Category Archives: News

County pays down pension liability, saves nearly $30 million over the next 20 years

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved payments to pension liabilities that will result in a $30 million savings over the next 20 years for county taxpayers. The Board approved a $10 million, one-time payment to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS), with funds from the Capital Facilities Fund. Additionally, the Board also approved the use of Jail District Fund Balance to pay an additional $5.5 million contribution to the Arizona Correction Officers Retirement Plan (CORP).

Over the past several decades pensions have been impacted by lower than expected investment returns, unanticipated impacts from benefit increases (DROP and PBI programs) and adjusted actuarial assumptions such as life expectancy and population growth. These impacts have created a pension system that is substantially underfunded. Recent court cases have reinforced the Arizona Constitution language that protects changes to pension benefits. Pension liabilities are essentially a debt that will be paid, if not now, then in the future at a higher cost to taxpayers.

Coconino County adopted a Financial Planning process in 2007 to establish a process to address financial risks and opportunities as investments for the County over a long-term planning horizon. Included in this process is the alignment of mission critical operating costs balanced with recessionary revenue forecasts that create the capacity of one-time funds to address legacy costs such as lagging investment in infrastructure, including facilities, and unfunded pension liabilities.

These payments approved by the Board will result in reduced pension contributions over the next several decades, secure pensions for retired deputies, provide facility infrastructure funding that keeps the Capital Facility fund and Jail District on track for facility needs and saves a projected $15 million over the next 20 years net of the initial payment and estimated interest expense for a facility related debt issue.

As part of the Board’s approval, the related reduced pension contributions will be accumulated to continue providing funding for capital facility needs and could provide the debt service funding for facilities when needed.

“I’m proud that previous Boards and my colleagues on the Board had the political will to adopt a financial planning model to establish a sustainable financial opportunity and to take this innovative and smart approach to pay down the County’s debt while saving future taxpayer dollars,” said Chairman Art Babbott. “We are tackling the PSPRS and CORP issue now and not passing it on to future Boards or generations of taxpayers. This investment, which has been recognized as a financial industry best practice, will reduce our future liability and allow us to use County resources strategically.”

Over the last few years, the Coconino County PSPRS funded status will have increased from 25 percent to 71 percent and the CORP funded status increased from 60 to 95 percent. These current payments and the additional contributions over the last few years provide a cumulative projected net savings of nearly $30 million over the next 20 years, and the reduced contributions will continue many years beyond this projection.

ADOT detectives nab dealer for selling vehicle with false odometer reading

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PHOENIX – A Gilbert man who manages a used car dealership has been arrested for selling a vehicle with a false odometer reading in addition to other violations by detectives with the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.

Mikel Martinez, 37, manager of Auto Link of Arizona, had recently sold a 2013 Chevrolet E2500 Cargo Van stating that it had 159,000 miles on it. Unbeknownst to the buyer, the vehicle had actually racked up over 303,000 miles.

The buyer originally came to OIG because Martinez had not provided the title or registration for the van. Martinez had also informed her that she was being financed through BHFC Financial Services; however, when the buyer contacted the company, it had no record of her.

ADOT’s Office of Inspector General took up the case and opened an investigation that led detectives to discover that the vehicle mileage on the title had been altered from when it was first titled to Auto Link of Arizona.

When Martinez was called in to OIG headquarters regarding the odometer tampering, detectives discovered that in addition to altering the mileage, Martinez removed the letter “C” designation on the vehicle’s title. A letter “C” indicates the true mileage of the vehicle is unknown. It was also discovered that he had a fictitious dealer plate on his vehicle that was made of laminated paper.

Martinez was arrested and booked at the Fourth Avenue Jail on Sept. 21 and is currently facing counts of fraudulent schemes, forgery, tampering with a public record, displaying a fictitious plate and odometer fraud.

While ADOT’s Office of Inspector General stands ready to assist those who’ve fallen victim to fraud, ADOT has car-buying tips that can be found on the agency’s website at azdot.gov/CarBuyingTips.

Beware of odometer fraud.

Check the odometer reading on the vehicle instrument cluster and compare it to what is listed on the back of the title from the seller and any odometer information contained in any vehicle history reports or repair invoices. Also check the title to see if the actual mileage is listed (Box A).
A typical vehicle is driven about 15,000 miles per year. If the odometer mileage of a vehicle shows much less than that average annual usage, it could be an indicator that the odometer has been rolled back, and worth further inspection.
Have a trusted mechanic check the odometer for signs of tampering and for wear on the vehicle to see if it’s in line with the displayed mileage. A mechanic can also check the vehicle computer for mileage.

