BISBEE — The Cochise County Board of Supervisors will have a tough decision to make when it comes to deciding who will and who won’t get a chunk of the $326,000 Community Development Block Grant.
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The Whetstone $150,000 request for a new fire engine was denied since the criteria for receiving grant funds is specific and must directly impact lower- and moderate-income families, said Patty Lewis, the county’s grant administrator.
According to the Housing and Urban Development Web site, “HUD awards carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services. Grantees must give maximum feasible priority to activities which benefit low- and moderate-income persons. A grantee may also carry out activities which aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight.”
Lewis said the county Housing Authority is requesting $100,000 for emergency home repairs for low-income residents and $37,500 to continue the lead abatement program.
The Bowie Fire District, school district and chamber of commerce have requested $128,000 for various unspecified projects.
Pirtleville residents are requesting $100,000 in order to provide sewer hookups to the Douglas wastewater treatment plant, a multi-use facility and a general townsite clean-up.
In Sunsites, residents have requested help with a $275,000 expansion of the senior center.
The supervisors will hold a work session to discuss each project and determine which ones will be awarded funding. There was no date for it set at the meeting.
The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a $300,000 grant to the county, which was accepted by the supervisors, for the runway lighting project at Cochise County Airport.
The county’s matching share is $7,500. The Arizona Department of Transportation also is granting $7,500 to the project.
The county and the city of Bisbee also have entered an intergovernmental agreement for the repair and maintenance of the city’s light and heavy fleet. The county will charge $44 per hour for light vehicle maintenance and $72 per hour for heavy equipment.
An agreement between the county and the U.S Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was approved, too.
The supervisors had questions about the need for the $37,441 service when the matter came up in a previous meeting. Citing financial woes, they asked for more information concerning the arrangement which now covers a five-year period.
Searle was wary of the agreement since each year the amount the county pays could rise. This year’s agreement is around $3,000 more than last year. The USDA officer spends around 80 percent of his time in Cochise County, but handles wildlife issues in the surrounding counties.
Chief Deputy Rod Rothrock, who is with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, told the supervisors that the USDA officer has helped recently with coyote packs in Hereford and Elfrida that have claimed community territory as their own. There are remedies the officer can take that law enforcement cannot.
“This is extremely valuable to the residents in the county in dealing with feral pests,” Rothrock said.
In other business, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday:
• Approved a work session to discuss a countywide billboard policy.
• Approved a recommendation for a Series 13 liquor license as requested by Daniel Estrada from Tombstone Vineyards and Winery on Orante Road.
• Presented volunteer service awards to Bill Lanhan, Board of Adjustment District 3, 28 years; Karen Corey, county Planning and Zoning Commission, eight years; and Peter Carberry III, San Jose Fire District.
• Approved an amendment to the contract to include additional site surveys and hydraulics at the Fry Drainageway project.
• Approved the acceptance of a $1,478 grant from the Arizona Department of Transportation for design and engineering at Cochise County Airport for lighting improvement project.
• Approved the reappointments of Gene Sanders and Dave Hrach for two years and Lou Kuttner and Peter Kelly for four years to the county merit commission.
• Approved the appointments to the Boards of Adjustment of Betty Piper, District 2 for a term ending Dec. 31; Paul Brick, District 3 for four years; Ed Cottingham, District 1, four years; Albert Young, District 2, four years.
• Appointed Pat Edie to the planning and zoning commission from District 2.
• Reappointed John Wendle, representing District 1, and Al Haralson, representing District 3, to the Planning and Zoning Commission to four-year terms.
• Approved three resolutions permitting the county treasurer to purchase securities for investment and reinvestment.
• Ratified the purchase of 154 tons of pass oil in the amount of $101,640.
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