROL, THEIR TAX RATE IS DECREASING.

FOR THE LEVY, WE TOOK NEW CONSTRUCTION ONLY.

SO WHILE YAVAPAI COUNTY AND LIBRARY ARE AT FLAT TAX RATES IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, THEIRS IS DECREASING AS PROPOSED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS GOING FORWARD AS FAR AS HOW WE DEAL WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES, BUT THAT COULD BE FOR ANOTHER DAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

BUT THANK YOU.

VICE CHAIR CHECK? WELL THERE'S PROBABLY WAY MORE PROBLEMS LET ALONE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND FLOOD CONTROL THAT OUR BUDGET CAN REALLY ADDRESS BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK LYNN FOR ALWAYS BEING A COMMUNITY PARTNER AND REALLY A CREATIVE THINKER WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED THAT I CAN SAY YOU KNOW ASSUREDLY YAVAPAI COUNTY IS A GREAT PARTNER IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM VERY SINCERELY APPROACH OUR COMMUNITY SO THANK YOU FOR THAT I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE TEAM BECAUSE WE REALLY ARE A TEAM EFFORT FOR SURE.

[05:10:01]

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

DO YOU WANT A BREAK AGAIN? I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SPEED THINGS UP IN THIS MEETING.

WE WILL TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 11.

MR. CHAIR, BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH PUBLIC WORKS, I'D LIKE TO SING YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

WE ARE BACK.

OH GOD NO.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MR. JOHNSON.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

YEAH, 59 WOULD BE PERFECT.

FOR THE RECORD, I AM 59.

ROGER.

59'S FINE.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

WELL, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

CHAIRMAN COMPTON AND VICE CHAIR CHECK, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ROGER MCCORMICK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, HERE WITH ME TODAY.

I ALSO HAVE CHRIS STEELE, WHO'S OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

I NOTICED YOU WEREN'T VERY VOCAL.

SO YEAH, WE'LL JUST GET RIGHT INTO IT HERE.

SO FOR PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAVE OUR MAJOR SERVICES LISTED HERE, WHICH INCLUDES ROAD MAINTENANCE, RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITTING, SIGNS, ENGINEERING, SURVEY, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR HEAVY FLEET DIVISION, AND AIRPORTS, AND SOLID WASTE, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

SO WE PICKED A COUPLE OF, I GUESS, OUR HIGHER PROFILE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THIS YEAR JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT ONTO SENATOR HIGHWAY.

IT WAS A VERY BIG PROJECT AND DO A LOT OF NEW ASPHALT ON SENATOR HIGHWAY.

ALONG WITH THAT ASPHALT, WE WERE ABLE TO UPDATE THE GUARDRAIL THAT GOES ALONG THE EDGE OF THE ROAD TO PROTECT FROM ROADSIDE HAZARDS AND SLOPES.

SO THAT WAS A BIG IMPROVEMENT FOR THE COUNTY THIS YEAR.

WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO GET OUT ONTO HISTORIC ROUTE 66.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE'VE DONE SOME RUBBERIZED CHIP SEAL UP THERE, AND THEN THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO GET UP AND PUT SOME ASPHALT OVER THREE MILES.

ROAD JUST WEST OF THE FORT ROCK ROAD INTERSECTION.

WE'VE GOT AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT GOING ON RIGHT NOW ON CORNVILLE ROAD.

THIS IS AT THE TASSAU INTERSECTION, TASSAU ROAD INTERSECTION.

I WOULD SAY THAT THAT PROJECT IS PROBABLY ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH.

WE'RE EXPECTING COMPLETION AROUND THE OCTOBER TIMEFRAME.

THIS WAS A PROJECT IN WHICH THE COUNTY WAS ABLE TO SECURE SOME CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING MONEY WHICH IS GOING TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS IMPROVED ROUNDABOUT.

SPEAKING OF GRANTS WE WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE QUITE A FEW OF THESE ROADWAY SPECIFIC GRANTS AS WELL AS BRIDGE PROJECTS.

I THINK AT OUR LAST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WE HAD THREE IGAS COME THROUGH.

THAT TOTALED, I THINK, AROUND $12.5 MILLION, IF I'M REMEMBERING RIGHT.

THE MATCH ON THE COUNTY SIDE IS JUST UNDER $200,000, SO WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IN SOME PRETTY GOOD MONEY FOR THESE NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

SO AS A SNAPSHOT, THE COUNTY HAS ABOUT 806 MILES OF PAVED ROAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

THIS LAST YEAR, WE TOUCHED ABOUT 56 MILES.

OF THAT 806, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 952,000 SQUARE YARDS.

CHAIR? YES, CERTAINLY.

SO, ROGER, I'D JUST LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST ITEM ON HERE WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT SENATOR HIGHWAY.

BACK WHEN WE WERE DOING THE EXPENDITURE LIMIT, GETTING THAT RAISED, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A NOTATION, AND I THINK I'M CORRECT.

BUT IF I'M NOT, YOU CAN FIX ME.

YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THAT PROJECT DONE BECAUSE OF THE EXPENDITURE LIMITATION BEING RAISED.

PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAD TO PUT THAT ON HOLD BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT ROAD, AND THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ROAD UP THERE THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN AREA.

CORRECT, SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

THERE WAS A COUPLE YEARS THERE IN A ROW WHERE...

PUBLIC WORKS WAS ASKED TO LOOK

[05:15:01]

AT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND DELAY A FEW IN RELATION TO MEETING THAT EXPENDITURE LIMITATION.

SENATOR HIGHWAY WAS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT KIND OF GOT DELAYED BECAUSE OF THAT AND SO IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE GET IN THERE AND GET THAT ONE DONE THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR ELABORATING ON THAT.

I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW AT PUBLIC RECORD THAT THAT EXPENDITURE LIMITATION WAS VERY USEFUL FOR US AND AND THIS ROAD IS VERY IMPORTANT UP THERE IN THOSE MOUNTAINS.

SO AS FAR AS OUR GOALS FOR THIS COMING YEAR, WE'RE STILL GOING TO ACTIVELY SEEK FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO AUGMENT OUR EXISTING CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR BOTH TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE THAT WE'RE EYEING, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ONE HERE THAT WE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS RECENTLY.

IN RELATION TO THE FAIRLANDS ACCESS PROGRAM, BUT I'LL HIT ON THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PROMPT DELIVERY OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE PROGRAMMED IN BOTH THE HEERF BUDGET AND THE REGIONAL ROADS BUDGET.

SOLID WASTE IS LOOKING, WE'RE GOING TO START LOOKING FOR SOME GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, AND IF I MIGHT TAKE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME HERE ON THIS ONE.

THE GREEN WASTE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE COUNTY IS A VERY SOUGHT AFTER PROGRAM.

I THINK THE PUBLIC REALLY LIKES IT.

IT HELPS WITH THE FIREWISE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO DISPOSE OF THEIR SLASH.

AND FROM APRIL 1ST TO JUNE 1ST, EVERY YEAR IT IS FREE OF CHARGE.

AND SO WITH THAT, WE ARE SEEING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GREEN WASTE COMING IN.

COME INTO OUR TRANSFER STATIONS.

AND WE HAD AN ACTUAL DEMONSTRATION DONE FOR A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE STUDYING RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO POSSIBLY IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES GOING FORWARD.

BUT IT'S CALLED A SHREDDER.

AND A SHREDDER PROCESSES THE MATERIAL A LOT MORE COARSELY THAN OUR GRINDER DOES.

OUR GRINDER THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO TOUCH THE MATERIAL TWICE IN ORDER FOR IT TO GET THROUGH THE GRINDER THROUGH A SERIES OF SCREENS THAT BASICALLY BREAKS DOWN THE MATERIAL INTO SMALLER PIECES AS YOU GO THROUGH THESE SCREENS.

AND SO THE SHREDDER, WHAT THAT WOULD DO...

IS IT WOULD GIVE US OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH THE PRODUCT ONCE WE PUT IT INTO THE SHREDDER THE SHREDDER HAS A CONVEYOR BELT THAT DUMPS IT INTO THE GRINDER AND THEN THE GRINDER WOULD THEN HAVE THE FINISHED PRODUCT COME OUT THE OTHER END AND SO AS FAR AS INCREASING EFFICIENCY IT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL AS FAR AS HELPING US TO GET THAT GREEN WASTE PROCESSED A LOT FASTER.

VICE CHAIR CHEN? CAN YOU REMIND ME DO WE COMPOST OUR GREEN WASTE? BREAK IT DOWN INTO TWO INCH MINUS MULCH AND THEN WE DO HAVE SOME CONTRACTS WITH LIKE MIRACLE-GRO WILL COME BY AND THEY'LL GRAB THE MATERIAL AND THEY'LL TAKE IT AWAY FOR THEIR PRODUCT AND THEN OF COURSE THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO COME IN AND GRAB IT FOR THEIR YARDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT TOO.

IT'S JUST IMPORTANT YOU KNOW WHEN YOU THINK OF ORGANIC MATERIALS GOING INTO LANDFILLS A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THAT'S THE MATERIAL THAT REALLY TURNS INTO METHANE AND I THINK.

CREATES A DIFFICULTY FOR GREENHOUSE GASES.

AND SO IT'S A PART OF A BIGGER PICTURE, GETTING THAT ORGANIC MATTER AND MAKING SURE IT STAYS AS SOIL CARBON.

SO I REALLY JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AS A SOIL NERD.

I SUPPORT THAT APPROACH AND I APPRECIATE IT.

I SEE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE EDUCATING US ON THAT.

YEAH.

IT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED THIS YEAR.

AND I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO OVER THE NEXT COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR IS MAYBE LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO TO MAYBE GET A GRANT AND SEE IF WE CAN LOOK AT TRYING TO TO SECURE SOMETHING THAT WAY.

CHAIR, THERE'S JUST SO THERE'S JUST SO MUCH OF THAT GREEN WASTE.

I MEAN, I DROVE BY THE PAULDING TRANSFER STATION.

YOU HAVE MOUNTAINS ALL OVER THE, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN USE.

AND DOES THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME USE IT? HOW MANY? CUBIC YARDS DO YOU GUYS GET OF GREEN WASTE EVERY YEAR? IT'S GOT TO BE JUST OFF THE CHARTS.

YEAH, IT IS.

I THINK IT'S AROUND 150,000 CUBIC YARDS OF MATERIAL EVERY YEAR.

WE CAN PROCESS ABOUT 75,000 TO 100,000 IN A YEAR WITH OUR EXISTING STAFF.

AND SO WE'RE KIND OF ALWAYS IN THIS BACKLOG MOTION OF TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE SUPPLY THAT'S COMING IN.

AND TO SUPERVISOR CHECK'S CONCERNS ARE WE ACTIVELY SEEKING PEOPLE TO TAKE THAT FROM US? I MEAN, BECAUSE I THOUGHT

[05:20:01]

MIRACLE-GRO WAS TAKING SOME.

YEP, THEY ARE.

YEP, MIRACLE-GRO IS TAKING SOME, AND THEN SOME OF THE, ACTUALLY, I THINK OUT IN PAULDING, JEFF, OUR SOLID WASTE MANAGER, IS IN THE AUDIENCE HERE, SO HE CAN FILL IN IF I'M SAYING ANYTHING WRONG HERE, BUT I BELIEVE PAULDING'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST AREAS IN WHICH PEOPLE LIKE TO GO AND GRAB THE MATERIAL ONCE WE PROCESS.

THEY REALLY LIKE IT IN THEIR YARDS OUT THERE.

OKAY, SO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, LAST BULLET HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON UTILIZING EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE OUR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES WITHIN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

CHALLENGES.

SO, HEERF REVENUES, THOSE ARE ALL CONTROLLED DOWN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THEY ARE...

DEPENDENT UPON CHANGE AT THE STATE LEVEL IN ORDER FOR ANYTHING TO CHANGE THERE.

BUT JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION, THE HEERF REVENUES ARE BASED ON A 1991 TAX, WHICH IS 18 CENTS PER GALLON.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT TAX THAT'S QUITE OLD NOW TO STILL MAINTAIN OUR ROADWAYS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

WE DO HAVE HIGHER BID COSTS WITH THE WAY INFLATION HAS GONE.

WE'RE SEEING THAT OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE COSTING A LOT MORE THAN THEY USED TO.

WE CAN GO BACK FIVE YEARS AGO AND SEE A CHIP SEAL HAS DOUBLED.

SO IT USED TO BE AROUND $2.25 A SQUARE YARD.

WE'RE UPWARDS OF $5 A SQUARE YARD NOW FOR CHIP SEAL.

BULLET 3 IS KIND OF THE SAME THING, THE VOLATILE PRICING CONCERNS WITH MATERIALS.

WE DO SEE THAT OUR SIGNPOSTS AND ALUMINUM AND STUFF LIKE THAT REALLY DOES GET AFFECTED BY THE MARKET AND HOW IT IS AT THE CURRENT TIME.

WE ALREADY HIT ON THE TRANSFER STATIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL THAT WE HAVE OUT OF THOSE.

THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE FOR US.

AND THEN OUR DIRT ROAD DETERIORATION.

IS CAUSING AN INCREASE IN MAINTENANCE REQUESTS AND NEEDS FOR DIRT ROADS.

MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE ON THE HER FUNDING.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE LEGISLATURE HAS SWEPT HER.

HER FUNDING, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S NOT OFF THE TABLE.

THEY'RE JUST GETTING STARTED WITH THEIR BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS NOW.

THE RURAL TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY COUNCIL HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER BEGGING LEGISLATORS BOTH NOT TO SWEEP THAT AND ALSO NOT TO ENTERTAIN A GAS TAX HOLIDAY.

AS YOU NOTED, ALREADY HER FUNDING MODEL IS OUTDATED AND NOT KEEPING UP WITH COSTS, SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP OUR EYE ON.

AND I'M JUST REALLY HOPEFUL THAT THEY I THINK THE LEGISLATORS DID UNDERSTAND THE LAST TIME THEY SWEPT THEM.

THEY HEARD FROM EVERY MUNICIPALITY AND EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT IT HAS ON THE LOCAL LEVEL IS JUST REALLY TERRIBLE.

SO I THINK IT'S A MESSAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE REINFORCED, AND I'M DOING MY PART THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE FUNDS DID GET SWEPT TO SOME DEGREE.

DO WE HAVE ANY PLAN BS? WELL, I THINK OUR PLAN B IS THAT WE WOULD KIND OF LOOK AT OUR PROJECTS THAT WE DO COUNTYWIDE, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PRIORITIZE AND DO KIND OF A TIERED REDUCTION TYPE OF APPROACH TO HOW WE WOULD...

CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR ROADS BUT I'M HOPEFUL AS YOU ARE THAT THAT WON'T HAPPEN AND AND THAT WE CAN AT LEAST KEEP WHAT WE HAVE YEAH OKAY SO I DID MENTION THIS EARLIER THE FLAP GRANT SO THE FLAPS DOWN STANDS FOR FEDERAL LANDS ACCESS PROGRAM WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN AN APPLICATION THROUGH THE CENTRAL FEDERAL LANDS DIVISION OF FEDERAL HIGHWAYS FOR PAVING OF A ROAD OVER IN THE RIMROCK LAKE MONTEZUMA AREA, THIS CONNECTS THE NATIONAL PARK THAT'S OVER THERE TO STATE ROUTE 179 OVER THERE AT THE SEDONA EXIT.

IT'S AN EXISTING FOREST SERVICE ROAD.

THE FOREST SERVICE IS VERY INTERESTED IN THAT BECOMING A PAVED ROAD AS WELL AS THE COUNTY IS TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS FOR THE LAKE MONTEZUMA CITIZENS IN AND OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED, I BELIEVE LAST WEEK, THAT WE GOT SHORTLISTED FOR THAT PROJECT.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE

[05:25:01]

ABOUT A $13.4 MILLION PAVING PROJECT WITH A $1.6 MILLION LOCAL MATCH, WHICH IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE REGIONAL ROAD SALES TAX.

AND ROGER, DO YOU KNOW WHEN WE'LL KNOW FOR SURE? SO IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THEY PRESENTED IT TO US, THEY SAID THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY COMPETING AGAINST OTHER APPLICATIONS AT THIS POINT, THAT IT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN SELECTED, BUT THAT THEY STILL NEED TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THE FINAL SCOPING AND EVERYTHING WITH IT.

SO I THINK IT'S THE ONE THAT THEY'RE SELECTING, BUT THEY JUST KIND OF NEED TO WORK THROUGH THE INITIAL PROCESS HERE TO GET IT OFFICIALLY AWARDED.

THAT'S REALLY WONDERFUL NEWS.

YEAH.

ROGER, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD? HEERF DISTRIBUTION.

SO YOU BROUGHT UP THE GAS TAX.

THAT'S ONE ISSUE.

THIS IS JUST FOR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND MAYBE KEEP AN EYE IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S ONE ISSUE IS THE GAS TAX HAS NOT BEEN INDEXED OR CHANGED.

SWEAP'S ANOTHER CONCERN YOU HAVE.

ANOTHER CONCERN, JUST KIND OF KEEPING AN EYE ON, IS THE HEERF DISTRIBUTION THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE, THE MODEL.

I BELIEVE WE SOMETIMES REFER TO IT AS IT WAS ADOPTED IN THE CASA GRANDE TIMES WHEN I'M MEETING.

IT'S CALLED THE CASA GRANDE ACCORDS, AND IT DETERMINES HOW HEERF IS DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE TWO, THE MAG AND PAG, AND THEN THE 13 OTHER COUNTIES.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT IF YOU AS A BOARD ARE EVER HEARING ABOUT OPENING UP THE DISCUSSION OF HOW THE HEERF IS DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE RURAL AREAS AND THE LARGER METROPOLITAN AREAS, THAT'S A CONCERN ALSO.

THAT'S ONE THAT I ALWAYS USED TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

IT DOESN'T COME UP, BUT IF IT EVER DOES, KEEP AN EYE ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU CAN LOSE A LOT OF MONEY IN THE RURAL AREAS.

THAT HAS BEEN, THE WAY IT'S DIVIDED, IT AT LEAST PROVIDES MONEY TO THE RURAL AREAS PRIOR TO THAT.

DETERMINATION IT WAS ACTUALLY A WORSE DISTRIBUTION SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT FOR PERSPECTIVE IF YOU'RE LOOKING AND AND YOU'RE AT THE DOWN IN THE STATE WITH CSA WE TALKED ABOUT TAX A LOT WE TALKED ABOUT SWEEPING A LOT THAT'S ONE AREA ALSO JUST TO KEEP AN EYE OPEN FOR THANK YOU BUT YOU KNOW THE CHIP THE DISTRIBUTION I BELIEVE IS 50-50 BETWEEN PHOENIX AND TUCSON THEY GET HALF, AND THEN WE GET THE OTHER HALF, BUT THEY HAVE 80% OF THE POPULATION.

SO REALLY, WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.

I ACTUALLY, THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST ABOUT BEING CAREFUL ABOUT ASKING FOR THAT BEING OPENED UP.

I SEE.

BECAUSE I THINK THE RURAL AREA DID VERY WELL.

AGAIN, I'M JUST POINTING THAT OUT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE INVOLVED OVER TIME WITH YOUR LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT TAXING.

WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SWEEPING.

THOSE ARE AREAS THAT ARE THE MOST COMMON DISCUSSION.

IF THIS EVER COMES UP, THIS IS AN AREA TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

SO, SIR, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE DO REALLY WELL WITH THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION.

WE JUST ALWAYS, AS PUBLIC WORKS, USED TO TALK ABOUT KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT.

SO, THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? ROGER, PAVING THE ROAD TO 169, THAT'S ADDRESSING...

THE RIMROCK EVACUATION CONCERNS.

IS THAT TRUE? IT'LL DEFINITELY HELP WITH ANOTHER ACCESS POINT THAT'S PAVED ALL WEATHER IN AND OUT OF THAT COMMUNITY.

AND BEFORE WE MOVE, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND.

THAT, I THINK, ROAD PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE BEAVERHEAD FLAT ROAD, SO IT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS A LONG TIME.

YEAH, CORRECT.

ALL RIGHT, SO...

THERE IS ALSO OPPORTUNITY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN AN APPLICATION FOR TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES GRANT THROUGH THE STATE.

THERE IS A PORTION OF DRY CREEK ROAD, BOYNTON PASS ROAD AND LONG CANYON ROAD THAT IS FREQUENTLY VISITED BY TOURISTS AND PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE, LOCALS TOO, THAT WOULD LIKE TO JUST RECREATE IN THE SEDONA AREA.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD TRAILS AND TRAILHEADS OUT THERE.

AND IT'S SO POPULAR.

THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE, I THINK WE JUST GOT ANOTHER EMAIL ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY FROM A CONSTITUENT, THEY PARK ALONGSIDE THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, OFTENTIMES PART OF THEIR VEHICLE ENTERING INTO THE ROAD, WHICH THEN TAKES UP A LANE OF TRAFFIC AND CAN ESSENTIALLY TURN THE ROAD INTO A ONE-WAY ROAD.

IT CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD.

SO THIS STUDY THAT WE'VE APPLIED FOR HERE IS TO YOU TO KIND OF SCOPE OUT SOME

[05:30:03]

IMPROVEMENTS OR SOME IDEAS IN WHICH WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THIS ISSUE THAT'S OVER IN THE DRY CREEK AREA MR CHAIR YES I JUST WANT TO THANK ROGER FOR HIS COOPERATION ON ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW THE DYNAMICS WELL SEDONA RECEIVES AS FAR AS 2023 VALUES AT LEAST THEY RECEIVED ABOUT 3 MILLION VISITORS TO THE SEDONA AREA AND 2.2 MILLION OF THEM WERE USING TRAILS THE MOST POPULAR TRAILS ARE IN THIS AREA, SOME OF WHICH RECEIVE A HIGH AMOUNT OF USE, SOME OF WHICH ARE IN WILDERNESS AREAS, AND THE FOREST SERVICE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO RELOCATE SOME OF THE RECREATION THAT'S OCCURRING IN THE AREA.

THE SAFETY ISSUES REALLY OCCUR FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, PEOPLE WITH STROLLERS WHO ARE TRYING TO ACCESS THOSE TRAILS, AND THERE'S A REAL LOG JAM THERE.

SO THIS WILL CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO DO MORE THAN JUST BLOCKING OFF PARKING AND THINK THROUGH HOW CAN WE FACILITATE ADDITIONAL RECREATION AT THEIR PLACES, HOW CAN WE TIE IN WITH SOME OF THE FOREST GOALS AND WORK WITH SEDONA AND THEIR TRANSIT SYSTEM AND THE CYCLIST COMMUNITY TO GET A MUCH BETTER END RESULT.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AND I'M VERY THANKFUL.

THANKS.

IS THERE ANY DESIRE THERE TO LOOK INTO WHAT WAS PLACED ON PIONEER PARKWAY WHERE, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A NICE PARKING AREA.

IT GETS PEOPLE OFF TO GET TO THE TRAILS, AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE BATHROOM AS WELL.

I MEAN, THAT'S...

WELL, I HATE TO GET ON A SOAPBOX, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT TIED TO WHAT I JUST WENT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

FOR TO DO A CONGRESSIONAL STAFF BRIEFING ON THE NEED FOR PERMIT REFORM, BECAUSE THERE IS...

THEY JUST BUILT OUT A TRAIL AROUND DOE MOUNTAIN TO HAVE MORE ACCESS AND MORE USE, BUT THE PARKING LOT NOW NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S ON FOREST SERVICE LAND, SO WE WOULD NEED AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND A CULTURAL ASSESSMENT, ARCHAEOLOGISTS, WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS, SO THE WHOLE NEPA SUITE OF PERMITTING WOULD HAVE TO SORT OF BE IDENTIFIED.

SO INSTEAD OF APPLYING FOR A GRANT TO DO THAT WORK, WE HAVE TO APPLY FOR A GRANT TO SCOPE THAT WORK BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN DONE YET.

IT'S ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE ASPECTS OF A FEDERAL PERMITTING SYSTEM.

SO YEAH.

I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU SAID, NICKY.

WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AT SALT MINE ROAD WITH CLEAR CREEK, AND IT'S ON TWO CURVES, AND THEY'RE PARKING BOTH SIDES OF THE CURVE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT TODAY, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR TWO YEARS.

WE NEED TO MOVE THAT FORWARD AS BEST WE CAN, BUT SOME OF THIS INFORMATION MAY BE TRANSFERABLE.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE NEPA WOULD DEFINITELY HELP BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT'S HOLDING US UP IN THE CLEAR CREEK EXPANSION.

IT'S THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS OUT THERE IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT AND THAT HOLDS HOLDS EVERYTHING UP THANK YOU YEAH OKAY SO MOVING ON TO WILLIAMSON VALLEY ROAD WE DO HAVE AN ACTIVE STUDY THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH WILLIAMSON VALLEY TO IDENTIFY FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT FOR THAT AT THE PRESCOTT PUBLIC WORKS READY ROOM LOCATION.

SO THAT'S LOOKING AT THE CORRIDOR GOING INTO THE FUTURE AND WHAT MIGHT BE NEEDED FOR WILLIAMSON VALLEY.

THE VERDE VALLEY MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS ONGOING.

NACOG HAS REALLY BEEN HELPFUL IN SPEARHEADING THAT FORWARD.

ALONG WITH THAT VERDE VALLEY MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN, THAT'S GOING TO HOPEFULLY IDENTIFY SOME GREAT PROJECTS FOR US GOING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE FOR THE VERDE VALLEY.

WE ALSO DO HAVE WITHIN OUR REGIONAL ROADS HALF CENT BUDGET, SOME MONEY DEDICATED IN THERE TO HELP WITH PLANNING STUDIES OVER THE NEXT YEAR SHOULD SOMETHING COME UP FROM THE VVM, VERDE VALLEY MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT WE WANT TO GET STARTED ON RIGHT AWAY.

JUST A SNAPSHOT HERE OF OUR BUDGET.

WE HAVE A PORTION OF PUBLIC WORKS THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH GENERAL FUND.

THE REVENUE, THE NOTE THAT IT'S $800,000 NOW, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH KEVIN ON THIS, BUT IT WILL BE REVISED TO BE $1.1 MILLION.

THIS IS BASED OFF OF THE TIPPING FEES THAT WE GET AT THE TRANSFER STATIONS.

FEEL FREE.

I WAS ONE OF THEM.

I'M LIKE, WHAT IS TIPPING FEES? SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE BECAUSE IT'S THE FEES THAT WE COLLECT, BUT I HAD NEVER HEARD THAT TERMINOLOGY BEFORE.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, AFTER WE DO THIS REVISION ALONG WITH ANY OTHER REVISIONS, WE'LL SEND A LISTING

[05:35:01]

TO THE BOARD.

THAT WAY YOU'RE UP TO DATE ON WHAT CHANGES MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED.

OKAY, SO FOR OUR HIGHWAY USER REVENUE FUND, WE'RE PROJECTING ABOUT $23.3 MILLION IN REVENUE.

THE EXPENSES ARE AT $31 MILLION THIS YEAR.

THEY HAVE GONE UP BY APPROXIMATELY JUST OVER $3 MILLION.

THE REASON BEING IS THERE'S SEVERAL OF THE EXHIBIT 3S THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES THAT ARE GOING TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE HEERF.

PROGRAM AND FOR CONSIDERATION.

REGIONAL ROADS THAT IS ABOUT 14.6 MILLION AND THAT'S THE 45% OF THIS HALF CENT SALES TAX AND WE'RE LOOKING ABOUT 25.8 MILLION IN PROJECTS AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AS WELL.

FY27 REGIONAL ROAD PROJECTS SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO SUMMARIZE THIS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH EACH LINE, PUT THEM INTO GROUPS HERE.

SO BEAVERHEAD FLAT AND CORNVILLE ROAD FROM THE KIMBERLY'S WAY TO I-17, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT AS ONE BIG PROJECT, ONE BIG PAVING PROJECT.

IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT $6.3 MILLION IN THIS COMING YEAR.

WE'VE ALSO GOT THE CORNVILLE ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT WOULD BE THE PROJECT WE WOULD WANT TO DO AS SOON AS THE ROUNDABOUT IS COMPLETE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE IN FRONT OF THE VERDE SANTA FE COMMUNITY, INSTALLING ACCELERATION LANES AND A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY SAFELY ON A CORNVILLE ROAD.

WE DO HAVE PRESCOTT EAST HIGHWAY PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS IN THERE FOR THIS COMING YEAR, SO THAT WILL BE A GOOD PROJECT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL IRON SPRINGS ROAD PROJECTS.

COMING UP.

A COUPLE OF THEM JUST BID THROUGH THE STATE AND THEY CAME IN UNDER THE ADOTS ESTIMATE, SO THAT'S GOOD.

SO WE SHOULD SEE THOSE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN THESE ONES ARE ADDITIONAL HSIP AS WELL AS COUNTY LOCAL DOLLARS FOR THOSE SAFETY PULLOUTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF OUR REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT ROAD STUDY.

OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT WILLIAMSON VALLEY ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE STAGED FOR THIS COMING YEAR.

WE'RE CALLING THAT PHASE FOUR.

WE'VE DONE THREE PREVIOUS PHASES AND THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH PHASE.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE SOME DIRT TO BLACK PROJECTS WHICH ARE INCLUSIVE OF OREM ROAD AND COPPER BASIN ROAD AND STASINSKI ROAD.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT OREM REALLY JUST BECAUSE OREM SCHOOL IS CLOSING, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT WAS THAT PROJECT WAS PRIORITIZED FOR DIRT TO BLACK? YEAH, IT'S THE SO THE ORM SCHOOL ROAD IS ON THE I-17 SIDE ON THE STATE ROUTE 169 SIDE IS WHERE THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR HIGHEST ADT DIRT ROADS WITHIN THAT WITHIN THE COUNTY.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GO OUT THERE AND REPAIR THE ROAD.

AND WE RECENTLY PUT A DUST PALLET OF OUT THERE.

IT'S HOLDING UP PRETTY WELL, BUT IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER.

AND EACH TIME WE DO A DUST PALLET OF ON IT, IT'S NOT CHEAP.

IT'S ABOUT $80,000 TO DO A DUST PALLET OF PROJECT ON THAT SECTION OF ROAD.

SO THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST THREE MILES LEAVING STATE ROUTE 169 GOING TO THE FOREST SERVICE BOUNDARY THROUGH ALL OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.

THAT'S RIGHT THERE.

OKAY, SO A HEARTH, I'LL SUMMARIZE THIS INTO TYPICALLY EVERY YEAR WE HAVE ABOUT JUST SHOTS.

I HAVE TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR HEERF BUDGET.

THOSE INCLUDE OVERLAYS, RECONSTRUCTIONS, AND DIRT TO BLACK TYPE PROJECTS.

THE OVERLAYS, WE TYPICALLY GROUP THOSE TOGETHER INTO ONE PROJECT SO WE GET A BETTER COST PER MILE ON THOSE.

SO THIS YEAR YOU CAN SEE KIND OF WHAT WE'VE PROGRAMMED THERE.

GOING FORWARD, WE TYPICALLY EVERY YEAR ARE ONLY ABLE TO FIT ABOUT $2 MILLION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS INTO THE HEERF BUDGET FOR THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS.

WITH THAT SAID, WE DO ALSO DO CHIP SEAL OUT OF THE HEERF BUDGET, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT $3 MILLION EVERY YEAR IN CHIP SEAL THAT WE DO OUT OF THERE TOO.

OKAY, EXHIBIT 3S.

[05:40:04]

HOW ARE WE DOING ON TIME HERE? GETTING CLOSE.

OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT THE FUEL CANOPY PROJECT, WHICH WE HAVE A SERIES OF GAS TANKS THAT ARE IN THE PRESCOTT LOCATION AND IN THE VERDE LOCATION THAT ARE IN NEED OF HAVING SOME CANOPIES OVER THEM.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ON THE BUDGET FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW THAT JUST HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE COMPLETED.

THE SANDER RACKS, AND I HAVE SOME PICTURES OF THESE TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK YOU WERE ABLE TO ALL...

SEE THESE AS PART OF THE TOUR THAT WE DID AT THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY ABOUT A YEAR AGO BUT THOSE SANDER RACKS ARE GOING TO BE A HUGE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT AS FAR AS EQUIPPING THE VEHICLES WE USE TO PLOW SNOW AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT SAFER FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

YOU'RE SMILING MARY.

OH, I AM I AM SO I THINK I ASKED YOU ABOUT THIS A WHILE BACK THAT THAT'S THAT AREA WHERE YOU USED LADDERS AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF, RIGHT? YEAH, OH I SO YEAH, THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE.

YEAH, THAT WAS CRAZY.

JUST CRAZY STUFF.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE ROOF IS REALLY KIND OF FALLING APART.

RIGHT.

A LOT OF THE COLUMNS HAVE STARTED TO RUST.

AND THAT LADDER YOU WERE REFERRING TO IS RIGHT THERE.

YEAH, GREAT LADDER.

IT'S KIND OF USED TO HELP US GET, YOU KNOW, CHAINS TIED AND DO THINGS.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

FANTASTIC.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE WALKWAYS WHERE YOU CAN WALK AROUND ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT, AND YOU CAN SAFELY KIND OF HAVE THESE PULLEYS WITH THE CHAINS AND GET EVERYTHING EQUIPPED BETTER.

WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THIS OUT THERE.

AFTER MY LITTLE EPISODE OF FALLING IN FEBRUARY, I'M ALL ABOUT SAFETY.

SO, YES, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR TRIP HAZARDS, FURNITURE, WHATEVER.

I'M SO GLAD THIS IS GOING TO GET TAKEN CARE OF.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

SO THIS WOULD BE, WE HAVE A LITTLE THREE BAY SYSTEM OVER IN THE VERDE VALLEY THAT WE WOULD BE UPGRADING AS WELL AT OUR YARD IN CAMP VERDE.

AND SO PRESCOTT AND THE VERDE LOCATION ARE INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS BUDGET.

OKAY, SO LET ME GO BACK HERE AND LOOK AT THE, SO WE SIMILAR, GIL ALREADY TOUCHED ON THIS, SO I WON'T HIT ON IT VERY HARD, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE OLD VEHICLE LIFTS WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL.

THERE'S ONE IN THE VERDE AND ONE IN OUR PRESCOTT LOCATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO UPGRADE THIS YEAR.

THE BLOCK WALL, THIS IS THE NEW SIGN SHOP THAT BRANDON WAS ABLE TO GET BUILT FOR US THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE TEMPORARY FENCING AROUND IT, AND SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A SECURE FACILITY RIGHT NOW IN RELATION TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A GATE THAT'S LOCKED.

AND SO.

WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS TYPE OF WALL, A CMU WALL, WHICH IS DIRECTLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, SO THAT AS YOU'RE ENTERING THE SITE, IT LOOKS CONSISTENT AND IS THE SAME.

SO WE HAVE A CONCRETE PAD IN PAULDING THAT IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE PLACED UNDERNEATH A ROLL-OFF AND SOME, I GUESS YOU COULD CALL THEM...

TEMPORARY.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY TEMPORARY BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY'RE METAL STAIRS THAT YOU CLIMB UP TO GET HIGH ENOUGH WHERE YOU CAN THROW YOUR RECYCLING MATERIAL INTO THE ROLL-OFF BIN AND THOSE ARE ON AGGREGATE BASE AND SO IT PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNSTEADY SURFACE AT TIMES FOR THE CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR RECYCLING MATERIALS INTO THE ROLL-OFF AND SO WE'D LIKE TO UPGRADE THAT TO CONCRETE.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE RECLASSIFICATIONS, ONE FOR A CONTRACT SPECIALIST AND ONE FOR A TRANSPORTATION ASSET INSPECTOR.

WE DO HAVE ONE NEW POSITION THAT WE'RE REQUESTING FOR INSPECTOR.

WITH ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, WE'RE GOING TO BE REQUESTING FOR A NEW POSITION FOR A CONTRACTOR.

GOING COUNTYWIDE, WE NEED ANOTHER INSPECTOR.

WE LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE ON OUR JOBS FULL-TIME, AND WE ARE ABLE TO NOT ONLY USE THIS PERSON FOR HELPING WITH OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT ALSO WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THEM TO HELP WITH DEVELOPMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT SUBDIVISIONS ARE BUILDING PER COUNTY STANDARDS.

KEVIN? JUST A QUICK NOTE AND A FOLLOW-UP FROM YESTERDAY.

THE INSPECTOR DOES COME WITH A ONE-TIME COST OF A VEHICLE.

SO THAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR RECOMMENDATION ONE OF THE POSITIONS WE DID NOT RECOMMEND THE OPERATOR THREE ALSO WOULD HAVE INCLUDED A VEHICLE SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THANK YOU.

SURE.

UM, IS THIS THE POSITION? I DON'T KNOW IF I'M IN THE RIGHT POSITION FUNDED BY HER.

YEAH, SO THIS THIS IS ACTUALLY AND I SHOULD HAVE PUT HALF-CENT UP THERE TOO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO 50-50 SPLIT BETWEEN THE HIGHWAYS REVENUE FUND AND THEN

[05:45:07]

THE HALF CENT REGIONAL ROADS FUND.

OKAY, I DID SEE, YEAH, WELL, THERE IS A POSITION THAT DOES HAVE THAT SPLIT ON IT, THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT.

I MUST BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER ONE WITH HER.

OKAY, GO AHEAD, ROGER, SORRY.

I ACTUALLY HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION.

IS IT COMMON TO USE HER FUNDING OR REGIONAL ROADS FUNDING FOR POSITIONS? BECAUSE IN MY MIND, THOSE ARE...

CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING AND IF WE'RE TRYING TO YOU KNOW DEDICATE FUNDING TOWARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER YEAH WE DO I WOULD SAY MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS THE PREDOMINANT FUNDING SOURCE IS THE HIGHWAY USER REVENUE FUND THE HHRF FUND WE DO HAVE ABOUT THREE POSITIONS JUST THINKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE REGIONAL ROAD PROGRAM WE HAVE A REGIONAL ROAD INSPECTOR AND I BELIEVE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITION IS FUNDED THROUGH THE REGIONAL ROAD PROGRAM.

AND SO THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THOSE SMALL AMOUNT THAT ALREADY IS.

OKAY, SO EVERY YEAR WE PUT IN FOR GRANTS FOR OUR AIRPORTS.

THESE ARE FOR DOING THE MATCHING FOR THOSE GRANTS AS WELL AS A DBE PLAN UPDATE.

WE HAVE WITHIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WE HAVE A NEED TO DO SOME PLAN UPDATES IN RELATION TO THREAT AND HAZARD REDUCTION SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO GET THAT DONE THAT'S WHAT THIS ONE IS RELATED TO.

OUR TIRE FUND HAS THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR US AND WE'D LIKE TO GET A NEW BACKHOE FOR THROUGH THE TIRE FUND FOR OUR SOLID WASTE DIVISION.

AND I CAN SAY I RECENTLY VISITED ONE OF THE COMMUNITY CLEANUPS THAT WAS GOING ON UP IN SELIGMAN.

WE HAD A LOADER OUT THERE, A COUPLE LOADERS AND A BACKHOE.

BEING THAT IT'S IN SELIGMAN, THE PARTS STORE ISN'T RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

AND ONE OF THE HYDRAULIC LINES WENT OUT ON THE LOADER.

AND SO WE HAD TO GET ONE OF THE BACKHOES THAT WAS THERE AND KIND OF MAKE DO UNTIL WE COULD GET ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CHINO VALLEY TO GET A NEW HYDRAULIC HOSE.

SO, THIS BACK HOOK IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH THOSE COMMUNITY CLEANUPS AND SUCH LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF TIRES COME IN THROUGH THOSE.