Use good judgment and ask lots of questions. There are no stupid questions when it comes to protecting yourself in a big purchase. Do this:

Ask for identification to make sure the seller is the owner listed on the title.
Ask to see vehicle maintenance records.
Check the VIN on the inside of the driver’s door frame and on the top of the dashboard to make sure they match.
Check for VIN tampering such as the door frame sticker peeled off and replaced, and altered rivets on the dashboard plaque.

The most important thing to do is to take time and not rush the process. If the seller is acting suspiciously, unwilling to show ID or records or trying to rush the process, walk away. Take the time to find the right purchase.

Seek help if you’ve been scammed. ADOT is here to help victims of fraud involving vehicle titles, registrations and driver licenses. Call our 24-hour fraud hotline at 877.712.2370 or email fraud@azdot.gov.

October 25 is deadline to update credit card information for online spring draw

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds hunters who applied online for 2019 spring hunt permit-tags that 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Thursday, October 25, is the deadline to update their credit card or debit card account information, as well as purchase PointGuard to protect their bonus points.

Online applicants are responsible for keeping their account information current. If payment is declined at the time of the draw, the application will not be drawn. AZGFD no longer will call customers to obtain payment on drawn applications if their credit card or debit card has been declined. Also, if a credit card or debit card has been used to pay for more than one application, the applicant is responsible for notifying their financial institution that multiple charges could be simultaneously processed from AZGFD.

Online applicants who have been issued a new credit card or debit card (including Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s replacement cards), a new expiration date, or had a change to their card’s number should visit https://draw.azgfd.gov/. Scroll down the page, select “Update Credit Card” and follow the prompts. Note: It is important to update payment information for each species for which an online application has been submitted.

Meanwhile, applicants can purchase PointGuard, as part of their online application, through 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Thursday, October 25. A free AZGFD portal account is required to purchase PointGuard. Visit www.azgfd.gov, click on the “My Account” button in the upper right-hand corner of the home page, then select the “Register” option.

PointGuard is a great way to protect those coveted bonus points for when “life happens.” PointGuard is only $5 per species, per applicant, and ensures if a successful applicant is unable to participate in a hunt for any reason, the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated. Visit https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/pointguard/, or call (602) 942-3000, for more information.

AZGFD will post an announcement on its website and social media channels when draw results are available. All spring hunt permit-tags will be mailed by November 30; all refund warrants will be mailed by November 16.

Partners engage in collaborative efforts to heal the Gila River

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Public invited to learn the area’s history and the restoration efforts being undertaken at http://bit.ly/LGRCStoryMap

AZGF Photo

PHOENIX — A unique partnership of cities, agencies, nonprofit groups and other organizations has developed an interactive online story map that takes viewers on a journey through history and explores the challenges the lower Gila River is facing and what collaborative landscape-scale restoration efforts are being done.

Users can scroll through detailed information that’s presented in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format, while learning about the area’s history as it relates to how invasive vegetation has changed the function of the river.

This story describes the numerous challenges on the river, including invasive vegetation, fire and flooding, and the impending arrival of a beetle that could increase fire risk and habitat loss for threatened and endangered species. The site also provides in-depth information about efforts to address these challenges, taking the viewer on a journey with photos, maps, and key information on how the river plays an important role not only in our history, but also today and for future generations.

This story explains the collaborative restoration efforts on a portion of the lower Gila River that flows through the cities of Phoenix, Avondale, Goodyear and Buckeye. The Gila River is considered the second-longest river in Arizona. Restoration efforts are necessary to ensure a more functional river system that provides critical habitat for wildlife species, supports biological diversity, and provides for recreational opportunities in the Sonoran Desert.

A collaborative planning team came together to address the issues and determine how to move forward in order to protect and restore the river. Creating solutions to these challenges will help to restore multiple ecosystem services: establish high-quality habitats for fish and wildlife species, improve water quality, increase water flows, provide recreational opportunities, and reduce flooding and wildfire risk.

