Tag Archives: Coconino County

Hutton Ranch Road – Rio de Flag Crossing Project Completed

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FLAGSTAFF — A project to build a new and improved Rio de Flag crossing culvert at Hutton Ranch Road has been completed.

The $548,000 Hutton Ranch Road – Rio De Flag Culvert Crossing Project will improve transportation in and out of the Hutton Ranch neighborhood when the Rio de Flag is flowing. The project, which broke ground in late March, features a 3×20-foot cast-in-place concrete arch culvert under Hutton Ranch Road at the Rio de Flag crossing along with new fencing, guardrails, water inlet & outlet protection, and a paved surface over the culvert.

The Coconino County Public Works Engineering Division and County contractors began planning the project after the Slayton Ranch Road/Rio de Flag crossing was washed out by heavy snowmelt flows in March 2023. The Slayton Ranch crossing was replaced in July 2023, and the team used data from both that project and the record winter runoff of 2023 to determine the optimal drainage structure for the Hutton Ranch Road/Rio de Flag crossing.

“The washout at Slayton Ranch Road two years ago was a powerful reminder of the Rio de Flag’s flood potential and the need to swiftly address any vulnerabilities in our drainage infrastructure,” said Public Works Director Christopher Tressler. “Just as we did at Slayton Ranch, we’ve designed and constructed a resilient new crossing at Hutton Ranch Road engineered to safely handle seasonal snowmelt and monsoon flows while minimizing impacts to the surrounding neighborhood, as much as is feasible.”

“I’d like to thank everyone in Hutton Ranch area for their patience during the three months of work it took to complete this important project,” said Supervisor Judy Begay, whose district includes the Slayton Ranch Road area. “I’d also like to thank the engineers and construction team for working so hard to finish this project in time for what is forecast to be an active monsoon season.”

For more information about the Hutton Ranch Road – Rio De Flag Culvert Crossing Project please contact Public Works at 928-679-8300.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions to begin Friday, June 27

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WILLIAMS—Due to increasing fire danger, Stage 1 Fire and Smoking Restrictions will go into effect beginning 8:00 a.m. Friday, June 27, 2025, on the North Kaibab and Tusayan ranger districts.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, the building, maintaining, attending, or using fire, campfire, or stove fire including charcoal and briquettes outside of a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites is prohibited. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

Using a stove or grill that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the stove or grill.

The Kaibab’s fire restrictions do not prohibit target shooting. However, all existing regulations for discharging a firearm on public lands still apply.

Additional restrictions may be necessary in the future. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area receives enough widespread precipitation to significantly lower the fire danger.

Fire restrictions are implemented to help prevent human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. Decisions about fire restrictions are based on a combination of carefully measured factors. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels, enduring drought, and available firefighting resources.

The public is reminded to always be extra cautious when recreating on public lands, regardless of restrictions. Fireworks and explosives are always prohibited and leaving a campfire unattended is illegal all year round.

Violations could result in mandatory appearance in a federal court, fines, or jail time.

For information on restrictions and other alerts on the Kaibab National Forest visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/kaibab/alerts.

For restriction information on state and federally managed lands in AZ visit wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions. Coconino County fire restriction information can be found at https://www.coconino.az.gov/AlertCenter.

Coconino County Honored Again as 2024 NACo Digital Counties Survey Winner

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County is pleased to share the exciting news of being recognized as one of the top counties in the United States for deploying digital technology practices for better government in the 2024 National Association of Counties (NACo) Digital Counties Survey, conducted by the Center for Digital Government.

This is the fifth consecutive year the Coconino County Information Technology Department has placed in the Top 10 counties within the up to 150,000 population category. The County is being recognized for Aligned Leadership, Cybersecurity, Constituent Centric, Data Driven Government, IT Investments, Resilience, Continuous Innovation, Connected Infrastructure, and Business Process Alignment. Some of the accomplishment areas to highlight are the citizen assistance application known as SeeClickFix, Digital Transformation, IT Security, and evacuation map enhancements.

“This accomplishment would not have been possible without the ongoing commitment our staff provides as public servants,” commented Matt Fowler, Coconino County Chief Information Officer. “We have an amazing team and to place in the Top 10, five years in a row, demonstrates the passion and dedication we have for our communities.”