I WAS IMPRESSED ABOUT HOW MANY TIRES CAME IN IN SELIGMAN.

THERE WAS A LOT.

OKAY, SO THE LAST TWO HERE.

SO, EMERGENCY RESPONSE REIMBURSEMENTS.

SO, THERE ARE TIMES IN WHICH PUBLIC WORKS IS REQUESTED TO ASSIST WITH CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE NOT.

ACTUALLY AN APPROVED HIGHWAY USER REVENUE FUND EXPENSE.

ONE EXAMPLE MIGHT BE IF THERE'S A FIRE AND THE FIRE IS OUTSIDE OF A FIRE DISTRICT AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET A WATER TRUCK OUT THERE TO HELP OUT.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MIGHT REQUEST THAT WE GET A WATER TRUCK OUT THERE.

THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO HAVE A MECHANISM.

IT'S GOING TO BE HOUSED WITHIN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUDGET, AND THEN WE CAN BILL THAT TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND GET THE REIMBURSEMENT THAT HEERF NEEDS IN ORDER TO USE ITS EQUIPMENT FOR THAT STUFF THAT'S NOT TECHNICALLY HOW WE USE A REVENUE FUND ELIGIBLE.

SO I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEFORE.

PERIODICALLY, THERE IS A DISCUSSION THAT OCCURS WHEN THERE'S A REQUEST THAT COMES IN.

SOMETIMES OUR FRONTLINE STAFF WERE PUT IN A POSITION OF THEY WOULD QUESTION, HEY, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS GOING TO BE FUNDED OUTSIDE OF HEERF.

WE'RE JUST MAKING A VERY EASY VEHICLE OR PROCESS FOR THAT DEPARTMENT, YOUR HIGHWAY USER REVENUE FUNDED DEPARTMENT, TO KNOW THEY CAN RESPOND WITHOUT ASKING QUESTIONS.

THE COST IS VERY SMALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THEY NOW HAVE A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY'RE JUST GOING TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE A RESPONSE TO A SHERIFF DEPUTY OR ANYBODY.

IT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED OUT OF THIS LINE ITEM AND WE'LL REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD ON ANNUAL COSTS, BUT WE USED TO DO THIS JUST THROUGH A TRANSFER IN THE PAST.

AND SO WE JUST DID THIS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE IT CLEAR SO THAT FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND THERE IS A WAY TO FUND THAT ACTIVITY IF THEY ARE RESPONDING TO A RESPONSE THAT HAS TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

MR. CHAIR, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT INITIATIVE.

BECAUSE WHEN AN EMERGENCY OCCURS, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ASKING WHO'S GOING TO FUND IT.

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE

[05:50:01]

FEELING AS A STAFF MEMBER THAT YOU MAY GET IN TROUBLE FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.

SO THIS MAKES TOTAL SENSE TO ME, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, LASTLY HERE FOR THE SOLID WASTE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR WE'VE HAD A COUPLE REQUESTS THAT HAVE COME IN FOR ASSISTING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH DUMPSTERS FOR CLEANUP DAYS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED KIND OF LIKE OUR CLEANUP DAY AT OUR TRANSFER STATIONS.

AND SO THIS WILL WE'LL BE ACCOMPANIED WITH, I THINK, SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND MAYBE DEVELOPING A POLICY THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE UTILIZED WITH THIS GOING FORWARD.

WE DO HAVE A DRAFT POLICY THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE'D WANT TO BRING BEFORE YOU GUYS FOR ADOPTION.

BUT THIS WOULD BE THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THOSE DUMPSTER LOCATIONS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE UTILIZED WITHIN THOSE LOCALIZED COMMUNITIES FOR SPECIFIC CLEANUP EVENTS THAT THOSE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS MAY BE DOING.

I MEAN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEAD IN THIS.

THE CHERIA COMMUNITY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE WHERE THEY COULD GO TO MAYER OR CAMP VERDE, BUT THAT'S A PRETTY LONG DISTANCE FOR THEM.

AND FIRE IS REAL FOR THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY UP THERE.

AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO MORE AROUND THEIR AREA.

SO IF THEY HAD SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, I THINK THAT THEY WOULD.

TAKE A HUGE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A DUMPSTER SO I WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU BRING FORWARD THANK YOU THANK YOU YES AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THE ROVING DUMPSTER PROGRAM THAT PRESCOTT VALLEY HAD THAT THEY THE TOWN CONTRACTED WITH PATRIOT WE PUT OUT SIX YARD DUMPSTERS IT'D BE ON THE SCHEDULE TO GET PICKED UP AND THERE WAS LIKE ONE ROLL-OFF BOX OR TWO ROLL-OFF BOXES AND YOU COULD KIND OF DO IT BY HOA, AND YOU MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HOA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MONITOR IT, THEY'RE GOING TO CALL YOU, THE TOWN IS GOING TO FUND IT, AND IT WAS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.

IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND SNEAK THINGS INTO THE DUMPSTER BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE'S DUMPSTER.

I MEAN, WE TOOK SO MANY MATTRESSES AWAY.

SO THE PROGRAM WAS SUCCESSFUL.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN SOMEWHERE, BUT IT WOULD BE A GREAT BLUEPRINT TO FOLLOW.

GREAT.

YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT INSIGHT.

SO WE ALREADY TOUCHED ON THIS SHREDDER.

THESE WERE THE ONES THAT WEREN'T RECOMMENDED FOR THIS YEAR.

I DO WANT TO KEEP THAT ON OUR FORESIGHT FOR MAYBE OUR THOUGHTS FOR POSSIBLY MAYBE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR.

I THINK OUR EFFICIENCIES AND TOUCHING THE MATERIAL ONCE.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR ACTIVE GRANTS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR TO MAYBE HELP WITH THAT.

IT'S NOT A CHEAP PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

IT'S ABOUT A $1.5 MILLION PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

IT IS SUBSTANTIAL AND THEN OF COURSE THE NEW POSITIONS THESE THESE WOULD HELP WITH OUR GREEN WASTE PROGRAM THE OPERATOR 3 AND THE TECH 2 AND ROGER WOULD BE NICE TO SEE ON THAT HOW MUCH IT COSTS US TO RUN EVERYTHING THROUGH A SECOND TIME? TO SEE HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO PAY FOR ITSELF TO GET THE NEW EQUIPMENT WHERE YOU RUN IT THROUGH ONCE YEAH YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S GOOD.

WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT OKAY, SO THESE ARE JUST THE PICTURES.

I'VE SHARED WITH YOU EARLIER THE CANOPIES AND THAT'S IT.

I HAVE A COMMENT MORE THAN A QUESTION.

BECAUSE WHAT I'VE HEARD IN PREVIOUS BUDGET RETREAT MEETINGS, BROADLY FROM THE BOARD, IS A DESIRE TO SEE MORE OF THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX GO TOWARDS ROAD PROJECTS.

AND ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO START ADDING POSITIONS INTO THOSE, THAT MEANS IF THAT PERCENTAGE DOESN'T GO UP.

THEN WE MAY NOT ACTUALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR ON-THE-GROUND PROJECTS.

SO I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER REALLY TALKED ABOUT WHAT OUR GOALS ARE AS FAR AS HOW MUCH DO WE WANT TO SEE THAT INCREASE.

I MEAN, IF IT STARTED AT 80% OF THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX GOING TO REGIONAL ROADS, IT'S A BROAD QUESTION WE DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TODAY, BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT IF THAT'S...

YOU KNOW SOMETHING THE BOARD WANTS TO SEE THAT NEXT YEAR WE WOULD WANT TO SEE MORE THAN 45% THERE AND MAYBE THE YEAR AFTER MORE IT'S JUST A BROAD QUESTION I WANTED TO BRING UP ANY OTHER SUPERVISORS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS NO FURTHER QUESTIONS THANK YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY MANAGER WE SHALL BREAK FOR LUNCH I'M JUST INFORMING YOU THAT LUNCH IS HERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO, THOUGH.

AS I STATED, IN THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY MANAGER AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WE ARE BREAKING FOR LUNCH.

WE WILL BE BACK AT 1220.

[05:55:04]

WE'RE BACK.

TYLER GOODMAN.

FEEL FREE TO START US OUT.

THANK YOU CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AT THIS POINT.

WE DID WANT TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE FROM AN ITEM YESTERDAY.

BRANDON SCHULTZ, OUR FACILITIES DIRECTOR AND I WERE DISCUSSING THIS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN FOLLOW-UP TO A FACILITIES ITEM.

THERE WAS AN ITEM ORIGINALLY NOT RECOMMENDED WHICH IS THE MAX OCCUPANCY AN EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE COURTHOUSE HERE IN PRESCOTT.

DISCUSSING IT FURTHER, REDUCING THE SCOPE AND GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOPE, ORIGINALLY BUDGETED AT $235,000.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THAT SCOPE AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SUPERIOR COURT PRESIDING JUDGE TO ABOUT $150,000 ESTIMATED TO COMPLETE THAT.

DISCUSSING WITH MR. SCHULTZ, HE FEELS COMFORTABLE.

INCLUDING THAT, ABSORBING THAT INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALLOCATED BY THE BOARD.

SO WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

ANY QUESTIONS? THAT'S YOUR CHECK.

YEAH, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXPENSIVE VERSION AND THE LESS EXPENSIVE VERSION? YEAH, MAYBE, BRANDON, IF YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT A LITTLE BIT AFTER HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRESIDING JUDGE.

YEAH, CERTAINLY.

CHAIRMAN COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, WONDERFUL QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE DID ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH THE SUPERIOR COURT.

IT'S JUST BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE HAD PREPARED THESE NUMBERS.

AND WE SAT DOWN AND WE WENT OVER A LOT OF THE DETAILS OF THE SPECIFIC EXITING PLANS AND AREAS.

AND WHAT WE LEARNED WAS THERE WAS A COUPLE OF COURTROOMS THAT WE WERE MAKING MODIFICATIONS FOR THAT REALLY NEVER HIT THAT OCCUPANCY LOAD.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO FOREGO SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE THEY JUST WEREN'T NEEDED IN SOME OF THOSE.

BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL COURTROOMS THAT STILL NEEDED THOSE IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE EGRESS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE SUPERIORS? OKAY, CONTINUE.

GREAT.

SO BEFORE YOU, THIS IS A SLIDE THAT YOU SAW YESTERDAY AS PART OF OUR BUDGET OVERVIEW, OUTLINING THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR NEXT YEAR AND WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THOSE PROJECTS.

YOU'LL SEE MOST OF THEM ARE THE RURAL SERVICES THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES WITH YOU, ALSO GURLEY STREET, OF COURSE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE...

SPECIFIC SLIDES OR DETAILS TO DIVE IN FURTHER THAN WHAT YOU SEE.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS TO DIVE INTO ANY ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS OR OTHERS AT THIS POINT, AND WE'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS AND GET YOUR DIRECTION.

WE DON'T HAVE THIS IN OUR BINDER.

IS THAT RIGHT? THIS IS PART OF THE PRESENTATION YESTERDAY THAT KEVIN GAVE.

IT SHOULD BE A PART.

SLIDE NUMBER 10 FROM YESTERDAY.

MY QUESTION FROM YESTERDAY WAS THE MAYOR AREA SUBSTATION AND LIBRARY, AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE JUSTICE CENTER IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING IN MAYOR, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

OTHER THAN THEY'RE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS. WE'LL FIND OUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THEIR BUDGET LATER IF THEY GET.

TWO CLERKS OR NOT, WHICH THEY REALLY ARE GOING TO BURST AT THE SEAMS. AND THE CONFIGURATION OF THE JUSTICE COURT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, THE PLAINTIFF AND THE DEFENDANT ARE LITERALLY WITHIN TWO FEET OF EACH OTHER.

AND THOSE TABLES THEN ARE MAYBE FIVE FEET TO THE JUDGE, MAYBE.

AND YOU HAVE TO WALK AROUND ALL OF THEM TO GET TO THE JUDGE.

YOU'VE BEEN THERE, IT'S VERY, VERY PACKED.

YES, MA'AM.

IF THERE'S ONE RESTROOM AND YOU GO THROUGH WHERE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WOULD TALK TO HIS CLIENT, THEY HAVE TO STOP TALKING IN ORDER TO USE THE RESTROOM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WALK PAST THEIR AREA.

SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RADAR.

IT MAY NOT BE THIS YEAR, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE RADAR, THAT JUSTICE COURT.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS, SO WHAT ITEM, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT MIGHT BE 150? YES.

OKAY, SO THAT'S THE ONE.

JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.

AND FOR THE RECORD, THOSE NUMBERS ARE JUST NEXT FY'S NUMBERS.

THAT IS NOT THE TOTALITY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT? THAT IS REALLY JUST THE MONEY NEEDED FOR NEXT YEAR.

YEAH, THAT WAS MY QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IN THE PEOPLE'S VALUE, WE HAD A MILLION FROM THE LEGISLATURE, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS REMOVED OVER.

SUPERVISOR KUKNO, YOU HAD

THAT'S MY QUESTION.

[06:00:01]

SOMETHING? YEAH, JUST SELIGMAN, WE SHARE SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS THERE.

AND THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT WHEN THOSE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT, LIKE THE SECURITY COMING IN.

YOU KNOW, THEIR WHOLE SECURITY IS A WAND AND THEY GOT TO DO IT IN THE LOBBY WHERE EVERYONE'S COMING IN TO PAY THEIR FINES AND STUFF.

THERE'S NO PLACE FOR A LAWYER TO MEET WITH A DEFENDANT.

THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THE VICTIMS TO BE AT AS WELL.

I THINK, YEAH, WE NEED A FRESH UPDATE ON ALL THESE BUILDINGS, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

YEAH, JUST, I GUESS WHAT MY, I DON'T WANT TO BAND-AID THE PROBLEMS IN MAYER.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOT US HERE TODAY.

PARDON ME? THAT'S WHAT'S GOT US HERE TODAY.

SO BOTH OF YOUR DISTRICTS, SUPERVISOR JENKINS, SUPERVISOR KUKIN, YOU HAVE GREAT POINTS ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE BUILDINGS.

BOTH OF THOSE WERE BUILT BACK IN THE 40S.

TIMES WERE DIFFERENT.

STAFFING WAS DIFFERENT.

SECURITY NEEDS HAVE CHANGED.

THEY'VE BOTH BEEN...

ADDED ON TO THROUGH THE YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT IN BOTH OF THOSE BUILDINGS, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY THE BAND-AID THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, SUPERVISOR JENKINS, IS ADDING ON SPACE WHEN REALLY THE CONFIGURATION FROM THE GET-GO IS REALLY TOUGH, RIGHT DOWN TO THE RESTROOMS. AND YOU'VE GOT RESTROOM PROBLEMS IN MAYER, AND YOU'VE GOT RESTROOM PROBLEMS IN SLIGMAN, WHERE THERE'S NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS. THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR.

SO YES, BOTH VERY ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS.

YEAH, WE'RE QUITE ENVIOUS OF MAYER.

YOU CAN PEE INDOORS.

I JUST THINK.

I WAS GONNA BE SERIOUS, SUPERVISOR KOOP.

I JUST THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT TIME TO BRING UP THE BOARD'S PUBLIC DIRECTION OF ENHANCING AND EXPANDING RURAL JUSTICE COURTS.

TO IMPROVE IN EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT, TO ENSURE THEY'RE EXPANDED SO THE POPULATION CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE DIRECTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL AND NOT DISENFRANCHISING OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS IN THE RURAL AREAS, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE ALL CONCENTRATED.

TRADING AND SO BRANDON THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND BOTH SUPERVISOR JENKINS AND SUPERVISOR COOP KNOW AND THEIR CONCERNS AND THESE THINGS JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE RURAL PEOPLE NO YES I'M SORRY YES THANK YOU ALL RIGHT SO I I JUST HAVE KIND OF A VERY GENERAL BECAUSE YESTERDAY YOU KNOW WE WERE ON THE TOPIC OF LIBRARIES OKAY AND I KNOW THAT WITH THESE RURAL SERVICES, IN MY VISION, I SEE ALL OF IT WITH THE RURAL LIBRARIES.

LIKE, IT'S AN AREA, YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE, MAYBE ONE BUILDING, AND MAYBE THAT'LL BE THE BUILDING THAT WE WOULD USE AS A FOOTPRINT, AND IT WOULD FIT IN ALL OF THE RURAL AREAS OF, YOU KNOW, THE SUPERVISORS.

I DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE, SO IT BELONGS TO THE OTHER FOUR.

SO I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS RULE SERVICES REALLY LOOKS LIKE.

AND I KNOW THAT'S THE CONVERSATION TODAY, BUT I'M A LITTLE, I'M REALLY NOT CLEAR ON WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.

WE NEED COURTS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE RESTROOMS ARE ADEQUATE IN A GOOD PLACE.

LIBRARIES ARE NEEDING TO BE UPDATED.

WE ALSO NEED MAYBE...

THIS PARTICULAR RURAL SERVICE TO HAVE COMMUNITY CENTERS BECAUSE IN THE RURAL AREAS, THEY AREN'T ABLE TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

AND THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WHY WE HAVE OUR RURAL COURTS AND EVERYTHING.

IT SERVES THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA.

THEY DON'T NEED TO COME UP HERE TO THE PRESCOTT AREA.

THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.

CHAIR, JUST TO ADD ON TO WHAT...

SUPERVISOR MALLORY WAS SAYING WITH THE COMMUNITY ROOMS IT'S NOT JUST A CLUBHOUSE IT'S NOT A PLAYHOUSE IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE COUNTY CAN GO UP AND DELIVER SERVICES IN PERSON I COULD SEE DEVELOPMENT BEING UP THERE ONE DAY A MONTH I COULD SEE THE COURT PEOPLE GOING UP THERE WHAT THE MONTH HELP THE HEALTH PEOPLE IN SELIGMAN THEY COULD GO UP THERE WE CAN ALSO HAVE VOTE CENTERS AS WELL I MEAN THIS WOULD REALLY BE A HUB FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THE RURAL AREAS AND YOU KNOW LIKE IN THE SUBSTATIONS WHAT WE'RE MAKING OUR DEPUTIES WORK OUT OF IS KIND OF SHAMEFUL, SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT YOU KNOW UP IN IN SELIGMAN THEY'RE HOLDING CELL CAME OUT OF A RAILROAD CAR.

YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH UP THERE IT'S SO FAR BEHIND AND IT'S NICE THAT IT'S SO REFRESHING TO SEE EVERYBODY ON BOARD TO TAKE CARE OF THESE OUTLYING AREAS CHAIR, I THINK IT MAY BE HELPFUL IN RESPONSE TO SUPERVISOR MALLORY'S QUESTION TO JUST TOUCH ON THE SCOPE OF ESPECIALLY THE RURAL SERVICE PROJECTS WE HAVE HERE BRIEFLY, IF WE COULD DO THAT.

CERTAINLY, YES, PLEASE.

OKAY, RANDY, IF YOU'D HELP US WITH THAT.

SO, SUPERVISOR MALLORY, SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE...

[06:05:01]

WHAT I REALLY LEARNED WITH THAT RURAL SERVICES STUDY IS THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE NEEDS.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY ALL THE SAME.

AND SO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT GOING INTO AN AREA AND STAMPING OUT A BUILDING, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY STILL DO THAT.

BUT I DID WANT TO AFFORD AN OPPORTUNITY ON EACH ONE OF THESE TO LET THE BOARD LOOK AT WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE AREA AND MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, ARE WE MOVING FORWARD WITH A WHOLE BRAND-NEW BUILDING AND GETTING RID OF THE OLDS, OR ARE WE EXPANDING AND ADDING TO THAT, AND ARE THE SERVICES ALL IN THE SAME AREA? SO SPECIFICALLY LIKE TALKING ABOUT SELIGMAN, WE'VE IDENTIFIED, WE'VE GOT SOME LOTS THAT HAVE BEEN THE COUNTIES FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THERE USED TO BE A HEALTH BUILDING THAT WAS LOCATED ON IT.

IT WAS EVENTUALLY CONDEMNED AND DEMOLISHED AND REMOVED.

BUT IN CONVERSATIONS WITH SUPERVISOR CUCANO, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TAKING OUR COURT, JUSTICE CENTER, AND OUR SUBSTATION OVER THERE.

BUT THE LIBRARY IS IN PRETTY DECENT SHAPE.

COULD IT USE A NEW BUILDING? YES.

IS IT REQUIRED? NO, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR GUYS' DECISION ON DO WE BUILD ONE NEW COMPLEX OVER THERE, OR IS IT JUST TWO NEW BUILDINGS AND WE LEAVE THE LIBRARY WHERE IT'S AT, AND THEN WE COULD REPURPOSE OUR OLD BUILDING TO BECOME THAT COMMUNITY ROOM.

SO EACH COMMUNITY IS UNIQUE AS MUCH AS I'D LOVE TO STAMP OUT THAT BUILDING, BUT I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES THAT MAY COME WITH SOME ADDITIONAL COSTS, BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME ADVANTAGES TO MODERNIZING IT, IMPROVING SECURITY, IMPROVING ACCESS.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S ABOUT...

BRINGING OPTIONS TO THE BOARD AND LETTING YOU GUYS DECIDE WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO IN EACH AND EVERY COMMUNITY.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU ON EVERY WORD YOU SAY.

JUST REAL QUICK.

I'VE BEEN OUT THERE.

IS THAT LIBRARY A MANUFACTURED TYPE BUILDING? YES, IT IS.

AND I'M NOT SAYING I REMEMBER IT AND EVERYTHING, BUT...

SO, OKAY.

I'M JUST TRYING TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE HERE, AND I REALLY AM KIND OF TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THOSE MANUFACTURED BUILDINGS, AND I JUST PUT IT OUT THERE, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE, YOU KNOW, SPEND ALL THE MONEY.

I HAVE AN OPEN MIND.

I'M JUST THINKING OF THE FUTURE, AND I JUST DON'T SEE MANUFACTURED BUILDINGS BEING THAT.

SO, ANYWAY, I SAID IT, AND I'M DONE.

MY THOUGHTS WERE IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, WE DO IT RIGHT.

SUPERVISOR COOK, YOU KNOW, IN HIS DISTRICT, IS THAT WHAT YOUR RESIDENTS ARE WANTING OR DESIRING? YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED FANCY.

WE JUST NEED FUNCTIONAL.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S DECENT.

WE DON'T NEED A TAJ MAHAL.

WE JUST NEED SOMETHING THAT'S DECENT TO DO BUSINESS IN.

YEAH, I'LL JUST SUPPORT SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

AND THE THINKING OF THE FUTURE IS THAT SOME OF THOSE MODULARS, I THINK, OFFICIALLY ARE CALLED TEMPORARY BECAUSE THEY DON'T LAST FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

HAVE A SHELF SPAN ON THEM THAT IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO LONG-TERM GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

AND ONCE YOU LOSE A BUILDING, ONCE IT'S NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL, THEN IT'S A LOT HARDER TO ADVOCATE FOR GETTING IT BACK.

SO I THINK I AGREE THAT IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSIDERED IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT MORE LONG-TERM, STURDY BUILDING THAT MIGHT LAST 100 YEARS OR 200 YEARS.

OR 300 YEARS.

AND YOU KNOW, IN SELIGMAN, THE LIBRARY, PROBABLY A THIRD OF IT IS ALSO THE JURY ROOM FOR THE COURT SYSTEM, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN'T HAVE CAMERAS IN THERE FOR THE SECURITY PURPOSES.

IF WE GET THIS SEPARATE COURT BUILT, THE LIBRARY CAN EXPAND ABOUT A THIRD OUT.

THEY CAN OFFER MORE.

THE LIBRARIANS' HOPE IS TO OFFER MORE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS DOWN THERE.

YOU WANT TO CONTINUE? CERTAINLY.

I BELIEVE I ADDRESSED SUPERVISOR MALLORY'S CONCERNS ABOUT SLIGMAN.

VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK IS A LITTLE BIT OF A WILD CARD.

WE DO HAVE A NEW BUYER FOR THE SCHOOL THERE AND THEY HAVE NOT DETERMINED EXACTLY HOW THEY WANT TO INTERFACE WITH US.

I DON'T KNOW IF SUPERVISOR CHECK HAS HAD ANY MORE INFORMATION BUT WE'RE STILL KIND OF WAITING ON THE NEW BUYER AND THE NEW OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.

WELL SO I APPRECIATE YOU STARTING WITH THE YOU KNOW SCHOOL PROPERTY AS IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PROPERTIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK TO PROVIDE SERVICES POTENTIALLY THERE'S NO STRAIGHTFORWARD YOU KNOW PATH FORWARD AT THIS MOMENT WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD INITIAL CONVERSATIONS BUT I THINK TO YOUR POINT EARLIER IT'S LIKE IF WE WANT TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THAT AREA WE NEED TO REALLY EXPLORE ALL OF THEM AND SO I'M HOPING THAT AN EXPLORATION OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE ZONED IN A COMPATIBLE FASHION FOR OFFERING SERVICES WOULD BE EXPLORED.

BUT I THINK $300,000 IS FAIR IF THE NEW OWNERS DO COME BACK TO US SAYING, HEY, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEASE A PROPERTY.

THAT GIVES US AN AMOUNT OF MONEY.

OUTFIT ONE OF THE BUILDINGS AND OFFER SOME OF THE SERVICES WE KNOW WE NEED

[06:10:01]

TO OFFER RIGHT NOW, SUCH AS A SHERIFF'S SUBSTATION OR SOME OF THE MORE LOW-HANGING FRUIT.

I DO SEE THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE IT A SUSTAINABLE OFFERING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE OFFERING WHAT'S NEEDED THERE.

IN MY OPINION, THERE'S TWO APPROACHES.

ONE IS TO PLAN FOR IT AND SORT OF GO BIG, AND ANOTHER IS TO SORT OF STACK SMALL.

COMPONENTS ONTO OUR OFFERINGS THERE.

I COULD SEE EITHER ONE OF THOSE APPROACHES BEING MOST APPROPRIATE AT THIS POINT.

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT NO OUR INITIAL MEETING DIDN'T PRECIPITATE YOU KNOW SLICING OFF OF A PIECE OF THE PROPERTY OR ANYTHING.

THEY'RE JUST GETTING THEIR HEADS AROUND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING INCOMPATIBLE ABOUT OUR VISION.

AND I CERTAINLY WOULD ANTICIPATE ONCE THEY HAVE A MORE SOLID PLAN THAT THEY WOULD REENGAGE US.

AND THANK YOU.

THE MENTION OF THE BUDGET THERE, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY HOW WE WERE GOING TO PROCEED, I TRIED TO PICK AN AMOUNT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY FOR SOME LAND ACQUISITION OR POSSIBLY COVER SOME RENT AND SOME TI THAT WOULD GO INTO THAT.

SO BEST BALLPARK THAT WE HAD FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

I DID LOOK AT SOME AVAILABLE PROPERTIES FOR LEASE, AND THERE WASN'T REALLY ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WE ALREADY GOT, SO IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THAT WAS FAVORABLE.

AND THE BULK OF WHAT WAS FOR SALE WAS EITHER LARGE COMMERCIAL OR IT WAS ALL RESIDENTIAL.

AND SO THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER MOVING AND GETTING SOMETHING PUT TOGETHER IN THAT COMMUNITY.

BUT WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES OPEN.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW THE SOUND TESTING AND EVERYTHING IS GOING AT GURLEY? HOW WE'RE PROGRESSING AT GURLEY RIGHT NOW? CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY.

SO WE DID HOST ANOTHER ROUND OF SOUND TESTING AT GURLEY STREET AND SPECIFICALLY HAD DENNIS MCGRAIN AND SHERIFF DAVID RHODES THERE TO LISTEN AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY WITH WHAT KIND OF NOISE LEVEL WOULD BE GOING ON DURING CONSTRUCTION AND WHO WOULD BE IN THOSE AREAS.

EVERYBODY WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

IT WAS...

NOT VERY INTRUSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEMOLITION, THE HEAVY DEMO THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO FOR THE OLD SHOW.

EXCUSE ME, BRANDON, LET ME INTERRUPT.

I JUST GOT A TEXT MESSAGE THAT WE'VE LOST VIDEO.

PARDON ME? DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE? YES, CAN I HEAR? SORRY, BRANDON.

GO AHEAD, RYAN.

PARDON ME? WELL, IS IT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR PLAYBACK? THAT'S MY QUESTION.

IF IT IS, THEN YES, WE JUST CONTINUE.

OKAY, THEN WE'LL JUST CONTINUE.

SO EVERYBODY WAS QUITE PLEASED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING THAT IT WOULD BE VERY LOW INTRUSIVE.

OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME WORK OVER THERE, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE THE HEAVY DEMO THAT'S GOT TO BE DONE IN THE DETENTION AREA.

THAT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.

WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS.

WE MET WITH BOTH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LAST WEEK AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE YESTERDAY TO GO OVER SOME MORE DETAILS AND TO FEED THAT INTO THE ARCHITECT'S PLAN THAT HE'S DRAFTING.

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT A REASONABLE PLAN OF ATTACK ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH 911, WHERE THAT COULD BE RELOCATED AND HOW WE CAN MINIMIZE THE IMPACT THERE.

AND JUST KEEP THE PROJECT MOVING FORWARD SMOOTHLY.

WE WILL STILL NEED TO LOOK FOR SOME WAY TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF YCSO'S STAFF THAT HAS TO WORK BELOW WHERE THAT HEAVY DEMO'S AT.

IT WILL BE VERY IMPACTFUL TO THEM AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WOULD BE, IF WE HAPPEN TO ACQUIRE A BUILDING, IF WE COULD USE SOME OF THAT SPACE OR IF WE END UP HAVING TO LEASE SOME SPECIFIC SPACE FOR PROBABLY A SHORT DURATION, MAYBE SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS WHILE WE GET THROUGH THE HEAVY DEMO WORK THERE.

BUT THEN THEY COULD COME BACK INTO THAT AREA ONCE IT'S CLEAR.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT OR SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, $150,000, THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY THAT YOU ALLOCATE FOR THE PROJECT JUST THIS YEAR, MAYBE THE ENGINEERING PORTION OR THE REVIEW OR SOMETHING.

BUT PLEASE INCORPORATE THE JUSTICE COURT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND DO THAT LATER.

I JUST, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A BUILDING, LET'S PUT EVERYTHING IN ONE BUILDING AND NOT BUILD A BUILDING.

JUST FOR THE SUBSTATION AND THEN COME BACK A COUPLE YEARS LATER.

IF YOU COULD GIVE US A SCENARIO THAT INCLUDES THAT AND USE OUR MONEY WISELY FOR THE ENGINEERING PROCESS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, BRANDON, THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AND EVERYTHING.

I JUST FEEL THAT THIS IS THE TIME, THIS BOARD, RIGHT HERE, THIS TERM.

THAT WILL BE VERY IMPACTFUL GOING FORWARD.

TO GET THINGS DONE, VERY MOTIVATED, VERY DRIVEN.

WE ARE VERY, VERY MOTIVATED HERE.

SO I GUESS THAT'S WHY A LOT OF THINGS I'M TRYING TO SAY

[06:15:01]

HERE IS THAT THIS IS THE TIME, AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.

AND IF WE CAN, IF A MANUFACTURED BUILDING WORKS, OKAY, I'M NOT.

IF IT WORKS FOR SUPERVISOR CUCNEO AND THE COMMUNITY, THEN THAT'S FINE.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE, AS THE TIME GOES ON IN THE FUTURE, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO REVISIT THE NEXT BOARD OR THE NEXT BOARD AFTER THAT.

HAVE TO REVISIT THESE THINGS LIKE WE'RE DOING.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YEAH.

YOU TOO, YOUR DEPARTMENT, KEEP VISITING, REVISITING THE SAME THING.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE FOR A LONG TIME, I KNOW.

YOU ESPECIALLY, YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS.

SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU.

AND I NEVER SAID I WAS GOOD WITH MANUFACTURED BUILDING EITHER.

NO, THAT'S FINE.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE STEP-BUILT.

AND JUST TO REEMPHASIZE THAT THE BOARD IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD, ESPECIALLY IN THE JUSTICE COURTS, RURAL AREAS, RURAL SERVICES.

I MEAN, HEARING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE TWO JUSTICE COURTS THERE IS JUST APPALLING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE CAN'S BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD LONG ENOUGH, AND IT JUST TAKES POLITICAL WILL TO MOVE FORWARD, AND I THINK THIS BOARD'S HERE READY TO DO IT.

AND EVERYBODY NEEDS A SANDY GRIFFITH.

I MEAN, I FULLY SUPPORT THE JUSTICE COURTS.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S FOR WEAVER MOUNTAIN.

IS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE LEGISLATIVE ALLOCATION? THAT WAS, AGAIN, SORRY, JUST TO CHIME IN.

THAT WAS JUST FIRST YEAR COST.

SINCE THAT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH A BIT OF A DESIGN PROCESS BEFORE THEY GET INTO CONSTRUCTION, I'M ACTUALLY EXPECTING THAT TO BE AROUND A $2 MILLION PROJECT.

SO, BUT DO WE STILL HAVE THE MILLION DOLLARS LEGISLATIVELY OR WHAT, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS COUNTY DOLLARS? I WOULD ANTICIPATE CURRENTLY THAT IS ALLOCATED FOR COUNTY DOLLARS BECAUSE, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY, IS WE'RE JUST PUTTING A PLACEHOLDER IN THERE, AND THAT FUNDING MECHANISM THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS TO REIMBURSE US, I BELIEVE, FOR CONSTRUCTION.

I'LL HAVE TO CHECK, BUT I BELIEVE THAT MONEY THAT YOU RECEIVED, A LEGISLATIVE ALLOCATION, WAS FOR CONSTRUCTION.

SO WE HAVE TO ALLOCATE FOR DESIGN AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE INCLUDED IN THAT.

SO WE HAVE PUT A MILLION DOLLARS AS A PLACEHOLDER TO START THAT PROJECT.

AND WE WILL USE UP AS MUCH AS WE CAN OF THAT $2 MILLION.

OKAY, GREAT.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION AT THE BEGINNING, THE CONFUSION ON THE MONEY.

IT WAS THE SAME THING.

AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS THE YEAR TWO OF THE RFID CARD ACCESS IS ANOTHER $500,000.

IS THERE A YEAR THREE? THIS IS ALMOST A MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT AT THIS POINT.

THAT'S REALLY WILD.

NO, MA'AM.

WE WILL BE DONE NEXT YEAR, AND I'M ACTUALLY HOPING NOT TO SPEND ALL OF THAT.

HOW LONG WILL THAT SYSTEM LAST? WELL, IT DEPENDS UPON TECHNOLOGY.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON SOME OF OUR KEYS TO UPDATE SOME OF OUR KEYS AND OUR KEYWAYS.

I DO EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I'M SORRY, THERE'S...

THERE'S TWO RFIDS, SO THIS IS NOT TIED TO THE LIBRARY? IT IS.

IT'S LABELED AS RFID.

THERE'S SOME SPECIFICS IN THE PROJECT THAT I DON'T THINK IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO DISCUSS IN A PUBLIC MEETING.

VERY SPECIFIC, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN CYBERSECURITY DETAILS, I DON'T THINK IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO DISCUSS IN A MEETING.

I'M HAPPY TO SHARE AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, BUT I DO THINK WE'LL GET AT LEAST A DECADE OUT OF HARD KEYS, AND THEN PROBABLY THAT OR MORE OUT OF THE RFID, UNLESS THE HACKERS GET BETTER ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HACK.

THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE LIBRARY.

I KNOW RFID TECHNOLOGY IS USED ACROSS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, SO SEPARATE BUT THAT THAT LIBRARY RFID IS JUST 380 WHATEVER THAT WAS THAT WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY THIS IS FOR KEY RFID TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR BUILDING IT'S PHYSICAL KEYS AND BADGES THANK YOU FOR YOUR CANDOR AND UNDERSTANDING AT THIS POINT WHAT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT NOT AT THIS POINT THANK YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS FROM ANYONE COMMENTS SUPERVISOR JENKINS? WELL, I GUESS THIS IS MAYBE A QUESTION FOR NIKKI.

OKAY, YES.

WHAT'S HAPPENING OR WHERE DOES THE PARK IN VERDE VILLAGES FALL INTO THIS? I KNOW THAT WE STARTED THE DISCUSSION, THERE WAS A LOT OF RESEARCH TO BE HAD.

IS THAT GOING TO MAKE THE LIST OR WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT PROJECT YESTERDAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SET A MEETING WITH THE CDBG.

DIRECTOR FROM NACOG THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK THE PERSON WHO OVERSEES THOSE GRANTS TO UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BIT MORE THE DOOR THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN TO THAT

[06:20:01]

PROJECT MOVING FORWARD WE RECEIVE CDBG FUNDING AS A COUNTY IN 2028 JANUARY OF 2028 SO THERE'S TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS BUT THAT WOULD I WOULD ENVISION THE FUNDING FOR THAT.

PARK SHOULD IT MOVE FORWARD TO BE COMING FROM THE CDBG FUNDS, IF IT MAKES SENSE.

BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN GOOD DISCUSSIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MOVES FORWARD.

BUT IT'S NOT THIS YEAR.

I MEAN, UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING, IF THERE WOULD BE COSTS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS YEAR, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN MADE AWARE OF ANY.

NOPE.

WELL, THAT'S IN FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IF I MIGHT GO BACK TO SUPERVISOR JENKINS' QUESTION JUST ABOUT MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I DID TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE GOT DOWN THERE SIZE-WISE.

SO THANK YOU TOO MUCH.

THEY'RE ABOUT 2,200 SQUARE FEET.

IF WE PROPOSE A NEW BUILDING, WE'D PROBABLY CONSIDER SOMETHING AT A 3,000 SQUARE FOOT RANGE PLUS SOME LAND AND WHATNOT.

WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING $2 TO

[ Wednesday, April 29, 2026 9:00 a.m. Adult Probation 9:15 a.m. Juvenile Probation 9:30 a.m. Justice Court 9:45 a.m. Superior Courts 10:00 a.m. Clerk of Superior Court 10:15 a.m. Constables 10:30 a.m. County Attorney 10:45 a.m. Public Defender 11:00 a.m. Prescott Meals on Wheels 11:15 a.m. Sedona Community Center - Meals on Wheels 11:30 a.m. The Station on 6th - Meals on Wheels Verde Valley Daily wrap-up The Board will recess and reconvene at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2026.]

$2.25 MILLION FOR THAT BUILDING IN ADDITION TO ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE DOING THERE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29TH AND THIS IS THE THIRD SESSION OF THE STUDY SESSION FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

TODAY THE INVOCATION WILL BE DONE BY SUPERVISOR MALLORY AND THE PLEDGE BY VICE CHAIR CHECK.

DEAR LORD, WE COME HERE TODAY IN SEARCH OF GOOD GUIDANCE FROM YOU.

YOU ARE A GOD THAT SEES US, AND YOU ARE A GOD THAT KNOWS OUR HEARTS.

TODAY WE WANT TO DO THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE, LORD.

THE PEOPLE HAVE PUT US HERE TO LEAD IN A GOOD MANNER.

HELP US TO DO THAT.

HELP US TO GO FORWARD TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS THAT WE CAN.

OUR DECISIONS TODAY WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND LET THEM BE THE ONES THAT ARE POSITIVE AND MOVE YAVAPAI COUNTY FORWARD IN A VERY GOOD WAY.

IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.

JAMIE, CAN YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? CHAIR COMPTON.

SUPERVISOR KUKNO, AT ANY TIME THAT YOU WANT TO CHIME IN, JUST LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE YOU AND I CAN'T SEE YOUR HAND RAISING PER USUAL.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, CHRIS.

FIRST OFF TODAY IS ADULT PROBATION.