“This online tool is an important part of the initiative because it pulls the public into the story, while providing detailed information in a clear and visual manner and putting into a geographic context the various challenges and efforts going on to heal the river,” said Kelly Wolff, Habitat Evaluation and Lands Program Manager with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

“This stretch of the Gila River might be the best opportunity in our region for restoration of one of North America’s most endangered ecosystems: the cottonwood-willow gallery forest,” said Ian Dowdy of the Sonoran Institute. “Though once thriving along rivers and streams in the Southwest, dams and groundwater pumping have virtually eliminated it from the landscape. With abundant water, this portion of river could become a world-class destination for cultural appreciation, ecotourism, recreation, and birding along its banks.”

“For two decades, officials have been working tirelessly to raise awareness of the need for removal of the invasive vegetation and replacement with the natural conditions that existed a hundred years ago along this river system. With the coming of the tamarisk leaf beetle, restoration is even more important than before,” said Mayor Jackie Meck of Buckeye.

The story map was developed in partnership with the various entities in the Lower Gila River Collaborative. These partners contributed data, photos and video, making the resource possible. The Arizona Game and Fish Department currently hosts the application.

White Horse Lake Campground road and maintenance work begins this week

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NAG File Photo

WILLIAMS – A contractor working for the Kaibab National Forest will begin a road maintenance project this week on forest roads 110, 354 and 105 in the vicinity of White Horse Lake Campground on the Williams Ranger District in order to ensure the popular routes continue to meet Forest Service road standards.

This work will include roadway reconditioning and resurfacing on an approximately 4.3-mile stretch of FR 110, which accesses the White Horse Lake area and other recreation opportunities on the Williams Ranger District. Additional work will include spot surfacing in various places along both FR 354 and FR 105.

The material source for this road maintenance work will be Ruin Pit, which is located of off FR 110 near JD Dam Lake. Expected haul routes for this project will be FR 110 to County Road 73 to FR 354 to FR 105 and back to FR 110 to access Ruin Pit. Motorists should always use caution when driving near heavy trucks and equipment.

Forest Service road engineers anticipate that the resurfacing project will be complete by early December, barring any weather delays. While the impacted forest roads will not be closed during the project, motorists can expect delays and should exercise caution while traveling through the area due to varying road conditions and the presence of heavy equipment. Travelers on the roads could expect delays of about 30 minutes and are urged to drive slowly through the entire construction zone.

FR 110 is used frequently by Kaibab National Forest visitors to access fishing, camping, hunting and other recreational opportunities. Forest visitors seeking a spot for dispersed camping are encouraged to consider other routes on the Williams Ranger District during the duration of the road maintenance work given the likelihood of dust and noise near the project area.

Kaibab Forest Service map.

This road resurfacing project is part of the larger forest restoration effort occurring on Kaibab National Forest. The road work will provide improved access for log trucks and other heavy equipment supporting future timber sales and other thinning projects. The road work also improves safety conditions and enhances visitor experience when traveling to popular recreation areas on the forest.

Forest Service engineers regularly evaluate and monitor road conditions across the forest to determine priorities for work. Forest roads 110, 354 and 105 have been in need of reconditioning and resurfacing for some time, and forest managers expect visitors to have an improved experience once the current project is complete.

ADOT project rebuilding stretch of I-40 wins national award

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I-40 improvement near Devil Dog Road – ADOT Photo

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation project that’s rebuilding 5 miles of Interstate 40 near Williams has been ranked in the nation’s top 10 by Roads & Bridges, a construction industry publication.

The many freeze-thaw cycles seen annually in this area, combined with heavy snow, snowplowing and use by a large number of commercial vehicles, had stressed pavement considerably between Williams and Devil Dog Road.

A $34 million project completely removed the existing eastbound roadway and replaced the surface with new concrete pavement, and crews are nearly done with work overlaying the westbound roadway with new concrete pavement.

“We were patching potholes after every winter storm,” said Chad Auker, assistant district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “It was a big maintenance issue.”

To accelerate much-needed improvements, ADOT and Gannett Fleming, the design firm for the project, completed design work, which normally takes about a year, in less than three months. And construction has moved rapidly in part because crews are incorporating Portland Cement Concrete Pavement recycled from this stretch.

Using Portland Cement Concrete Pavement as the road surface increases pavement life by up to 60 percent and outlasts asphalt overlays by at least 10 years.

Gannett Fleming made the nomination to Roads & Bridges because of the project’s innovative and sustainable approach. Handling the construction is Fann Contracting Inc.

“It’s much-deserved,” Auker said. “The whole team, from the designers to the development team to the contractor and ADOT construction staff, worked hard. There were a lot of long days and long weeks, and the award is well-deserved for bringing new pavement to the road.”