The SeeClickFix application utilizes customized GIS data to geo-filter information, allowing citizens to open a request using their location to return a customized list of available services. Using pre-configured location-based zones allows for quick decision making and dissemination of information. The SeeClickFix system also integrates with the Public Works Department and Flood Control District asset management software. This bi-directional integration creates functionality to provide citizen updates through their request while providing work history within the application. In times of non-emergency, SeeClickFix is used to capture daily requests for County assistance, information, and inquiries. The platform provides quick links to essential information including the County’s situational awareness hub, the County’s website, fire restrictions, current state road conditions, and a call button to the call center during emergency events.

Digital transformation initiatives include scanning historic records for publication on the county’s website. Older County records have been preserved on various mediums including microfilm, microfiche, and bound books which require an in-person appointment at the record holder’s office for access. In August of 2023, Coconino County was awarded a $1,000,000.00 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, with an approximate $500,000 in County match funding to modernize records for the Recorder’s Office. The project will encompass microfilm conversion, digitization of bound books, digital storage and retention, and online public access.

Coconino County solicited an RFP and contracted with a specialized scanning agency for conversion of microfilm. A book scanner capable of producing Federal Archiving Standards (FADGI) scans was purchased to support the digitization of bound books and will allow for future transformation projects. After digital conversion, the documents will be hosted and served on the Coconino County website. This will provide an online repository for document access to the public. This project does not prevent in-person visits to government offices, but rather expands access to a much larger digital audience. This grant-funded project represents a multi-year initiative to be finalized by October of 2025 with an anticipated file conversation of 633,334 documents and an estimated 1.9 million images, not including books.

Continuous enhancements of pre-defined evacuation maps are utilized during emergency events to quickly identify areas for evacuation and notify responders, decision makers, and the public. The collaborative project between the County’s IT Department, Sheriff’s Office, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Emergency Management (CCEM) departments resulted in a publicly accessible, interactive map of evacuation zones. Users can view each of the county’s evacuation zones and their status, as well as search for a specific address. The maps integrate into the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) to provide evacuation zone data statewide.

“We are honored to have placed in the Top 10 for our population category in this year’s Digital Counties Survey. We are extraordinarily proud to have placed alongside so many highly respected County agencies,” added Helen Costello, Deputy Chief Information Officer. “Thank you to our Information Technology team and Coconino County leadership for all the hard work and support in providing innovative solutions to our customers and constituents.”

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government. CDG is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.

Arguments Sought ‘For’ and ‘Against’ Coconino County Ballot Question

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FLAGSTAFF — On November 5, 2024, Coconino County will hold an election asking voters to allow Coconino County to permanently adjust its 1979-80 base expenditure by the amount of $7.7 Million. The additional expenditure authority would be used for County services and programs, including but not limited to law enforcement, road improvements and maintenance, emergency response, and other County services. The ballot question relates only to an adjustment in the base expenditure; it does not involve or result in a tax increase or decrease.

Coconino County will prepare an informational pamphlet for the election. The pamphlet will be mailed to all households of registered voters in the County prior to the November 5, 2024, election. Arguments “For” and “Against” Proposition 482 are being requested by the County for inclusion in the informational pamphlet.

Anyone who would like to submit a “For” or “Against” statement regarding the election can mail or hand deliver their statement to Coconino County Clerk of the Board, 219 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001.

The statement may not exceed 300 words and must include the original signature of the submitting party. If the argument is sponsored by an organization, then it must be signed by two of the organization’s executive officers. If the argument is submitted by a political committee, then it must be signed by the committee’s chair or treasurer.

The person(s) signing the argument must provide their mailing address and phone number (other than the city or town and state of residence, this information will not be printed in the pamphlet).

Arguments must be received by 5:00 p.m. (Arizona Time), August 7, 2024, in the Coconino County Clerk of the Board’s Office at 219 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

For more information regarding the statements, call 928-679-7145.

Increase in Hantavirus Activity, Two Deaths Reported in Coconino County

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County has seen an increase in hantavirus activity. Three hantavirus cases have been reported in the past 15 months, two of which have died (67% mortality rate). Previously, Coconino County’s last reported hantavirus case occurred in 2016.