MR. PIETRO, GOOD MORNING.

WILL YOU TAKE MY SPOT OFF? I'M HERE.

CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BRIAN PRIETO, CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER WITH THE AVAPAI COUNTY ADULT PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

THIS MORNING I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF PRESENTING TO YOUR BOARD THE DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

THE PRESENTATION BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING WILL INCLUDE THE STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT, SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE ATTAINED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FORECAST FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, AND BECAUSE OF THOSE CHALLENGES WE'LL REVIEW THE AUGMENTATION REQUEST OR THE EXHIBIT 3S.

THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR APPROVAL FROM YOUR BOARD.

ONCE I GET TO THAT SECTION, NAMELY THE AUGMENTATION REQUESTS, I'LL GO THROUGH THE EXHIBIT 3 REQUESTS AND THEN I'LL PASS THE MIC OVER TO JUDGE KNAPPER.

HE DOES HAVE SOME FEELINGS IN PARTICULAR ABOUT ONE OF THE REQUESTS AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS THAT AT A LATER TIME.

OKAY, SO YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR, ANY OF THE SUPERVISORS CAN CHIME IN AT ANY TIME AND COMMENT, WHICH WAS DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR, JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

OKAY, SO TO BEGIN, THANKS TO YOUR BOARD, THE YAVAPAI COUNTY ADULT PROBATION

[06:25:01]

DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO REINTEGRATE AND REORGANIZE THE STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE COULD HAVE DISTINCT POWERS, IF YOU WILL, WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN EACH.

SO THE DEPARTMENT IS ACTUALLY BROKEN UP INTO THREE SPECIFIC DIVISIONS.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT DIVISION, WHICH PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT.

TO ALL OPERATIONS.

OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION WHICH PROVIDES DIRECT INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT TO THE COURT PRODUCING INVESTIGATION REPORTS, IN-PERSON CONSULTATION TO THE JUDGES AS THEY DETERMINE APPROPRIATE DISPOSITIONS, AND ALSO OPERATIONS MANAGES PRE-TRIAL MONITORING AS WELL AS COMMUNITY RESTITUTION.

FINALLY, OUR STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT DIVISION OVERSEES PUBLIC THANK YOU.

PUBLIC RELATIONS AND OUTREACH AS WELL AS STAFF DEVELOPMENT NEW EMPLOYEE ONBOARDING TRAINING FOR NEW NOVICE AND VETERAN STAFF MEMBERS BOTH THE SWORN AND PROFESSIONAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND ALSO STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IS OUR GATEKEEPER WHEN IT COMES TO EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS FOR POLICY AND PROCEDURE UPDATES AND DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL AS STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PLAN IMPLEMENTATION SOME EXCUSE ME, SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THIS.

THE EXISTING FISCAL YEAR IS WE CONTINUE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S ADULT PROBATION STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE COMMENCED THE MITIGATION PLANS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT AS IDENTIFIED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS OR THE AOC DURING THEIR REVIEW.

WE WENT THROUGH A DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW COLLABORATIVE COURTS.

THE BOARD IS AWARE THAT WE WERE ABLE WITH SUPPORT FROM THE SUPERIOR COURT TO STAND UP A RESTITUTION COURT AND THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL IN ENSURING VICTIMS OF CRIME WERE MADE WHOLE.

IN ADDITION, WE WERE LOOKING TO ENHANCE PRETRIAL PROGRAM SERVICES AND THIS WILL COME INTO PLAY LATER ON WHEN WE DISCUSS OUR AUGMENTATIONS.

THE GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR 26-27 WE WANT TO OFFICIALLY END THE CLOSEOUT OR CLOSEOUT THE OPERATIONAL REVIEW THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS DURING FISCAL YEAR 24-25.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORTS, AND ALSO WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT COST-EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION STRATEGIES TO SUPERVISE THE ONGOING AND COMPLEX ADULT PROBATION CLIENTELE THAT WE'RE ASKED TO MANAGE.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, AND HOPEFULLY THE BOARD WILL PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THIS SLIDE, SLIDE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CHALLENGE FOR YOUR PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CHALLENGE AS WELL AS UNSTABLE FUNDING.

OVER 20 PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENT TODAY CAN RETIRE WITHIN TWO YEARS OR LESS.

BALANCE THAT WITH OVER 40 PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OF PROBATION DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCE.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ON OUR SIDE IS ENSURE THAT WE, AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORTS, WE WANT TO DO A GREAT DEAL WHEN IT COMES TO SUCCESSION PLANNING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION ARE PREPARED AND READY TO TAKE THE DEPARTMENT TO NEW HEIGHTS.

YES, SUPERVISOR MILLEY.

JUST A QUESTION ON THAT FIRST STATEMENT.

RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND UNSTABLE FUNDING REMAINS A CHALLENGE.

NOW.

ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE STATE BY ANY CHANCE? THANK YOU.

I JUST, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT I'D THROW IT OUT THERE.

VERY ASTUTE OF YOU, SUPERVISOR MALLORY, YES.

THE DEPARTMENT CERTAINLY AND MY COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE HAVE HAD TO MANAGE AND BE INNOVATIVE IN THE MANNER OF OPERATION, KNOWING THAT ESPECIALLY STATE FUNDING HAS NOT BEEN AS STABLE AS WE WOULD ALL HOPE.

I ALWAYS SAY THEY'RE NOT GOOD CO-PARENTING.

CHILD SUPPORT DOESN'T COME IN VERY WELL.

YES, VERY NICE.

NICE WE SAID.

AND THEN FINALLY, PROBATION CASELOADS HAVE STEADILY INCREASED OVER TIME.

AND I KNOW YOUR BOARD HAS DISCUSSED, YAVAPAI COUNTY IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, AND PEOPLE ARE FLOCKING TO OUR COUNTY.

AND AS A RESULT, AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT WILL BE ENGAGED OR INVOLVED.

IN NOT JUST THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT THE COURT SYSTEM AND CONSEQUENTLY OUR DEPARTMENT.

SO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2027 IS THROUGH

[06:30:01]

OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORTS.

AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT JUST EVER SO BRIEFLY MINUTES AGO, ADULT PROBATION IS INTENT ON DRIVING OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE, SUCCESSION PLANNING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN THOSE UPCOMING LEADERS WE HAVE TODAY.

ALSO, WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE INNOVATIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO MANAGE CASELOADS.

AS THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR PROBATION CLIENTELE HAS INCREASED, WE'RE LOOKING AT, RATHER THAN SEEKING, LET'S SAY, AN EARLY TERMINATION OF A GRANT THAT THE SUPERIOR COURT HAD ORDERED, BECAUSE WE SIMPLY JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WE'RE EXPLORING ADMINISTRATIVE CASELOADS, LOWER LEVEL OF SUPERVISION FOR THOSE LESS LIKELY TO RECIDIVATE, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND ALSO WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS OTHER SUPERVISION STRATEGIES LIKE ENHANCED PRETRIAL.

AND THEN FINALLY, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COURT AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THE OTHER JUSTICE PARTNERS, SOME OF WHOM YOU'LL HEAR FROM TODAY, WE'RE LOOKING TO CREATE INNOVATIVE THINGS LIKE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COLLABORATIVE.

COURT PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF THAT NATURE.

SO AS YOUR BOARD KNOWS, SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

THANK YOU, JIM.

SORRY, I DON'T MEAN...

NO, IT'S...

HE SAID I COULD DO THIS.

HAVE A VOICE THIS YEAR.

SO HOW MANY CLIENTS DO YOU HAVE PER PROBATION OFFICER? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO IN TOTAL, THERE'S ABOUT 04,200 ADULT CLIENTS THAT THE YAVAPAI COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT MANAGES.

WE ARE OBLIGATED TO MAINTAIN FOR YOUR STANDARD.

CASELOADS ABOUT 65 TO 1.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE'S ABOUT A HUNDRED, ANYWHERE BETWEEN A HUNDRED TO A HUNDRED AND FIFTY NEW CLIENTS THAT COME ON TO CASELOADS EVERY MONTH.

AND BECAUSE OF ADULT PROBATION'S EFFORTS TO TRY TO OFFLOAD CERTAIN CASES, WE STILL HAVE ABOUT A DELTA OF ANYWHERE BETWEEN 50 TO 100 LEFTOVER CASES.

SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR IT JUST CONTINUES TO CLIMB AND THERE'S ABOUT A THOUSAND CLIENTS EVERY YEAR THAT ARE COMPLETELY OFFLOADED AND THAT THE COURT RECOGNIZES AS EITHER THEY'VE SUCCESSFULLY TERMINATED THEIR GRANT OF PROBATION OR THEY'VE AGREED WITH ADULT PROBATION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CLIENTS NO LONGER NEED SUPERVISION OR MANY OF THEM, I SHOULDN'T SAY MANY, BUT ABOUT A THIRD ARE REVOKED TO PRISON.

AM I CORRECT IN THINKING THAT IT'S WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUNDING FOR YOU AND REALLY FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM, THAT IT'S 50%.

IS IT 50% FROM THE COUNTY AND 50% FROM THE STATE? OR IS THAT AT LEAST HOW IT WORKS FOR THIS RELATIONSHIP RIGHT HERE, US AND YOU? SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

SO HOW IT BREAKS DOWN FOR SUPERVISION OFFICERS IN PARTICULAR.

SO THERE'S ABOUT 48 GENERAL FUNDED POSITIONS, OUT OF THE 48, 18 OF THOSE ARE PROBATION OFFICER POSITIONS.

THE REMAINDER, ABOUT 31 PROBATION OFFICER POSITIONS, ARE FUNDED BY THE STATE.

SO YOU SEE THAT INEQUITY.

IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF DOWNTURN OR LACK OF STATE FUNDING, THEN IT IMPACTS.

NOW, GRANTED, THE STATE BUDGET IS MUCH LARGER, BUT WHEN WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT SUPERVISION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPACTING ABOUT 31 CASE-CARRYING PROBATION OFFICERS.

IF THE QUESTION IS, HOW IS IT SET UP STRUCTURALLY, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THAT PROBATION OFFICERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FUNDED BY THE STATE.

COMPLETELY.

RIGHT, AND THE COUNTY, THAT REQUIREMENT THAT BRIAN WAS, MR. PRIETO WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE 1 TO 65 IS STATUTORY, SO IT'S A LAW THAT HAS TO BE FOLLOWED.

IT'S NOT A...

RECOMMENDATION OR AN AOC STANDARD IT'S A STATUTE SO SO ARE WE YOU CAN SEE WE IMMEDIATELY GET UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE STATE AND SO THE COUNTY HAS BEEN PICKING UP THE SLACK FOR THE STATE FOR YEARS BECAUSE THE STATE IS NOT FULFILLING ITS OBLIGATIONS ADEQUATELY TO HAVE THE PROBATION DEPARTMENTS FUNCTION WHAT HAVE YOUR CONVERSATIONS BEEN WITH THE LEGISLATURE THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE TO ENHANCE THAT THE AOC HAS BEEN PRETTY AGGRESSIVE TRYING TO GET THE STATE TO MAKE UP THAT DELTA, IT'S ABOUT A $10 MILLION SHORTFALL.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING SORT OF TIRELESSLY TO TRY

[06:35:01]

TO GET THIS FUNDED.

AS WE CAN READ IN THE PAPER, THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE ARE NOT ALWAYS ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THESE THINGS.

I'VE PERSONALLY REACHED OUT TO SENATOR FINCH.

I'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET THE STATE TO PICK UP THIS LOAD, WHICH FALLS ALMOST...

EXCLUSIVELY ON THE RURAL COUNTIES BECAUSE MARICOPA COUNTY FUNDS ITS OWN PROBATION DEPARTMENT SO ALL OF THE MONEY THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE WERE TO APPROVE IT PIMA NOT REALLY BEING A RURAL COUNTY PIMA WOULD GET SOME OF IT BUT IT IS PRIMARILY A RURAL COUNTY THAT PROBLEM THAT'S REALLY IT'S THE RURAL COUNTIES THAT THIS IS REALLY LANDING ON BECAUSE AGAIN THERE WERE THE STATE'S JUST NOT PAYING FOR PROBATION IN A WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE.

AND TO BE ENTIRELY FRANK, THE FISCAL IMPACT FOR PEOPLE BEING ON PROBATION ACTUALLY ACCRUES TO THE STATE BECAUSE EVERY PERSON THAT'S ON PROBATION IS NOT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

IF THEY WERE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR WELL-BEING.

IF THEY'RE ON PROBATION, THEY DON'T.

AND SO THE COST SAVINGS FOR HAVING A PROBATION DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY ACCRUES TO THE STATE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN, I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED A DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENT, I DON'T REMEMBER THE PHRASE YOU USED, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RECEPTIVE TO PUTTING BACK INTO THE BUDGET.

AND TO THE CREDIT OF THIS BOARD AND MANY BOARDS AROUND THE STATE, WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS YOU END UP FILLING THE GAPS.

AND THEN WHEN YOU DO PAY INCREASES FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.

THOSE GO TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AND YOU HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE PROBATION OFFICERS IN THOSE RAISES INSTEAD OF JUST THE ONES WHO ARE PAID BY THE COUNTY, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE TWO PEOPLE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER DOING THE EXACT SAME JOB, MAKING TOTALLY DIFFERENT SALARIES.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE THIS, THE DELTA, AS BRIAN DESCRIBES IT.

MR. PRIETO, PLEASE CONTINUE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

SO AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, THE DEPARTMENT, IN TERMS OF REVENUE, OUTSIDE REVENUE, WE RELY OBVIOUSLY ON STATE FUNDING, WHICH EQUALS SOMEWHERE TO THE TUNE OF $6 MILLION.

AND WE DO COLLECT PROBATION SERVICE FEES FROM THOSE THAT ARE ORDERED ON SUPERVISION.

TOTAL EXPENSES THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING IS ABOUT $13.6 MILLION.

TOTAL, IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR, IT'S ABOUT 5.41%.

HIGHER.

SO NOW TO OUR AUGMENTATION REQUESTS AND AS I'VE ALERTED TO YOUR BOARD I'LL REVIEW ALL OF THEM THE JUSTIFICATION FOR FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS BEING RECOMMENDED BY YOUR COUNTY MANAGER AND THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THEN I'LL TURN THE MIC OVER TO JUDGE KNAPPER TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS RELATIVE TO ASK NUMBER ONE.

SO THE FIVE ASKS THAT ADULT PROBATION HAS PUT BEFORE YOUR BOARD INCLUDE PROBATION CASEWORKER POSITIONS.

NUMBER TWO IS A...

ONE SECOND, MR. PRIETO.

IS THAT WITH ERES INCLUDED? OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND NUMBER TWO, A JOURNEY TO SENIOR LEVEL PROBATION OFFICER RECLASSIFICATION.

WITH THE INCREASE OF ABOUT $8,200.

NUMBER THREE, A RECEPTIONIST TO LEGAL SECRETARY RECLASSIFICATION, ABOUT $32,000.

WE'VE GOT OUR COTTONWOOD OFFICE, THE CHERRY CREEK OFFICE REMODEL THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOUR FACILITIES DIRECTOR TO TRY TO COST OUT, AND IT'S ABOUT $46,500.

AND THEN NEW VEHICLES.

SO ONE BY ONE.

NUMBER ONE, AND AS I MENTIONED, JUDGE KNAPPER WILL PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT.

AND DETAILS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROBATION CASEWORKER POSITIONS AND IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES ON TRYING TO MANAGE THAT CASELOAD.

SO THOSE THAT ARE LESS LIKELY TO RECIDIVATE, WE'RE LOOKING AT LEVERAGING CASEWORKER POSITIONS, OBVIOUSLY, IF APPROVED BY YOUR BOARD, TO DO THINGS LIKE MANAGE ADMINISTRATIVE CASELOADS.

IN ADDITION, THESE WOULD BE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WOULD RELY ON TO COMPLETE THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASSESSMENTS OR PSAS.

THEY WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN PROVIDING SOME MONITORING TO THOSE WHO WERE OTHERWISE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE

[06:40:02]

COUNTY'S PRE-TRIAL PROGRAM.

THE JOURNEY TO SENIOR LEVEL PROBATION OFFICER CLASSIFICATION I WANTED TO...

SO THESE FIVE NEW CASEWORKERS, WOULD THEY ALLEVIATE THE LOAD FROM YOUR DETENTION OFFICERS? HOW DOES THAT ALL PLAY IN? NO, NO, GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT HAS TRIED TO BE INNOVATIVE IN THE MANNER THAT WE'RE OPERATING.

CURRENTLY, AND MUCH TO THE CREDIT OF MY PAST COLLEAGUES, THE WISDOM AT THE TIME WAS, LET'S PLACE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EXPERIENCED PEOPLE IN THINGS LIKE PRETRIAL.

OR THINGS LIKE MANAGING ADMINISTRATIVE CASELOADS.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED OVER TIME IS YOU DON'T NEED THAT LEVEL OF SKILL WHEN IT COMES TO FILLING OUT AN ASSESSMENT FORM, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE'S RISK-WORTHY TO BE ON SOMETHING LIKE PRETRIAL OR PROVIDING SUPERVISION TO AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S NOT GOING TO RECIDIVATE.

SO WHAT WE'RE PITCHING TO THE BOARD IS THE IDEA THAT I TODAY, IF APPROVED, I COULD TAKE THOSE CASEWORKER POSITIONS AND NOW REALLOCATE THE EXISTING PROBATION OFFICER POSITIONS THAT I HAVE AT MY DISPOSAL.

TO REDUCE DOWN OR BRING DOWN THAT OFFICER TO CLIENT RATIO? AND THAT'S IT.

NO, GREAT QUESTION.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, SUPERVISOR KUCHNER, I CAN SEE YOU NOW.

ONE SECOND, MR. PRIETO.

SO IF YOU RAISE YOUR HAND OR ANYTHING, JUST LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO.

OKAY, I WAS JUST WONDERING ON YOUR PROBATION CASEWORKERS, DOES THIS REQUIRE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR IS IT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

GO.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR CUCNEO.

SO, UNLIKE A PROBATION OFFICER CLASSIFICATION THAT DOES, IN FACT, REQUIRE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, THE CASEWORKER DOES NOT.

BECAUSE I WAS JUST SEEING THE THING THAT CONCERNED ME WAS 40% OF YOUR WORKFORCE HAS LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND A LOT OF TIMES IF IT'S ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, THAT'LL ACTUALLY SLOW DOWN YOUR MORE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO HOLD SOMEONE'S HAND UNTIL THEY GET UP TO SPEED.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, SIR.

GREAT POINT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE OBSERVATION.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.

AND SO NUMBER TWO, UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I TURN THE MIC OVER TO JUDGE KNAPPER ON NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE CALENDARS THAT THE SUPERIOR COURT HAS HAD TO MANAGE AS THE POPULATION HAS INCREASED, THERE'S BEEN A NEED FOR MORE EXPERIENCED SENIOR LEVEL PROBATION OFFICERS TO PROVIDE IN PERSON CONSULTATION TO THE BENCH AND TO THE JUDGES AT THE VARIETY OF COURT BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE ASKED THAT THE BOARD APPROVE AN EXISTING, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL POSITION, AN EXISTING JOURNEY LEVEL POSITION, PROBATION OFFICER POSITION.

TO BE RECLASSIFIED TO A HIGHER LEVEL SENIOR TO PROVIDE THAT IN-PERSON SUPPORT FOR THE COURT.

NUMBER THREE IS KIND OF IN THE SAME VEIN WE'RE HAVING AS YOU CAN IMAGINE BECAUSE WE'RE SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

WE'RE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES WITH COVERAGE AT OUR RECEPTION OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AS WELL AS OUR LEGAL ANALYST OR LEGAL SECRETARY POSITION AND SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT RECLASSIFICATION.

THE CHERRY CREEK REMODEL, WE'RE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS AT ALL OF OUR AREA OFFICE LOCATIONS.

I KNOW YOUR BOARD HAS BEEN LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN ON HOW ADULT PROBATION CAN BE RELOCATED FROM NOT ONLY ITS GURLEY STREET OFFICE LOCATION, BUT THE SPACE THAT WE OCCUPY IN DEWEY.

AND SO.

WE DO HAVE SOME SPACE NEEDS AT OUR COTTONWOOD OFFICE, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH BRANDON SCHULTZ AND HIS STAFF TO LOOK AT WHAT THE COST MIGHT BE IF WE COULD IMPROVE UPON THAT SPACE.

AND THEN FINALLY, THE TWO VEHICLES THAT WE'RE REQUESTING, AGAIN, WHAT IS DRIVING OUR NEED TO TRANSPORT ALL OVER THE COUNTY IS THE GROWING NUMBER AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE MANAGING.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, LET'S SAY, ANY NEW STAFF WE HAVE.

WE WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW CACHE OF VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY DEPENDING ON HOW OR IN WHICH DIRECTION THE BOARD GOES WHEN IT COMES TO REORIENTING ADULT PROBATION WITHIN THE COUNTY.

IF WE OCCUPY A SINGULAR SPACE, WE'LL NEED MORE VEHICLES AT OUR DISPOSAL.

[06:45:01]

HOW MANY VEHICLES DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE AT THIS POINT? WE HAVE 20 RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE 20.

AND I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO JUDGE KNAPPER.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SUPERVISOR? I CAN'T SEE SUPERVISOR COOK NOW.

I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT BRIAN PRESENTED, BUT THIS IS ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY COUNTY-LOOKING INSTEAD OF.

SO BACK TO NUMBER ONE.

STATE LOOKING.

THE IDEA IS IF WE CAN GET THE PROBATION CASE WORKERS IN PLACE, THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY CREATE A PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH MONITORS PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED FROM CUSTODY WHILE THEIR CASES ARE PENDING.

AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THESE TWO, SOME OF THESE POSITIONS IS TO CREATE THAT PROGRAM SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE RELEASED FROM CUSTODY, THERE'S SOMEONE ACTUALLY MONITORING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND THE OTHER PORTION OF THE CASE WORKER POSITION IS CREATING AN UNSUPERVISED PROBATION, SOMEONE TO MONITOR THAT SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T BEING TERMINATED FROM PROBATION EARLY BUT REMAIN ON PROBATION WHILE THEY, YOU KNOW, FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF THEIR TERM.

SO IT ACTUALLY DOES TWO THINGS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE ACTUALLY COUNTY-FACING AS OPPOSED TO STATE-FACING.

I WAS WONDERING IF OUR COUNTY MANAGER MIGHT SPEAK TO WHY THOSE POSITIONS DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

VERY GOOD QUESTION.

CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WHEN THE COMMITTEE THAT WE HAD TASKED REVIEWING THIS, AGAIN, LOOKED AT THE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE STATE FUNDING, CORRECT? LOOKED AT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF COUNTY NEEDS AND WE NARROWED IT TO THOSE SPECIFIC POSITIONS THAT WE RECOMMENDED.

AS MENTIONED, I THINK I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ONLY RECOMMENDED TWO NEW POSITIONS WITHIN THE ENTIRE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT WAS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, QUITE A NEEDED POSITION, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL HOURS IN A JUVENILE SYSTEM, JUVENILE PROBATION.

A COOK NEEDED ADDITIONAL HOURS GOING FROM PART-TIME.

WE WERE VERY JUDICIOUS IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND SO WE WERE VERY UNIFORM IN THAT.

MY OPINION ALSO IS THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS THE STATE TO FUND THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY, AND THIS IS NOT IN ANY WAY ME TAKING A JAB AT THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.

I AM JUST BEING VERY HONEST ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO BE ON NOTICE THAT THEY HAVE NOT FUNDED THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES IN SEVERAL AREAS AND FOR THE COUNTY FOR ME TO RECOMMEND TO CONTINUE THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE.

I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE BOARD HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

IT'S YOUR DECISION.

I'M MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STATE THEY ARE NOT FUNDING THEIR APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY AT THE COUNTY AND I WOULD RATHER I WOULD BE REMISS IF I RECOMMENDED DOING IT IN ADDITION TO THAT.

NOW THE SECOND THING I WILL SAY IS MY HISTORY AT YELPIKE COUNTY, PREVIOUS TO COMING BACK, WAS A MAJORITY OF IT FOCUSED ON BRINGING TO BEAR YOUR NEW DETENTION FACILITY, AND WITH THAT, A DETENTION-RELATED COURT, ACTUALLY TWO COURTS THAT WERE BROUGHT IN.

AND DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, WE HAD A STUDY DONE, THE CHIN REPORT, THANK YOU.

TO ADDRESS WHAT ISSUES WERE GOING ON IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DURING THAT 10 YEARS THAT I WAS HERE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FUNDED UH PROBATION SIGNIFICANTLY TO TRY TO ADDRESS BRINGING DOWN THE POPULATION SO THAT THAT'S A LONG-WINDED ANSWER BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS THAT I WOULD BRING UP WITH WHY THE COMMITTEE SAID WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT THANK YOU SUPERVISOR MALLORY THANK YOU CHAIR UM I'M JUDGE, DID YOU SAY THIS WAS A COUNTY FUNDED? IS THAT, OR IS IT A STATE? OR IS IT A SHARE? I JUST NEED TO GET, AND I'M REAL CURIOUS, AND I DON'T EXPECT AN ANSWER FROM YOU TODAY ON THIS, BUT I WILL FURTHER LOOK INTO IT.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH THE COUNTY IS PAYING MORE THAN THEY SHOULD RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE PAYING IN MORE THAN WE SHOULD, AND THE STATE NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

IT'S IRONIC TO ME THAT IT IS REQUIRED OF THEM.

IS IT A LAW? IS IT THE...

OKAY, SO WE HAVE A ROOM FULL OF LAW HERE, AND THE STATE DOESN'T FOLLOW THE LAW, AND IT'S FOR THE LAW.

AND SO, I DON'T KNOW,

[06:50:01]

I'M JUST THINKING SMALL HERE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S PRETTY BASIC.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY A LOUSY WAY OF LEADING.

SO LET ME SAY THAT I THINK THERE IS BROAD AGREEMENT FROM EVERYONE THAT THE STATE...

SHOULD BE PICKING UP THE TAB FOR THE ADULT PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

I DON'T THINK, WELL, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR THEMSELVES, ALTHOUGH, WELL, ANYWAY.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DISPUTE THAT THE STATE HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND FUNDED PROBATION THE WAY THEY SHOULD.

I WILL SAY, AS FAR AS THE PRETRIAL SERVICES PIECE, MONITORING PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED FROM CUSTODY, BEFORE THEY ARE CONVICTED SO THEY ARE PENDING TRIAL, THE STATE WILL NEVER FUND THAT BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THEIR REALM.

MR. BURGON, YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD? I JUST WANTED, THE THIRD THING THAT I FORGOT TO MENTION IS THE ISSUE WE'RE DEALING WITH IS A REVENUE GAP IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND I BROUGHT THAT UP AS PART OF OUR ORIGINAL DISCUSSION.

YOUR BUDGET TEAM HAS BROUGHT THAT UP.

AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S NOT THAT THERE AREN'T NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

IT'S WE'RE FOCUSING ON RESTRICTING THOSE ADDITIONAL ONGOING EXPENDITURES AS A RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? YOU SPEAK ABOUT PRETRIAL AND THE CASEWORK? HOW MANY OF THOSE CASEWORKERS WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR JUST THE PRETRIAL PORTION OF YOUR ASK? I THINK WE COULD GET BY WITH TWO.

I THINK THE FIVE REQUEST WAS MADE BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS OFFLOAD SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT CURRENT BADGED OFFICERS, THE 1-65 OFFICERS, ARE HAVING TO FILL ROLES NOW THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FILL.

AND SO IF WE WERE TO GET ALL FIVE, THAT RATIO WOULD THEN IMMEDIATELY, THAT DELTA WOULD SHRINK.

BUT TO CREATE A PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, TO CREATE A MONITOR FOR UNSUPERVISED PROBATION, SO MR. MCGRAIN CAN ADDRESS THIS TOO DURING HIS.

EVERYONE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CREATING THE PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT PROVIDES AN EXTRA LEVEL OF MONITORING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED FROM CUSTODY, WHICH MAKES JUDGES MORE LIKELY TO RELEASE PEOPLE.

WHICH MAKES YOUR JAIL POPULATION GO DOWN SO THERE'S A LOT OF DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS.

WE COULD PROBABLY GET BY WITH TWO, FIVE.

WE'RE REALLY COOKING WITH GAS, AND BRIAN CAN ANSWER THAT TOO, BUT I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO.

IT'S NOT THE DESIRE OR THE NEED.

I'LL JUST HONE IN ON IT.

IT'S OUR BUDGET.

IT'S THE BUDGET DEFICIT.

IT'S JUST WHERE WE ARE.

THE STATE IS NOT FUNDING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO FUND ON NUMEROUS THINGS THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET.

AND WE JUST CAN'T KEEP ABSORBING IT WITH THE DEFICIT, LET ALONE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO DO IN TERMS OF ENHANCING THE JAIL DISTRICT.

AS I SAID, IT'S NOT A DESIRE TO NOT HELP YOU.

IT'S JUST THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY HAS TO RULE THE DAY FOR ME, AND IT'S JUST WHERE WE ARE.

BUT I'M OPEN TO HEARING WHAT OTHER SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

I DEFINITELY AM AT THE TABLE FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE CARE OF.

WE ARE THE PAYERS.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO I AM HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER I'M SUPPOSED TO FINANCIALLY TAKE CARE OF, I WILL.

BUT I AM ALSO THE PERSON THAT SAYS, THIS PART IS NOT YOU, BUT I'M HERE TO SAY TO THE STATE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS YOUR PART, AND YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

AND THAT'S A FIGHT.

NOW, MAYBE FIGHT ISN'T A GOOD WORD.

THAT IS A DISCUSSION, A STRONG ONE, THAT I DEFINITELY WOULD BE WILLING TO HAVE.

I'VE HAD IT BEFORE IN REGARDS TO PAY INCREASE.

I WAS ON A MEETING, AND THEY TOLD ME, WELL, WE DON'T NEED TO ABSORB WHEN YOU INCREASE.

INCREASE AN EMPLOYEE'S SALARY, THE STATE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO ABSORB THAT.

AND I LITERALLY SAID TO THEM, SO YOU WOULD BE OKAY MAKING WHAT YOU GOT HIRED IN IN 1950 HERE IN 2019, RIGHT? NO, THAT'S NOT WORKS.

AND THE COUNTY, THE OTHER PART TO THE NEW POSITIONS IS WE WENT THROUGH THIS WHOLE PAY AND COMPENSATION.

WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEES TO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS RIGHT FOR THE ONES WE HAVE NOW.

I'M NOT AGAINST BRINGING ON NEW PEOPLE, BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH IS WHAT WE WENT THROUGH A FEW YEARS BACK.

WHERE NEW PEOPLE WERE COMING IN, THEY WERE GETTING MORE

[06:55:02]

MONEY THAN PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED HERE FOR 15, EVEN 20 YEARS.

SO.

I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THEY ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST IN MY WHOLE PROCESS, AND THEN I MOVE FROM THERE.

AND WE UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO BE FLIP ABOUT THIS, LIKE WE GET THAT THE BOARD HAS A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE AND TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE, AND THAT THE STATE'S NOT PICKING UP THE TAB HERE THAT THEY SHOULD.

THE QUESTION FOR THE BOARD IS, ARE THESE TWO POSITIONS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING, DO THEY ENHANCE THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE COUNTY? DO THEY DO THINGS THAT ARE COUNTY-FACING? SO IT'S TWO, NOT FIVE? NO, NO.

SO WHAT WE SAID EARLIER, YEAH, WHAT WE WERE SAYING EARLIER IS YOU CAN ADD, FIVE ALLOWS US TO CHANGE THE RATIO.

TWO IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO ACTUALLY GET THE DEPARTMENTS UP AND RUNNING.

THAT'S YOUR CHECK? SO YES, ABSOLUTELY, I ECHO SUPERVISOR MALLORY'S SENTIMENTS THAT THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES ARE JUST INAPPROPRIATE, AND I APPRECIATE OUR BUDGET STAFF FOR REALLY CREATING A BUDGET THAT HIGHLIGHTS THAT AND REFLECTS THAT.

WE'RE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT IN MY MIND, IF WE'RE TO REVISIT POTENTIAL NEW POSITIONS, THIS RANKS HIGH, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO PROVIDE SERVICES, TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITIZENS REMAIN PRODUCTIVE, LIVE HAPPY, HEALTHY LIVES.

BUT THERE IS ALSO LIKELY A FISCAL SAVINGS ON OUR JAIL SIDE OF THINGS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO REVISIT, BUT REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AHEAD OF US.

SUPERVISOR KUCHNO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH, YOU BET.

ANY QUESTIONS? JUST ONE THING THAT STICKS OUT TO ME IS...

IS THERE ANY WAY TO PASS THESE COSTS ALONG TO THE OFFENDERS? I MEAN, WE'RE PROVIDING THESE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE BROKEN THE LAW AND THEY NOW HAVE PROBATION.

ANY WAY TO ACTUALLY CHARGE FOR THAT? THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

THE ANSWER IS THERE IS A PROBATION SERVICE FEE THAT EVERYONE ON PROBATION IS SUPPOSED TO PAY, AND THAT GETS SET BY, THERE'S A MINIMUM.

THAT GETS SET BY THE JUDICIAL OFFICER WHO'S IMPOSING THE SENTENCE TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT MONTHLY SERVICE FEE IS.

SO FOR THESE POSITIONS, THESE ARE NOT PROBATION OFFICER POSITIONS.

THESE ARE SORT OF A NUANCED WAY OF TRYING TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM THAT EXISTS WITHOUT GETTING ENTANGLED IN ALL OF THE STATE POLITICS.

AND I DO, YOUR POINT, CHAIRMAN MALLORY, IS REALLY WELL TAKEN BECAUSE THIS, I'M SORRY, SUPERVISOR CHAIRMAN, SORRY, SUPERVISOR CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISOR MALLORY, THE POINT YOU'RE MAKING IS A GOOD ONE IN THAT WHAT HAS CREATED SOME OF THE DIFFICULTY WITH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE STATE PAYS AND WHAT THE COUNTY PAYS IS BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS BEEN GRACIOUS IN GIVING OUR PROBATION OFFICERS RAISES ALL ALONG THE WAY.

AND THEN WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE STATE, THE STATE SAYS, WELL, WE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR RAISES.

AND IT'S THE GENEROSITY OF THE BOARD THAT HAS CREATED THIS MONSTER, AND IT IS A MONSTER, AND IT STINKS.

IT REALLY DOES.

WELL, AND I APPRECIATE IT, JUDGE, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT HERE AT ALL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVE THIS THING ABOUT ME WHERE I WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

AND WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THEM.

WE VALUE OUR EMPLOYEES.

THEY ARE WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTY MOVE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THIS ROOM IS FULL OF PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOVERS AND THE SHAKERS.

AND SO THAT...

IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE MY HEART SITS.

I REALIZE THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES AFTER THAT.

SO THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN THIS BUDGET THAT I KNOW THE COUNTY IS PAYING MORE THAN THEY SHOULD WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE.

AND SO MAYBE THOSE ARE AREAS, IF THIS IS A COUNTY THING THAT WE SHOULD DO, THEN MAYBE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M SUPPORTIVE.

I WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I'M GOOD IF WE THINK TWO IS SUFFICIENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S A THOUGHT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT DEFINITELY IF WE CAN STEP AWAY FROM SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR AS WHAT THE STATE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR, THEN MAYBE THE COUNTY CAN TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO MORE WITH THAT MIGHT BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OR HOWEVER.

[07:00:01]

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? MY COMMENTS ALONG THE LINES OF VICE CHAIR IN THAT I MADE NOTES THROUGHOUT OUR SESSIONS AND WHEN THIS ALL SHAKES OUT AFTER TOMORROW WE COME BACK AND WE REVISIT SOME THINGS THIS IS ONE OF THE NOTES I MADE IS THE TWO THAT YOU FOR THE PRE-TRIAL DEPARTMENT SO WELL AND I THINK IF YOU HAVE A DISCUSSION LATER IF IT COMES UP LATER SHERIFF RHODES I MEAN WE'VE WE'VE ALL KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT THIS PRETTY DEEPLY AND I THINK EVERYONE'S SUPPORT.

I APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE, BUT WE ARE WAY PAST TIME ON THIS THING.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.

WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.

OKAY, JUVENILE PROBATION.

NOW, I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

AS CHAIR WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO TESTIMONY FIRST.

FEEL FREE TO START.

GOOD MORNING CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, TARA NEWMAN DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE COURT.

I AM JOINED HERE TODAY BY OUR PRESIDING JUVENILE JUDGE, ANNA YOUNG, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS SOME BUDGET REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE.

SO JUVENILE COURT IS SPLIT INTO THREE MAJOR FUNCTIONS.

NUMBER ONE IS JUVENILE DETENTION.

OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU'RE AWARE, JUVENILE DETENTION IS A 24-7 OPERATION.

WE HAVE 37 DETENTION OFFICERS WHO MANAGE THE FACILITY, AND THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS CLEARLY THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE FACILITY, AS WELL AS THE KIDS AND STAFF.

SECONDLY, WE HAVE OUR JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 18 JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS.

AND JUST TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT OFF OF THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION, 8.5 OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE COUNTY FUNDED AND 9.5 ARE STATE FUNDED, SO NEARLY, REALLY CLOSE TO 50-50.

BUT OUR PROBATION OFFICERS WORK WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE KIDS THAT ARE PLACED ON A TERM OF SUPERVISED PROBATION.

AND IT'S THE PROBATION OFFICER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE CONDITIONS OF THE COURT.

AND LASTLY, WE HAVE OUR DEPENDENCY DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE 10 STAFF WHO CURRENTLY MANAGE AN ARRAY OF DUTIES IN DEPENDENCY COURT, TO INCLUDE THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR CASAS.

WE RECENTLY HAD A PROCLAMATION IN FRONT OF YOU.

WE HAVE 71 CASA VOLUNTEERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MEDIATIONS.

FAMILY TREATMENT, AS WELL AS AN ARRAY OF VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS. SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS REALLY QUICK THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON.

THE FIRST ONE WAS THIS WAS YEAR ONE OF OUR FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND SO WE SPENT THE LAST YEAR, ALMOST A YEAR NOW, IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE GOALS IN THAT PLAN.

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT WAS TO BECOME FULLY STAFFED IN JANUARY IN OUR DETENTION CENTER.

AND THAT INCLUDES THOSE FOUR NEW ADDITIONAL DETENTION OFFICER POSITIONS THAT YOU GAVE US THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

AND THAT HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE SAFETY OF OUR OPERATIONS AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

AND AS I SHARED WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY, IT ALSO HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED EMPLOYEE MORALE.

NEXT WE HAVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A JUVENILE PROBATION CANINE PROGRAM AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE FULLY FUNDED THIS PROGRAM.

TO YOUR RIGHT I SNUCK IN A LITTLE PHOTO OF OUR CANINE ANNIE.

THIS WAS TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD AND PUT YOU GUYS IN A GOOD MOOD.

BUT ANNIE IS VERY NEW IN HER TRAINING.

SHE'S A VERY YOUNG DOG, BUT SHE DID JUST BECOME NATIONALLY CERTIFIED.

FIREARM DETECTION.

SHE'S CURRENTLY UNDERGOING TRAINING FOR NARCOTICS AS WELL.

SO WHEN SHE GETS FULLY UP AND RUNNING, SHE'LL BE HELPING OUR PROBATION OFFICERS IN THE FIELD FOR HOME SEARCHES.

AND LASTLY, WE HAD SOME DEPENDENCY COURT CERVIX EXPANSION.