The reconstruction between Williams and Devil Dog Road is among projects improving 34 miles of I-40 west Flagstaff. Crews also are improving 28 miles of northbound Interstate 17 just south of Flagstaff and reconstructing I-40 bridge decks at the interchange with I-17 in Flagstaff.

At ports of entry and elsewhere, ADOT helps combat human trafficking

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PHOENIX – At Arizona Department of Transportation commercial ports of entry near California and New Mexico, K-9 units are trained to identify not only evidence of illegal drugs but human cargo that can include victims of human trafficking. Lieutenants overseeing these ports have training on identifying warning signs of human trafficking, such as unusual tattoos, an unwillingness to speak up and carrying large amounts of cash without explanation.

Meanwhile, dozens of vehicles driven by officers with ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division have bumper stickers aimed at directing those who need help or who see signs of trouble to EndSexTrafficking.AZ.gov or 888.373.7888, resources offered through the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family.

With human trafficking an increasingly urgent issue, ADOT officers enforcing commercial vehicle laws have joined other law enforcement agencies and the Arizona Human Trafficking Council created by Governor Doug Ducey to help make Arizona a leader in combating this crime.

“Human trafficking is not just something you hear about on TV or read on the Internet; it’s happening right here in our state,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “That’s why it’s critical for ADOT to be part of this comprehensive effort to combat it.”

As a member of the Arizona Human Trafficking Council, Chief Gary McCarthy with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, part of the Enforcement and Compliance Division, chairs the outreach and awareness committee that not only raises public awareness but trains people on how to spot human trafficking and what to do about it.

In addition to the training provided to lieutenants overseeing commercial ports of entry, starting in 2019 advanced training for ADOT officers will include a human-trafficking component, including where the demand comes from and what cases look like. And the Enforcement and Compliance Division plans to develop online training so other ADOT employees who work along highways will learn how to spot the signs of human trafficking.

Since December, ADOT has had its first two K-9 units trained to detect human smuggling in addition to illegal drugs. The K-9s are used at the ports of entry along the eastern and western sides of Arizona to check any commercial vehicles that raise suspicions.

“We’re taking a few approaches to do our part to end this heinous practice here in Arizona,” McCarthy said. “>From training more officers to use of our K-9 units to raising awareness through bumper stickers on our vehicles, ADOT is serious about stopping human trafficking and saving lives.”

If you would like to learn more about how to help stop human trafficking, please visit EndSexTrafficking.az.gov. To report anything suspicious, please call 888.373.7888.

Closures scheduled in conjunction with I-17, I-40 and Beulah Boulevard improvement project

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FLAGSTAFF – Flagstaff-area drivers should plan for closures while deck work continues on four Interstate 40 bridges that carry traffic over I-17 and Beulah Boulevard. The Arizona Department of Transportation advises motorists to use detour routes and allow extra travel time while the following restrictions are in place:

  • The closure of the ramp from southbound I-17 to eastbound I-40 will remain in place around the clock through Wednesday, October 17. Detour: Use southbound I-17 to the J.W. Powell/ I-17 interchange, then travel north on I-17 to eastbound on I-40.
  • Northbound Beulah Boulevard will be closed from 8:30 p.m. Sunday, October 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, and from 10:30 p.m. Monday, October 22, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, October 23. Detour: Travel south to the J.W. Powell/ I-17 interchange, then north on I-17 to Forest Meadows Street and west to Beulah Boulevard.
  • Southbound Beulah Boulevard will be closed from 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, to 5 a.m. Wednesday, October 24, and from 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, to 5 a.m. Thursday, October 25. Detour: Travel north to Forest Meadows Street, east to I-17 and south onto southbound I-17 to the J.W. Powell/I-17 Interchange, then north on Beulah Boulevard.

Work to repair and replace the decks on the four bridges began eight months ago and is scheduled for completion later this year. Learn more on the project webpage. ADOT advises drivers to slow down in the work zone, follow posted detour routes and use caution around construction personnel and equipment.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

Fate of stocked trout: 5 things learned from 4-year AZGFD study

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AZGFD Photo

Ever wondered what happens to the thousands of trout that the Arizona Game and Fish Department stocks into streams all around the state every year? You’re not alone.

