BISBEE — Administrator fees for those using services in the justice court or Superior Court were raised Tuesday after a unanimous vote of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors.

Superior Court Judge Wallace Hoggatt said the increase in fees was necessary to defray costs associated with the collection of penalties, fines and sanctions set-up on a time-payment basis. The increases will bring an extra $594,000 to the court system’s bottom line.

The new fee schedule is as follows:

• Warrant fee — $100. It was $75.

• License suspension — $75. It was $50.

• Justice Court enhancement fee — $15. It was $10.

• Superior Court enhancement fee — $50. It was $40.

The new fees that were approved are:

• A local time payment fee of $20, which will be assessed on any person who pays a penalty, fine or sanction on a time-payment basis

• Justice Court security fee of $20 to be assessed on any fine penalty or forfeiture imposed for criminal, civil, county ordinance offense or traffic offense

• Superior Court post-decree mediation fee of $35 to be charged to parties seeking mediation and counseling services after divorce or custody matters are finalized.

Hoggatt said the judges can, at their discretion, waive or defer such fees for those who cannot pay.

In other business, County Sheriff Larry Dever got the go-ahead to make a $77,082 purchase for a digital simulcast radio system for the southern end of the county along the border with Mexico.

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization funds will be used to purchase the high-tech equipment that allows law enforcement to communicate with each other and not have their conversation coming across scanner airwaves where criminals and scanner hobbyists can listen in on what’s going on. Cochise County was the first in the United States to test the system made by the New Zealand-based firm Tait Radio Communications.

The supervisors also approved a $6.5 million membership with Cochise Combined Trust that provides county employees with health benefits. The trust and Cochise County entered into the agreement in 2002 to reduce costs of health insurance. The sum represents a zero increase in premiums.

On another health matter, the supervisors approved an increase to the Shaekley Flexible Spending Account medical maximum for employees from $1,900 to $2,500. This is a fund that employees contribute to as a rainy day fund in case of unexpected medical needs. Some employees have maxed out their accounts early on in the year, so it was determined that the pay-in needed to be increased. The downside is that employees can get the maximum of $2,500 before they pay it into the fund. More than 100 county employees participate in the program.

The supervisors also approved two work sessions. One is to discuss the county’s potential to participate in the Douglas International Port Authority. The second will be to discuss establishing a green building program in the county.

In other business on Tuesday, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors:

• Approved the tentative plat of Quail Run Ranches Subdivision located on Fort Grant Road near Willcox.

• Approved an amendment to a contract between the county and Stantec Consulting Inc. for an additional $10,138 that was spent in the construction of two airplane parking aprons at the Cochise County Airport. The Arizona Department of Transportation will pay 90 percent of the fee, and the county pays 10 percent.

• Appointed Democratic precinct committee persons Molly Smith, #7 Bisbee Iron Man, and Richard Brownell, #54 Sierra Vista Village Meadows.

• Approved a three-month lease extension for Southeast Arizona Medical Center until a new five-year lease contract can be negotiated.

• Approved a three-year water agreement for livestock between the county and Virgil and Wanda Maxwell at a rate of 83 cents per 1,000 gallons. The water comes from the Bisbee-Douglas International Airport.