WE HAVE DEPENDENCY 101 CLASSES THAT ARE PROVIDED ROUTINELY

[07:05:02]

FOR FOSTER FAMILIES HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY.

AND THESE CLASSES ARE A WAY TO KIND OF INTRODUCE THE FAMILIES TO HOW THE COURT PROCEEDINGS WORK, WHAT TO EXPECT, AND DIFFERENT PLAYERS IN THE ROOM.

WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A PARENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM, AND THESE ARE FOR PARENTS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH DEPENDENCY COURTS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR CASE PLAN GOALS.

WE HAVE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THOSE PARENTS.

WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED PROTEIN FOR ALL, AND THIS IS HEALTHY SNACKS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT ARE PRESENT ON DEPENDENCY COURT DAYS.

ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IN DEPENDENCY COURT ARE FUNDED FROM THE YAVAPAI CASA FOR KIDS FOUNDATION.

OUR GOALS FOR THIS COMING YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO START YEAR TWO OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING ON SOME PREVENTION ENHANCEMENT.

WHEN I HAD SUBMITTED MY BUDGET NARRATIVE, I HAD TOUCHED ON THIS A BIT AND HAD SHARED THAT I WAS REQUESTING FROM AOC TO FUND SOME ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR US.

WE HAD A LOT OF VISIONS AND IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PREVENTION PROGRAMS HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY.

YOU UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAD SOME BUDGET CONCERNS AND THEY DID NOT APPROVE THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT WE REQUESTED.

SO WE HAVE PIVOTED AND NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON REFINING OUR CURRENT PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE MANPOWER THAT WE HAVE.

AND LASTLY, WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING IN DEPENDENCY COURT A PARENT CONNECTION MEETING.

THE PARENT CONNECTION MEETING WILL BE A NEW THING AND OUR DEPENDENCY COURT STAFF PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AGENCY HERE TO FACILITATE AN INITIAL CONTACT MEETING BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL FAMILIES AND FOSTER FAMILIES AND THIS MEETING WILL HELP TO KIND OF OPEN THE DOORS OF COMMUNICATION AND TO SHARED PARENT WITH KIND OF A SHARED PARENTING MODEL FOR THE FULL BENEFIT OF KIDS IN FOSTER CARE.

OKAY OUR BUDGET ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS.

OUR FIRST REQUEST THIS YEAR IS FOR THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THOSE FOUR NEW JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER POSITIONS THAT YOU GUYS GRANTED US.

THERE WAS AN ERROR ON OUR PART AND WE ENDED UP BEING FUNDED FOR JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER ENTRY POSITIONS BUT ALL OF OUR OTHER JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER POSITIONS ARE FUNDED AS JOURNEYS.

WHEN WE DO HIRE A NEW DETENTION OFFICER, WE HIRE THEM AT THE ENTRY LEVEL.

AND THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THEIR FIRST YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT, WE ARE MONITORING THEIR PERFORMANCE.

THEY HAVE AN ARRAY OF PERFORMANCE GOALS THAT THEY NEED TO COMPLETE.

AND IF THEY COMPLETE ALL OF THOSE WITHIN THAT FIRST YEAR, THEY THEMSELVES GET OFFERED PROBATIONARY STATUS.

AND THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE TO THE JOURNEY LEVEL.

SO THIS RECLASSIFICATION WILL ALLOW THOSE FOUR NEW POSITIONS TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS ALL THE OTHER DETENTION OFFICERS THAT WE EMPLOY TO PROMOTE AFTER THEIR FIRST YEAR.

OUR SECOND REQUEST IS FOR THE RECLASSIFICATION OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ONE.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ONE POSITION IS A POSITION THAT'S DIRECTLY UNDER ME.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THIS INDIVIDUAL IN THIS POSITION IS REQUIRED TO PROCESS A LOT OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

TYPE MATERIALS, PERSONNEL ISSUES, DISCIPLINARY ISSUES, BUDGET INFORMATION, THEY'RE PRIVY TO SALARY INFORMATION.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WITHIN THAT POSITION THAT REQUIRES THE PROCESSING OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

WHEN I REVIEWED THE JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ONE, I DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT FIT THAT ROLE WELL AT ALL.

HOWEVER, WHEN I DID GO AND PEEK AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TWO, IT DEFINITELY FIT MUCH MORE APPROPRIATELY FOR THE NATURE OF THAT POSITION.

IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MAJORITY OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS UNDER THE DIRECTOR ARE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TWOS.

AND THEN FINALLY IS OUR REQUEST FOR A PART-TIME COOK.

[07:10:02]

AND THIS IS IN OUR DETENTION CENTER.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD TWO FULL-TIME COOKS EMPLOYED IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

BUT WITH TWO FULL-TIME COOKS, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN STILL 30 HOURS SHORT EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

AND SO MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, WE CREATED SOME SEASONAL POSITIONS, SEASONAL COOK POSITIONS.

AND THESE POSITIONS WERE FUNDED.

OUT OF INTEREST DOLLARS OUT OF THE JUVENILE FOOD FUND.

AND WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

AND IF WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND SOMEBODY TO BE A SEASONAL COOK, THEY GET ON WITH US, AND THEN BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S IN THAT FUND, WE'RE NOT REALLY ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM CONSISTENT HOURS.

AND SO THEY GET FRUSTRATED AND THEY LEAVE AND THEY GO ELSEWHERE.

AND SO WE ARE VERY, VERY HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL APPROVE A PART-TIME COOK FOR OUR DETENTION CENTER.

THIS WILL GUARANTEE THIS EMPLOYEE 29 HOURS OF WORK EVERY WEEK, WHICH IS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE 30 HOURS THAT WE'RE MISSING.

AND SO THIS WILL ALSO...

PREVENT OUR DETENTION OFFICERS FROM HAVING TO GO INTO THE KITCHEN AND PREPARE MEALS.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND JUDGE YOUNG, I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE PART-TIME COOK.

DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT AT ONE TIME IN OUR MEETING? I HAVE BEEN IN THE BACK WEARING A HAIRNET, AND I HAVE HELPED SERVE MEALS TO THE KIDS.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I DO SEE UP THERE THAT YOU DID NOT BRING FORWARD, IT MAY HAVE BEEN DENIED.

AND AFTER I HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT THAT ISSUE WE WENT AHEAD AND WE TALKED TO FACILITIES AND WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE BUILDING AT SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE BUILDING ITSELF AND SOME CAMERA CHANGES NOT JUST THE FENCING THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT.

AND SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE WORKUP DONE ON THAT QUOTE.

SO WE'LL BRING THAT TO YOU ONCE WE'VE GOT THAT READY.

VICE CHAIR CHECK? I'M JUST HAPPY TO SEE ALL OF YOUR REQUESTS IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

I THINK THEY'RE ALL VERY REASONABLE AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT THEM.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? I ENJOYED OUR MEETING.

I'M GLAD THIS ALL WORKED OUT.

AND ANNIE, IS THAT THE NAME? SO NEXT TIME WE'LL JUST HAVE TO BRING ANNIE HERE IN PERSON, AND THEN THAT WILL BE VERY CALMING FOR ME MAYBE IF WE START TALKING ABOUT THE STATE AGAIN.

AND HER FULL NAME IS ANNIE OAKLEY BECAUSE SHE WAS INITIALLY TRAINED AS A GUN DETECTION DOG.

WELL, SHE'S INVITED NEXT TIME.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

HI, LADIES.

APPRECIATE, AND I'VE SPOKEN THIS BEFORE TO BOTH OF YOU, EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO OUT THERE.

AND YOU KNOW I SPEAK THAT FROM THE HEART.

AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF YOUR REQUESTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

ON TO JUSTICE COURTS.

IF I CAN HAVE ALL THE JUSTICE JPS UP HERE, PLEASE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SUITS.

JUDGE GORDON, EVERYBODY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR APPEARING.

AS FAR AS MAYOR AND SUPERVISOR JENKINS DISTRICT, SHE'S GOING TO PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THEM BECAUSE SHE'S FULLY INFORMED AND LET THE BOARD KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE.

I'D LIKE TO START OUT TODAY, BEFORE WE GO YOUR INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS, I THINK WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

I'VE PROVIDED EACH OF YOU WITH SOME INFORMATION.

THAT I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH.

FIRST IS, AND I WOULD SAY THAT ALL THIS INFORMATION WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH JUDGE MITCH PADILLA, WHO IS RETIRED FROM A WHILE AGO, IN REFERENCE TO OUR FIRST EXHIBIT, WHICH IS THE LETTER FROM JUDGE MITCH PADILLA AND JUDGE DOWLINGS TO PRESIDING JUDGE KNAPPER, AND WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FILL-THE-GAP FUNDS WERE BEING IMPROPERLY APPLIED FOR WITH THE STATE.

IN REFERENCE TO THAT, WHAT IT HAD TO DO WITH WAS THAT THE PRESIDING JP WAS NEVER INFORMED AND THE SIGNATURE, WHICH WAS REQUIRED, WAS NOT SUBMITTED ON THOSE FORMS.

[07:15:02]

I CAN'T SPEAK TO JUDGE MITCH PADILLA EXCEPT TO SAY HE CONFIRMED WHAT THIS LETTER SAID.

AND THEN I'D LIKE TO ASK JUDGE DOWLING, BECAUSE YOU'RE A SIGNATURE ON HERE, HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT AND HOW DID WE DISCOVER THAT THESE FUNDS, FILLER GAP FUNDS, WERE IMPROPERLY APPLIED FOR? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

DENNIS DOWLING, JUSTICE OF THE...

THE PIECE BAGHDAD YARNELL.

CAN YOU SPEAK UP FOR CLOSER TO THE MIC, SIR? THANK YOU, SIR.

THIS WAS BACK IN 2024, I BELIEVE.

YES, AUGUST 12TH OF 2024 WAS THE INITIAL DISCOVERY.

WELL, THAT WASN'T THE INITIAL DISCOVERY ON THE MATTER.

WHAT OCCURRED THAT YEAR WAS AFTER THE BUDGET HEARINGS IN APRIL.

AND FOR MYSELF, I WAS PURSUING STAFF TO MEET A...

A CASELOAD INCREASE THAT WAS QUITE DRASTIC THAT THE COURT DID NEED.

AFTER THAT MEETING, WHICH I BELIEVE MAYBE ONE POSITION WAS APPROVED, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT FOR SURE, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS ONE POSITION WAS APPROVED.

AFTER THAT, AND THIS WAS AFTER I HAD HIRED A NEW COURT MANAGER, A FANTASTIC HIRE THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET 23 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OUT OF PRESCOTT.

AS I DID HAVE THOSE NEEDS, AND I WAS NOT THRILLED THAT THE BOARD DID NOT APPROVE AT ALL.

BUT THROUGH THAT, AFTER THE MEETING, JUDGE KNAPPER DID ADVISE ME THAT SINCE I HAD SUCH A GREAT COURT MANAGER THAT SHE COULD PICK UP THE LOAD AND PERHAPS I COULD SEEK GRANT FUNDING.

SO UPON THIS DISCOVERY, YOU AND JUDGE PADILLA CONVERSED AND THEN ISSUED THE LETTER TO JUDGE KNAPPER INFORMING HIM OF THE ISSUE? NO.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS AFTER THE DISCOVERY, WE HAD HAD MEETINGS WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO LET HIM KNOW WE HAD A CONCERN, JUST VERBALLY.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO MEMORIALIZE THAT.

WE DID HAVE A MEETING WITH JUDGE KNAPPER WHEN WE DID BRING IT UP.

WE TALKED AT ONE OF OUR CONFERENCES ABOUT IT AS A GROUP OF JPS, AND BEING IN THE POSITION OF THE PRESIDING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AT THE TIME, I SERVE THE BODY.

I DON'T DO ANYTHING ON MY OWN.

SO THROUGH THAT, AND TO BE FAIR, THERE WAS ONE JUDGE WHO HAD SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT.

ACTUALLY, I'D SAY TWO JUDGES HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT FOR JUDGE GORDON.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WAS NOT A...

DO NOT SEND THAT.

WELL, THE REASON I WANTED TO GO INTO THIS FIRST IS BECAUSE BETWEEN THE AOC AND THE SUPERIOR COURT HERE, A MISTAKE WAS MADE.

THE JPS WERE NOT CONSULTED.

AT LEAST THE SIGNATURE THAT WAS REQUIRED WAS NOT FORTHCOMING.

AND SO JUST TO POINT OUT, FOR MY FELLOW SUPERVISORS WHO HAVE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, THAT THE AOC THEN DID CHANGE ITS APPLICATION TO WHERE ON THE BACK IT NOW SAYS ALL FOUR SIGNATURES ARE REQUIRED IN BOLD.

AND CAPITALIZED.

AND SO IT IS CURRENTLY THE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE, THE CLERK OF THE SUPERIOR COURT, THE PRESIDING JUDGE WAS JUDGE GORDON AT THE TIME IN 2025 AFTER THIS HAPPENED.

AND THEN THE YAVAPAI COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIR, WITHOUT FOUR SIGNATURES, THE FILL THE GAP FUNDS CANNOT BE APPLIED FOR.

SO THAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED.

AND JUDGE GORDON, AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I BELIEVE THAT YOU DID SIGN IN 2025.

SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THE LETTER FORWARD.

AND POINTED THIS OUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE JUSTICE COURTS HAVE BEEN SHORTCHANGED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND IT'S EVIDENCE ABOUT WHERE THE FILTER GAP FUNDS GO.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

AND I BELIEVE YOU GUYS NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

BECAUSE IN THE PAST, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THAT YOU GUYS WERE NOT NOTICED AND YOU DID NOT SIGN THE APPLICATION UNTIL JUDGE GORDON DID IN 2025, QUITE FRANKLY.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

BEFORE I GET INTO SOME THINGS THAT I FIND DISTURBING, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT, WELL, I'LL HOLD OFF ON THAT.

WHAT FIRST CAME TO ME WAS A LETTER.

FIRST OF ALL, JUDGE...

NOW, DOWLINGS, YOU WERE ELECTED THE PRESIDING JUDGE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, WEREN'T YOU, SIR? YES, SIR.

DO YOU HAVE AN APPROXIMATE DATE WHEN THAT HAPPENED? LATE DECEMBER, EARLY JANUARY.

AND THEN UPON HEARING THAT YOU WERE ELECTED THE PRESIDING JUDGE, IT'S MY, WELL, NOT MY UNDERSTANDING.

I HAVE THE ACTUAL EMAIL HERE IN FRONT OF ME FROM JUDGE JOHN KNAPPER, THE PRESIDING JUDGE, TO ALL OF YOU.

AND YOU'RE ALL LISTED IN THE EMAIL.

AND THE HEADER OF HIS EMAIL WAS, YOU MADE A MISTAKE.

AND IN THAT EMAIL, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE A COPY OF, IT'S VERY, IT'S, THE LETTER IS, THE EMAIL IS ABSOLUTELY STRIKING.

FOR EXAMPLE, JUDGE KNAPPER SAYS, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SELECT WHO YOU WANT AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE, AND YOU HAVE DONE SO.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT I WILL NOT SUPPORT IN PRIVATE OR PUBLIC JUDGE DOWLING'S.

NONETHELESS, I'LL BE MEETING WITH JUDGE DOWLINGS AND JUDGE GORDON FEBRUARY TO SIGN A NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER.

ESSENTIALLY SAY, AND THEN GOES ON TO SAY, JUDGE KNAPPER GOES ON TO SAY, I REMIND YOU,

[07:20:01]

YOU CAN VOTE TO ELECT A NEW PRESIDING JP WHENEVER YOU CHOOSE.

THAT'S ASTOUNDING THAT THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED FROM THE PRESIDING JUDGE.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE CAN ALWAYS BE UNDONE.

SOUND LIKE A LITTLE PRESSURE ON THE JPS? TO ELECT SOMEBODY NEW, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, THAT'S ON JANUARY 16TH, WE MOVE INTO JANUARY 29TH, WHEN JUDGE GORDON, YOU ISSUE A LETTER TO JUDGE DOWLINGS, ESSENTIALLY ACQUIESCING TO WHAT WAS GOING ON TO ELECT A NEW JP.

YOU KNOW, IN YOUR, I MEAN, I HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR MEMORIALIZING THIS, I REALLY DO, SIR, BECAUSE IT'S A...

IT'S EVEN FURTHER ASTOUNDING.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS FROM YOUR LETTER, DENNIS MCGRAIN, JUDGE KNAPPER HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTENTION TO START PULLING MISDEMEANOR FILINGS FROM YARNELL BAGHDAD JUSTICE COURT.

ASTOUNDING.

TARGETING ONE SPECIFIC COURT BECAUSE HE WANTED TO FILL THE GAP FUNDS, AND IT POINTED THAT OUT.

WHILE THIS PLANNED ACTION DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE BASED SOLELY UPON YOUR RECENT APPOINTMENT AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE, IT IS CERTAINLY RELATED TO THE EVER INCREASING FRACTURE.

IN YOUR LETTER, SIR, IT ALSO SAYS WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, EACH JP HAS BEEN EXPLICITLY WARNED THAT ALL MISDEMEANOR FILINGS COULD BE PULLED FROM RESPECTIVE COURTS IF A NEW PRESIDING JUDGE WASN'T ELECTED.

AND THEN, SIR, YOU GO ON TO SAY THIS WOULD BE AN EXTREME MEASURE, BUT NOT IMPLAUSIBLE.

I WOULD REMIND YOU.

AS YOU WERE REMINDING ALL YOUR JPS THAT NEARLY ALL FELONY FILINGS AND INITIAL ARRAIGNMENTS, NEARLY 1,200 FILINGS HAD BEEN PULLED FROM THE VERITY VALLEY JUSTICE COURT INTO SUPERIOR COURT PRO TEMS, DIRECTLY AFFECTING THE BUDGET, DIRECTLY AFFECTING THE OPERATION OF THE COURTS.

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT SUCH A LOSS OF CASES WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT OUR JUDICIAL CREDITS.

AND CORRESPONDING SALARIES.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST ASTOUNDING.

AND THEN YOU GO ON TO JUDGE DOWLING AND SAY, I REALIZE THAT REPLACING, YOU'RE ASKING HIM TO STEP DOWN IN THIS LETTER, SIR.

AND YOU REALIZE, YOU TELL HIM, I REALIZE THAT THIS WILL BE HUMILIATING.

YOU HAVE A PRESIDING JUDGE THAT IN A LETTER SAID HE WILL NOT WORK WITH YOUR PRESIDING JUDGE.

IT'S TELLING YOU THAT YOU HAVE A MISTAKE.

AND THIS IS JUDGE KNAPPER'S EMAIL AND THAT WHAT CAN BE DONE, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, COULD BE UNDONE, AND HE WILL NOT WORK WITH A NEW PRESIDING JUDGE.

TWO WEEKS LATER, YOU GUYS ISSUE A LETTER SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO KICK HIM OUT AND YOU WANT HIM GONE.

YOU KNOW, TWO, IT'S JUST, I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE WHAT I READ, WHAT WAS SENT TO ME.

IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING.

AND TWO THINGS COME TO MIND WHEN YOU HAVE A PRESIDING JUDGE EXERTING HIS INFLUENCE.

TO COERCE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

RULE NUMBER 1.2, PROMOTING CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIARY.

A JUDGE SHALL ACT AT ALL TIMES IN A MANNER THAT PROMOTES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, WHICH DID NOT OCCUR, IN MY OPINION, IN THE INDEPENDENCE, INTEGRITY, AND IMPARTIALITY OF THE JUDICIARY AND SHALL AVOID IMPROPRIETY AND THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY.

RULE 1.3 IS AVOIDING THE ABUSE OF PRESTIGE OF JUDICIAL OFFICE.

A JUDGE SHALL NOT ABUSE THE PRESTIGE OF THE JUDICIAL OFFICE.

TO ADVANCE THE PERSONAL OR ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THE OTHER JUDGES OR TO ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR.

EXCUSE ME, CHAIR.

YES, SIR.

I'M SORRY, AND I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT COULD I SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE A BREAK? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION OFFLINE.

NO PROBLEM.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE THE ENTIRE GROUP THEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO MOVE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WHICH IS ALLOWED BY THE AGENDA MOVE TO GO BY LIKE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION A SECOND WROTE JAMIE CALL ROLL CALL SUPERVISOR JENKINS I SUPERVISOR COOK YOU YEAH SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

I KNOW SUPERVISOR MALLORY YES VICE CHAIR CHECK YES CHAIR COMPTON.

YES, YOU ARE NOW IN THAT GET A SESSION SESSION WHERE I'M WHERE THIS IS ALL THE NEXUS OF ALL THIS AND WHERE I'M GOING IS SPECIFICALLY YOUR BUDGETS AND THE FILL THE GAP FUNDS AND I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO FILL THE

[07:25:01]

GAP FUNDS AND SPECIFICALLY YOU KNOW CASES BEING PULLED OUT OF YOUR COURTS AND PUT INTO PRO TEMPS AND SUPERIOR COURTS WHEN WE'RE ALREADY PAYING YOU GUYS FOR THE TO DO THE JOB AND THEN WE'RE THEN AGAIN PAYING TO DO THE JOB OF SUPERIOR COURTS WHICH WE DON'T IN MY VIEW WE DON'T NEED TO BE DOING BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY ELECTED IN ADDITION TO THIS, YOU ARE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.

YOU ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE VOTERS.

AND WHEN YOU SEE FILL-THE-GAP FUNDS IN ALL OF YOUR CASES, FELONY ARRAIGNMENTS, INITIAL ARRAIGNMENTS, AND NOW MISDEMEANOR ARRAIGNMENTS OUT OF YARNELL BEING PUT INTO SUPERIOR COURT, YOU'RE DISENFRANCHISING THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 1 AND OTHER AREAS.

SO THIS ALL HAS TO DO WITH THE FILL-THE-GAP FUNDS AND THINGS THAT I BELIEVE NEED TO GO TO YOU FOUR.

FIVE, ACTUALLY.

THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO FOCUS ON.

AND I'LL JUST END OFF WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ISSUED ON MARCH 3RD BY JUDGE KNAPPER THAT I'LL JUST PUT INTO THE RECORD.

ESSENTIALLY, IT'S THAT COUNTY ATTORNEY MR. MCGRAIN CAN DIRECT FILE HIS CASES AND BYPASS.

NOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THIS PARTICULAR ORDER, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR BUDGETS, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU.

THE CHANGE IN YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ENSURING THAT YOU ARE FULLY FUNDED AND NOT SHORTCHANGED LIKE I BELIEVE YOU'VE BEEN FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR REQUEST, I'M GOING TO FIRST MOVE OVER TO SUPERVISOR JENKINS BECAUSE HER JUDGE ISN'T HERE AND I SAID SHE KNOWS IT FULLY WELL AND SHE COULD PRESENT ON REFERENCE TO THAT COURT.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR JUSTICE COURT AND THE JUDGE DOES EXTRAORDINARY VERY...

WORK DOWN THERE WITH A VERY SMALL STAFF.

SO FOR THE SUPERVISORS, IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT PAGES 16 AND 17 IN THE EMPLOYEE LISTING, I THINK WE ALL HAVE, IT WILL PUT IT ALL IN FOCUS WHERE THE MAYOR COURT HAS SIX CLERKS.

AND KEVIN WAS KIND ENOUGH, OR WE ALSO GOT THE DO THEY NOT HAVE THE SHEET? OH, NO.

I JUST BASICALLY WANT TO SAY THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

WHAT I HAVE? OKAY.

THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT GO THROUGH MAYOR IS VERY SIMILAR TO PRESCOTT AND VERDE VALLEY.

HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF CLERKS IN MAYOR IS SIX COMPARED TO, I BELIEVE, 10 AND 11.

AND THE REASON WHY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS THERE WAS AN ASK FOR TWO CLERKS WOULD WHICH WOULD GET THEM TO EIGHT.

DID YOU SEE IT? OKAY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF CLERKS ASSIGNED TO EACH OF THE COURTS, AND WE'RE COMPARING THAT TO THE CASELOAD.

YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU'RE TRACKING WHAT I'M PUTTING DOWN CHAIR.

I'M GOOD.

I KNOW.

YES, MA'AM.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION FOR THE TWO CLERK POSITIONS.

IT STILL DOESN'T GET MAYOR TO THE LEVEL OF THE OTHER COURTS, WHICH WOULD MEAN THEY WOULD ACTUALLY NEED 10.

BUT THEY THEY LITERALLY DON'T HAVE SPACE TO BE ON PAR WITH THE NUMBER OF CLERKS ASSIGNED TO THE CASES COMPARED TO THE OTHER COURTS SO I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE TWO CLERKS THAT THE JUDGE ASKED FOR IN IN MAYOR THAT WOULD GET THEM PARTWAY THERE THEY'RE THE CURRENT CLERKS WHICH ARE SIX THEY'RE PROCESSING ALMOST TWICE WHAT THE OTHER COURT CLERKS ARE PROCESSING SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IT'S JUST A NUMBER SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES SUPERVISOR MALLORY, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MAYORAL COURT? NO, SIR, I'M GOOD.

VICE CHAIR CHECK? NO, I WISH I HAD THAT.

I SEE YOUR HAND, SUPERVISOR KUCHNO.

YEAH, I THINK ONE THING THAT WE'VE GOT TO REALLY CONSIDER IS POSSIBLY SETTING A STANDARD.

THE CASELOAD TO THE AMOUNT OF WORKERS YOU HAVE.

CAN YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC, CHRIS? IT DOES ALSO CORRELATE TO REVENUE TO SOME DEGREE, SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIT THAT IN THERE AND SUPPORT IT.

WHEN YOU THINK, I THINK IT WAS PRESCOTT WAS DOING ABOUT 10,000, AND THEY HAVE 11 CLERKS.

I THINK MAYER WAS DOING 10,000, AND THEY HAD SIX.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SET A STANDARD OF CAN HANDLE 1,300, AND THAT'S IT.

AND ONCE YOU PASS THAT, MAYBE

[07:30:02]

YOU GET ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GETTING OUT OF BALANCE, AND THE WORKLOAD JUST ISN'T BEING SHARED EQUALLY.

THERE THERE IS A STANDARD AND THAT WAS THE BASIS OF, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD, YOU AGREE WITH ME, AND THAT WAS THE BASIS OF ASKING FOR TWO.

THE STANDARD WOULD BE TO HAVE FOUR MORE, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE ROOM FOR TWO MORE AND THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP THE EXISTING CLERKS AND MORALE AND HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, THE BURNOUT THAT THEY'RE HAVING PROCESSING SO MANY CASES WITH SUCH A SMALL STAFF.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I JUST WOULD...

APPRECIATE THE REST OF THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION FOR THOSE TWO CLERKS.

SUPERVISOR KUCHNER, REAL QUICK, SIR.

YOU CAN SPEAK CLOSER TO THE MIC.

WE COULDN'T HEAR YOU THERE FOR PART OF IT.

YOU BETCHA.

AND I THINK ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SMALLER COURTS THAT HAVE THE LOWER CASELOAD, YOU ALSO HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE LEAVING AND COMING ON, AND ONCE AGAIN, THE TRAINING AND THE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO DO THE JOB.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T EVEN MATTER.

STUDY SESSION JUST ON THIS.

VICE CHAIR CHECK.

I WILL ASK THE QUESTION I ALWAYS ASK WHEN THERE'S A REQUEST TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS NOT IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TURN TO OUR COUNTY MANAGER AND JUST ASK WHY.

I'LL GO BACK TO THE THE PREVIOUS ANSWER WE REALLY NARROWED IT TO THE SEVERAL POSITIONS THAT WE RECOMMENDED DUE TO THE BUDGET REVENUE GAP FOR THE GENERAL FUND WE WERE VERY JUDICIOUS IN OUR RECOMMENDATION.

AS I MENTIONED, WE PROVIDED TWO NEW POSITION RECOMMENDATIONS.

AGAIN, RECOMMENDATIONS, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND AN ADDITIONAL PART-TIME COOK FOR JUVENILE.

AND THEN THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION FOR AN IMPACTED GENERAL FUND FROM PERSONNEL AS FAR AS A TRANSFER WAS IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AGAIN, A RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIVERSION PROGRAM.

THAT FUNDING IS ENDING AND THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT WE RECOMMENDED TRANSFERRING OVER.

WE RECOGNIZED THAT THE BOARD WAS GONNA HAVE THIS KIND OF DISCUSSION BUT WE FELT IT APPROPRIATE BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO CONSTRAIN THE BUDGET FOR FUTURE YEARS, TRYING TO ABIDE BY THAT THING I TOLD YOU OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THE REVENUE GAP OVER SEVERAL YEARS BY LIMITING THE REOCCURRING ONGOING COSTS IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT ARE APPROVED ANNUALLY.

SO THIS REALLY WAS PUT FORWARD TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE FINAL DECISION MAKERS.

I WOULD ADD THAT THESE POSITIONS ALSO MERIT REVISITING, AND AFTER WE'VE HEARD ALL THE PRESENTATIONS AND ADDITIONAL REQUESTS, I THINK THIS WOULD ALSO RANK HIGH FOR ME.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? WELL, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS YEAR IT'S GREAT TO HAVE EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE WITH US, THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S RECOMMENDED BUT SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAVE HEARD AND UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND GO WITH THAT.

SO THE CONVERSATIONS ARE HEALTHY.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AND DO THE RIGHT CHOICES.

AND SO THESE CONVERSATIONS WILL LEAD US TO THOSE BETTER CHOICES FOR THE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

I'LL JUST WRAP IT UP.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISORS.

THIS JUST GETS THEM IN LINE WITH THE OTHER COURTS, NUMBER ONE.

AND NUMBER TWO.

IT FULFILLS ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC GOALS IN SUPPORTING OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND OUR RURAL COURTS.

LEAVE IT AT THAT.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, AND SUPERVISORS.

JUDGE GORDON, YOU'RE UP.

WITH REGARD TO OUR BUDGET REQUEST, I THINK THERE WAS ONLY FIVE THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON BRIEFLY.

THE REMAINDER ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE ASKED FOR PREVIOUSLY.

PROBABLY THE EASIEST IS A LAPTOP.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A LAPTOP.

IT IS NOW AGED TO THE POINT IN WHICH IT DOESN'T SUPPORT THE SOFTWARE, WHICH THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS REQUIRES.

AND SO WE'VE REQUESTED A BUDGET OF AN AMOUNT OF ABOUT $1,400 TO COVER THAT.

THAT HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY USED IF I'VE GOT A CLERK THAT HAPPENS TO BE OUT AND THEY NEED TO GET WORK DONE.

OR IF WE HAVE A VETERAN STAND DOWN OR A WARRANT RESOLUTION CLINIC WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO BRING THAT AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE COURT INFORMATION WHILE WE'RE OUT ON SITE THERE.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PERSONNEL SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED.

WE MET WITH HR EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

POSITION RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SLATED FOR TEN.

[07:35:02]

I HAVE NINE CLERKS.

I THINK, LIKE I'M SURE THE OTHER JUSTICE COURTS, WE'RE A LITTLE UNDERSTAFFED.

THEY WORK VERY HARD.

ONE OF THE PERKS OF MAKING THIS SORT OF RECLASSIFICATION, IT WOULD ALLOW MY PRIMARY COURT SUPERVISOR TO REALLY TAKE OVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND THE TRAINING COMPONENT.

WE HAVE FOUR NEW CLERKS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE IS A HUGE LEARNING CURVE FOR THESE CLERKS WHEN THEY COME IN.

WE THINK THAT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE APPROPRIATE AND WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT.

PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE IS A REQUEST FOR AN UPGRADED SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM.

THAT WAS DONE.

WE HAD AN EVALUATION DONE THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS.

THEY LOOKED AT OUR SECURITY EVALUATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS THAT THEY MADE.

THEY IDENTIFIED OUR CAMERA SYSTEM AS THE PRIORITY, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE INCLUDED THAT.

CANDIDLY, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF BLIND SPOTS.

WE HAVE A SINGLE SECURITY OFFICER.

PRIMARILY THAT SECURITY OFFICER IS MANAGING WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE ENTRYWAY TO THE COURT AND THEN VIA VIDEO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COURTROOM.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE REALIZE IT IS A...

A RATHER PRICEY REQUEST AFTER REVIEWING IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT $38,898.

I WILL OFFER A COUPLE OF, ASIDE FROM THE SECURITY BENEFIT, A COUPLE OF THINGS I THINK THAT MIGHT MAKE THIS A LITTLE MORE PALATABLE FOR THE BOARD.

NUMBER ONE, THIS WILL NOT ONLY COVER OUR COURT, BUT AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE HOUSED RIGHT NEXT TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTY FACILITIES THERE.

THESE CAMERA UPGRADES WOULD ALSO IMPROVE THAT VISIBILITY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THAT FACILITY, AND SO THAT WOULD BE AN ASSISTANCE TO OTHERS.

THE OTHER, WE HAVE REQUESTED THROUGH A GRANT TO HAVE THIS FUNDED AS WELL.

IF IT WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE GRANT, THEN THAT WOULD OFFSET WHATEVER WE WOULD BE ASKING FROM THE COUNTY ON THAT, AND THIS WOULD BE A ONE-TIME REQUEST.

LET ME SEE.

OH, AND WE ARE ASKING FOR A SEASONAL COURT OFFICER, AND I'LL EXPLAIN.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE COURTS, THE JUSTICE COURTS, THEIR SECURITY OFFICERS SORT OF CAME IN-HOUSE.

PREVIOUSLY, WE WORKED THROUGH THE SUPERIOR COURT, AND IF WE HAD A COURT SECURITY OFFICER THAT WAS OUT, WE WOULD GET SOMEBODY THAT WOULD COME AND COVER THROUGH THE SUPERIOR COURT.

MOST OF US NOW HAVE A SINGLE SECURITY OFFICER WHO, WHEN THERE IS A VACATION OR AN ILLNESS OR WE HAVE AN EVENT LIKE A TRIAL THAT HAPPENS TO GO OVER INTO A BUSY DAY WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SECURITY OFFICER, THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP COVER THAT BY BRINGING IN SOMEBODY TO COVER THOSE PERIODS WHEN WE HAVE OUR SECURITY OFFICER OUT.

I BELIEVE THE REQUEST FOR THAT WAS A LITTLE OVER $11,000.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FROM SUPERVISOR? SUPERVISOR KUCHNO, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU.

JUDGE SUITS, I HAVE TWO OF YOU.

THANK YOU, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, SUPERVISORS.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, WITH THE RETIREMENT OF JUDGE PADILLA, THAT CREATED A CASCADE OF PRACTICAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS, THE LARGEST OF WHICH IS...

THE CONSOLIDATED COURT, THE PRESCOTT CONSOLIDATED COURT, WHICH STOOD FOR YEARS, HAS BEEN SEPARATED.

THE PRESCOTT COURT IS NOT ASKING FOR ANY BUDGET ENHANCEMENT ASKS.

WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS MORE APPROPRIATE TO LET THE DUST SETTLE.

THE CITY COURT IS MOVING OUT.

THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

STAFF IS BEING SEPARATED.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO CATCH OUR BREATH AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO FOR THIS BUDGET CYCLE, WHICH IS MY FIRST, AND I SEE HOW DEEPLY, DEEPLY COMPLICATED THIS JOB IS FOR YOU ALL, AND I WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION FOR THE EFFORTS YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THE JUSTICE COURTS.

BUT THE PRESCOTT JUSTICE COURT IS CONTENT TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, WAIT FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE, AND WE'LL ADDRESS NEEDS NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY IS MOVING OUT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE EVERYTHING IS, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM SUPERVISOR? SUPERVISOR KUCHNO, ANY QUESTIONS? JUDGE DOWLINGS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN.

SO OUR BUDGET REQUEST, IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

I LIKE TO KEEP THINGS FAIRLY SIMPLE SO THAT WE ALL HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY ARE.

I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF LAST YEAR.

THERE WAS THAT CHANGE MADE IN ORDER TO GIVE US THAT

[07:40:01]

FULL-TIME SECURITY.

THAT WAS VERY VALUABLE.

WE WERE IN A POSITION BEFORE WHERE WE HAD TO REALLY CRAM A LOT OF CASES INTO ONE DAY A WEEK BECAUSE WE HAD THE SECURITY OFFICER TWO DAYS A WEEK.

THERE WAS QUITE A BURDEN ON STAFF.

BY HAVING THAT EXTRA DAY THAT WAS GIVEN LAST YEAR, THEN WE WERE ABLE TO SCHEDULE THINGS OVER ON THE BAGHDAD SIDE AS WELL TO ALLOW THAT AREA TO HAVE SERVICES.

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE DEAL WITH IS ACCESS TO JUSTICE.

AND THIS GOES BACK, I GUESS, ABOUT EIGHT YEARS NOW WHEN I STARTED.

AND I REALLY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A DETRIMENT FROM THE DEFENDANTS THAT I WAS HAVING IN FRONT OF ME WHERE THAT DRIVE.

TO YARNELL WAS INFLUENCING THEIR DECISION ON WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO IN THEIR CRIMINAL CASE.

I WOULD HAVE THEM BEGGING FOR ME TO TAKE THEIR GUILTY PLEA, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO FACTS TO IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COME BACK.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT THAT SHOULD GO INTO SOMEBODY'S CONSIDERATION, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A TRIAL TO DEFEND THEMSELVES OR NOT.

AND I WOULD NOTE THE IMPORTANCE THAT BAGHDAD HAS FOR US.

THAT'S FREEPORT.

THE RANCHERS AND THE MINERS OUT THERE HAVE GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE HAVE.

THERE'S NO SKIN OFF MY BACK TO EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE HAVE TO DRIVE AN EXTRA HALF HOUR ON A DAY TO TAKE CARE OF MY RESIDENTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE FOR.

WE'RE THERE TO GIVE THEM SERVICE, NOT EXPECT THEM TO COME TO US.

SO THAT'S THE POINT.

THANK YOU FOR THE SECURITY.

IT DID TAKE A LOAD OFF THE STAFF.

ONE, I DID INCLUDE TWO OF THE ACTUALLY, THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

WE HAD NEVER TALKED, BUT I THINK YOU MADE MY CASE FOR ME ALREADY REGARDING THE EMPLOYEES AND TAKING CARE OF THEM.

AND YOU TOO, SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

I DO APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT PART OF THAT TOO IS RETENTION.

A BIG PART IS RETENTION.

AND FOR THOSE CLERKS TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT EVERY OTHER EMPLOYEE OF THIS COUNTY GETS.

THAT'S FOR ADVANCEMENT.

THAT'S FOR TRAINING.

THAT'S TO GROW INTO THEIR JOBS.

I HAVE TO SAY, DON'T TAKE IT THE WRONG WAY ANYBODY, BUT I HAVE THE BEST STAFF IN THIS COUNTY.

THEY WERE PUT INTO A POSITION WHERE IF YOU JUST DEAL STRAIGHT WITH NUMBERS, THAT WE WERE DOING THE SAME CASELOAD AS VERDE AND AS PRESCOTT WITH HALF THE STAFF.

AND THEY ALL STUCK AROUND.

AND THAT GOES TO THE CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE WORKING FOR ME THAT I'M COMMITTED TO TAKING CARE OF.

THROUGH THAT, I APPRECIATE SUPERVISOR KUPNIEL'S COMMENTS REGARDING NUMBERS ON THAT.

IN STUDY SESSION, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE PART IN THAT.

IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT ALL COURTS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

SO THERE MAY BE SOME COURTS DON'T NEED AS MUCH, DEPENDING ON THE TYPES OF CASES THEY GET.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A HIGHER CIVIL LOAD THAT GOES THROUGH THE MORE CENTRALIZED.

COURTS ON THE CIVIL SIDE WITH EVICTIONS AND WHATNOT.

WE DON'T EXPERIENCE TOO MANY OF THOSE OUT AT MINE, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY, I'M GLAD THAT THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO DISCUSS THAT.