Arizona has also been experiencing an increase in hantavirus activity. From January 1 to July 1, 2024, seven human cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) have been confirmed, resulting in three deaths in Arizona.

HPS is a severe and sometimes fatal respiratory illness caused by the infection with hantaviruses. Hantavirus is spread from rodents, primarily the deer mouse in Arizona, to people through airborne transmission from viral droplets spread through handling or stirring up materials contaminated with rodent urine, saliva, or feces. Hantavirus is not spread person-to-person.

HPS is not limited to one geographic location. It can be present in many areas in the southwestern region of the United States where there is rodent activity, even if mice are never seen.

Symptoms of the illness can be fever, headache, and muscle aches progressing rapidly to severe difficulty in breathing and, in some cases, death.

To prevent HPS, public health officials recommend the following clean-up methods for areas that may have rodent activity:

  • Prior to starting cleanup, open all doors and windows, especially in areas that have been closed for an extended period such as a garage, storage shed or second homes that are not used year-round. Leave open for 30 minutes before cleaning and if possible, allow direct sunlight on the area.
  • Do not stir up dust in the infested area by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means. This will allow virus particles to go into the air, where they can be breathed in, and potentially causing infection.
  • When rodent droppings or nests are found in and around the home, spray them liberally with a household disinfectant (such as one-part bleach to nine parts water) and allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes. Any rodent droppings and rodent nests should be sprayed with a pesticide to kill fleas before disinfecting or disposing the carcasses.
  • After disinfecting, wear rubber gloves and clean up the droppings with disposable materials such as paper towels, rags, or disposable mop heads.
  • Seal all materials, droppings or nests in double plastic bags and dispose of them in the trash.

Rodent-proof your home:

  • Prevent rodents from entering the home by plugging or sealing all holes and gaps to the outside greater than 1/4-inch in diameter. Use steel wool, thick wire screen, metal flashing or cement to seal holes.
  • Eliminate or reduce rodent shelter around the home by removing outdoor junk and clutter, and by moving woodpiles, lumber, hay bales etc., as far away from the house as possible.
  • Do not make food easily available to rodents. Do not leave pet food in dishes and dispose of garbage in trash cans with tight-fitting lids.
  • Prevent mice infestation inside your home with the use of traps and proper removal.

    • More information regarding HPS is available at www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/hps.

Emergency Management Receives Federal Funds for Remote Operation Enhancements

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FLAGSTAFF — In March, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema announced $25,018,000 in federal investments they were able to secure for Arizona priorities that include support for Arizona small businesses, wildfire and flood prevention, a stronger microchip manufacturing workforce, increased access to life-saving cancer treatment, increased access to rural health care, and more.

“By expanding access to treatment and upgrading health care facilities in rural communities, preparing Arizonans for good-paying jobs through workforce training programs, and supporting emergency response services, these projects will improve quality of life in communities across our state. Senator Sinema and I will keep working together to secure resources for the people of Arizona,” said Kelly.

As part of these investments, Coconino County’s Emergency Management Department was awarded $637,000 to be used to acquire an additional remote incident command vehicle and enhance the communications systems between field operations and the Emergency Operations Center in Flagstaff.

“Through the leadership of Senators Kelly and Sinema, our Senators have once again delivered for Coconino County by securing $637,000 for Emergency Operations Center Enhancements, which will increase the emergency response capability and capacity for Coconino County,” said Jeronimo Vasquez, Chair of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors and Supervisor for District 2. “This funding is included in the final Homeland Security bill for FY24. We are tremendously thankful for their leadership in delivering critical and necessary resources to our communities to better strengthen public safety and build resilience across our County.”

Navajo Mountain polling location moved

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FLAGSTAFF – In light of unforeseen circumstances, the Coconino County Elections Department announces the relocation of the Navajo Mountain polling location, Precinct 71, for the upcoming Presidential Preference Election scheduled for Tuesday, March 19th.

The new polling location will be the Navajo Mountain Alliance Community Church, conveniently situated on Navajo Route 16 south of Road 6414.

Please note that only registered Democratic or Republican voters are eligible to vote in this election. All polling places will be open from 6 am to 7 pm on election day. The Coconino County Elections Department reaffirms its commitment to facilitating a smooth and accessible voting process for all eligible voters.