We just completed a 4-year study (beginning in 2013) to investigate the fate of rainbow trout and Apache trout stocked into several of Arizona’s popular stream trout fisheries. As part of this project, AZGFD biologists conducted nearly 5,000 angler interviews on six different streams (Canyon Creek, East Fork Black River, East Verde River, Silver Creek, Tonto Creek, and West Fork Little Colorado River) during the trout stocking seasons (April to September) of 2013–2016.

From these interviews, biologists estimated total harvest (number of stocked trout kept by anglers), angler effort (total time spent fishing by anglers), and angler catch rates. Our biologists also implanted trout with radio transmitters in order to track their movements and determine how long they survived in the streams.

We will now be unveiling the top 5 things we learned. Each day from Tuesday, October 9 to Saturday, October 13, on our Fish AZ site (https://fishaz.azgfd.com/) and our “Fish AZ” Facebook page, we will be posting one of the five things we learned.

This is 4 years of data coming to fruition, and the results have been interesting, to say the least.

Thank you to all the anglers who reported radio tag information and helped make this study possible.

Scientific review suggests reclassification of the razorback sucker from endangered to threatened

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DENVER — The razorback sucker, a native fish found in the Colorado River basin is making a comeback thanks to the work of conservation partnerships between the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), state agencies, including the Arizona Game and Fish Department, federal agencies, Tribes, industry and environmental groups.

The Service recently completed a species status assessment (SSA) and a 5-year status review, utilizing the best available science, that concluded the current risk of extinction is low, such that the species is no longer in danger of extinction throughout all of its range. The SSA explained that large populations of adults have been re-established in the Colorado, Green, and San Juan Rivers. Populations are also present in Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu. As a result, in the future the Service proposes to reclassify the fish from endangered to threatened.

The razorback sucker, a native fish found in the Colorado River basin – AZGFD Photo

The razorback sucker is the second of the four native Colorado River fish to be proposed for a change in status from endangered to threatened this year. The humpback chub has also been proposed for reclassification. The recovery success of these two fish would not have been possible without the strong partnerships and conservation efforts all along the river.

Razorback Suckers are “rounded up” at the AZGFD Bubbling Ponds hatchery prior to being stocked in recovery locations. – AZGFD Photo

“Our partners along the Colorado River have restored flow, created habitat, removed nonnative predators, and reestablished populations across these species range,” said Tom Chart, Director of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. “These partnerships have improved conditions, proving long-term commitments are a key component to recovery.”

The razorback sucker was first documented in the Colorado River system in 1861 and historically occupied an area from Wyoming to Mexico, often travelling hundreds of miles in a single year. The species gets its name from the bony keel behind its head, which helps it stay put when flows increase. Razorback sucker are part of the lake sucker family, preferring low-velocity habitats, in either backwaters, floodplains or reservoirs and evolved in an ecosystem with one large-bodied predator: the Colorado pikeminnow. Young razorback sucker have few defense mechanisms, making them vulnerable to predation, especially from toothed nonnative predators. Changes in river flows and introduction of nonnative fish caused dramatic population declines.

Thanks to intense management efforts, razorback sucker have made a remarkable comeback, especially in the Green and Colorado rivers. In the Green River in the mid-1990’s, the number of adults captured in a year could be counted on one hand; today, the population has rebounded to over 30,000 adults. The large populations are the result of successful hatchery programs. Stocked fish not only survive in the wild, but migrate, colonize new areas, return to historic spawning bars, and produce viable young.

Although this native fish is making a big step toward recovery, continued management efforts are needed to help the species cross the final threshold of being able to survive in sufficient numbers to reach adulthood. The Lake Mead population is the only population where juvenile fish routinely grow up into adults. All other populations are maintained through stocking efforts as the young are eaten by nonnative fish before they reach adulthood. Scientists are hard at work to determine the best ways to encourage survival of juveniles to naturally sustain the population. One wetland along the Green River managed for razorback sucker has produced over 2,000 young-of-year individuals in the past five years, the first substantial number of juveniles seen in over 30 years in the upper basin.

State, tribal, federal, and private stakeholders work together via the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program, and the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Partnership to stock fish, create habitat, and continue monitoring programs to reduce threats to this species’ recovery.

In the 5-year review, the Service also recommends that the species recovery plan be revised to incorporate the best available scientific information on the species needs and actions that will eventually allow the Service to delist razorback sucker. Efforts to propose reclassification and to revise the recovery plan will be ongoing in the coming year. The proposed reclassification rule and the revised recovery plan will be made available for public comment in the future.

The 5 –year review and SSA are available for review at: Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program – Recovery Goals