WITH THAT, I'D PROBABLY BE MORE COMFORTABLE ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS THAN TELLING YOU WHAT I THINK.

I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT WHAT YOU THINK.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE BOOK HERE, IT SEEMED LIKE MOST OF YOU GUYS, 85% OF YOUR WORKLOAD IS TRAFFIC.

IT'S FINES LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK THAT BRINGS A REVENUE ASPECT OF IT.

IF THE WORKLOAD GETS HEAVIER, THAT MEANS 85% OF THAT HAS A REVENUE ASPECT TO THAT THAT COULD OFFSET THE NEED FOR MORE STAFF.

IS THAT THINKING RIGHT OR THINKING WRONG? I WOULD APPROACH THAT WITH THE REVENUE IS NOT THE POINT OF WHAT WE DO, BUT IT IS A BYPRODUCT OF WHAT WE DO.

WHAT THE COURTS BRING IN, I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT IT FUNDS QUITE THE JUSTICE COURT WORK, FUNDS QUITE A BIT OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, FROM ALL THOSE FINES, 50 PERCENT GOES TO THE STATE AND 50 GOES TO THE COUNTY.

THAT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE THAT I'VE HEARD BEFORE.

BUT WE ARE SELF-SUSTAINING WITH THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.

THERE'S A REPORT WE RUN EVERY MONTH THAT SAYS WHERE THOSE FUNDS GO, AND IT'S TAKING CARE OF PRISONS.

IT'S TAKING CARE OF VICTIMS' FEES.

THERE'S A LOT OF FEES ATTACHED TO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH ACTUALLY COMES BACK TO THE JUSTICE COURT, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO DO OUR PART IN THAT.

BUT THE BIGGER PART IS SAFETY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION ON SAFETY, AND WE HAVE A DUTY WITH WHAT WE DO TO MAKE SURE THE STATE IS DOING THINGS CORRECTLY AND THAT MATTERS ARE BEING HANDLED APPROPRIATELY.

IT GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATED AT TIMES, BUT THAT'S WHAT OUR CHARGE IS.

IF YOU WERE TO DO A STUDY AND GO BACK, YOU COULD SEE THAT THE DIRECT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FILINGS IN THE COURTS HAS

[07:45:01]

THE MORTALITY RATE ON OUR ROADS.

GOT SO MUCH BETTER.

WE HAVE A PLACE OUT THERE WHERE WE'RE HAVING 20 FATALITIES A YEAR.

I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.

IN REFERENCE TO THE RECENT ORDER THAT'S PULLING CASES FROM YOUR COURT, HOW MANY CASES HAVE YOU LOST IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS OR BEEN REASSIGNED, IF I HAVE THE VERBIAGE CORRECT? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TWO WEEKS, BUT I BELIEVE RIGHT AROUND 35, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT MAYBE A HALF TO A THIRD OF MY CASELOAD.

SO A HALF TO A THIRD OF YOUR CASELOAD HAS BEEN MOVED DOWN TO A PRO TEMS IN PRESCOTT. IS THAT CORRECT? WHERE THE DEFENDANTS AND EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE TO GO VERSUS YOUR COURT? YES, I BELIEVE THERE'S A CAVEAT IN THERE WHERE EVERYTHING WOULD BE DONE REMOTELY.

BUT THEN AGAIN, I HAVE TO GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID IN THE BEGINNING. WELL, IT'S REMOTE. EITHER YOU TAKE, IT'S GIVEN A POWER TO THE STATE. EITHER YOU TAKE OUR DEAL OR DRIVE TO PRESCOTT FOR A TRIAL. WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE? WELL, THAT'S A PRETTY EASY CHOICE WHEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GO TO YARNELL.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? OH, JUST TO RECONFIRM. WHEN YOU LOSE CASES, WELL, NOT LOSE THEM, ACTUALLY, WHEN THEY'RE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU, THAT AFFECTS THE MONEY, AFFECTS YOUR PAY. IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING ON THIS? HOW DOES, WHEN THOSE CASES ARE REMOVED FROM YOUR COURT, WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT? OH, THIS IS STATUTE, I BELIEVE IT'S IN TITLE, I BELIEVE IT'S IN TITLE 22.

THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED JUDICIAL PRODUCTIVITY CREDITS.

AND THAT'S WHAT, THERE'S DIFFERENT TIERS THAT THE SALARY IS BASED UPON. IT'S, IN ALL HONESTY, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WOULD AFFECT ME BASED UPON WHAT HAPPENS. I HAVE THE, AND I GUESS EVERYBODY HERE WOULD, WE HAVE THE TENURE TO WHERE IT CAN'T BE REDUCED DRASTICALLY, BUT IT COULD BE REDUCED BY A TIER AT THE END OF EACH ELECTION CYCLE. THAT MAY BE SIGNIFICANT TO SOMEBODY, THAT MAY NOT.

IT'S, TO ME, IT'S JUST MORE OF SERVING OUR PEOPLE. THEY ELECT A VOICE TO REPRESENT THEM IN THE COURT SYSTEM. THEY'RE NOT PICKING TO HAVE A STATE APPOINTED JUDGE HEAR THE CASE.

THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE COURT SYSTEM AND THAT'S WHY THEY ELECT US. AND WE DO MAKE DECISIONS BASED UPON OUR PUBLIC. I KNOW EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF MY PRECINCT, EVERY LAST THING. AND THAT GETS APPLIED IN MY CASES AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT. THIS ISN'T MCJUSTICE. WE'RE NOT CHECKING BOXES TO MAKE THINGS GO AWAY.

WE ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SERVED. THANK YOU, SIR. ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS? MOVE ON TO YOU, SIR. GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU GRAB THE MICROPHONE THERE AND GET A LITTLE CLIP, ONE OF THEM. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING. I'M JUDGE EMERY SELIGMAN, ASHFORD JUSTICE CENTER. I'M A NUMBERS GUY, SO I CAN GIVE YOU NUMBERS. THE AMOUNT THAT THE AOC, THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS, IS 1,000 CASES PER CLERK PER YEAR. IN SELIGMAN ALONE, I HAVE THE NUMBERS.

LAST YEAR, WE DID A TOTAL OF... 5,410 CASES THAT EXCEEDED THE 1,000 RECOMMENDED PER YEAR BY 35.3% PER CLERK. AND SO FAR THIS YEAR TO YESTERDAY, THE 28TH, WE ARE ON COURSE TO DO 05,698 CASES THIS YEAR. THAT IS 01,425 PER CLERK. THAT IS 42.5% ABOVE WHAT THE AOC RECOMMENDS PER YEAR PER CLERK. I'M HERE TO ASK FOR SELIGMAN AND ASHWORTH JUSTICE CENTER FOR...

THE APPROVAL WHICH WE DID PUT IN OUR BUDGET FOR ONE FULL-TIME CLERK WHICH WOULD ALLEVIATE THIS CASE LOAD ONE HICCUP FMLA FOR SOMEONE OR ONE OF OUR OTHER CLERKS SETS THE PRESSURE TO THAT BURNOUT RATE PER HUMAN TREMENDOUSLY THROUGH THE ROOF WITH THE FIFTH CLERK THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT WOULD HELP PREVENT THAT FOR SELIGMAN ASHWORTH JUSTICE CENTER WE KNOW AND I KNOW THAT PUTTING ON A FULL TIME PERSON. IS AN ADDED COST TO THE COUNTY, THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS AND THAT. SO IF THE BOARD COULD NOT APPROVE ONE FOR THE SELIGMAN ASH FORK JUSTICE CENTER, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER ONE OR TWO PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, THEREFORE PULLING THAT ADDITIONAL COST OF HEALTH CARE INSURANCE AND OTHER NEEDS FOR A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE SO THAT WE CAN MEET, IN THE NAME OF JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY, WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT AND DO A BETTER JOB IN THE SELIGMAN ASH FORK JUSTICE CENTER.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR TODAY.

AND I WILL EARN MY MONEY THAT YOU GIVE ME. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN I GET PAID, BUT I'M HERE TO EARN IT.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT.

I'M SO THANKFUL THAT JUDGE EMERY HAS STEPPED UP AND HAS TAKEN OVER THAT COURT.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB.

HE'S WORKING CLOSE WITH JUDGE SARNO, THE PAST JP UP THERE, AND IT'S JUST A BIG TRANSITION.

[07:50:01]

WE'RE GETTING A NEW CONSTABLE, A NEW JP, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT POSITION.

SO THANK YOU, JUDGE EMERY, FOR STEPPING UP.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS, ANY QUESTIONS? I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON THE 1,000.

RELATIVE TO MAYORS LIKE 1,600 OR 1,800 CASES, AND THEY SHOULD BE AT 1,000.

SO I FEEL YOUR PAIN, SIR.

YES, MA'AM.

MAYOR WAS AT 1,737 LAST YEAR WITH SIX CLERKS.

THAT PUTS HIM AT 73.7% ABOVE THE BENCHMARK SET BY THE AOC.

I HAVE THE NUMBERS HERE FOR THAT YEAR.

OH, SORRY, DID YOU NOT? WELL, YEAH, I JUST SAY IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE A TABLE WITH THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE TO PRODUCE BEFORE TOMORROW.

JUST, YOU KNOW, THE CASELOADS AND THE PERCENT ABOVE.

IT'S PROBABLY ALREADY BEEN DONE.

I HAVE THAT RIGHT HERE, MA'AM, IF YOU'D LIKE IT.

THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, AND WE COULD DISTRIBUTE IT TO THE BOARD.

AND I HAD PROVIDED THE TWO PREVIOUS YEARS IN MY PACKET.

AT THE TIME, THE 2025 WASN'T PUBLISHED, AND JUDGE EMORY HAS THAT TO SUPPLEMENT. SO, IN MR. FORD, WHAT WAS THE ASK FROM EACH? WAS IT TWO PERSONNEL FOR THE VERDE, TWO FOR THE MAYER, ONE FOR SELIGMAN, TWO FOR YARNELL, AND ZERO FOR PRESCOTT? IS THAT WHAT IT WAS? YES.

CHAIR, THE ASK WAS, I'M GONNA ELIMINATE, I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT RECLASSIFICATIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE RECOMMENDED. OUT OF THE JUSTICE COURT FOR THE VERDE, THERE WAS A NEW JUSTICE COURT CLERK SUPERVISOR 1. THAT WAS FOR THE VERDE VALLEY JUSTICE COURT. BAGHDAD YARNELL HAD A NEW JUSTICE COURT CLERK 2 AND A NEW JUSTICE COURT CLERK 3.

AND OUT OF MAYER, THERE WAS A NEW JUSTICE COURT CLERK 1 AND A JUSTICE COURT CLERK 2.

AND OUT OF SELIGMAN WAS A JUSTICE COURT CLERK 1.

THOSE ARE THE NEW POSITIONS.

I'M NOT REPEATING THE RECLASSIFICATION REQUESTS BECAUSE THOSE WERE IN THE RECOMMENDATION.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I JUST THINK WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THIS ALSO AS THESE COURT, THE CASELOADS START GOING UP.

SORRY.

AS WE DO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT STUDY, WE HAVE TO REALLY TAKE THAT CONSIDERATION WHEN MAKING SPACE.

BECAUSE I KNOW, LIKE SUPERVISOR JENKINS SAID, SHE'S ABOUT TO BUST AT THE SEAMS, BUT THEY CAN PROBABLY PUT IN TWO MORE DESKS, BUT THERE'S REALLY NOT ENOUGH FOR FOUR MORE DESKS IN THERE.

SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CIP, WE'VE GOT TO REALLY LOOK AT THE FUTURE AND 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR APPEARING TODAY.

MOVING ON TO SUPERIOR COURT.

PARDON ME? GOOD MORNING, JUDGE NAPPER.

AND WHO DO YOU HAVE WITH YOU? THIS IS JULIE MALINOWSKI, WHO IS OUR COURSE ADMINISTRATOR.

GOOD MORNING, JULIE.

ONE SECOND.

WE FOUND THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE'RE SHUFFLING AROUND FOR BEFORE, SO IT'S...

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE CASE FILINGS? NO, THE POSITIONS, BUT I THINK WE FOUND IT WAS IN THIS PACKET AND THEN BEHIND IT.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THAT DATA TOO.

WE CAN EMAIL IT OUT.

JULIE, ARE YOU MOVING FORWARD PRESENTING? YEAH, ARE YOU READY FOR US? YES, I'M READY.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CHECK, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

GO FOR IT.

JULIE MALINOWSKI, COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY.

SO WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY OUR RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.

WE INCLUDED SOME ITEMS IN OUR EXHIBIT 3S THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE...

SOME MAJOR SERVICES THAT THE SUPERIOR COURT PROVIDES, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 11 JUDICIAL OFFICERS.

THIS INCLUDES EIGHT ELECTED JUDICIAL OFFICERS TO OUR CONSTITUTIONALLY CREATED DIVISIONS.

WE HAVE TWO FULL-TIME PRO TEM JUDGES AND ONE FAMILY LAW COMMISSIONER.

EACH OF THOSE JUDGES HAS TWO STAFF THAT REPORT DIRECTLY TO THEM.

WE SERVE 27 COMMUNITIES ACROSS YAVAPAI COUNTY.

WE HAVE FOUR SUPERIOR COURT BUILDINGS, THREE ARE LOCATED HERE IN PRESCOTT.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE DOWNTOWN PRESCOTT COURTHOUSE.

WE HAVE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER AND THE NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER OVER ON PRESCOTT LAKES PARKWAY, AS WELL AS THE CAMP VERDE SUPERIOR COURTHOUSE.

IN COURT ADMINISTRATION, IT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO A NUMBER OF VARIOUS ROLES AND

[07:55:01]

RESPONSIBILITIES.

OF COURSE, WE MANAGE THE COURT'S BUDGET AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

WE OVERSEE OUR COURT SECURITY DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS COURT IT. WE PROVIDE INTERPRETER SERVICES TO ALL SUPERIOR COURT FACILITIES, AS WELL AS OUR FIVE JUSTICE COURTS AND SOME OF OUR MUNI COURTS. WE PROVIDE COURT REPORTERS FOR THOSE CASELOADS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED BY A CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER.

WE HAVE A FIELD TRAINER THAT REPORTS TO COURT ADMINISTRATION, BUT PROVIDES TRAINING TO ALL JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND STAFF ACROSS ALL OF OUR COURTS IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. WE HAVE OUR EARLY DISPOSITION COURT DEPARTMENT, WHICH MANAGES THOSE CASES THAT FIRST APPEAR, THE FELONY CASES THAT FIRST APPEAR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT, IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THOSE EARLY IN THE PROCESS AND TRY TO FIND A RESOLUTION.

WE HAVE OUR FAMILY LAW NAVIGATOR, WHO ASSISTS SELF-REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR FAMILY LAW CASES. WE ALSO HAVE OUR LAW LIBRARIAN AND SELF-SERVICE CENTER, WHERE FOLKS CAN COME IN AND ACCESS LEGAL DOCUMENTS, DO LEGAL RESEARCH, AND ACCESS OUR SELF-SERVICE CENTER KIOSKS.

AND SO FOR FOLKS THAT WANT TO EITHER LOOK UP CASES OR THEY WANT TO FILE DOCUMENTS, THEY CAN DO THAT RIGHT THERE AT THE COURTHOUSE HERE IN PRESCOTT AND IN CAMP VERDE.

WE ALSO PROVIDE RECOVERY COURT, WHICH IS BASICALLY SPECIFIC COURT SERVICES PROVIDED TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS.

FOR EXAMPLE, INDIVIDUALS ON PROBATION WHO HAVE YOU SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEY CAN COME IN AND GET SPECIALIZED TREATMENT AND HAVE COURT INTERVENTION TO ASSIST THEM ALONG ON THEIR PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

AND THEN OF COURSE CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT, WE TRACK HOW CASES MOVE THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING THE RIGHT SERVICES AT THE RIGHT TIME.

ALL RIGHT, DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

WE IMPLEMENTED A FAMILY COURT PATHWAYS PROJECT.

WE PARTNERED WITH ASU AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS TO START THIS PILOT PROJECT.

WE JUST IMPLEMENTED IT IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.

AND BASICALLY WHAT THIS PROJECT IS, IT'S AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY FAMILIES THAT ARE EITHER IN HIGH CONFLICT OR NEED SPECIFIC SERVICES RIGHT AS THEY ENTER INTO THE COURT SYSTEM.

AND HOW THAT WORKS IS THE INDIVIDUALS, WHEN THEY COME IN TO FILE THEIR PAPERWORK, THEY FILL OUT A SURVEY AND THEY CAN INDICATE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S EVER BEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IF THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, A SPECIAL SITUATION THAT APPLIES TO THEIR CASE.

IF THERE'S NOTHING COMPLEX ABOUT THEIR CASE, THEY CAN MOVE VERY, VERY QUICKLY THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS WITHOUT DELAY.

FOR THOSE CASES THAT HAVE HIGH COMPLEX ISSUES, THEY'RE PUT INTO A HIGHER LEVEL TIER.

AND SO THEY CAN BE PUT INTO EITHER TREATMENT, THEY CAN BE ASSIGNED MAYBE A...

A PARENTING COORDINATOR OR SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT WILL HELP THEM IN THEIR CASE AND HELP IT MOVE ALONG TO RESOLUTION.

SO WE'RE STILL IN THE EARLY PHASES OF THAT PILOT PROJECT, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT WORKS.

YAVAPAI COUNTY IS THE ONLY PILOT COUNTY BESIDES YUMA WHO IS ATTEMPTING TO IMPLEMENT THIS.

AND IF IT'S A SUCCESS, IF WE CAN SHOW THEM THE DATA THAT IT'S WORKING AND IT'S BEING HELPFUL TO FAMILIES, THAT THE AOC AND THE SUPREME COURT ARE WANTING TO MAKE THIS A MANDATORY PROJECT STATEWIDE.

SO WE'RE HOPEFUL TO SEE THE NUMBERS ARE HELPFUL.

EXPANSION OF THE ONE JUDGE, ONE SCHOOL PROGRAM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I BELIEVE, FIVE OR SIX OF OUR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES WHO, THEY VISIT OUR SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY PRESENT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE RELEVANT TO CHILDREN OR STUDENTS THAT AGE ABOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

THEY CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A LAWYER, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A JUDGE.

THEY CAN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ISSUES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO STUDENTS, SUCH AS CYBER CRIMES AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A STUDENT WAS INVOLVED IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT BEHAVIOR WOULD BE.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED IT INTO THE CURRICULUM AT THE PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL AND I BELIEVE AT BRADSHAW HIGH SCHOOL.

SO IT IS GOING REALLY, REALLY WELL AND IT'S REALLY WELL RECEIVED BY THE STUDENTS.

SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT PROJECT.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.

YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING.

AND SO WE TRY TO ADAPT TO THAT AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME AND USE OUR COURT.

AND WE TRY TO OFFER THEM SERVICES THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO THEM.

AND WE TRY TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE AND KIND OF STICK WITH THE TIMES, SO TO SPEAK, AND OFFERING MORE VIRTUAL SERVICES, OFFERING MORE ELECTRONIC SERVICES, AND TRYING TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.

WE'RE STANDARDIZING FORMS AND PRACTICES.

OUR GOAL IS TO IMPLEMENT FORMS AND PRACTICES ACROSS THE COUNTY.

SO IF YOU GO TO ONE COURT OR ONE BUILDING, YOU RECEIVE THE SAME SERVICES AS YOU WOULD AT THE NEXT.

SO REALLY JUST TRYING TO BE PREDICTABLE IN THAT WAY THAT ANY CONSTITUENT CAN WALK INTO ANY COURT BUILDING AND RECEIVE THE SAME SERVICES.

RESTITUTION COURT, AS CHIEF PRIETO MENTIONED EARLIER THIS MORNING, IS ONE OF THE COURTS THAT WE IMPLEMENTED THIS LAST YEAR.

[08:00:01]

IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE OFFER THIS IN BOTH PRESQUE AND IN THE VERDE.

IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN COLLECTING THOSE RESTITUTION DOLLARS TO MAKE VICTIMS WHOLE, AND WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS COLLECTED, WHERE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAYBE WOULDN'T NORMALLY BE PAYING, THIS IS A WAY TO KIND OF MONITOR THEM AND GIVE THEM THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS.

ALL RIGHT, DEPARTMENTAL GOALS FOR THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE AOC TO ON A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THIS IS A BRAND NEW PROGRAM THAT THE AOC IS DEVELOPING AND, WHILE IN THE PAST THEY HAVE OFFERED COURT SPECIFIC TRAINING TO SUPERVISORS AND LEADERS, THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY GEARED TOWARDS ENTRY LEVEL AND A NEWER STAFF. SO, REALLY IT'S A MEANS TO, TO GET THOSE, THOSE NEW CLERKS THAT COME IN, TO SHOW THEM THE BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE COURT, HELP THEM SEE THE VALUE IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO, HELP THEM FIND MEANING IN WHAT THEY DO, AND REALLY BUILD THEM UP AND GIVE THEM THE IDEA AND THE MOTIVATION THAT THEY CAN MOVE UP WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM. AND REALLY THE GOAL IS FOR RETENTION, TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE COURTS FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON. ONE NOTABLE PROJECT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS THE WARRANT RESOLUTION EVENT. IT'S SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF JUNE. AND WHAT THIS IS, IS FOR MISDEMEANOR WARRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE AMBITION TO COME INTO COURT FOR FEAR OF BEING REMANDED INTO CUSTODY.

THEY CAN REPORT TO THIS EVENT.

IT'S OFF-SITE.

IT'S NOT AT A COURT LOCATION.

THEY CAN COME IN.

THEY CAN SEE A JUDGE.

THEY CAN HAVE THEIR WARRANTS QUASHED AND EITHER GET SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION TO THEIR CASE AT THE EVENT, OR THEY CAN GET IT BACK ON THE DOCKET IN THE RESPECTIVE COURT THAT THE CASE WAS FILED.

SO IT'S REALLY A MEANS OF US TO TRY TO ELIMINATE ANY BACKLOG OF OUTSTANDING WARRANTS IN THE COUNTY.

SO WE'RE JUST REALLY TRYING TO BE CREATIVE WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY.

IT'S REALLY JUST A MATTER OF US COMMITTING OUR TIME AND SEEING HOW IT WORKS.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT EVENT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES THAT WE HAVE IS COURT INFRASTRUCTURE.

AS I SAID, COURT TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS CHANGING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO APPEAR VIRTUALLY.

WE UTILIZE DIGITAL EVIDENCE.

AND OF COURSE, TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING FASTER THAN WE CAN KEEP UP WITH.

AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO STAY WITH THE TIMES AND TRY TO BE AS PROACTIVE AS WE CAN TO KEEP THAT TECHNOLOGY WORKING AND FUNCTIONAL TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE COURT SERVICES.

ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO IMPLEMENT THIS YEAR IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TREATMENT COURT.

THAT'S IN THE EARLY STAGES OF PLANNING, TRYING TO SEE IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS.

AND SO WE HAVE A JUDGE THAT'S INTERESTED.

I KNOW THERE'S CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING WITH SOME OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THAT PROGRAM WORKS AS WELL.

CHALLENGES, OF COURSE, ARE TECHNOLOGY, PROVING ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN AN EVER-CHANGING COMMUNITY.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, OF COURSE, IS A BIG ONE.

WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM HELPS US RETAIN QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WORKING FOR THE COURT SYSTEM.

ENHANCING AND STREAMLINING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

YAVAPAI COUNTY IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE COURT SYSTEM.

WE IMPLEMENT VARIOUS PILOT PROJECTS THAT ARE ADOPTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND SO WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF THAT.

ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES, OF COURSE, AGAIN AS CHIEF PRIETO MENTIONED, IS THE UNKNOWN STATUS OF THE STATE BUDGET. YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE NEVER KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT AS FAR AS THE STATE BUDGET, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE WE WE JUST HAVE TO BE NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE AS THAT THAT COMES OUT EACH YEAR. AGAIN, OPPORTUNITIES, I'M WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING, I'M TO TO IDENTIFY AND MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS I TO FIND WAYS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, IDENTIFY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOLS AND CIVIC GROUPS.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. WE'RE FINDING THAT IT'S ACTUALLY EXPANDING, AND WE'RE FINDING MORE AND MORE INTEREST IN THE INTERNSHIPS WITHIN THE LEGAL REALM.

WE RECENTLY DID THE NORTHERN ARIZONA REGIONAL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION, AND WE FOUND WE HAD SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ACTUALLY, THAT ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING LAWYERS AND JUDGES.

AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO US ABOUT DOING INTERNSHIPS.

AND SO WE'VE NEVER HAD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INVOLVED IN INTERNSHIPS IN THE PAST.

SO THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.

WE'RE CATCHING THEM WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN RECRUIT SOME FUTURE LAWYERS.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I ATTENDED SOME OF THOSE MOCK TRIALS, AND THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

I JUST LOVED IT.

IT JUST WAS FASCINATING TO SEE THE YOUTH AND GRABBING A HOLD OF IT.

THEY'RE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT ALL OF IT.

SO I LOVE THE PROGRAM.

IT'S GREAT.

[08:05:01]

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WE CONTINUE TO OFFER TOURS TO SCHOOLS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.

WE'RE SEEING SOME EXPANDING IN THAT AS WELL.

I THINK THIS YEAR, MY DEPUTY COURT ADMINISTRATOR HAS KIND OF TAKEN THE LEAD ON THOSE TOURS.

I THINK WE'VE ALREADY DONE ABOUT 12 OF THEM JUST SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THEIR COURTHOUSE.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT JUST A MUSEUM, IT'S A FULLY FUNCTIONAL COURTHOUSE.

AND SO IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THESE PEOPLE COME IN AND ACTUALLY SEE COURT IN ACTION AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE HISTORY OF THAT BUILDING.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN COMING IN.

AND TO ME, IT'S REALLY REWARDING BECAUSE I GREW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IT'S THE CROWN JEWEL OF PRESCOTT.

ALL RIGHT, SO BUDGET OVERVIEW, GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.

WE'VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE IN GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

OF COURSE, SALARIES IS A BIG PIECE OF IT.

WE DID NOT, IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, WE ASKED FOR ONE FULL-TIME POSITION.

THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

AND SO BETWEEN GENERAL FUND AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 72 POSITIONS FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT, INCLUDING ALL OF THOSE AREAS THAT I MENTIONED EARLY IN THE PRESENTATION.

WE'VE SEEN SOME CHANGES, SOME DECLINE IN OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, BUT WE TRY TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO OFFSET THAT.

WE'RE EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING ADDITIONAL FEES THAT MIGHT HELP OFFSET THE COSTS, ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW OF ALL OF THAT.

ALL RIGHT, AND THEN MOVING INTO OUR EXHIBIT 3 BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS.

THE ONE FULL-TIME POSITION THAT WE REQUESTED IS BASICALLY A THIRD IT PERSON, A COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST THREE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO FULL-TIME PERSONNEL DEDICATED TO COURT TECHNOLOGY.

THEY ARE HOUSED PRIMARILY IN PRESCOTT.

WE HAVE THE THREE FACILITIES IN PRESCOTT FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT.

THIS LEAVES OUR CAMP VERDE SUPERIOR COURT WITHOUT IMMEDIATE IT SUPPORT.

AND SO, OUR IDEA WAS TO HAVE THIS PERSON ASSIGNED TO THE VERDE VALLEY JURISDICTION, THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE IMMEDIATE TROUBLESHOOTING AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT TO OUR JUDGES AT THE CAMP VERDE SUPERIOR COURT, AS WELL AS THE VERDE VALLEY JUSTICE COURT AND SOME OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS THAT ARE IN THE VERDE VALLEY DISTRICT.

FOR FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS, WE HAVE REQUESTED A SECURITY CAMERA UPGRADE FOR BOTH PRESCOTT AND CAMP VERDE SUPERIOR COURTHOUSES. THOSE SYSTEMS ARE WAY PAST END OF LIFE, AND SO WE'RE FINDING THAT OUR CAMERAS ARE FAILING, AND THE EXISTING SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY OR THE BANDWIDTH TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL CAMERAS.

SO WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE, IF WE GET NEW CAMERAS, WE NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW SYSTEM.

SO, OUR COUNTY FACILITIES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN GREAT.

THEY WORKED WITH US COMING UP WITH A PROPOSAL FOR BOTH PRESCOTT AND CAMP VERDE, FOR A FULL REPLACEMENT OF BOTH OF THOSE CAMERA SYSTEMS. AND THEN, THE SECOND FACILITIES REQUEST IS FOR A SECURITY GATE FOR THE JUDICIAL PARKING AREA AT THE CAMP VERDE COURTHOUSE.

WE RECENTLY INSTALLED A GATE AT THE YAVAPAI COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER, AND THEN I THINK THEY'RE ABOUT FINISHED WITH THE GATE AT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER THAT WE RECEIVED BUDGET MONEY FOR THIS LAST YEAR, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT FINALLY AT OUR CAMP VERDE SUPERIOR COURTHOUSE AS WELL. AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE SOME LINE-ITEM INCREASES.

AGAIN, THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE RECURRING COSTS, BUT WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH JURY FEES, TRANSCRIPT COSTS, CONTRACT INTERPRETER SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH EXAMINATIONS, AND SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS, AND THEN ALSO SEASONAL WAGES.

WE USE SEASONAL WAGES TO COVER WHEN STAFF TAKE VACATION, AND THEN ALSO TO PROVIDE WEEKEND COURT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ARRESTED OVER THE WEEKEND AND REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE SEEN IN FRONT OF A JUDICIAL OFFICER WITHIN 24 HOURS. AND WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, JUDGE NAPPER? NO, I DON'T REALLY. WE REQUESTED THE ONE POSITION THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED IS THE ADDITIONAL IT PERSON FOR THE VERDE VALLEY, KEEPING IN MIND WHEN WE...

DURING COVID, WE HAD AN ARPA-FUNDED IT POSITION, SO WE HAD THREE, AND THAT WAS WHEN THE NEW BUILDING WAS OPENED, THE CJC, AND WE HAD THREE PEOPLE, AND IT WORKED REALLY, REALLY WELL. WHEN THE ARPA FUNDING RAN OUT, THEN WE LOST ONE OF OUR IT PEOPLE, AND WE'VE GOT FOUR BUILDINGS THAT NEED IT SERVICES, AND SO IT'S... AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE CASES AND ACTIVITY IN OUR SUPERIOR COURT HAPPENS ON THE PRESCOTT SIDE OF THE HILL, WHICH MEANS THE VERDE, IF WE ONLY HAVE TWO FOLKS, THEY'RE

[08:10:01]

OVER HERE ALL THE TIME. SO WHENEVER THINGS GO SOUTH IN THE VERDE, WHICH EVERYBODY WHO WORKS WITH IT KNOWS IT GOES SOUTH, AT BEST THEY DON'T GET ANY SERVICE TO THEM WITHIN AN HOUR, IF NOT MORE, AND THEY HAVE ENOUGH WORK OVER THERE WHERE THEY COULD USE AN IT PERSON. AND KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR IT PEOPLE ALSO SERVICE THE JUSTICE COURTS. THEY ALSO SERVICE THE MUNICIPAL COURTS.

LIKE OUR IT PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE COURTS IN THE COUNTY.

THERE'S ABOUT 27 OF THEM.

WHEN YOU ADD ALL THAT UP, THE VERDE VALLEY IS REALLY WHAT SUFFERS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PERSON THAT WE CAN ASSIGN OVER THERE.

SO, THE IDEA IS WE COULD GET THE THIRD IT PERSON.

WE COULD GET BACK ESSENTIALLY TO WHERE WE WERE WHEN THE NEW BUILDING OPENED.

AND THEN THE VERDE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO SOMEBODY ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS THAN THEY CURRENTLY DO NOW.

COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THE FILL THE GAP FUNDS AND THE PERCENTAGES THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? AND MR. BRENNAN, BEFORE WE CONTINUE ON THAT, WHAT IS STATUTE ON STATE VERSUS THE COUNTY IN REFERENCE TO THE PRO TEMS? THE SPLIT, THE MONEY SPLIT? CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IN TERMS OF SALARIES? YES.

PURSUANT TO STATUTE, HALF OF THE SALARIES.

TO BE PAID BY THE STATE AND HALF BY THE COUNTY.

THAT'S A SHALL, NOT A MAY? YES.

IT'S REQUIRED.

THE LANGUAGE IS MANDATORY.

IT'S MANDATORY.

SO THE 50-50 SPLIT IS MANDATORY.

LET'S BE...

NO, I'M...

EXCUSE ME, MR. CHAIRMAN, BUT YOU'VE GOT A MISREPRESENTATION OF THE LAW.

WHAT I'M SUGGESTING TO YOU IS THE WORD SHALL IN THE LAW IS NOT ALWAYS MANDATORY, AND I CAN PROVIDE CASELOADS, CASES TO THE BOARD THAT REPEATEDLY HAVE HELD THAT THE WORD SHALL...

IS NOT MANDATORY IN THE WAY IT'S BEING DESCRIBED.

AND AS FAR AS, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRO TEM SALARIES, AS FAR AS THAT GOES, JUST ABOUT EVERY COUNTY THAT HAS A PRO TEM, AND AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THEM DO, THE COUNTIES PAY THE SALARIES FOR THE PRO TEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO STATE MONEY FOR THE PRO TEM.

WHY IS THE SEASONAL PRO TEMS A 50-50 SPLIT? SAY THAT TO ME AGAIN, I'M SORRY.

THE SEASONAL PRO TEMS ARE A 50-50 SPLIT FOLLOWING STATUTE.

BUT THE TWO PRO TEMS, THE FULL TIMES, ARE NOT.

AND WHAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO IS, MR. FORD, WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST FOR THE TWO PRO TEMS? TOTAL.

TOTAL COST, INCLUDING ERES, PAYROLL TAXES, HEALTH CARE, ALL THOSE BENEFITS.

$629,406.

SO MY POINT IS IN TERMS OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR TWO JUDGES, WHICH ARE NOW CARRYING CASELOADS FROM JUSTICE COURTS, WHAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE BACK AT JUSTICE COURTS, REASSIGNED BACK OUT THERE, NOT CENTRALIZED, BUT BACK OUT TO THE JUSTICE COURTS, TWO JUDGES ARE COSTING THEMSELVES $630,000 A YEAR.

AND IT'S JUST NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

I MEAN...

YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE PERSON, THAT THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO SIGN FOR THE FILL THE GAP FUNDS, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SIGN FOR THAT TYPE OF MONEY WHEN I THINK THAT IT COULD BE APPLIED DIFFERENT WAYS, OR MAYBE APPLIED TO THE JPS, OR IN DIFFERENT AREAS, OR HAVING ONE, OR REDUCING SALARIES, OR WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO. BUT THAT'S JUST AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR TWO JUDGES. SO, I MEAN, I JUST LIKE TO FOCUS HERE FOR MY FELLOW SUPERVISORS ON THE SPLIT FIRST IN TERMS OF THE 50 50.

IT'S WITH THE SEASONAL PRO TEMS AND I'LL JUST GO DOWN THE ROAD.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING 62% BE PAID BY THE COUNTY.

SO THAT'S THE CURRENT 38% PAID BY THE STATE.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

SO IT'S AT WHAT IS IT TODAY TO SPLIT THAT YOU HAVE A BY COUNTY? WHAT IS YET? WHAT IS YOUR PLAN SPLIT? 38, WHAT DID YOU SAY, 3862? ACTUALLY, SUPERVISOR, I WOULD DEFER TO KEVIN ON THAT ISSUE.

OKAY, WHAT IS IT? 68% GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS COUNTY, AND THEN 32% FILL THE GAP.

OKAY, BUT ACCORDING TO STATE STATUTE, IF WE ABIDE BY STATE STATUTE, REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU WANT TO INTERPRET IT, WE CAN DO 50-50, CORRECT? SO I, EXCUSE ME.

I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

SUPERVISOR, YES, I PULLED UP THE STATUTE, AND I'LL JUST READ THE LANGUAGE OF THE STATUTE, AND THE STATUTE CAN SPEAK FOR ITSELF.

SAYS THE SALARY OF A JUDGE PRO TEM SHALL BE PAID ONE HALF BY THE STATE AND ONE HALF BY THE COUNTY TO WHICH SUCH JUDGE IS ASSIGNED.

IT'S OUR LEGAL REQUIREMENT, IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME.

SO WE COULD DO 50-50.

I MEAN, I GUESS YOU COULD ARGUE WE'RE SMITH IT TO DEATH, BUT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO 50-50.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? YES, THANK YOU. PRIOR, OKAY, SO RIGHT NOW YOU SAY WE'RE DOING, DID YOU SAY 68 OR 62? I'M SORRY, WHAT ARE WE PAYING? 68 PERCENT, UH, FROM COUNTY GENERAL FUND, OKAY. SO HAVE WE

[08:15:01]

ALWAYS, I THINK IT'S 62. UM, I, I CONFIRMED IT, 68. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH, I JUST WANT TO LET... YEAH, THERE WAS SOME COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHETHER IT'S 32 OR IT'S 68, 32, OKAY, OKAY. THEN I MISSPOKE, NO, NO, BECAUSE YOU DID RECEIVE SOME COMMUNICATION OF THAT NUMBER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE, SUPERVISOR MALLORY. OKAY, AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST NINE YEARS NOW, WERE WE DOING 50, AND FOR SOME REASON WE WENT TO THIS 60? I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY, SO... I'LL CLARIFY BECAUSE THIS WAS IN AGREEMENT PRIOR, THE LAST YEAR. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WITH THE COURTS, SUPERIOR COURT, MADE A REQUEST TO COUNTY MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, AND THERE WAS A CHANGE FROM 50-50 TO THE 68-32%. THAT WAS DONE BY THE MANAGER.

THAT WAS DONE IN COORDINATION.

I WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE COURTS.

THE COURTS PROVIDED INFORMATION TO THE MANAGER SAYING THAT THE FILL THE GAP FUND WAS GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

AND THE MANAGER CHANGED THAT ALLOCATION.

SO, THIS IS WHERE I WOULD SAY THAT I AM THE 50-50.

THIS IS WHAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, ABOUT THE STATE BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PART.

AND WE WERE PAYING THE 50, AND THE STATE WAS PAYING THE 50.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE BUDGET, IT REALLY HASN'T AND WASN'T A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

AND SO THAT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR A LOT OF US.

A LOT OF US ARE STILL DEALING WITH NOT THE TRANSPARENCY THAT AT LEAST I FEEL WASN'T GIVEN.

I WILL SAY THIS, AND THE BOARD CAN MAKE OF THIS WHAT IT WISHES.

THE COUNTY USED TO PAY.

100% OF THE PRO TEM SALARIES.

THAT WAS CHANGED WHEN, DID YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON THAT, PHIL? AND IF YOU THINK I'M WRONG, PLEASE.

SO THE COUNTY USED TO PAY 100% OF THE PRO TEM SALARIES.

THAT CHANGED WHEN THE MARKET CRASHED.

AND WHEN THE MARKET CRASHED, THE BOARD CAME TO THE COURT AND SAID, WE CAN'T, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE ON SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL SALARIES? SO WE DID.

AND THEN THAT'S WHEN IT WENT TO 50-50.

THE COURT AGREED TO TAKE ON 50% OF THE SALARIES THROUGH THE FILL THE GAP FUND, WHICH HAD NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

AND THE COUNTY AGREED TO PAY FOR 50% OF THE...

SALARIES.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS, YOU HAD AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION? KEVIN, HOW MUCH IS THE 18% DIFFERENTIAL? LET ME JUST BUST OUT MY CALCULATOR.

SO WHILE HE'S DOING THAT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS...