To assist Coconino County voters in locating their designated polling places, they are urged to visit www.coconino.az.gov/elections.

For all other election inquiries contact the Coconino County Election Department, at 928-678-7896.

Elections Department Prepares for Arizona Presidential Preference Election

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FLAGSTAFF — Election officials are prepared for tomorrow’s Presidential Preference Election (PPE), with 29 polling places across Coconino County. In this year’s PPE, only registered Republicans and Democrats can participate.

While polling places are consolidated, voters can utilize any of the 12 vote centers throughout the County to cast their ballot on Election Day. Polling locations will be open between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time. All voters in line at 7 p.m. will have the opportunity to vote. Voters can find their polling location and check voter registration online at My Arizona Vote.

With training completed, Coconino County is set to deploy nearly 300 bipartisan election board workers to provide assistance to voters on Election Day. These dedicated community members have undergone rigorous preparation to ensure a smooth and efficient voting process.

“While we expect a moderate turnout, we strongly encourage voters to make a plan for voting on election day,” said Elections Director Eslir Musta.

This call underscores the county’s commitment to facilitating secure, accessible, and inclusive elections. The public can expect to see the first batch of election results in Coconino County shortly after 8:00 PM on the county’s website coconino.az.gov/elections.

For more information, voters can also contact the Elections Department hotline at 928-679-7896.

Coconino County Opens New Elections Center in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Elections Department (Elections) announced today the opening of the new Elections Center in Flagstaff. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Monday, January 22, 2024, and was attended by local dignitaries, including Arizona Secretary of State (SOS) Adrian Fontes.

The new Elections Center, spanning 9,000-square-feet, provides space for the entire Elections Department staff to work on-site, consolidating operations under one roof. The Center emphasizes County leadership’s commitment to integrity and transparency of election administration processes. Drawing on best practices and feedback from partners, like the AZ SOS and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Election Center incorporates accessibility, transparency, and security in the administration of elections in Coconino County. The facility is equipped with tools and resources to conduct candidate filing, ballot tabulation, and statutory hand audits accurately and precisely.

“Having separate rooms for ballot tabulation, as well as the hand-count audits, permits our staff to be more efficient in counting the votes by allowing these functions to be conducted simultaneously,” said Jeronimo Vasquez, Chair of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors and Supervisor for District 2. “Also, each room has windows for observers to see and document every step of the tabulation process.”

The new facility helps uphold the core values of democracy and empowers our community to make a meaningful impact through their vote.

The event also featured a screening of the documentary “No Time to Fail,” presented by The Carter Center.

“Transparent and credible elections are a cornerstone of the Carter Center’s work. The Center commends Coconino County election officials for ensuring that their new Elections Center will be a reliable source of information for voters and will help strengthen ties between election officials and the local community,” said David Carroll, director of the Carter Center’s Democracy Program.

Following the screening of the documentary, we had the privilege of welcoming Rob Rock, Rhode Island’s Deputy Secretary of State and one of the leaders featured in the movie, to engage in a Q&A session.

By collaborating with the Center and utilizing its guidance materials, Coconino County Elections empowers its full-time, temporary, and volunteer elections staff to deliver exceptional service that upholds the highest standards of excellence.

For more information about Coconino County Elections, including polling locations, candidate filings, financial disclosures, and other services, visit www.coconino.az.gov/Elections.

Coconino County Closures for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County’s Administrative Center, the County Manager’s Office, the County Attorney’s Office, and the County Superior Court and Justice Courts will be closed on Monday, January 15, 2024 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) offices and clinic will also be closed. There will be an Animal Services officer available on Monday from 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Contact the CCHHS Animal Services office at 928-679-8756 to leave a message and an officer will return the call. Call 911 for emergencies.

Parks and Recreation offices will be closed however, County parks and natural areas are open for the public to enjoy. Please observe all posted road and trail closure notices.

The Coconino County Sheriffs Records Office will also be closed. CCSO would also like to remind all residents and visitors of the County’s seasonal parking ordinance regarding parking on county roads and rights of way, effective through April 1, 2024, and wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday three-day weekend.

The full ordinance can be found here: https://coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/54497/Ordinance-2022-06-Seasonal-Parking