BISBEE �” “We know the enemy and we will be prepared to take them on. As enforcement increases, so does the danger. We are prepared to deal with it when it comes.”

Though border security is a responsibility of the federal government, Sheriff Larry Dever says it’s his responsibility to protect Cochise County residents. He said he has devised a plan of action, thanks to a $1.5 million grant through the governor’s office via the Arizona Office of Economic Recovery.

During Tuesday’s Cochise County Board of Supervisors meeting, Dever asked the supervisors to accept the grant and his plan for use of the money. They took his advice and accepted the money.

To use the funds most effectively, Dever plans to establish a six-man border interdiction team that will patrol remote hot spots on ranches near the border and along established smuggling trails. That the team will be hand-picked from his existing roster of deputies and will not drain the county’s budget.

Reassuring Supervisor Richard Searle that the sheriff would not be in conflict with federal agencies, Dever stated: “We are not there to support or duplicate the Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We will do our work on private ranch land.”

Dever also said the Huachuca Mountains are a “beehive of illegal activity.” His plan is to gather information from people living in trafficking areas to protect them and their homes from criminal activity. “We will never be able to handle all the illegal immigration problems, but until the border is secured, I have a duty to preserve the peace.”

Road issues

After budgetary concerns were allayed, the supervisors approved a request from Patricia Morris, acting director of the Highway and Floodplain Department, to accept portions of four roads in the Winchester heights Subdivision totaling 2.8 miles, into the county road system. They will only be maintained as primitive roads.

Many residents of the old subdivision work at EuroFresh, which agreed to be a partner in the effort to help improve the road system. The community has banded together to form an organization aimed at improving the roads.

EuroFresh did provide several cubic yards of road material, but that was washed away in the monsoon, said Morris. Deep potholes and ruts have been cut into the road and drainage problems have been affecting Fort Grant Road which is in the county system.

The supervisors also approved a change order to upgrade temporary light poles at the inspection of Ramsey Road and Highway 92. County transportation planner Karen Lamberton explained that the temporary wooden poles were to be replaced when drainage issues at the intersection were addressed. “Unanticipated issues with maintaining the required heights on the span wires and problems with excessive sway in the signal heads resulted in unforeseen issues.” She expects the problem to be resolved by moving forward with steel pole placements.

The traffic light project is a partnership between the county, the Arizona Department of Transportation and developers involved in the intersection and no added funds for the poles will be required from the county, Lamberton added.

Other business

At Tuesday’s meeting, supervisors also:

• OK’d a tax appeal settlement with Darvy Investments, LLC.

• Approved the appointments of Dr. James Shockey, Evonne Martin and Kenneth Cecil to the Local Workforce Investment Board through June 30, 2014.

• Approved the appointment of Evelyn Whitmer to a four-year term on the Cochise County Board of Health through Aug. 9, 2014.

• Approved the renewal of a lease agreement between the county and Arizona State Land Department for the San Bernadino communications site from Sept. 1, 2010, through Aug. 31, 2020.

THE MONEY

The $1.55 million grant awarded to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office:

• $300,000 for communications infrastructure

• $550,000 for six-man operations team (equipment, weaponry and ATVs)

• $250,000 for mobile command unit

• $250,000 for deputy overtime and employee reimbursable expanses

• $200,000 for vehicle maintenance and fuel reimbursement