NO, SUPERVISOR, PARDON ME, JUDGE, VICE CHAIR CECH, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

YOU WERE IN LINE FOR...

YES, I HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTS AND CONCERNS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, MANY, MANY COUNTIES PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDS BEYOND THE 50-50 SPLIT.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN OUR PROBATION OFFICE.

THERE'S UNDERFUNDING FROM THE STATE, WHICH RESULTS IN AN INAPPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF SERVICE, AND COUNTIES DO, OR AT LEAST ON THE GROUND, HAVE BEEN USING THEIR LEVERAGE TO FILL THAT GAP.

MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO IS THAT THESE PRO TEMS ARE THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GETTING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THE VERDE VALLEY THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

AND THIS UNDERSTANDING COMES FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH JUDGE YOUNG AND JUDGE NAPPER.

IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE, BUT I WILL DRAW IT BACK TO THE LAST CENSUS.

THE YAVAPAI COUNTY LIKELY HAS MANY MORE PEOPLE IN IT THAN WAS CAPTURED, THE 2020 CENSUS, AND THAT DOES RELATE TO HOW MANY DISTRICT JUDGE, HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, LONG-TERM JUDGES, NOT TEMPORARY JUDGES, THAT YOU CAN HAVE. WE'RE TRYING TO COVER A LOT OF SERVICES IN THE ONLY WAY, AND, AND YOU KNOW, I'D ENCOURAGE, IF WE NEEDED MORE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW THESE PRO-TEMS WORK ON THE GROUND, BUT THE VERDE VALLEY WILL SUFFER IF WE DON'T HAVE BOTH OF THESE FULL-TIME PRO TEMS. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT. AND I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THERE WAS SOME REASON THAT YAVAPAI COUNTY,

[08:20:01]

AT THE TIME THAT IT DID, CHOSE TO GO BEYOND ITS 50-50 FUNDING OF THESE.

I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE FILL THE GAP FUND WILL BE EXHAUSTED AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE PRO TEMS AT ALL.

AND IF YOU WERE TO LOSE THE PRO...

I'M SORRY.

NO, IT'S OKAY.

THE ISSUE FOR ME ISN'T THE PRO TEMS. IT'S THE COST.

AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONSTRAIN THE COSTS.

AND IN REFERENCE TO THESE TEMPORARY PRO TEMS, WHICH SHOULD BE TEMPORARY, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2023, YOU GOT A NEW DIVISION, I BELIEVE.

IS THAT 2023? DIVISION 8.

AND WE HAD TWO PRO TEMS AT THAT TIME.

YOU GOT THE NEW DIVISION.

A PRO TEM DIDN'T GO AWAY.

THEY JUST SEEMED TO STAY AROUND FOREVER, BUT THEY'RE TEMPORARY.

AS CSA HAS POINTED OUT TO US, WE CAN PAY THEM FROM $0 TO $200,000.

YOU CAN PAY THEM WHATEVER.

EXACTLY.

YOU GUYS HAVE THE DISCRETION TO PAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PRO TEMS. IT'S THE COSTS.

AND I WILL.

I WILL.

I CAN RESPOND TO THAT IF YOU WISH, MR. CHAIRMAN.

IF YOU WANT SUPERIOR COURT OPERATIONS TO ESSENTIALLY COME TO A HALT, MEANING.

SO WHAT ARE TWO ARE THREE PRO TEMS DO IS THEY HAVE ENTIRE CASELOADS.

PART OF WHAT THEY TOOK ON THESE MISDEMEANORS.

MR. MCGRAIN WILL BE UP HERE.

HE WILL TELL YOU HOW THEY GOT INTO SUPERIOR COURT.

THAT'S HIS DECISION.

HE MAKES A DECISION ABOUT WHERE THOSE ARE FILED.

I HAVE SOME OF THEM.

JUDGE CARMAN'S GOING TO TAKE SOME OF THEM.

BUT IT'S A MORNING ON THE CALENDAR.

IF MR. MCGRAIN MOVED THEM, WHY DID YOU SIGN THE ORDER? BECAUSE I...

BECAUSE I RUN...

I MEAN, JUST FOR RATIFICATION.

SURE.

WHY DID YOU SIGN THE ORDER THAT ALLOWED THEM TO BE MOVED? NO, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW.

I DIDN'T ALLOW ANYTHING TO BE MOVED.

I DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY ABOUT WHERE DENNIS WAS.

THEN WHY DID YOU SIGN THE ORDER? BECAUSE I HAVE TO PROCESS THE CASES ONCE THEY HIT MY COURT.

I'LL GIVE YOU JUST A SUPER HIGH-LEVEL VIEW OF IT.

IF THEY'RE IN THE JUSTICE COURT AND THE SUPERIOR COURT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE A DOUBLE JEOPARDY PROBLEM.

THEY HAVE TO BE DISMISSED.

THERE HAS TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER THAT DOES THAT.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE AN ORDER.

THE REASON WHY MR. MCGRAIN SIGNED THE ORDER WAS BECAUSE...

STEVE IS THE ONE WHO DECIDED TO FILE THEM IN SUPERIOR COURT.

WE HAVE OTHER ORDERS THAT ARE SIGNED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE SUPERIOR COURT.

OUR EDC ORDER IS ONE OF THOSE.

THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO COORDINATE SIGNIFICANT WORK EFFORTS BETWEEN TWO MASSIVE INSTITUTIONS.

AND THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS, IF YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO 50-50, OUR FILL THE GAP FUND WILL BE EXHAUSTED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

WITHIN 11 MONTHS, WHICH MEANS BOTH OF OUR PRO TEMS WILL NO LONGER BE FUNDED, WHICH WILL MEAN, AND THERE'S ANOTHER STATUTE, BY THE WAY, WHICH HASN'T BEEN REFERENCED HERE, WHICH REQUIRES PRO TEMS TO BE PAID THE SAME SALARY AS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.

SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE STATUTES AT PLAY HERE.

THE ONLY POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE TO YOU IS, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR JAIL POPULATION LOW, YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR RECIDIVISM RATES LOW, YOU WANT TO KEEP VETERANS COURT OPERATING YOU WANT TO KEEP THE RECOVERY COURTS OPERATING.

LIKE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE SUPERIOR COURT IS DOING, THE PRO TEMS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IS ACCOMMODATED A SHIFT IN CASE ASSIGNMENTS RELATED TO THE NEW BUILDING.

THAT WAS DONE AT THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

IF THE PRO TEMS ARE ELIMINATED THROUGH OPERATION OF 50-50 FUNDING, WE CAN NO LONGER GUARANTEE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP THOSE SAME CASELOADS.

WHICH WAS DONE AT YOUR REQUEST.

ONE SECOND, JUDGE.

WHAT'S THE COST OF JUST ONE PRO TEM, THE HIGHEST PAID ONE? JUST ONE SECOND, IF I MAY ANSWER, SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

THAT PERCENTAGE AMOUNT EQUATES TO ABOUT $113,000.

AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING GETTING RID OF IT.

I JUST WANT TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT, IS HOW MUCH ARE WE ABSORBING, AGAIN, HERE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL? AFFECTS OUR GENERAL FUND, CORRECT? THANK YOU, KEVIN.

SO WHAT WAS THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION? IS THERE A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE TWO DIFFERENT JUDGES? YES, THERE IS TWO.

ONE IS AT $379,000.

THAT'S INCLUSIVE, AGAIN, OF SALARY AND BENEFITS ERES.

AND THE OTHER IS AT $250,000.

SO, JUDGE NAPPER, I'M SURE THERE'S A REASON FOR IT, BUT...

I'M NOT SURE.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT DIFFERENTIATION IN TERMS OF COSTS.

WHICH JUDGES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? ONE OF OUR PRO TEMS IS

[08:25:02]

IN THE OLD RETIREMENT SYSTEM, WHICH WAS MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO JUDGE WALLACE AND JUDGE SHARIFI ARE IN ONE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

JUDGE GOLDSTEIN IS IN THE OLD RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

AND I THINK THAT MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YES.

I BELIEVE THAT.

THAT MAY BE IT.

BUT TO THE POINT, I MEAN, I'M AT THE 50-50 SPLIT.

I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THE STATE PUTTING EVERYTHING ON US.

AND MAYBE IF WE REDUCE THE SALARIES ON THEM TO WHERE YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION OF THE STATUTE, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION FROM CSA, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION FROM OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH, THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T WE PAYING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS A COUNTY SUPERVISOR? THE STATUTE SAYS THEY MAKE THE SAME SALARY AS A, WHY DON'T YOU SHIFT THEM ALL TO SEASONAL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ABSORB THE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS AND KEEP THE NUMBERS DOWN? SAY IT AGAIN, I'M SORRY.

YOU COULD PUT THEM AT SEASONAL, COULDN'T YOU? ISN'T IT POSSIBLE TO? THEY'RE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

NO, BUT IF YOU HAD JUST SEASONAL PRO TEMS, IT WOULD, IT JUST.

MAY I ASK OUR.

WELL, LET ME ASK, MR. BRENNAN, DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION BECAUSE I SEE SEASONAL AND I SEE FULL-TIME.

I'M ANSWERING THE QUESTION, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

MR. CHAIR.

I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR, OUR COUNCIL'S INTERPRETATION OF IF WE HAVE, LEGALLY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY OUR FULL-TIME PRO TEM JUDGES DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT JUDGE NAPPER IS SAYING, THAT THEY NEED TO BE PAID AT THE LEVEL OF A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.

I THINK IT'S SAFEST FOR ME SIMPLY TO, AGAIN, READ THE STATUTE. AS JUDGE NAPPER POINTED OUT, IT BEGINS, THE SALARY OF A JUDGE PRO TEM SHALL BE PAID FOR THE PERIOD OF THE APPOINTMENT BASED UPON ANNUAL SALARY EQUAL TO THAT OF A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE. THEN, IT CONTINUES TO SAY, A JUDGE PRO TEM MAY AGREE IN ADVANCE TO DONATE ANY OR ALL OF HIS SERVICES. IT SHOULD SAY, HIS OR HER, PROBABLY.

IT SHOULD SAY HIS OR HER, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ALLOW UP TO THE AMOUNT PAID TO A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.

SO THEN THAT'S THE CAVEAT THAT I WAS CONCERNED WITH IS IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS.

ARE THE PRO TEMS THAT YOU HAVE WILLING TO REDUCE THEIR SALARIES, WHICH THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BY STATUTE, IN ORDER TO COME UNDER THE FILL THE GAP FUNDS SO WE CAN HAVE THEM BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY? TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVE NOT ASKED THEM ABOUT THAT.

NO ONE'S ASKED ME TO ASK THEM ABOUT THAT.

I CAN ASK THEM IF YOU WANT.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHY.

THERE'S NO WAY TO CLOSE THE GAP.

WELL, NO, THERE IS A WAY TO CLOSE THE GAP.

IT'S TO PAY WHAT THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO PAY THEM.

AND JUST TO KEEP IN MIND, THIS HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT UP EITHER, WHEN THE SHIFT OCCURRED FROM 50-50 TO 68-32, WHEN THAT HAPPENED, WE GAVE UP A POSITION THAT WE HAD.

WE MADE UP THAT DIFFERENCE BY GIVING UP A POSITION BACK TO THE BOARD THAT WE WERE NOT USING.

SO THE ADDITIONAL COST TO THE BOARD IS NOT, IT'S NEGLIGIBLE COMPARED TO WHAT WE GAVE BACK.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE THE BOARD'S PAYING ANY MORE TO THE SUPERIOR COURT THAN IT WAS BEFORE, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS.

THE DIFFERENCE, I DON'T REMEMBER THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE NUMBERS.

DO YOU HAVE THOSE? NO, BUT I DO WANT TO CONFIRM, WHEN RESEARCHING IT, THERE WAS A POSITION THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER ELIMINATED OR HELD IN THEIR COURT.

AND AGAIN, THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION WITH MANAGEMENT AND THE COURTS WHEN THIS CHANGE WAS MADE.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I GO BACK TO THEN, THAT POSITION WASN'T NEEDED, AND WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT ALSO. AND I'VE BEEN FAIR TO THE JUDGE AND LET HIM KNOW MY POSITION IS REALLY JUST TRYING TO ADDRESS THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE ALWAYS ARE RUNNING INTO WITH THE STATE. STATUTE SAYS A CERTAIN THING, AND COUNTIES, WHEN I TALK TO COUNTY SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION, THEY AGREE. THEY SAY, YEAH, COUNTIES HAVE DONE THIS, AND YELK BAY COUNTY PROBABLY DID IT IN THE PAST PRIOR TO THE RECESSION. THEY HAVE MADE UP FOR WHAT THE STATE IS NOT PROVIDING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. WHETHER YOU LEAVE IT AT THE AMOUNT OR NOT, MY WHOLE GOAL WAS TO HAVE TO IDENTIFY IT BECAUSE YOU WERE UNAWARE.

OF THAT CHANGE DURING YOUR LAST BUDGET AND I HAD TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW ABOUT THAT.

I DID NOT MAKE ANY CHANGE BACK.

I LET THE JUDGE KNOW OF JUST MY POSITION THAT I FELT IT HAD TO BE BROUGHT UP TO THE BOARD.

I DID NOT AGREE AND PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE HANDLED IT IN THE SAME WAY, BUT IT WAS DONE THAT WAY AND IT WAS A FAIR DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT AND THE SPIRIT COURT.

YEAH, I MEAN WE FOLLOWED THE RULES THAT THE BOARD, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BOARD DOESN'T APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT THE PREVIOUS BUDGETS WERE HANDLED, AND I'M RESPECTFUL OF THAT. BUT WE FOLLOWED THE RULES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED BY THE BOARD. WE DID EXACTLY WHAT WE THOUGHT THE BOARD WAS

[08:30:03]

ASKING US TO DO, AND WE ACTUALLY GAVE UP A POSITION SO THAT WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT OUR PRO TEMPS WERE FUNDED.

AT SUPERVISOR MALLORY, YES, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, JUDGE. WE WERE NOT IN THE LOOP. SO, AND I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT.

FOR ME, I'LL JUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I JUST THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS WHAT IT WAS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE SITTING HERE TODAY, AND THERE ARE STILL MANY PEOPLE THAT WILL COME BEFORE US WITH THINGS THAT WERE POSSIBLY SAID BY PREVIOUS YEARS, AND AGAIN, THAT WASN'T.

BUT ANYWAY, SO FILL THE GAP FUNDS.

IT RUNS OUT.

DOES IT RUN OUT FOREVER? JUST RUNS OUT FOR THAT YEAR? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS MONEY THEN? SO THE PURPOSE OF THE MONEY IS TO PROVIDE, BY STATUTE, THIS IS ALL DONE BY STATUTE, IS TO CREATE A WAY TO PROCESS CRIMINAL CASES QUICKER.

AND IT'S A SUPERIOR COURT FUND, IT'S A CLERK OF THE COURT FUND, IT'S A JUSTICE COURT FUND, SO THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT TAP INTO THE FILL THE GAP FUND.

AND IT IS, I BELIEVE, INTENDED TO BE PROJECT-SPECIFIC.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PARTICULAR GOAL SO THAT WE CAN SPEED UP CRIMINAL CASES.

THE REASON WHY FILL THE GAP GOT WRAPPED INTO THE PAYMENT OF THE PRO TEMS WAS BECAUSE THE BOARD, THIS IS PREVIOUS BOARDS, REALIZED THE NEED FOR THE PRO TEMS ALSO WAS IN A FINANCIAL CRUNCH BECAUSE THE HOUSING MARKET HAD COLLAPSED.

AND SO THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE, AND KEEP IN MIND, BEFORE THAT DATE, THE PRO TEMS WERE 100% FUNDED BY THE BOARD.

SO WHEN THE COLLAPSE HAPPENED, THE BOARD CAME TO THE SUPERIOR COURT AND SAID, HEY, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO OFFLOAD SOME OF THE COSTS OF THE SUPERIOR COURT.

I THINK IT WAS JUDGE MACKEY.

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THEN JUDGE BRUTONOW, NOW RETIRED JUSTICE BRUTINEL.

AGREED THAT FILL THE GAP WOULD BE USED TO PAY THE COST OF THE PRO TEMS WHICH WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE COST TO THE COUNTY SO THAT'S HOW FILL THE GAP GOT INVOLVED IN THIS I AGREE WITH THE CHAIRMAN.

I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT THIS WAS WHAT FILL THE GAP WAS INTENDED FOR.

HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, UNLESS THE BOARD IS WILLING TO PICK UP THE COSTS OF THE PRO TEMS, THIS IS THE ONLY MECHANISM WE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE THE PORTION THAT WE'RE CONTRIBUTING.

ABSENT THAT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO FUND THE PRO TEMS. SUPERVISOR MALLORY? THANKS, CHAIR.

SO THEN THERE WAS A POSITION THAT WAS NEGOTIATED WITH IN THE LAST BUDGET.

AND SO IS IT ELIMINATED OR IS IT SITTING IN A HOLDING PLACE? I BELIEVE IT WAS ELIMINATED.

AND IT WAS A COURT REPORTER POSITION.

KEVIN? OKAY.

WAS IT ELIMINATED? YES, IT WAS ELIMINATED FROM THE FTE COUNT.

SO THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE IS NO ONE'S GOING TO COURT REPORTER SCHOOL ANYMORE BECAUSE AI HAS TAKEN OVER THE WORLD.

AND SO, WE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FILLING THAT POSITION, SO WE GAVE THAT POSITION BACK IN EXCHANGE FOR A MODIFICATION TO THE PAYMENT OF THE PRO TEMS IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM AFLOAT AND FUNCTIONING.

WITHOUT OUR PRO TEMS, THE SUPERIOR COURT'S REALLY GOING TO NOT FUNCTION. DID YOU WANT TO ASK SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I'M SORRY, SUPERVISOR JENKINS, GO RIGHT AHEAD. I WAS JUST REMINDING SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

HOW IS THIS FUNDED EVERY YEAR? WHAT IS THE FUNDING MECHANISM EVERY YEAR? YES, SO IT'S A STATEWIDE, ESSENTIALLY, APPORTION OF FINES, FEES, ALL OF THESE THINGS GO TO THE STATE.

THE STATE THEN REAPPORTIONS IT BACK TO, I SHOULD SAY, I SHOULD SAY, WE CAN'T STAND ON THIS NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL DATA FROM AOC, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE OUR FILL THE GAP FUNDING.

MAY ACTUALLY JUMP.

AND SO WE MAY HAVE MORE FILL THE GAP FUNDING THAN WE'VE HAD PREVIOUSLY.

AND I'VE REPRESENTED, I THINK I'VE MET WITH MOST OF YOU ON THIS TOPIC.

IF THE FILL THE GAP FUND DOES JUMP AND WE CAN MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE, WE'LL PAY THAT, WE'LL MAKE IT UP OUT OF THE FILL THE GAP FUND OR WHATEVER PIECE OF THAT IS.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO AVOID PAYING 50% OF THE PRO TEMS. WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

IF THE FUND IS FLUSH, WHICH IT MAY BE, WE CAN MAKE UP THAT DELTA NO PROBLEM, BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL I THINK THE NUMBERS COME OUT IN JUNE.

[08:35:01]

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? AND I APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT.

AND, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE JUST ARE TRYING TO, AS EVERYBODY ELSE, JUST BALANCE THIS OUT AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE WE GET EVERY POSSIBLE WAY WE CAN TO HELP.

THE LAST THING, NOW I THINK I FORGOT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE GO FORWARD WITH, LET'S SAY, NEW, IS IT PRO-TEMS? YEAH.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP PAYING THESE HIGH WAGES.

I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE NOW, AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I'M JUST SAYING WE DON'T HAVE TO START OFF HERE AT, YOU KNOW, THE...

LET ME ADDRESS THAT.

COMPLETELY, WELL, OBVIOUSLY IT'S TRUE, BUT I MEAN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG TO GIVE FOLKS A PAY CUT THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING AS HARD AS OUR PRO TEMS WORK, WHICH IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ESSENTIALLY GIVING THEM A PAY CUT. I'M NOT SURE JUDGE SHARIFI WOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR THE BENCH IF SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE AS SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE AS A COUNTY ATTORNEY.

SO, JUDGE WALLACE WAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I DON'T KNOW HER FINANCES, AND I WOULD NEVER BOTHER TO ASK HER, BUT SHE WAS AN OUTSTANDING LAWYER AND PROBABLY TOOK A PAY CUT JUST TO BECOME A JUDGE.

SO ASKING PEOPLE TO TAKE A PAY CUT NOW, TO ME, SEEMS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

BUT I WILL SAY.

WELL, WAIT.

IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION.

OH, OKAY, GREAT, BECAUSE I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT A PAY CUT RIGHT NOW.

DID YOU? NO, THE WAY I WAS INTERPRETING WHAT THE BOARD WAS SAYING WAS THAT.

YOU REALIZE THAT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT NEW.

YES, OKAY.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CURRENT.

OKAY, IF YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CURRENT.

NO, NO, NOT AT ALL.

I NEED TO CORRECT THAT ON THE RECORD.

PERFECT.

I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT CURRENT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT NEW PEOPLE COMING IN.

SINCE WE ARE GETTING A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS SITUATION, NEW, BRAND NEW, YOU WANT TO BE A PRO TEM, IT CAN BE ZERO TO WHATEVER.

AND THAT IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WAIVER PORTION OF THE STATUTE THAT MR. BRENNAN READ TO YOU GUYS IS, IF WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE APPLYING, THE SALARY IS NOT GOING TO BE AT THIS LEVEL.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A COUNTY THAT DOES THIS.

MOJAVE COUNTY.

STARTS THEIR PRO TEMS, I THINK, AT 80%.

AND THEN IF THEY'RE THERE FOR FIVE YEARS, IT BUMPS UP TO 90%.

SO THERE IS A WAY TO REVERT BACK TO A CLOSER 50-50 SPLIT FOR NEW HIRES OF PRO TEMS. THAT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM AT ALL AND EASY TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND THEN THAT WOULD GIVE EVERYONE NOTICE WHEN THEY'RE APPLYING FOR THE POSITION WHAT THEIR SALARY WOULD BE.

MOST OF MY CONVERSATION WITH YOU THIS MORNING WAS I INTERPRETED WHAT YOU WERE SAYING TO TO TELL ME THAT YOU WERE GOING TO TRY TO CUT THE SALARY OF JUDGE WALLACE AND JUDGE SHARIFI, IF YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE HAVING MANY CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW.

SURE, SURE.

BUT THE QUESTION I JUST ASKED IS GOING FORWARD.

YES, GOING FORWARD, ABSOLUTELY.

I STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

SURE.

THIS IS JUST TO GIVE ME SOME MORE.

BUT ABSOLUTELY, GOING FORWARD.

AND I THINK ONE OF OUR PRO TEMS IS I DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL RETIREMENT DATE.

THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT ONE SALARY THAT'S AN OUTLIER, THAT WILL DROP ONCE HE RETIRES BECAUSE HE'S IN A RETIREMENT SYSTEM, FRANKLY, THAT NONE OF THE JUDGES ARE IN ANYMORE.

SO THAT NUMBER WILL DROP.

FILL THE GAP IS BOUNCING BACK.

SO THERE ARE MORE THINGS THAT GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE WE CAN ADDRESS RELATED TO THE SALARIES OF THE PRO TEMS GOING FORWARD.

WELL, I MEAN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR DISCUSSION.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

I MEAN, JUST FOR MY FELLOW SUPERPOWERS, MY GOAL IS TO...

IS TO GET TO THE 50-50, TO HAVE THE PRO TEMS, HOWEVER THAT MAY BE, BUT ADD A 50-50.

BUT WHAT I SEE RIGHT NOW IS WE JUST HAD THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE BEFORE US, AND THEY ARE STARVING FOR PEOPLE, AND THE FILL-THE-GAP FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR THAT.

WHY ARE ALL OF THE FILL-THE-GAP FUNDS BEING USED SIMPLY FOR SUPERIOR COURT AND NOT BEING SPLIT WITH THE JUSTICE COURTS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE MY RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO SIGNING FOR THE FILL-THE-GAP FUNDS APPLICATION? THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND WE EITHER FUND A NEW POSITION FOR A PRO TEM AT A REDUCED SALARY OR WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON OUR JPS WHO ARE STARVING FOR PEOPLE AND DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM.

AND IT'S QUITE FRANKLY, I HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR BUDGET MANAGERS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. SO LET ME, UH, SO YOU COULD, WE'LL JUST, SO YOU CAN FUND WHAT, ABOUT $379,000

[08:40:01]

FOR THE TOTAL REQUEST? SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR THE JPS FOR THEIR POSITIONS? YES.

OKAY, SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE BALANCED IN BOTH COURTS, BUT MY FEAR IS WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS YOU'RE WATCHING ALL THE CASES BEING PULLED FROM THE JPS AND MOVED DOWN TO THE SUPERIOR COURT TO THE PRO TEMS. AND THAT'S THE CENTRALIZATION OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT I'M NOT FOR, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING AND EXPANDING THE JUSTICE COURTS. I GET CALLS ALL THE TIME, JUST A WOMAN IN MY DISTRICT IN WICKENBURG THAT HAD TO DRIVE FOR JURY DUTY IN PRESCOTT.

WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE FROM WICKENBURG AND YARNELL COMING TO PRESCOTT.

THE CASES SHOULD BE MOVED BACK IN TO THE JUSTICE COURT, IN MY OPINION, AND WE COULD ENHANCE BOTH OF THEM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE POSITION WE'RE IN. BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE WHAT'S BEEN OCCURRING.

YOU, SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I'M SORRY, THANK YOU, SORRY. I DON'T JUST BE PATIENT THROUGH FOR OTHER PEOPLE SPEAKING WHEN I WANTED TO BE, SO I, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE CONFLATION OF ISSUES, AND I DO NOT WANT TO DRAG MORE MUD THAN NEEDS TO BE DRAGGED INTO THESE PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS.

BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE REASON WHY CASES ARE BEING PULLED FROM THAT SINGULAR JUSTICE COURT HAS TO DO WITH THE ABILITY OF PRO TEMS TO BE TAKING THOSE COURTS. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE STRING THAT'S DRAWING THAT ACTION, AND SO I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE BOARD TAKE ACTION TO REMOVE FUNDING FROM TWO JUDGES THAT ARE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES BECAUSE THERE'S AN IDEA THAT THOSE TWO PRO TEM JUDGES ARE GOING TO BE ACTIVELY REMOVING CASES FROM OUR JUSTICE COURTS.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE, AND I DON'T WANT THIS BOARD TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT CONCEPT. THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ONE ANOTHER.

BUT I WILL SAY, LIKE HAVING TO DRIVE FROM WICKENBURG TO PRESCOTT FOR JURY DUTY, THAT IS A, BECAUSE THEY GOT CALLED FOR A SUPERIOR COURT TRIAL, THOSE ARE ALL HELD IN, I MEAN, LOOK, JURY DUTY, PEOPLE GET CALLED FROM SELIGMAN TO GO TO JURY DUTY IN PRESCOTT.

MAY I CONTINUE? SO, YOU KNOW, TO SUPERVISOR MALLORY'S POINT, I AGREE THAT THESE SALARIES ARE HIGH AND WE ALSO DO MERIT MORE DIVISION JUDGES IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, IN MY OPINION, AND WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT CENSUS TO JUSTIFY THAT.

BUT I BELIEVE THESE ARE ESSENTIAL POSITIONS, AND I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE AT ODDS WITH OUR SUPPORT OF OUR JUSTICE COURTS. I THINK YOU'VE HEARD SUPPORT FOR THOSE JUSTICE COURTS AND THOSE CLERK POSITIONS FROM THIS BOARD BROADLY, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THE TWO ISSUES SHOULD BE PITTED AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. AND I DO BELIEVE WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF SUCH A DECISION. SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT STRICT 50-50 FUNDING AT THIS POINT? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE BEST OPTION, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD STRIVE FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE COMING INTO ALIGNMENT WITH STATUTE AND WHAT'S FAIR AND CORRECT MAKES SENSE. UH, BUT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROCESS IN THAT TO AVOID ANY SINCERE DISRUPTIONS. THANK YOU.

I JUST WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IT'S NOT ONE COURT.

IT'S ALL COURTS, AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? WHAT'S ALL COURTS? YES.

SO WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, ON THE 50-50 SUPERVISOR CHECK, SO WE ARE NOT PAYING THE 50.

WE'RE PAYING A LITTLE MORE.

BUT YOU, JUDGE.

YEAH, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S DISRESPECTFUL.

I DIDN'T TAKE IT THAT WAY.

JUDGE, YOU HAVE ELIMINATED AN ABSOLUTE POSITION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT POSITION HELD, BUT YOU MENTIONED IT WAS ABOUT $113,000, I THINK, KEVIN, WHEN SUPERVISOR JENKINS ASKED WHAT THAT EQUATED TO.

CORRECT, AND WE'RE PULLING UP THE POSITION FROM LAST YEAR THAT WAS CUT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT DATA FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.

AND SO I'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THAT POSITION WAS.

BUT WITH EVERYTHING BEING SAID, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I STILL BELIEVE, AND I ALWAYS HAVE SINCE I GOT HERE, THAT THE COURTS NEED TO BE A PARTNER FOR US, AND I WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS SAY THAT, JUST SO YOU KNOW.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT, YOU KNOW.

I'M DISSING WHAT YOU SAID, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL GETTING A VERY BIG EDUCATION HERE.

I KNOW I AM.

BUT I REALLY THINK THAT GOING FORWARD, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

WE STILL NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT, BUT DEFINITELY GOING FORWARD.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM OR OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE TO GOING FORWARD, LOOKING AT REDUCING THE PRO TEM SALARY TO COME INTO LINE.

[08:45:01]

ONE MORE SUPERVISOR.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I JUST, THIS CONVERSATION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT AGAIN ONCE WE FIND OUT WHAT THE FUNDING IS THIS YEAR.

BECAUSE IF IT'S MORE, AND THAT WOULD, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS, THAT WOULD HELP WITH THE 68-32 SPLIT, THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO FUND THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT.

BUT WE GET MORE FUNDING, THAT'S GOING TO EASE UP THAT RATIO.

SO I THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS ONGOING UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THAT FIGURE IS FROM THE STATE.

AND, JUDGE, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, BUT I'M WAY OVER TIME, AND I ALLOWED IT FOR THE CONVERSATION.

BUT I APPRECIATE IT.

I APPRECIATE IT, TOO.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

YEAH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING FUTURE CONVERSATIONS IF WE NEED TO.

YES, SIR.

CHAIR, JUST TO CONCLUDE THAT CORRECTLY, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE FUNDING, SO IT'S NOT UNFUNDED.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.

IT WAS PUT IN THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS FUNDED BASED ON THEIR ANALYSIS, AND YOU ARE CORRECT.

THE JUDGE HAS SAID IF ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE IN, THERE WOULD BE A DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLY CHANGING THE DISTRIBUTION.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

WE CAN SQUEEZE ONE MORE IN.

IS THAT ONE MORE IN BEFORE WE GO TO LUNCH? PARDON ME? OKAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

YOU'RE UP.

I AM UP.

I DON'T THINK I'VE MET MANY OF YOU, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO...

HAVING A RELATIONSHIP? I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE VISITED MY OFFICE, MAYBE FOR A PASSPORT OR A MARRIAGE LICENSE OR EVEN A SUPERIOR COURT CASE OR IF YOU'VE BEEN CALLED FOR JURY DUTY.

BUT I INVITE YOU TO COME DOWN AND SEE WHAT WE DO.

I'VE LISTED THE DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE BUT THE LIST DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

SO AGAIN, OPEN INVITATION.

COME DOWN TO MY OFFICE AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT OUR OFFICE IS ALL ABOUT.

FIRST I WANTED TO SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 ACHIEVEMENTS.

I MET WITH OUR VENDOR YESTERDAY, COFILE, AND THEY ARE IMAGING OUR OLD RECORDS.

EXCEPT FOR IMAGING BETWEEN 500 AND 600 MAPS, THIS PROJECT IS ON SCHEDULE TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.

IMAGING THE MAPS SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN A WEEK AND WE WILL THEN VERIFY THE IMAGES ARE ACCESSIBLE IN CONTACT THE STATE LIBRARY WHO WILL COME AND PICK UP THE BOXES.

THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE COUNTY WITH ADDITIONAL SPACE AT THE PROSSER STREET FACILITY AND DID NOT IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND AT ALL.

THIS ALL CAME OUT OF MY 145-CLICK DOCK STORAGE FUND.

SO, WE GOT A MAJOR PROJECT DONE AND IT DIDN'T COST THE GENERAL FUND.

OKAY, I HAVE SUBMITTED THREE EXHIBIT 3, THESE REQUESTS ARE BEING MADE DUE TO THE INCREASE IN MY OFFICE'S WORKLOAD AND EFFICIENCY OF THE LEGAL PROCESS.

MY FIRST REQUEST WAS FOR TWO COURTROOM CLERK POSITIONS.

THOUGH TWO ARE NEEDED, THIS REQUEST COULD BE REDUCED TO ONE.

THE REQUEST WOULD RELIEVE SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL DUTIES MY OFFICE HAS TAKEN OVER IN THE PAST YEAR.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE LOGISTICS OF IT, THE FACT IS MY OFFICE IS HANDLING MORE PAPERWORK, MORE CASES THAN WE HAVE BEFORE.

WHEN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 202507 WAS IMPLEMENTED, OUR 25-26 BUDGETS HAD ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED.

REALIZING THE IMPACT THIS AO WOULD HAVE ON MY OFFICE, WE TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS TO FIND SOME EXTRA MONEY FOR AN ADDITIONAL COURTROOM CLERK.

WE SAW THE NUMBERS FOR JUST INITIAL APPEARANCES RISE OVER 127% FROM APRIL TO MAY IN 2025.

WITH AO-202601, MY OFFICE WAS TAKEN ON AN EVEN HEAVIER LOAD, 234% INCREASE FROM APRIL 2025 TO MARCH 2026.

I MADE THE DECISION TO GIVE UP MY THIRD DEPUTY JURY COMMISSIONER POSITION TO GET AN ADDITIONAL COURT.

CLERK 3, WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST AS BOTH A COURTROOM CLERK AND A DEPUTY JURY COMMISSIONER.

THIS TEMPORARY SOLUTION HAS CARRIED US UP TO THIS POINT.

AO 2026-04 ALLOWS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO FILE

[08:50:01]

MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL CASES IN SUPERIOR COURT.

IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, WE OPENED A TOTAL OF 50 MISDEMEANOR CASES, AND WE HAVE OPENED 42 CASES SO FAR IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.

THE RESULT OF ADDING THIS EXTRA WORK TO MY COURTROOM CLERKS IS ALREADY TAKING ITS TOLL.

MINUTE ENTRIES, SENTENCING ORDERS ARE BEING DELAYED, RUSHING CAUSES, CARELESS MISTAKES, AND MISPROCESSES.

SUPERVISORS ARE HAVING TO ATTEND COURT HEARINGS RESULTING IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES BEING SET ASIDE.

CROSS-TRAINING IS TAKING LONGER, AND CLERK BURNOUT IS INEVITABLE.

THIS REQUEST SERVES THE PUBLIC.

THEY RECEIVED THEIR MINUTE ENTRY ORDERS IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT INMATES WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRANSPORTED TO DOC EXPEDITIOUSLY.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THE ORDERS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THEM TO EVEN TRANSPORT SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO DOC, AND ANY DELAY MEANS COST TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL HOUSED HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY.

I ALSO REQUESTED A THIRD DEPUTY JURY COMMISSIONER TO BE PERMANENTLY STATIONED AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER.

I APPRECIATE THE RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE MY BUDGET TO ALLOW US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A NEW JURY SYSTEM ABILITIES TO SUMMON JURIES.

WE'LL HELP WITH THE WORKLOAD ASSOCIATED WITH JURY TRIALS.

THE THING IS, OUR JUDGES ARE LIMITED ON WHEN THEY CAN GET THE TRIAL SET, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE SETTING ONE DOWNTOWN, I DON'T HAVE A DEPUTY JURY COMMISSIONER AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER.

THAT JUDGE CAN'T SET IT THERE.

SO I'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, OUR DEPUTY JURY COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE...

YEAH, RUNNING FROM ONE BUILDING TO ANOTHER.

I DO HAVE A PERMANENT ONE OVER IN THE VERDE, SO THE VERDE IS SET.

AND I AM OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO? SUPERVISOR JENKINS? SUPERVISOR MALLORY? VICE CHAIR CHECK? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

IT'S APPRECIATED.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL DOWN AT MY OFFICE.

WE'RE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH.

SINCE WE'VE GONE ALONG, WE'LL JUST COME BACK AT 12:15, SO WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE OVER 30 MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

OR AFTERNOON, EXCUSE ME.

12:15.

WE'RE BACK FIRST? BETTER BE ABLE TO SEE.

CONSTABLES GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

CHAIR COMPTON, VICE CHAIR CECH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, RON WILLIAMS, PRESCOTT CONSTABLE, AND THE ASSOCIATE PRESIDING CONSTABLE, ALSO DONNIE OWEN, MAYOR CONSTABLE, AND THE PRESIDING CONSTABLE.

PERFECT.

DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION AT ALL? WELL, I HAVE A SHORT, JUST A SHORT.

STATEMENT.

SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE ARE FIVE ELECTED CONSTABLES.

CURRENTLY, WE'RE DOWN TO FOUR.

THE SELIGMAN CONSTABLE RESIGNED.

OF THE FOUR REMAINING CONSTABLES, WE HAVE A COMBINED TOTAL OF ABOUT 130 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE.

THE CONSTABLES HAVE THREE OFFICES, VERDE, PRESCOTT, AND MAYER.

THE YARNELL AND SELIGMAN CONSTABLES WORK OUT OF THEIR CARS AND OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

THE CONSTABLES AS A WHOLE, WE HAVE NO STAFF.

WE DO EVERYTHING FOR THE OFFICE.

WE TAKE THE TRASH OUT.

WE ANSWER THE PHONES.

WE DO THE BANK RUNS.

WE DO THE EVICTIONS.

WE SERVE THE PAPERS, ALL THE MANDATED REPORTING WE DO.

OUR DUTIES INCLUDE ENFORCING THE ORDERS OF THE COURT, SUCH AS ASSET SEIZURES AND EVICTIONS.

WE SERVE PROCESSES FOR THE JUSTICE COURT, INCLUDING SUMMONSES, SUBPOENAS, AND OTHER ORDERS OF THE COURT.

WE ALSO ASSIST THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS NEEDED.

THEY ASSIST US A LOT AS NEEDED.

WE SERVE HEARING NOTICES FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ON REQUEST.

WE SERVE HUMAN RESOURCE TERMINATION HEARING NOTICES UPON REQUEST.

AND WE JUST TRY TO BE AS HELPFUL TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY AS WE CAN.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE PAY TIER STRUCTURE? I KNOW SOME OF US HEARD ABOUT IT.

I WILL DO MY BEST.

IT'S A BIT OF A CONVOLUTED MESS.

CONSTABLES ARE THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTY THAT HAVE THEIR PAY SET AS A RANGE THAT HAS TO BE DETERMINED BY ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL, AS OPPOSED TO EITHER A SET SALARY OR BEING A FUNCTION OF THEIR JOB EFFORT, LIKE THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

CONSTABLES HAVE SEVERAL

[08:55:01]

THRESHOLDS THEY HAVE TO MEET TO DETERMINE WHAT SALARY THEY'RE IN.

THE INITIAL THRESHOLD IS DO YOU SERVE MORE THAN 100 PAPERS A YEAR OR LESS THAN 100 PAPERS A YEAR? THAT'S ONE THRESHOLD.

