BISBEE — The Cochise County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to add and drop certain county roads, which will save more than $2,000 a year.

Patricia Morris, the county’s acting highway department director, requested the supervisors approve dropping 3.8 miles of Saguaro Drive, 2.74 miles of Saddle Drive, a half mile of Tombstone Drive and 2.3 miles of Mesquite Drive, which are all near Willcox.

Morris said no one lives on these roads, and the county has “no obligation to maintain them.”

She also requested the supervisors approve adding a portion of Buckeye Apache Road. The road meets the criteria necessary to be accepted into the county except for right of way, which the county doesn’t have, and a spot in the road that does not meet county width requirements due to a cattle guard across the road.

At one time, Buckeye Apache Road was in the county maintenance system but was dropped when a property owner installed a gate blocking access. That gate was removed some time ago and unauthorized maintenance was re-established, Morris said. Approval of the resolution brought the road officially back into the county.

“The monetary benefits to this action is that our maintenance costs will go down for now. The roads to drop cost us around $2,750 annually. The expected annual cost to maintain 1.6 miles of Buckeye Apache Road is around $500,” Morris said.

In other business, county department directors will now be able to hire new employees whose salary range lies within the 25 percent quartile after gaining the supervisors’ approval. County Administrator Mike Ortega said department heads were only able to hire in the 10 percent range. Anyone hired over that rate of a going salary had to be approved by the supervisors.

Ortega also proposed giving him the authority to hire personnel up to 100 percent of the salary range, but Supervisor Pat Call was reluctant to give up oversight of hiring key personnel.

Call and board Chairman Richard Searle voted in favor of the policy. Supervisor Paul Newman, who was present via telephone, abstained because he could not hear the discussion.

Wildlife Specialist James Schmidt will continue to help the county with animal control and wildlife issues as the supervisors approved an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Schmidt has been an asset to the county and has helped with both wild and domestic animal problems, said Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Bureau Chief Rod Rothrock. Schmidt’s duties include predator and disease control. He also handles problems with feral dog packs and rabies issues.

Schmidt spends more than 50 percent of his time in Cochise County dealing with animal issues. The county pays $35,766 a year, which is half Schmidt’s wages.

In other business

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday:

• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Arizona Department of Revenue for the property tax data processing system contract in the amount of $113,098.

• Adopted a resolution concerning Cochise County documentation requirements on wages charged to state programs to meet audit obligations.

• Accepted a petition from property owners on Desert Road to establish a portion of that road as a county road. A public hearing on the matter will be held at the Feb. 26 meeting.

• Approved work sessions to discuss the Foothills complex and EOC utilization and the process of liquor license applications.