AND FOR THAT THRESHOLD, IF YOU SERVE LESS THAN 100 PAPERS A YEAR, YOUR SALARY IS SET FROM $0 TO $20,000.

IF YOU SERVE MORE THAN 100 PAPERS A YEAR, THEN THE STATUTE LOOKS AT HOW BIG IS YOUR JUSTICE PRECINCT IN TERMS OF REGISTERED VOTERS.

BASED ON WHAT, THERE ARE, I BELIEVE, FOUR TIERS OF REGISTERED VOTER TIERS.

AND EACH ONE HAS A RANGE OF SALARIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, VERDE VALLEY AND PRESCOTT AND MAYER ARE ALL WHAT'S CONSIDERED TOP TIER OF 16,000 OR MORE VOTERS.

SO OUR SALARY RANGE IS $55,000 TO $75,000. OKAY. BAGHDAD YARNELL SERVES OVER 100 PAPERS A YEAR NOWADAYS, AND BASED ON HIS 6,000 REGISTERED VOTERS OR THEREABOUTS, HIS SALARY IS ZERO TO THIRTY THOUSAND. AND SELIGMAN, WHEN THERE'S A CONSTABLE THERE, HAS NEVER SERVED MORE THAN 100 PAPERS A YEAR, SO HE'S ALWAYS CAPPED AT THE ZERO TO TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR REFERENCES SELIGMAN AND THE CONSTABLE UP THERE? NO, I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO, LIKE I SAW THAT THERE WAS A BUMP UP FOR YARNELL, AND I THINK THE SAME WOULD PROBABLY APPLY TO THE SELIGMAN CONSTABLE. THERE IS ONE GENTLEMAN THAT THREW INTO THAT, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE HE'S GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB TO FIT THE PIECES. AND HAVING THE PAY AT $10,000, I WORRY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF PERSON THAT WILL HAVE APPLYING FOR THAT POSITION.

AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT EVICT PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOUSES.

IT'S NOT A SAFE JOB.

IT COMES WITH SOME RISKS, SO I'M JUST LOOKING TO PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING THERE AS HAS HAPPENED IN YARNELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT.

I MEAN, I WOULD, WHEN I SAW THAT IN SELIGMAN MYSELF, I MEAN, I CERTAINLY CONCUR WITH SUPERVISOR KUKNYO IN REFERENCE TO THE DISTRICT.

I CERTAINLY DO.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I HAVE WHAT YOU GAVE ME AND WHAT HE JUST SAID.

YOU STILL HAVE IT.

I WANT TO MAKE A COPY FOR THE FOLKS IF YOU EVER WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE RANGES ARE.

I WOULD CONCUR WITH SUPERVISOR KUKNYO TO HAVE THE $20,000 AND THE $20,000.

AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE OTHER THREE AT $75,000.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY? I AGREE WITH WHAT HAS BEEN SAID.

I KNOW THAT WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN NEW AFTER YOU FOLKS RETIRE, YOU'RE GOING TO START THEM OVER.

BUT I THINK IT MERITS RIGHT NOW THAT WE JUST GO TO THE FULLEST.

VICE CHAIR CHECK? WE COME BACK FROM LUNCH AND WE'RE SO GENEROUS ALL OF A SUDDEN.

YOU GUYS REALLY GOT THE NICE PLACEMENT IN THE SCHEDULE.

SAY THANK YOU.

MY ONLY CONCERN IS I THINK.

AS YOU NOTED, 130 YEARS IN COMBINED EXPERIENCE WITH ALL OF THE FOUR OF US.

CORRECT.

IT'S THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

AND SO, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME ORDER TO WHY YOU WOULD HAVE AN INCREASE AFTER A TERM BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE BUILDING IN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET REWARDED FOR THE TIME SERVED.

THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE HAD DIFFICULTY HOLDING A CONSTABLE IN SELIGMAN.

I THINK, PRIOR TO MY ELECTION OR AROUND THAT TIME, THAT WAS WHEN TWIST WAS APPOINTED, AND IT'S BEEN NOT VERY LONG SINCE LOSING HIM.

SO, I SUPPORT THIS BROADLY, BUT ALSO SUPPORT REVERTING BACK TO THAT STRUCTURE IN THE FUTURE OF HAVING TERMS. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I'LL JUST SAY I'M HAPPY THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS TO ALL THE SUPERVISORS' ATTENTION, AND I CERTAINLY CONCUR WITH MY FELLOW SUPERVISORS, AND I'M IN THE SAME POSITION.

MR. MOREAU.

JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

SO, THE CONSTABLES DID SEND A REQUEST IN JUST SO YOU KNOW BY STATUTE AS WAS MENTIONED THERE'S A RANGE ASSIGNED FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN JUNE.

BY STATUTE IT HAS TO BE AT YOUR JUNE MEETING.

SO, WE WILL HAVE THAT ON THE AGENDA.

I ACTUALLY ALREADY PUT IT ON THE AGENDA BASED ON A REQUEST PROVIDED BY THE CONSTABLES WHICH THE BOARD.

CAN CHANGE.

IN OTHER WORDS, I STARTED WITH THAT REQUEST, AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP A LITTLE BIT TOMORROW OR WHENEVER, EVEN TODAY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT, THAT'S THE POINT IN TIME WE CAN AMEND IT.

THEY HAVE SET THEIR REQUEST, AND IF THEY WANT TO SUBMIT A DIFFERENT REQUEST PRIOR TO THAT, WE CAN TALK, BUT IT IS ON FOR YOUR JUNE AGENDA.

GENTLEMEN, ANYTHING ELSE?

[09:00:04]

I BELIEVE THAT'S IT.

THAT WAS QUICK.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE THE BRIEFNESS, AND I APPRECIATE AS CALM AS IT WAS.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

IS THIS THE POINT WHEN WE MOVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO THE END OF THE MEETING? I COULDN'T REMEMBER.

MR. MCGRAIN, GOOD AFTERNOON.

IS YOUR MIC ON, SIR? IT IS NOW.

THERE YOU GO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THERE WE GO.

IS THIS AN ATTORNEY'S POWERPOINT? IT IS.

TO MY RIGHT SITS TARA HUGHLEY, THE BRAINS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OPERATIONS IN MY OFFICE.

TO MY LEFT IS BILL HUSEY, MY CHIEF DEPUTY.

SO I'VE GOT A POWERPOINT TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU GUYS ARE NOT SHY TODAY.

INTERJECTING AND ASKING QUESTIONS SO PLEASE DO SO AS WE GO ALONG.

HONESTLY MR. MCGRAIN THAT CAME FROM LAST YEAR WHEN WE WEREN'T I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, WE WEREN'T BUILT UP OKAY? I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT BUDGET YEAR, THINGS WERE SITTING FOR A YEAR.

SO, THIS IS THE KIND OF THE INTERTWINED ISSUE THAT WE'RE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A THREE-PART PROBLEM BUT IT'S INTERTWINED.

UNDERSTAFFING LEADS TO ADDITIONAL BURDENS, ADDITIONAL BURDENS LEADS TO RETENTION ISSUE.

RETENTION ISSUE IS A RECRUITING ISSUE AND IT JUST FEEDS ON ITSELF.

SO I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO IN THE CRIMINAL DIVISION, THE UNDERSTAFFING, WE ARE JUST NOT THE SAME AS WE WERE.

AGAIN, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS ALMOST 31 YEARS.

IT'S NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN I STARTED.

THINGS WERE, I HATE TO SAY SIMPLER BECAUSE THEY WERE COMPLEX, BUT EVERYTHING IS JUST MORE COMPLEX NOW.

BODY CAMERAS, GPS, PHONES, TABLETS, MULTIPLE PHONES, MULTIPLE TABLETS, MULTIPLE COMPUTERS.

YOU'VE GOT TO PUT ALL THAT GARBAGE TOGETHER IN A CRIMINAL CASE.

IT CAN BE TOUGH.

WE ARE, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE A NEW SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY AND IT IS, IT, IT CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US TO START WITH, MAKING THE ADJUSTMENT FROM THE WAY WE USED TO DO THINGS TO THE WAY WE'RE DOING THINGS NOW.

AND I MENTIONED IT LAST YEAR.

I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED IT AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

WE WERE JUST NOT STAFFED FOR THAT, AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY BUMPY ROAD.

WE LOST SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE STRESS IT PUT ON THEM.

IT'S VERY TOUGH WHEN YOUR FRIENDS THAT YOU WENT TO LAW SCHOOL WITH ARE EARNING, YOU KNOW, TWO TIMES PLUS MORE WORKING, SOMETIMES LESS HOURS.

AND SOME PEOPLE CAME FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE THEY WERE GETTING THAT PRIVATE MONEY, AND THEN THEY CAME TO THE OFFICE AND WE BURDENED THEM, OVERBURDENED THEM, AND THEIR WIFE, THE KIDS ARE AT HOME GOING, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, LESS THINGS, AND YET YOU'RE WORKING MORE THAN YOU USED TO.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

SO WE ACHIEVED A CERTAIN LEVEL OF BURNOUT, AND I'M GOING TO STICK IT IN HERE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S ON THE SLIDE COMING UP.

WE'VE HAD A POSITION OPEN FOR ALMOST SIX MONTHS.

THAT WAS OUR FIRST OF NOW THREE OPENINGS.

WE HAVE A DEARTH OF APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITIONS IN THE OFFICE, ATTORNEY POSITIONS SPECIFICALLY.

IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

I'M WORKING WITH HR.

THE PREVIOUS HR DIRECTOR DIDN'T CARE, QUESTION MARK.

THIS, THE CURRENT ONE, I HAVE A TOTAL FAITH IN, SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE PROGRESS.

SO UNDERSTAND AT SOME POINT DURING THIS BUDGET YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO COME AT YOU WITH A PLAN TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT SHORTFALL.

SEE IF WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS LINE OF WORK AGAIN.

I'M NOT GOING TO READ EVERY SLIDE OR EVERY POINT ON HERE.

CASELOADS ARE TOO HIGH.

I WILL TELL YOU, NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE THREE OPENINGS.

I'VE GOT TWO PEOPLE ON FMLA AND I'VE GOT ONE ON MILITARY ORDERS.

SO IT'S PROBLEMATIC.

THE CIVIL DIVISION IS, AGAIN, THINGS AREN'T THE WAY THEY WERE WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS JOB.

SO THERE'S HIGHER DEMANDS.

THE PREVIOUS COUNTY MANAGER STARTED A PROGRAM WHERE ALL THE AGENDA ITEMS, AND I DON'T RECALL IF THAT WAS BEFORE.

I DON'T, I MEAN, SUPERVISOR MALLORY, YOU WERE HERE UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM AND NOW THERE'S THE NEW SYSTEM.

I THINK THE REST OF YOU, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

WE ARE NOT RESOURCED FOR THAT.

I LET HIM KNOW THAT.

HE MADE SOME PROMISES.

PRESENTLY, THE DRAFT BUDGET

[09:05:02]

DOESN'T INCLUDE DEALING WITH THAT, SO I WILL PROBABLY BE PULLING BACK ON THAT.

I'VE GOT TO GET MY PEOPLE DOWN TO A SEMBLANCE OF A LIFE.

I'VE GOT THEM WORKING REGULARLY OVER 50 HOURS A WEEK.

THAT'S TOTAL BURNOUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF WE WERE PAYING THEM PRIVATE DOLLARS.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY, YOU WENT INTO DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

FAIR ENOUGH.

NO, NO.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE THIS PROGRAM ANYMORE, WHATEVER IT WAS THAT...

NO, WE ARE REVIEWING EVERY AGENDA ITEM.

IS IT AGENDA QUICK? AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? AGENDA QUICK, IT GOES THROUGH MY OFFICE.

SOME REQUIRE REVIEW, SOME REALLY DON'T.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF LAST MINUTE HUSTLE.

I THINK THEY'RE DUE TO MY OFFICE BY FRIDAY.

FOR YOUR AGENDA, I WANT TO SAY YOU'RE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF LATE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY TYPE LOOKING OVER THINGS.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT USED TO HAPPEN IS WE'D REVIEW A CONTRACT, GRANT APPLICATION, ET CETERA.

WE WOULD SEND IT BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, DO X, Y, AND Z, AND OFF IT WENT, RIGHT? AND THEN IT WOULD BE PUT ON A BOARD AGENDA.

WE DIDN'T LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

SO I THINK I WAS LISTENING TO THE TREASURER THE OTHER DAY.

HE HAD A 350-PAGE CONTRACT.

WELL, I KNOW THAT WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THE VENDOR.

THAT THING THEN HAS TO GET, THAT 350 PAGES HAVE TO GET REVIEWED AGAIN TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING DIDN'T GET INSERTED, THAT THE CLAUSES ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

SO THAT ENDS UP GETTING LOOKED AT MULTIPLE TIMES.

IN THE OLD DAYS, WE'D LOOK AT IT ONCE AND SAY, MAKE THESE CHANGES, HAVE A NICE DAY.

WE'LL PROBABLY GET BACK TO A SYSTEM LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, I KNOW, I'M LOOKING RIGHT ACROSS AT PHIL.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED BETWEEN YOU AND THE PREVIOUS COUNTY MANAGER, BUT...

I WOULDN'T HAVE LET IT HAPPEN TO START WITH, BUT FOR THE PROMISES.

RIGHT.

BUT I UNDERSTAND HE'S NOT HERE.

YOU'RE NOT BOUND TO HIS PROMISES.

YOU NEVER WERE.

BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY, AND I JUST NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO...

YEAH, AND THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING.

AND THERE'S...

THERE HAVE BEEN ACTIONS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS PRIOR TO TODAY THAT HAVE HAD CONSEQUENCES, AND WE ARE ALL STILL FEELING THE PAIN.

SO THANK YOU.

UNDERSTOOD.

YES, WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROMISES AS WELL, SIR.

I'D SAY THAT AGAIN.

WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROMISES.

OH, UNDERSTOOD.

IT IS BETTER AS A CIVIL DIVISION OPERATE TO PROACTIVELY, BUT THAT TAKES RESOURCES.

I TALKED ABOUT THAT.

SO I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO TRY TO DEAL WITH APPROPRIATELY STAFFED, REACTIVE STAFF.

SO TOTAL REQUESTS WERE ABOUT 10 FULL-TIME, 1 PART-TIME.

THERE WERE, I KNOW THE COUNTY MANAGER HAS MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES, THAT THE DIVERSION PROGRAM IS...

PRESENTLY SLATED TO BE SAVED.

LET'S CALL IT SAVED.

SO THE ATTORNEY, THE SUPPORT STAFF, AND THE OUTSIDE FUNDING ARE IN THERE TO BE APPROVED.

OF COURSE, IT'S ALSO A VICTORY OR FINAL APPROVAL, RIGHT? THERE ARE ADDITIONAL REQUESTS I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU FOR RECONSIDERATION.

THE MAIN ONES ARE THE THREE SUB-BULLETS.

THEY'RE THE MOVE TO EXISTING ARPA ATTORNEYS.

SO WE HAVE TWO ATTORNEY POSITIONS THAT WILL END AND...

AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT WERE FUNDED BY ARPA, ASKING FOR ONE ADDITIONAL PROSECUTOR, ONE ADDITIONAL CIVIL ATTORNEY, WHICH THEN AGAIN I THINK WOULD HELP WITH THE BURNOUT, I THINK WOULD HELP WITH THE LOAD THAT THEY'RE CARRYING, AND THEN THE LEGAL PARAPROFESSIONAL POSITION.

I'M GOING TO GO TO THESE IN MORE DETAIL.

THERE ARE SOME OTHERS THAT ARE LESS CRITICAL THAT WE CAN LIMP ALONG WITHOUT, BUT THOSE THREE HIGHLIGHTED ARE.

ARE HERE.

THOSE ATTORNEYS CONSTITUTE 13% OF MY TRIAL ATTORNEYS IN SUPERIOR COURT.

SO WITHOUT THEM, BASICALLY I'M REDUCED IN FORCE AT 13% AT THE FELONY LEVEL.

CAN'T TAKE THAT.

SO IF YOU CAN'T FUND THOSE POSITIONS, I WILL HAVE TO SHIFT RESOURCES IN THE OFFICE INTERNALLY.

THAT'S JUST WHAT I'LL HAVE TO DO.

I'M AFRAID, BASED ON TODAY'S EARLIER DISCUSSION, TO TELL YOU HOW THAT WOULD WORK, BUT THAT'S HOW IT WOULD WORK.

OKAY, THE JUSTICE COURTS I'M NOT REQUIRED TO STAFF, AND SO I

[09:10:01]

COULD PULL THE RESOURCES FROM THE JUSTICE COURT ENTIRELY AND SHIFT THEM INTO A SUPERIOR COURT.

NEXT TO THAT WOULD BE THE CIVIL DIVISION THAT DOESN'T REPRESENT THE BOARD.

BUT REPRESENTS THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THAT IS A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF RESOURCES.

I WAS HOPING YOU WERE GOING DOWN THE AVENUE OF INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, SINCE YOU'RE SHY ON RESOURCES FOR THE BOARD ITSELF.

WE WOULD, IF THE BOARD THINKS IT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO GO OUT AND HIRE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL AT $300 PLUS AN HOUR WHEN WE'RE DOING IT FOR WELL UNDER $100, THAT IS THE BOARD'S PREROGATIVE.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S NOT.

IT'S NOT FISCAL.

I HAVE TO HAVE FUN WITH YOU EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU'RE IN FRONT OF ME.

YOU DO.

IT'S THE WAY IT GOES.

IT'S LIKE, DID CRAIG BROWN, LIKE, GIVE YOU THAT MANTLE? IS THAT WHAT? OKAY.

TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S JUST THE DEMANDS GROW, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE PROSECUTORS THAT I PRESENTLY HAVE DO NOT HAVE THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE TO HANDLE THE LOADS THAT THEY USED TO BE ABLE TO DO.

RETIREMENTS HAPPEN, RIGHT? I'VE GOT ANOTHER, ONE OF MY MOST EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS HAS ANNOUNCED SHE'S GOING TO RETIRE IN OCTOBER? OCTOBER.

THOSE ARE HARD SHOES TO FILL.

THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS TRY TO STEAL SOMEBODY FROM ANOTHER COUNTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A STATEWIDE PROBLEM.

AND SO I'M JUST EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM BY STEALING FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.

BUT WE DO IT ALL THE TIME.

AND OF COURSE, THE DANGER IN THAT IS, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE DON'T FIT IN WELL WITH THE STAFF.

WE'VE BEEN PRETTY GOOD AT FILTERING THEM OUT, BUT NOT PERFECT BY ANY MEANS.

I LIKE TO GROW THEM INTERNALLY IF POSSIBLE, IF THAT'S A BETTER WAY TO PUT IT.

SO I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

THERE IS A CERTIFIED LEGAL PARAPROFESSIONAL PROGRAM THAT THE STATE BAR, THE SUPREME COURT AUTHORIZED.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT THEY ARE DOING TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL OF ATTORNEYS IN THE STATE.

THERE IS, AND I KNOW IT'S ON HERE SOMEWHERE, WE HAVE A LEGAL DESERT IN ARIZONA.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS CALLED IT THAT.

THE RURAL AREAS SUFFER EVEN MORE.

AND, OF COURSE, THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR SUFFERS THE WORST OF ALL OF THAT.

SO GOVERNMENT IN THE RURAL AREAS SUFFER THE WORST.

SO THEY'VE CREATED THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. ONE WAS A PROGRAM TO ALLOW ATTORNEYS THAT ARE IN STATES THAT JUST CAN'T COME TO ARIZONA.

THEY CAN'T.

RECIPROCITY, RIGHT? THEY CAN'T GET RECIPROCITY.

CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THOSE STATES.

WE DON'T GET RECIPROCITY.

THEY DON'T.

WE'VE MADE AN EXCEPTION.

BASICALLY, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SIGN ON TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF INDENTURED SERVITUDE, YOU CAN COME TO THE GOVERNMENT.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE FIRST ATTORNEY IN THE STATE IN THAT PROGRAM IN MY OFFICE.

AND IF THE MEMBERS OF THE PRESS WOULD NOT USE THE TERM INDENTURED SERVITUDE, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

IT IS, IT IS.

BY THE WAY, HE'S WORKING OUT FANTASTICALLY.

MAYBE YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? THEY HAVE A COMMITMENT BASICALLY TO DO FIVE YEARS, THREE YEARS IN THE OFFICE.

THEY CAN'T ALL OF A SUDDEN GET A BAR LICENSE AND GO, I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND MAKE BIG BUCKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THEY HAVE TO OBLIGATE THEMSELVES TO A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

SO A PUBLIC DEFENDER COULD DO IT.

THE PROBLEM IS GETTING A HOLD OF THEM AND YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU IT'S NOT LIKE THE CALIFORNIA PROSECUTORS ASSOCIATION IS GOING TO ALLOW ME TO GO IN AND SOLICIT THEIR PEOPLE TO COME WORK FOR ME.

THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP ME AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THEY SUFFER TOO.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SIT IN AN L.A.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WOULD LIKE TO ESCAPE.

THEY JUST DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE A PATH.

SO ANYWAY, THE CERTIFIED LEGAL PARAPROFESSIONAL PROGRAM IS...

A SECOND AVENUE, WHICH IS PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A BAR LICENSE BUT HAVE CERTAIN CREDENTIALS, CERTAIN TRAINING, ARE ALLOWED TO HANDLE CASES THAT JAIL IS NOT A POSSIBILITY.

SO IT'S BASICALLY MISDEMEANOR CASES WHERE WE HAVE DECLARED WE'RE NOT SEEKING JAIL AS A SANCTION.

THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO IT.

AND THE MISDEMEANOR UNIT, FRANKLY, IS THE ONE THAT'S TYPICALLY UNDERSTAFFED BECAUSE ANY TIME WE'RE SHORTHANDED IN THE FELONIES, WE JUST PULL THEM OUT OF MISDEMEANOR LAND AND THEN THEY'RE IN.

THEY'RE IN FELONY COURT, AND WE'RE TRAINING THEM THERE, AND THEY FIGURE IT OUT IN THE MISDEMEANOR WORLD.

WE'RE VERY, VERY LIMITED.

BASICALLY, WE'RE ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET, HAVE BEEN.

IT'S NOT JUST THIS BOARD.

IT'S EVERY BOARD THAT PUT US ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET.

GET IT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DEAL WITH.

SO I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST CERTIFIED LEGAL PARAPROFESSIONALS

[09:15:01]

IN THE OFFICE.

SHE WAS A PARALEGAL THAT WENT AND GOT HERSELF TRAINED.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO UTILIZE HER.

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW HER TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK AND SEE WHAT IT YIELDS FOR, YOU KNOW, THE PRESENT AND THE LONG TERM.

WE ALSO HAVE, VERY IMPORTANTLY ON THE BUDGET, WE HAVE SEVEN ATTORNEYS THAT THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR WILL REACH THEIR NEXT MARK TO BE PROMOTED.

WE PROMOTE AT THE, IF THEY MEET STANDARDS, WE PROMOTE THE TWO, FOUR, AND SEVEN YEAR MARK.

AND WE'VE GOT SEVEN ATTORNEYS THAT ARE ACHIEVING THAT.

IN ORDER TO RETAIN THESE PEOPLE, I NEED THE ABILITY TO PROMOTE THEM WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

I TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST BULLET THERE.

SO THEY'RE THE CAMELS THAT ARE NOW CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF ALL THESE VACANCIES, PLUS THE THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT OF THE OFFICE ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.

MAY I ASK A QUESTION? YEAH, PLEASE.

OH, CERTAINLY.

APOLOGIES.

THE THREE OPENINGS THAT YOU HAVE, HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN OPEN? I HAD, IT SAYS SIX PLUS MONTHS, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY FIVE PLUS.

IT'S JUST BARELY SHORT OF SIX MONTHS ON THE FIRST ONE.

AND THE OTHER TWO HAVE COME OPEN MORE RECENTLY, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON FILLING THE FIRST ONE.

DOES THAT HELP? IT DOES.

AND WHAT IS TYPICAL LENGTH OF FILL-UP POSITION? IF YOU HAD ASKED ME 10 YEARS AGO, I WOULD SAY ABOUT A MONTH.

OH YEAH, WE WOULD GET 25 APPLICATIONS, CULL THROUGH THEM, CALL 10 PEOPLE, FOUR HAD ALREADY TAKEN JOBS, YOU'D INTERVIEW SIX.

AND SO THEN YOU HAD A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE.

NOW I KNOW OFFICES ARE TO COMPETE.

THEY'RE EXPEDITING INTERVIEWS AND THEY'RE MAKING JOB OFFERS.

SO, WE HAVE TO REVAMP THE WAY WE'RE DOING THINGS, BECAUSE WE USED TO DO IT AS A BIG COMMITTEE OF SUPERVISORS, AND, AND IT WAS GREAT. IT WAS A GREAT SCREENING TOOL, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAD KIND OF A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT ANYMORE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET ON THESE PEOPLE. WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM A JOB OFFER, SO AT LEAST WE'RE IN COMPETITION. THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S VERY FEW, AND I WANT TO SAY WE HAD, I KNOW I HAD TARA LOOK THIS UP, SHE CAN TAP ON ME IF I GET IT WRONG, WE HAD SIX APPLICANTS. NO, FOUR WERE THROUGH. FOUR WERE THROUGH THEIR APPLICATIONS.

ONE WAS NOT THE BEST SUITED, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THE OTHER ONE. SCHEDULING, YEAH.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT WAS WITH A BIT OF FRUSTRATION WHEN I HEAR THAT THE HR DIRECTOR POSITION HAD 26 APPLICATIONS IN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD.

AND WE GOT SIX IN ALMOST A SIX-MONTH PERIOD.

THERE'S SOMETHING BROKEN.

I KNOW I'LL TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS I DISCOVERED ABOUT A WEEK AGO IS A STARTING DENTAL HYGIENIST MAKES MORE THAN MY ONE OF MY STARTING ATTORNEYS.

LET'S SEE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT IT COSTS.

THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE THAT I HAVE.

THIS KIND OF IS IN OUR BUDGET, NOT IN OUR BUDGET.

WE HAVE PBK IS OUR.

NERVOUS SYSTEM.

SO WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO GET ON CONTRACT WITH PVK TO KEEP IT.

THAT'S OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

IF YOU WERE TO WANDER AROUND MY OFFICE 10 YEARS AGO, IT'S ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO, YOU WOULD BE AT RISK OF AVALANCHE FROM BOXES AND BOXES OF FILES.

YOU CAN WALK THROUGH MY OFFICE NOW AND THERE'S NONE.

IN CASE ITS IS PRESENT, WE STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH STORAGE, BUT IN TERMS OF ADDING TO THAT STORAGE, WE DO VERY LITTLE TO NOTHING.

I THINK WE'RE NET NEGATIVE IN TERMS OF...

PULLING FILES BACK IN SCANNING.

BUT THIS IS OUR SYSTEM THAT KEEPS US GOING DAY TO DAY.

MY ATTORNEYS GO TO COURT WITH A COMPUTER, WHICH ON DAYS THE NETWORK'S DOWN IS A BIT PROBLEMATIC, BUT MOST DAYS THE NETWORK IS FINE AND IT'S GREAT.

BUT I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF THE ANALOGY OF THIS.

THIS WOULD BE LIKE TELLING THE SHERIFF, IF WE DON'T HAVE OUR PBK, IT WOULD BE LIKE TELLING THE SHERIFF, HORSES WILL DO.

THEY WOULD DO.

IT WOULD BE AWFUL.

AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT.

CHIEF DEPUTY NEWNUM WAS SITTING BEHIND YOU.

IT MAY BE FUN, BUT IT WOULD BE TERRIBLE.

AND THE WORST THING WOULD BE THE ITS WOULD HAVE TO FUND SOME SOURCE OF 41 TERABYTES IS WHAT WE'RE

[09:20:01]

CURRENTLY CONSUMING WITH JUST PVK.

JUST TO STATE THAT THAT IS, ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T.

RECOMMEND APPROVAL IN THE ITS BUDGET IS BECAUSE IT'S BEING COVERED BY, IT'S GOING TO BE COVERED BY THEIR FUNDING.

WE WORKED WITH THEM TO JUST COVER IT.

DIDN'T FEEL WE NEEDED TO ADD TO THE ITS BUDGET.

SO IF YOU SEE THAT IT'S NOT RECOMMENDED IN THEIR BUDGET, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S BEING ABSORBED BY EXISTING FUNDING.

SO I DON'T HAVE TO LOSE ANY SLEEP? THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR MY PRESENTATION.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, NOW I'LL LEAD OFF WITH YOU.

YOU KNOW, I JUST, I KNEW THIS STUFF WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

HOW DO WE EVER HAVE PERMANENT PEOPLE WITH TEMPORARY MONEY? WHEN I SAW THE SPENDING SPREE THAT WENT ON WITH ARPA, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT TWO POSITIONS THERE, AND WE JUST GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL MOVING FORWARD.

WHEN WE HAVE GRANT MONEY, IT'S TEMPORARY MONEY.

WHY ARE WE FUNDING THESE PERMANENT POSITIONS? IT'S AN EASY WAY OUT FOR THE SITTING BOARD.

BUT FUTURE BOARDS, THIS STUFF IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS, BUT WE JUST GOT TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION ABOUT THE TIME TO HIRE IS THERE'S A LOT OF NEW HIRES.

SO REALISTICALLY, IF YOU, WE DID, SAY THAT SOME OF THE NEW HIRES WOULD GO THROUGH, IS LIKE, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO EVEN BE IN THE BUDGET? THAT WAS WHERE MY QUESTION WAS COMING FROM, BECAUSE THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NEW HIRES IN THE ASK.

THAT'S WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MALLORY. THANK YOU, CHAIR.

UM, DENNIS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I KNOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS OPPORTUNITY TO PAY MUCH HIGHER, BUT, UM, WE DO THE BEST WE CAN. AND YOU, AND I HOPE THAT YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT KNOW THAT. OUR MONEY, OF COURSE, COMES FROM TAXPAYERS, WHICH ARE ALL SITTING IN THIS ROOM.

AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES, LET'S SAY, THAT WOULD LIKE MORE MONEY AN HOUR, THEN I'M GOING TO RAISE THEIR PROPERTY TAX.

SO, THERE'S KIND OF A BALANCE HERE.

I JUST RAISED YOUR TAX, YOU DO HAVE MORE MONEY, AND YOU GET TO PAY ME MORE.

SO, IT'S NOT...

BUT I JUST WANT TO, I JUST HOPE THAT YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT KNOW WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.

AND I'M SORRY I WISH WE COULD DO MORE, BUT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.

I UNDERSTAND, AND I KNOW THERE'S STUDIES, AND THEY LIKE TO SEE US TRYING.

AND OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THE BOARD OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO KEEP UP.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT.

I IDENTIFIED AGAIN TO THE PREVIOUS HR DIRECTOR THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE ISSUES, AND I SAID SALARY MIGHT BE ONE OF THE CAUSES.

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, LET'S DO SOME DIGGING.

SHE DID SOME DIGGING, DECLARED THAT SALARY WAS NOT AN ISSUE, WALKED AWAY.

WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I LOST A PROSECUTOR TO THE CITY OF PRESCOTT FOR ALMOST $19,000 A YEAR.

THERE IS A PROBLEM.

IT IS BROKEN.

VICE CHAIR CHIA? YEAH, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE LEGAL DESERT PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT IS PERSISTENT.

AND IN THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW, DECADE OR, YOU KNOW, AROUND THAT TIME, THE AMOUNT OF LAWYERS THAT HAVE REALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS URBAN AREAS AND AWAY FROM RURAL AREAS IS SEVERE.

SO I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

SUPERIOR COURT PROGRAMMING IS ATTEMPTING TO CULTIVATE INTEREST LOCALLY, AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

GROWING THEM FROM WITHIN IS THE RIGHT APPROACH.

SO I GUESS I DID JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT THE SPECIALIST YOU MENTIONED, DO THOSE INDIVIDUALS SEE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY WOULD? GET THE TRAINING NECESSARY TO MOVE INTO ONE OF THOSE ATTORNEY POSITIONS OR ARE THEY PRETTY MUCH GOING TO STAY THERE? DOES THAT, AM I MAKING SENSE? THE LEGAL PARAPROFESSIONAL? YES, THANK YOU.

I HAD NOT THOSE WORDS IN MY MOUTH.

I MAY BE MISSING THE QUESTION A LITTLE BIT.

SO, THOSE PARALEGAL POSITIONS WON'T EVER RAISE INTO ATTORNEY POSITIONS? IT WOULD TAKE SOMEBODY THE DESIRE TO, ON THEIR OWN, GO TO LAW SCHOOL. IT'S NOT THE EASIEST THING TO DO. THEY ARE, FRANKLY, THEY ARE MAKING IT EASIER.

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO PROGRAMS, AND I BELIEVE ASU IS GOING TO START ONE, AN ONLINE LAW DEGREE. SO, THIS PARTICULAR ONE, I BELIEVE, IS MOTIVATED ENOUGH TO, IN FACT, DO THAT SOMEDAY.

[09:25:03]

IS THAT FOR EVERYONE? NO.

I'VE TALKED TO A FEW POLICE OFFICERS THAT I KNOW ARE COMING UP ON RETIREMENT.

I'VE SENT THEM THE INFORMATION LIKE, HEY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE MOST OF THEM WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

AND THAT WOULD, IN MY MIND, ADD A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SECURITY IF I'M SENDING THEM TO MAYER AND SENDING THEM TO SELIGMAN.

NOW I'VE GOT SOMEBODY WHO'S ARMED SITTING IN A ROOM WITH A DEFENDANT.

I THINK IT WAS SUPERVISOR JENKINS MENTIONED THE ROOM.

IT'S NOT OUR CLIENT WE'RE SITTING WITH.

IT'S A DEFENDANT.

AND SO YOU'RE IN THIS LITTLE ROOM WITH SOMEBODY WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE HOSTILE.

WELL, I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONCERNS OF MY FELLOW SUPERVISORS, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR I MEAN, I ECHO SIMILARLY FROM MANY OF THEM, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED MARE AND SELIGMAN.

YOU FORGOT YARNELL.

AND THAT WOULD BE WHERE THEY WOULD NEED TO GO AS WELL.

I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HAVING ALL JUSTICE COURTS FULLY STAFFED WITH YOUR OFFICE BECAUSE I'M HERE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.

FAIR ENOUGH.

HAPPY TO HAVE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

KENNEDY, I SEE YOU THERE.

PUBLIC DEFENDER.

WHAT? GOOD AFTERNOON.

SORRY THAT WE TOOK SO LONG TODAY, BUT I THANK YOU FOR STAYING AROUND.

I THINK IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY TAKE SUCH AN ACTIVE ROLE, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AT LUNCH.

I'M KENNEDY CLEGGIE.

I'M THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

THIS IS JANINE HANNON.

SHE'S MY BUSINESS MANAGER.

AND C.B.

MISHBACH, HE IS MY CHIEF DEPUTY.

AND WE HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION, AND OF COURSE...

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST LET US KNOW AND WE WILL TRY TO ANSWER THEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

SO WE HAVE THREE UNITS IN THE OFFICE AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT THAT MANAGES THE OFFICE, MAKES SURE WE'RE COMPLIANT WITH STATE STATUTES AND LAW, MANAGES ANY GRANT FUNDING, AND THEN ALSO WORKS TO SECURE CONTRACT COUNSEL FOR OUR CONFLICT CASES.

WE HAVE A CRIMINAL UNIT.

THEY REPRESENT ADULTS AND CHILDREN THROUGH ALL STAGES OF CRIMINAL CASES IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, FROM MISDEMEANOR TO CAPITAL CASES, FROM JUST REGULAR APPEALS TO SPECIAL ACTIONS AND POST-CONVICTION RELIEF.

WE ALSO HAVE A CIVIL UNIT.

OUR CIVIL UNIT REPRESENTS CHILDREN IN CIVIL COURT.

THEY'RE PARTICULARLY RELATED TO WHEN THE AG FILES TO REMOVE YOUR CHILDREN FROM YOUR HOME.

WE WOULD REPRESENT A LARGE PORTION OF THOSE PEOPLE.

GUARDIANSHIPS, WE DO GUILTY ACCEPTANCE AND REPRESENTATION, CIVIL COMMITMENTS, SEXUALLY VIOLENT PEOPLE, WE DO IT ALL.

WE HAVE LOTS OF FUN. THIS YEAR, OUR BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE THAT WE REALLY, WE GOT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN DONE THE END OF LAST YEAR, AND WE'VE REALLY WORKED ON TRYING TO IMPLEMENT AND MOVE THOSE ISSUES FORWARD. WE HAVE REVAMPED OUR JOB POSTINGS, AND WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AND THEN, ALSO, WE HAVE CROSS-TRAINED EVERY SINGLE SUPPORT STAFF MEMBER IN THE OFFICE AND CREATED POSITION MANUALS TO ENSURE THAT IF SOMEBODY IS OUT OR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, OR WHEN SOMEBODY LEAVES, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FILL THOSE GAPS QUICKLY AND PIVOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICE LEVEL REMAINS THE SAME. YOU BE IN CHARGE OF THAT THEN? OKAY, SO THE DEPARTMENT GOALS FOR THIS YEAR, WE'RE HOPING TO GET UP AND RUNNING, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE DATA TRANSFER OF OUR ELECTRONIC FILES TO THE NEW SYSTEM THROUGH THE CLOUD OF THE INTERNET HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS NEVER GO SMOOTHLY, BUT WE HAVE CAPITALIZED ON THAT DELAY.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TESTING IN THE NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE DO GO TO IT, WE'RE READY TO JUST KEEP ROLLING.

SO WE'VE TRIED TO TURN THAT SMALL BUMP INTO A POSITIVE.

WE HAVE DEVELOPED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS THAT REFLECT OUR OFFICE VALUES AND THE COUNTY'S VALUES SO THAT WE'RE HOPEFULLY SOLICITING BETTER CANDIDATES.

AND WE'VE ALSO REVAMPED OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO INCLUDE THOSE COUNTY VALUES AND ALSO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR VALUES THAT CAME OUT OF THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MOVING IN A GOOD DIRECTION TO SPEAK TO VACANCIES.

I'VE HAD AT LEAST TWO FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, ATTORNEY POSITIONS.

SO RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM, BUT WE FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO RETAIN, TO RECRUIT THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

[09:30:01]

AND SO, WE HAVE BEEN VERY SELECTIVE ABOUT WHO WE ARE GOING TO INTERVIEW AND WHY.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT OBLIGATION IN THE SENSE THAT WE REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS' INTERESTS, AND WE HAVE A DIFFERENT OBLIGATION TO THEM LEGALLY.

AND SO, WE HAVE TO MAYBE BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

AND WE ALSO HAVE BEEN, LIKE THE PROGRAM FOR THE PARALEGALS OR WHATEVER, THEY CAN'T REPRESENT PEOPLE FACING JAIL, AND ALMOST EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE IS FACING JAIL.

SO WE CAN'T DO THAT.

AND WE HAVE NOT EXPLORED RECIPROCITY BECAUSE THERE ARE 40 STATES.

THAT CAN WAVE INTO THE ARIZONA STATE BAR.

THERE'S ONLY 10 WHO CANNOT, OR 10 OTHER THAN ARIZONA, AND BEING FAMILIAR WITH ARIZONA LAW IS REALLY ESSENTIAL FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF OUR CLIENTS.

SO MOVING FORWARD, WE ARE WORKING HARD WITH HUMAN RESOURCES TO GENERATE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS RECRUITMENT AND TO TRY AND RETAIN THE RIGHT PEOPLE. WE ARE AGAIN TRYING TO WORK TOWARDS OUR NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND FINALLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPLORING A CONTRACTOR LIST FOR EXPERTS THAT WOULD WORK WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND CONTRACT ATTORNEYS ON CASES. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A FEE SCHEDULE. YOU CAN BRING ANYBODY TO US WHO'S QUALIFIED, AND IF THEY'LL TAKE WHAT WE PAY THEM, THAT'S GREAT.

WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PRO-PERS IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, AND THEIR ABILITY TO LOCATE THE EXPERT SERVICES THAT THEY NEED ON THEIR OWN IS, IS NOT GOING WELL. AND WE HAVE A LIMITED CAPACITY TO SUGGEST PEOPLE TO THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE REPRESENTING THEMSELVES, SO WE CAN'T STEP ON THOSE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND JUST MAYBE A LITTLE SMALL PRO-PER LIST FOR THEM WHEN THEY WISH TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES, SO THAT THEY CAN NAVIGATE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BETTER.

OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO KIND OF WHAT'S IN OUR BUDGET REQUESTS, BUT WE HAVE LOCATED A SYSTEM CALLED JUST TEXT. AND WHAT IT DOES IS, IT TAKES ALL AUDIO AND VIDEO AND TRANSCRIBES IT FOR YOU. IT ALSO SYNCS DIFFERENT BODY CAMS TO THE RIGHT TIME AND ROLLS THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME, SO YOU CAN WATCH THE WHOLE SCENE AT ONE TIME, WHICH WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO REVIEW AND PREPARE DISCLOSURE FOR EITHER ADVISING YOUR CLIENTS OR FOR PREPARING FOR TRIAL.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE USED THIS, ARE SEEING A 20%, 25% REDUCTION IN THE TIME THAT IT TAKES THEM TO BECOME PREPARED FOR TRIAL.

SO I WAS TRYING TO LEVERAGE THIS SYSTEM IN ORDER TO PREVENT ME FROM ASKING FOR MORE FTES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

AT THIS POINT, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ASKED FOR A NEW MISDEMEANOR ATTORNEY, BUT DID NOT, IN HOPES THAT I WOULD GET THIS PROGRAM AND THAT THAT WOULD CREATE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN MY OFFICE TO HANDLE CASES.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GET VERDICT HUB.

WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A CLOSED AI SYSTEM THAT MIRRORS YOUR JURY POOL AND THEN GIVES YOU PREDICTIVE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT A JURY WOULD DO ON A CASE.

AND YOU CAN USE THAT.

THEY USE IT A LOT IN CIVIL CASES, RIGHT? BUT WHAT WE WOULD USE IT FOR IS PARTICULARLY ON OUR SIGNIFICANT OR COMPLEX CASES WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE POTENTIAL DEFENSES TO RUN IT THROUGH, REFINE WHAT THE BEST POSSIBLE ONE WOULD BE, AND ALSO THEN ADVISE OUR CLIENTS ABOUT WHAT THE LIKE REACTION OF A JURY IS GOING TO BE TO THE DEFENSE THEORIES THAT THEY WISH TO FORWARD, WHICH THEY COULD THEN USE IN EVALUATING WHETHER OR NOT THEY WISH TO PROCEED TO TRIAL OR RESOLVE THEIR CASE SHORT OF TRIAL. SO THIS SMALL CONTRACT THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS FOR ABOUT 15 CASES.

IT'S NOT, I MEAN, WE DO 45,000, 5,000 CASES A YEAR, RIGHT? SO IT'S NOT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CASES. WE'D LIKE TO KIND OF TRY IT ON THOSE REALLY COMPLEX AND SERIOUS ONES AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING OUR RESOURCES AND TIME IN THE DEFENSES AND IN THE EXPERTS THAT ARE MOVING THE CASE FORWARD. SO WE ALSO THINK THAT WILL HELP OVER TIME. SO, AND THEN THE LAST IS WE RECEIVED SOME STATE MONEY. I WAS IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS A FEW MONTHS AGO IN THE VERDE FOR DEPENDENCY CASES. IT'S STILL UNCLEAR EXACTLY HOW THEY WANT US TO USE THAT AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO REPORT WHEN YOU USE THESE GRANT FUNDS. SO WE'RE STILL TRYING TO NAVIGATE THAT, BUT WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT WE CAN USE IT TO OFFSET THE COST OF SOME OF THE CONTRACT ATTORNEYS, LIKE THE OTHER FUNDING STREAM THAT I HAVE THAT WE DO THAT WITH, AND THEN ALSO PROVIDE SOCIAL WORKERS POTENTIALLY FOR CONTRACT COUNSEL. WE HAVE AN IN-HOUSE ONE. WE'D LIKE ONE FOR CONTRACT COUNSEL WHEN THEY'RE REPRESENTING CHILDREN TO HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WHO CAN GO AND INTERACT WITH THOSE CHILDREN AS NOT ONLY REQUIRED BY LAW BUT ALSO TO CREATE THAT RELATIONSHIP AND NOT BE PAYING THAT HIGH ATTORNEY DOLLAR TO CONTRACTORS TO DO THAT. SO JUST A QUICK BUDGET OVERVIEW, WE DON'T BRING IN ANY MONEY UNLESS YOU COUNT THE FEES AND FINES THAT OUR CLIENTS PAY

[09:35:01]

TO PROBATION AND THE COURTS, AND THEY DO PAY THOSE, AND THEN WE GET A PORTION OF THAT BACK IN THE, I THINK IN WORDS THAT YOU GUYS KNOW, I THINK IT'S CALLED FILL THE GAP FUNDS. WE GET ABOUT $30,000 A YEAR IN FILL THE GAP FUNDS, SO DON'T GET TOO EXCITED. SO IT'S NOT... I'M FULLY AWARE OF WHAT YOU RECEIVE, I ASSURE YOU. YEAH, IT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT IT IS MONEY THAT I'M HOPING WE CAN USE FOR ONE OF THOSE TWO TOOLS THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, AND THAT'S HOW I HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET, SO THAT WE CAN OVERALL REDUCE FTD REQUESTS AND REFINE OUR CRIMINAL PRACTICE IN A WAY THAT MAKES FISCAL SENSE.

SO THAT'S REALLY, I MEAN, WE'RE RELATIVELY LOW ON OUR FTES.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S LESS THAN I HAD WHEN I BECAME THE PUBLIC DEFENDER NINE YEARS AGO.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POSITIONS YOU WANTED TO FILL FOR THE ATTORNEYS, THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE OPEN THAT HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME, FOR SIX MONTHS, I BELIEVE, WHAT'S THE SALARY? IT DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF ATTORNEY THAT YOU'RE RECRUITING, RIGHT? SO, I MEAN, ENTRY-LEVEL ATTORNEYS COME IN AT RIGHT AROUND 80, 81, 82, UP TO ATTORNEY FOURS, WHICH CAN BE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. RIGHT, OKAY, SO IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT AND WHAT THE NEED IN THE OFFICE IS. RIGHT, I WAS INTERESTED IN THE RANGE, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GAVE ME, SO I APPRECIATE IT.

MAY I CLARIFY? SO, THE, THE SPECIAL FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THE JUSTICE TEXT AND THE VERDICT HUB ARE, ARE BOTH FROM FILL THE GAP? IT SAYS SPECIAL FUNDING. NO. IT MENTIONS GRANT FUNDING, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. SO, I HAVE FILL-THE-GAP FUNDS. I HAVE PUBLIC DEFENDER FEE FUNDS. I GET A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THE $25 THAT THEY CHARGE YOU TO APPOINT OUR OFFICE.

THE STATE AOC COLLATES ALL THOSE AND THEN REDISPERSES THAT AS WELL.

MR. BARDON, YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING THERE? YOUR PUBLIC DEFENDER IS RIGHT ON TRACK.

THOSE ARE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER FEES IS WHAT SHE PLANNED ON ALLOCATING FOR THOSE TWO ISSUES.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, IN THE RECLASSIFICATIONS THAT SHE HAS LISTED, IT'S ZEROED OUT PARTLY BECAUSE YOUR PUBLIC DEFENDER IS GIVING BACK AN UNFILLED POSITION, A MITIGATION SPECIALIST.

SO IT'S A ZERO IMPACT TO THE BUDGET FOR HER RECLASSIFICATIONS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED ANYWAY.

BUT SHE'S ALWAYS TRYING TO LOOK AT HER BUDGET, AND SHE SAW THAT POSITION OPEN.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I'D COMMENT ON, JUST SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK, THERE'S EXPERT WITNESS FEES, I BELIEVE.

CAPITAL CASE CONTINGENCY.

CAPITAL CASE CONTINGENCY IN $400,000 REQUESTED.

THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE THAT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE IT HOW WE HANDLED IT PREVIOUSLY IN THE PAST.

I'VE TALKED TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

WE ALL HAVE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

IT'S IN THE PAST BECAUSE THESE KIND OF COSTS ARE FLUCTUATING.

WE WILL JUST WORK WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND SAY, WELL, IF TRULY SHE GOES OVER BUDGET, THAT COST AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WILL COME TO THE BOARD AND SAY IF SHE MISSED, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S A FAIR THING IS WHATEVER THAT IS, WE'LL COME TO THE BOARD AND COVER THAT BY CONTINGENCY.

BUT THAT WAY YOU DON'T ALLOCATE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE USED.

PLUS THESE FEES, THESE COSTS FLUCTUATE ANNUALLY DEPENDING ON REALLY THE CASELOAD THAT OCCURS.

AND SO IN THE PAST...

THIS IS HOW WE HANDLED IT AS LONG AS THE BOARD WAS OKAY AND HAD AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE UNDER BUDGETING THEM ON PURPOSE FOR THAT FOR THAT ACTIVITY.

ON THAT LINE ITEM ONLY.

IT'S ONLY ON CAPITAL CASES.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S KIND OF A THAT'S SOMETHING.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT AS A WAY OF DOING IT AS LONG AS THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS IT.

EVERY AUGUST, SEPTEMBER WHEN BUDGETS ARE DONE AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND SAYING, DID THE PUBLIC DEFENDER REALLY GO OVER BUDGET? AND I DID THIS IN THE PAST WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

WE WOULD COME BACK AND SAY, HERE'S THE AMOUNT THEY WENT OVER BUDGET AND HERE'S WHY.

AND IT'S A TECHNIQUE INSTEAD OF BUDGETING THAT MONEY AND PARKING IT THERE.

BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST, WHEN I THINK OF GRANT FUNDING, I THINK OF A COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAT IS TIED TO ANOTHER AGENCY'S MISSION, BUT THIS IS JUST REALLY SPECIAL REVENUE.

THESE ARE STATE GRANTS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THEY CALL THEM GRANTS.

SO I HAVE ASKED FOR THE JUSTTAX MONEY AND THE VERDICT HUB MONEY, AND I WILL BE REALLY TRANSPARENT. I DON'T USE THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THEY'RE SO UNPREDICTABLE, AND WHEN I FIRST CAME IN, I COULD USE THEM TO PAY FOR PART OF AN EMPLOYEE AND THEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR THE FUNDING WOULD NO LONGER BE THERE OR I COULD BUDGET FOR IT AND THE STATE WOULD MOVE THE NEEDLE.

SO, I NOW TRY TO USE THEM TO FUND THINGS LIKE THIS WHERE, IF CALAMITY

[09:40:02]

HAPPENED, I COULD NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THE NEXT YEAR AND THEREFORE KIND OF KEEP THE GENERAL FUND CONSISTENT AND NOT CONTINUE TO MAKE REQUESTS FROM YOU GUYS TO COVER SHORTFALLS. THAT'S WHY I DO IT THAT WAY.

AND THEN I'M ASKING TO RECLASS FOR SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS.

I'M NOT SURE IF I HEARD PROBATION OR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND LOOKED AT HOW WE WERE HANDLING OUR LEGAL SECRETARIES, LEGAL ASSISTANT, OR YOU ALL HAD DIFFERENT NAMES AND DIFFERENT JOB DESCRIPTIONS.

AND WE KIND OF AGREED ON ONE, RIGHT AND THEN AS A RESULT OF THAT IT BECAME APPARENT THAT I HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT, WERE DOING ALL THE WORK OF ANOTHER POSITION IN ANOTHER OFFICE THAT WAS BEING COMPENSATED A LOT MORE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS RECLASS REQUEST IS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR POSITIONS.

AND BECAUSE I RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOME MONEY, AND I HAD THIS MITIGATION SPECIALIST THAT FRANKLY, I COULDN'T FILL FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND IT WASN'T GOING TO BE HAPPENING ANYTIME SOON.

I SAID, I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUND THAT ANYMORE.

AND THAT MORE THAN COVERED THE RECLASS, SO.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, PHIL, BECAUSE THAT WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.

YOU EXPLAINED IT PERFECTLY.

I GET IT.

IT MAKES GOOD SENSE TO ME.

YOU HAVE TWO LINE ITEMS, ADDITIONAL ATTORNEY SERVICES.

YOU KIND OF ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT.

OUTSIDE SERVICES IS INCREASING BY 25%.

WHAT IS THAT AND WHY SUCH AN INCREASE, PLEASE? WELL, OUTSIDE SERVICES IS ANY KIND OF EXPERTS RETAINED ON A CASE.

SO WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS, BALLISTICS EXPERTS, ALL KINDS OF EXPERTS.

SOMETIMES IT'S PARALEGALS, SOMETIMES IT'S INVESTIGATORS FOR THE CONTRACT ATTORNEYS.

SO WHATEVER WE DON'T HAVE IN-HOUSE THAT WE'RE CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FOR REPRESENTATION, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS THE ECONOMY GROWS, SO DOES.

BUT I DON'T.

I DIDN'T SEE A 25%.

I DON'T RECALL THAT.

DO YOU, KEVIN? AM I MISSING IT? YOU KNOW WHICH ONE? IT WENT FROM THE 292 TO 365 FOR THIS YEAR.

SO I'M ASSUMING SOME OF THAT IS JUST INFLATIONARY, BUT PERHAPS SOME OF IT IS THINKING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL NEED FOR THAT SERVICE.

I WAS JUST CHECKING BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT.

OUTSIDE SERVICES IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH DEPARTMENT.

CORRECT.

AND IT ALSO INCLUDES.

TWO OF THE EXHIBIT THREES THAT WE RECOMMENDED.

BUT IT'S ALSO THOSE EXPERT FEES THAT ARE PILED.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING UP IS REALLY THE EXPERT STUFF.

THERE WAS SOME INFLATIONARY COSTS GOING UP.

I MEAN, DOCTORS ARE CHARGING MORE.

FOR EXAMPLE, MY FEE SCHEDULE HAS HISTORICALLY SAID, WELL, WE'LL PAY AN MD $300, AND NOW NO ONE'S REALLY WILLING TO CONSULT IN A CASE FOR LESS THAN FOUR AND USUALLY MORE LIKE FIVE.

SO.

IT'S JUST GETTING TO BE MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE, AND I THINK THAT'S RELATED TO INFLATION, AND WE'VE LEFT THOSE NUMBERS THE SAME FOR, I THINK, ALMOST THE LAST NINE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

SO WE'RE KIND OF PLAYING CATCH-UP.

IT WAS JUST MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS IN THAT CATEGORY IS ALL.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, NO ANYTHING TO ADD, SIR? OKAY.

I WANT TO SAY I DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.

I REALLY DO.

AND I KNOW THE COUNTY DOES AS WELL.

SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

PRESCOTT MEALS ON WHEELS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIR CHECK.

MY NAME IS NEIL SNELLER, AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AND WORK IN PRESCOTT FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS AND BEEN PROUD TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MEALS ON WHEELS. IT'LL BE THREE YEARS THIS JULY, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM A COUPLE OTHER MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDERS TODAY AND TOMORROW, AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A VITAL COUNTYWIDE NETWORK OF PROVEN PROVIDERS.

EACH OF US ARE ROOTED IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, EACH DELIVERING THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE SENIOR SERVICES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WE DON'T COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE MAKE A COLLABORATIVE CASE THAT HOME DELIVERED MEALS AND MEALS ON WHEELS IS A SMART PUBLIC INVESTMENT.

SO WE SERVE THE HOMEBOUND SENIORS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS PRESCOTT, PRESCOTT VALLEY AND DEWEY. WE EXTEND FROM THE BACKSIDE OF WILLIAMSON VALLEY ALL THE WAY TO MULBERRY FARMS AS OUR SERVICE AREA, AND THAT'S DUE TO OUR 330 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS THAT REALLY MAKE THAT NETWORK HAPPEN EVERY DAY. 30% OF THE NEIGHBORS WE SERVE ARE U.S. VETERANS, AND WE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE SERVED US, AND IT'S OUR HONOR TO SERVE THEM.

AND IN OUR 53-YEAR HISTORY, WE'VE NEVER TURNED ANYONE AWAY DUE TO THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.

SO WHILE OUR MEAL COSTS CONTINUE TO SKYROCKET

[09:45:01]

WITH THE COST OF FOOD, OUR DONORS CONTINUE TO COVER THAT DIFFERENCE.

SO THAT WHEN SOMEONE CALLS OUR OFFICE, WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SAY YES.

WE'RE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING $15,000 THIS NEXT YEAR, AND THAT WOULD BE USED TO HELP OFFSET OUR FOOD COSTS, WHICH HAVE EXCEEDED OVER $330,000 EACH YEAR.

NOW, THE RETURN ON THIS INVESTMENT IS MEASURABLE.

EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED HAS MULTIPLE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS, AND YOU CAN SEE WHETHER IT'S THE REDUCED HOSPITALIZATIONS, WE REALLY ARE A CARE NETWORK WHERE IF PEOPLE BEFORE THEY CALL 911 OR THEY CALL THE SHERIFF, THEY LITERALLY WILL CALL US AND WE REALLY SERVE AS THAT FRONT FACE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE POPULATION HERE IS HIGHLY CONCENTRATED OF 65 AND OLDER AND THAT POPULATION IS GROWING.

SO THE NEED IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND WE STAND READY TO ASSIST THE COUNTY IN CREATIVE WAYS.

WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THIS FUNDING REQUEST OR OTHER OPTIONS, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO GROW AND EXPAND.

AND SO IF THERE'S JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AS YOU BRAINSTORM IDEAS.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE DIFFERENT RESOURCES, BUILDINGS, COMMUNITY KITCHENS THAT MAYBE ARE UNDERUTILIZED.

PLEASE LET US KNOW BECAUSE WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT EXPANDING TO MEET THE GROWING NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WITH THAT, I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS.

WELL, FIRST, SIR, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I'VE SEEN YOU HERE THE ENTIRE DAY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WAITING.

THIS ENTIRE TIME.

I REALLY DO MEAN IT.

I MEAN, IT'S A LONG PROCESS TO SIT, AND I APPRECIATE IT, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO, SO I'LL OPEN IT UP TO VICE CHAIR CHECK.

NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR WORK. I DO SIT ON THE NACOG BOARD, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, A CHALLENGE TO GET THE FUNDING THAT YOU WANT FROM THE STATE AND FROM OTHER ENTITIES, AND I KNOW THAT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE HERE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY TO SERVE. PEOPLE REALLY COME FROM THAT HEART OF SERVICE, AND THE QUALITY THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDE IS OUTSTANDING. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. YES, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND WHEN YOU REFERENCE THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE MAY CALL YOU BEFORE THEY CALL 911 OR SOMETHING, I GET A FEELING THEY JUST FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A FRIEND, AND THAT IS VERY VALUABLE.

YOU GIVE THEM A FRIENDSHIP, AND THEY FEEL THAT.

SO THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? I'M GOING TO HOLD MUCH OF MY COMMENT UNTIL EVERYONE, WE HEAR IT FROM EVERYONE, BUT YOUR GROUPS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY HURT WITH INFLATION AND THE PRICE OF FOOD.

SO, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M TAKING THAT VERY MUCH INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE LOOK AT THESE, OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH AND THE IMPACT THAT THIS LAST YEAR HAS HAD ON YOUR ABILITY TO SERVE.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER MENTIONED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS IS THAT SOMETIMES THESE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE SOMEONE SEES TODAY.

AND THEY CAN ASK THEM, HOW ARE YOU FEELING? DO YOU NEED ME TO CALL SOMEBODY FOR YOU? STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO, IT'S REALLY A GOOD SERVICE THAT GOES WELL BEYOND GIVING SOMEONE NUTRITIONAL FOOD.

SIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND YOU HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU ALL.

SEDONA COMMUNITY CENTER, MEALS ON WHEELS.

AGAIN, FOR YOU AS WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WAITING.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

I'M MARJORIE HARRIS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SEDONA COMMUNITY CENTER, AND I FEEL LIKE NEIL DID A GREAT JOB OF MY PITCH.

SO WE SERVE THE GREATER SEDONA AREA, WHICH IS THE CITY OF SEDONA, BUT ALSO THE UNINCORPORATED SECTIONS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY, THE VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK, SEDONA SHADOWS, AND ELMERVILLE.

SO, WE HAVE A FAIRLY WIDE RANGE OF CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE.

I'M HERE REALLY TODAY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY.

THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED IN THAT AREA.

AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW, PEOPLE ARE MOVING INTO AREAS THAT ARE PERHAPS LESS EXPENSIVE FOR THEM.

AND WITH THAT, THERE GOES, YOU KNOW, THE NEED THAT IS INCREASINGLY LARGE.

WE ARE SEEING THAT OUR 60 PLUS POPULATION IS BOOMING.

I HAVE SERVED 69 PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK THIS YEAR, AND I ANTICIPATE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR IT WILL BE 100.

I KNOW THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LARGE NUMBER TO YOU,

[09:50:01]

BUT WE'RE SMALL, SO IT IS A LARGE NUMBER FOR US.

AND UNFORTUNATELY WITH THAT GOES THE FACT THAT WITH THE COST OF LIVING, THEY'RE NOT ABLE NECESSARILY TO CONTRIBUTE.

WE, LIKE NEAL'S OPERATION, DO OPERATE ON THE VIEW THAT WE DON'T TURN AWAY PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T CONTRIBUTE.

WE DO NOT REQUIRE PAYMENT, BUT WE DO ASK FOR CONTRIBUTIONS.

INCREASINGLY, I'M GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE LATELY WHO ARE SAYING, I HAVE TO GO OFF THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM.

AND, OF COURSE, I NATURALLY, LIKE, WHY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE US? AND THEN THEY TELL ME, WELL, IT'S GETTING TOO EXPENSIVE WITH THE COST OF MEDICINE AND HOUSING AND ONE THING AND ANOTHER.

I REALLY CAN'T CONTRIBUTE ANYMORE, AND I FEEL BAD ABOUT TAKING FOOD WHEN I CAN'T CONTRIBUTE.

SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE I GO INTO MY PITCH, AND I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO FEEL BAD ABOUT, THAT WE'RE HERE FOR THEM, AND THAT WE ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO STOP TAKING MEALS.

SO, WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THE MEALS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I CAME TO YOU THIS YEAR TO SAY, CAN YOU HELP US? AND MY ESTIMATE ON WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR IS BASED STRICTLY ON THE COST OF THE FOOD FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY.

WE'RE SEEING A 20% INCREASE IN THE COST OF FOOD.

I KNOW YOU ALL GO TO SUPERMARKETS, SO YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU'RE GIVING US.

AND I WILL APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO GIVE US FOR OUR SENIOR POPULATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, I'LL START WITH YOU.

YEAH, I WAS JUST WONDERING, USUALLY ON MEALS ON WHEELS, THE VOLUNTEERS ARE USING THEIR OWN CARS TO DELIVER THE MEALS.

DO THEY GET A STIPEND FOR GAS? NO, WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN THE ZONA AREA THAT OUR DRIVERS ARE VERY GIVING.

BUT YOU HAVE TOUCHED ON AN AREA THAT IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND THEY SAID WHAT THE COST OF A GALLON OF GAS IS, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ARIZONA AND THOSE PRICES, RIGHT, BECAUSE I KNOW I'M PAYING MORE THAN THAT, I AM CONCERNED THAT EVENTUALLY MY DRIVERS WILL START NEEDING ASSISTANCE.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE BLESSED, AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING YET.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? NO FURTHER.

THANKS.

OKAY, SUPERVISOR MALLORY, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE REACHING FOR IT OR NOT.

SORRY.

NO, THANK YOU, CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, AGAIN, JUST FOR BEING THERE FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE HELP, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

VICE CHAIR CHECK? WELL, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ENJOYING ONE OF THE CONGREGATE MEALS AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND I THINK THEY JUST DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

AND, AGAIN, SEDONA IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT IS SEEN AS BEING AFFLUENT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WORRIED ABOUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CUT THEIR PROPERTY TAX CHECKS TO US AND, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND PAY FOR THEIR MEDICINES AND DO ALL OF THAT.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE UNSEEN SIDES TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE SEDONA COMMUNITY CENTER REALLY WORKS WELL WITH.

I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU FOR THAT RECOGNITION.

AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE TODAY.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO, GIVE US A CALL.

THE STATION 6 MEALS ON WHEELS VERDE VALLEY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS ERIN MABRY.

I'M THE NEW-ISH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH THIS TEAM.

I'M THE NEWEST HERE.

SO, THEY'VE ACTUALLY REALLY COVERED QUITE A BIT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I HEARD ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THIS POSITION WAS WHEN YOU SEE ONE MEALS ON WHEELS, YOU'VE SEEN ONE MEALS ON WHEELS.

AND SO, EACH OF US COME TO YOU WITH DEFINITELY OUR NEEDS.

THIS INCREASE IN COSTS IS CRIPPLING, BUT THE DEMAND IS DEFINITELY GOING HIGHER.

SO, I DID PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION.

I'M SORRY IT'S A LITTLE BIT LENGTHY, BUT IT ALSO KIND OF HITS WITH WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AS WELL.

WHEN WE ARE AS DIFFERENT AS WE ARE IN EACH OF OUR MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAMS, WE HAVE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES.

[09:55:03]

WELL, HE'S GOING TO BRING IT UP FOR YOU.

OKAY, SO OUR MISSION AND VISION ARE VERY SIMILAR AS WELL.

WE ARE A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE THAT WE ARE IN COTTONWOOD IN A HISTORIC BUILDING, WHICH HAS ALL OF ITS WONDERFUL PARTS TO IT AND THEN ALSO ITS CHALLENGES.

SO AS WE TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES FOR OUR AGING POPULATION, DEFINITELY NUTRITION ISSUES.

WE'RE SEEING THAT IN DOCTOR'S OFFICES, IN THE HOSPITALS, FOLKS THAT ARE NOT RECEIVING THE NUTRITION THAT THEY NEED.

THIS SOCIAL ISOLATION PIECE IS HUGE.

AND AS NEIL WAS SAYING, OUR MEALS ON WHEELS DRIVERS ARE TYPICALLY, AND A LOT OF TIMES, THE ONLY PERSON THAT THIS PERSON MIGHT SEE ALL WEEK OR ALL DAY, YOU KNOW, ALL DAY. DEFINITELY FOR US, WE SERVE THREE TIMES A WEEK.

WE DO HOT MEALS MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, AND THEN WE HAVE FROZEN MEALS ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS THAT ARE DELIVERED OUT. NOW, WE'RE COVERING FROM JEROME ALL THE WAY OUT TO BEAVER CREEK, SO WE KIND OF HAVE A LOT OF TERRITORY, BUT I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY PREDECESSOR ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY. SO, THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TODAY ARE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE PATCHWORK AWAY FROM COTTONWOOD AND ALL THE OTHER INCORPORATED AREAS. SO WE HAVE, THE OTHER CHALLENGE FOR US IS THAT WE ARE A MULTIFUNCTIONAL BUILDING. SO, NOT ONLY DO WE SERVE MEALS AND ALL OF OUR MEALS ON WHEELS COMES OUT OF OUR BUILDING, BUT WE ARE ALSO DOING ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR BUILDING. THIS IS WHAT THE VERDE VALLEY IS, WHAT OUR COSTS LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE SERVING JUST ON MEALS ON WHEELS ALONE, NOT INCLUDING IN OUR CONGREGATE.

WE'RE PUTTING OUT ALMOST 35,000 MEALS A YEAR.

WE HAVE 32 ACTIVE DRIVERS.

WHEN YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT REIMBURSEMENTS, WE DO REIMBURSEMENTS.

IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT IT IS SIGNIFICANT ON OUR BUDGET AND I THINK THAT NEIL SAID THAT HE ALSO DOES REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MILEAGE.

NOT ALL OF OUR DRIVERS ACCEPT THAT.

WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM IN THE REGION.

JUST IN THE VERDE VALLEY ALONE, RIGHT BEHIND PRESCOTT, OF COURSE.

OUR 17 ROUTES, LIKE I SAID, WE GO FROM JEROME ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BEAVER CREEK.

OUR CONGREGATE DINING, WE'RE SEEING TWO NEW PEOPLE A DAY THAT ARE COMING IN.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH GEORGIE'S CAFE DOWN THE STREET.

THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF OUR SENIORS KIND OF HANG OUT.

THEY'RE CLOSING ON THE 30TH.

WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME OF THOSE FOLKS COMING IN.

WE JUST STARTED A BREAKFAST PROGRAM, SO THEY'RE COMING IN FOR COFFEE.

THEY KIND OF HANG OUT ALL DAY.

SO IT'S SOMEWHERE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR SOCIALIZATION.

THAT ISOLATION PIECE IS BEING ADDRESSED WITH US.

THEY GET ACTIVITIES. WE HAD A FRAUD PRESENTATION JUST YESTERDAY THAT WE HAD ABOUT 12 PEOPLE ATTEND, BUT THERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING THESE FOLKS COMING IN AND REALLY NEEDING THOSE RESOURCES THAT THEY WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE GETTING.

WE REALLY LEAN INTO OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE OTHER PIECES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT GET, SO RIGHT HERE IN THIS PICTURE, THE VERY, VERY GENEROUS REGNERS STARTED A SWEATER PARTY. SO, EACH ONE OF OUR MEALS ON WHEELS RECIPIENTS WERE ABLE TO NOT ONLY GET A SWEATER THIS YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS, BUT ALSO OTHER LITTLE GIFTS THAT COME IN, AND SO WE HAVE THAT DISTRIBUTION ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO REACH THOSE FOLKS, NOT JUST FOR THOSE MEALS, THOSE FRESH MEALS EVERY DAY, BUT ALSO THAT THEY GET THOSE EYES ON THEM, THEY GET THAT CAMARADERIE, THEY GET OTHER PIECES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE GET DELIVERED TO THEIR HOMES.

SO, WE LOOK AT THESE PART AS PARTNERSHIPS. THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE FOR WITH THE COUNTY,

[10:00:01]

OF COURSE, IS THAT WE ARE PARTNERS IN THIS. IF THERE'S EVER ANYTHING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE OR SUPPLY FOR ANY, ANY OF OUR NEEDS AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WE'RE HERE.

AND THEN WE REALLY LOOK AT THESE COSTS.

SO YOU KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ACTUAL COST OF A MEAL NACOG SUPPLIES US WITH ABOUT $219,000 A YEAR.

OUR ACTUAL BUDGET IS ABOUT $450,000 TO $480,000 A YEAR, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, AS I'M CREATING OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE GOING.

AND WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THAT IS THAT OUR FOOD COSTS ARE ABOUT, WE SPEND ABOUT $280,000 A YEAR ON...

I'M SORRY, $150,000 ON FOOD, $250,000 ON PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S MOST OF OUR BUDGET, AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE FOOD.

AND THEN WE ALSO SPEND ABOUT $20,000 ON CONTAINERS JUST TO PACK THE FOOD.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MEAT AND POTATOES, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE SYSTEM THAT GOES INTO THE PACKING AND ALL OF THAT.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT COST PER MEAL, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT $16 IN COST.

IF NACOG IS REIMBURSING US BETWEEN $9 AND $10 WITH A CEILING OF $200,000, RIGHT, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THESE COSTS.

WE'RE NOT MEETING THOSE COSTS.

OUR AVERAGE INCOME FROM THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS, WHAT MARJORIE WAS TALKING ABOUT, IS ABOUT 36 CENTS.

THAT'S ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO, ON AVERAGE, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING OUT.

SO JUST REITERATING THAT WE'RE NOT PLANNING FOR AGING, WE ARE ALL AGING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE INVESTMENT IN YAVAPAI COUNTY AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 911 CALLS, THE HOSPITAL STAYS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS, KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES WHILE WE'RE HAVING THIS INCREDIBLE HOUSING CRISIS, RIGHT? AND CAREGIVER BURNOUT IS REALLY BIG.

I KNOW THAT I'M IN THE SITUATION WHERE I'M STARTING TO LOOK AT MY FOLKS AND THEIR AGING PROCESSES AS WE ALL DO.

AND THEN WE ALSO ARE THOSE, WE HAVE SO MANY SANDWICH FAMILIES THAT ARE TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN AND THEIR AGING PARENTS AS WELL.

SO THAT CAREGIVER BURNOUT IS HUGE.

SO AGAIN, CONSIDERING US AS A PARTNER, ASSISTING US IN PROMOTING ANY OF OUR PROGRAMMING, AND THEN, OF COURSE, HELPING US FUND.

SO ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, I'LL JUST START WITH YOU REAL QUICK BECAUSE I SEE YOUR EYES FADING FROM THE SICKNESS.

NO, I WAS WONDERING, DO YOU GUYS SHOOT FOR 3,000 CALORIES A MEAL, OR WHAT'S YOUR GOAL FOR THE NUTRITION END OF THINGS? SO WE'RE EIGHT, WE ARE, WELL ACTUALLY I'M GOING TO CALL ON ONE OF MY PARTNERS HERE.

NEIL, COME HELP ME.

SO IT GETS, SO WE BOTH RECEIVE NACOG FUNDING, SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL NUTRITION STANDARD.

AND SO NACOG DOES PROVIDE A NUTRITION CONSULTANT.

WE ARE A SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM THOUGH, SUPERVISOR, EVEN THOUGH WE DO TRY TO DO A LOT OF MEAT AND POTATOES.

THINGS THAT WE FEEL LIKE KIND OF HOLD WELL AND ARE ENOUGH CALORIES TO GET PEOPLE THROUGH.

MANY OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE ARE TAKING A LUNCH AND TURNING THAT INTO A DINNER.

AND PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER JUST PLANNING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

PEOPLE ARE PLANNING MEAL TO MEAL.

AND WE SEE THAT.

AND MORE PEOPLE ARE CALLING OUR OFFICE, YOUNGER FAMILIES, WORKING PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST SAYING, HEY, I NEED FOOD.

I'M SURE YOU'RE PROBABLY GETTING THAT TOO.

BUT WE ARE A SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS? THANK YOU.

HI.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING OVER THE POSITION.

KIND OF A SAD SITUATION, BUT THANK YOU.

AND I SEE THE CHANGES THAT YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S BEEN LEFT TO YOU.

SO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THAT.

MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO, I'VE BEEN READING IN THE PAPER, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU GET FUNDING LOCALLY AS WELL, LIKE FROM THE CITY OF COTTONWOOD AND STUFF.

AND I'M READING IN THE PAPER, THEY'RE CUTTING BUDGETS.

FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

AS YOUR COSTS CONTINUE TO CLIMB AND YOUR SERVICE AREA CONTINUES TO CLIMB, I HOPE, YOU KNOW,

[10:05:02]

THAT I'M SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE I KNOW WE ALL SUPPORT THE MEALS ON WHEELS ACROSS THE BOARD AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND I MEAN YOU HAVE SUCH A HUGE AREA AND I LIVE IN CAMP BERTIE SO YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO IN THAT AREA AS WELL AS EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY AREA, RIMROCK.

I KNOW YOU'RE THERE AS WELL.

WE ARE.

IT'S A HUGE TASK, A HUGE AREA, AND A HUGE COMMITMENT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT IN ALL YOU DO.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, AS THE CHAIR HAD SAID, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GOING THROUGH IT ALL.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THIS IS A NICE WAY TO END.

OUR DAY, SEEING THOSE PEOPLE, SMILES, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

WELL, SO ARE YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU.

VICE CHAIR CHECK.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT, YOU KNOW, THAT YAVAPAI COUNTY IS NOT THE ONLY PARTNER HERE.

IN FACT, THE MUNICIPALITIES INVOLVED DEFINITELY HAVE CUT SOME DECENT CHECKS, AND AT THE SAME TIME, THESE UNINCORPORATED INDIVIDUALS ARE BENEFITING.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THE AGENCY ON AGING FOR THE FIRST TIME IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AT THE LEVELS THAT IT HAS BEEN BEFORE.

SO EVERYONE'S BEEN SORT OF BRACING FOR CUTS.

THAT WAS WHY WE INITIALLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE BOARD LAST YEAR TO SORT OF PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF REDUCED FUNDING.

AND SO, OF COURSE, THE STATE'S BUDGET IS QUESTIONABLE AS FAR AS HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT SOME OF.

THE MEAL PROGRAMS OR OTHER OFFERINGS FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE STATE.

BUT IT'S JUST IMPORTANT, I THINK, TO SHOW THAT WE ARE A PARTNER AND WE DO SEE THE VALUE HERE, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

I DID HAVE JUST A SIDE QUESTION BECAUSE YOUR FACILITY IS REALLY, REALLY GREAT, AND IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT PLACE TO HOST EVENTS.

DO YOU OFFER THE SPACE FOR RENTAL? COULD THAT HELP YOUR BUDGET AND YOUR BOTTOM LINE? SO IT'S BEEN A DISCUSSION.

I THINK IT WAS ONE OF ELAINE'S INITIAL PLANS.

THE SPACE WAS BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PROGRAM, NOT FOR EVENTS.

SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS GETTING IT KIND OF CLEANED UP.

THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH A 100 PLUS YEAR BUILDING AND A LOT THAT WE'VE WORKED THROUGH WHEN THEY LEFT.

NINE MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, BUT NOT YET.

WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON KEEPING THAT KITCHEN PRISTINE, REALLY, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE MISSION HAPPENS FIRST, AND THEN WE CAN PROBABLY ADD THAT IN PROBABLY IN THE NEXT YEAR, BUT NOT TODAY.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR TIME.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ONE OTHER GREAT THING ABOUT THE STATION IS THAT THE TRANSIT DELIVERS PEOPLE.

THERE'S A TRANSIT STOP.

YEAH, SO THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR PARTNERS IS CAT'S BUS.

WE DO GET A LOT OF PARATRANSIT FOLKS THAT SIGN UP.

THEY'RE THERE ALL DAY.

THEY HAVE THEIR SCHEDULES.

THEY COME AT, YOU KNOW, 9 O'CLOCK, AND THEY GET PICKED UP AT 2, AND SO THEY HAVE THAT.

WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CITY FURTHER TO CLEAR OFF ONE SPACE THAT IS ACTUALLY ADJOINED WITH THE COUNTY'S YARD OVER THERE, AND IT'S THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR AN ACTUAL BUS STOP FOR FOLKS TO COME OFF OF 6TH STREET BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY LENDING THAT TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE VISIONS.

AND THEN ALSO PUTTING IN A WALKING TRACK.

SO I KNOW THAT THE HOSPITAL HAS

[ Thursday, April 30, 2026 9:00 a.m. Sheriff/Jail District 9:30 a.m. Arizona Wildfire Academy 9:45 a.m. Chino Winds National Resource District 10:00 a.m. Friends of the Verde River 10:15 a.m. Greater Chino Valley Collaborative 10:30 a.m. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension 10:45 a.m. Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization 11:00 a.m. Yarnell Regional Community Center 11:15 a.m. Yavapai Fair Foundation 11:30 a.m. Yavapai Family Advocacy Center Daily wrap-up and general budget discussion]

LOST THEIR WALKING TRACK, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT.

BUT WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A WALKING TRACK AROUND OURS.

SO WE'VE STARTED FUNDING FOR THAT.

AGAIN TODAY, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON.