Yavapai County supervisors approve sheriff’s public‑affairs contract, fund code rewrite and infrastructure projects; set timeline to fill District 2 vacancy

The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 19 unanimously approved several contracts and purchase orders — including a contract for the sheriff’s public‑affairs and government‑relations work and a nearly $500,000 zoning code rewrite — and voted to accept the resignation of District 2 Supervisor James Gregory while setting a schedule to appoint his replacement.

The actions, taken at the Yavapai County Administrative Services Verde Valley Complex in Cottonwood, included: a contract with Fitzgerald Strategies LLC for government relations and public affairs services for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office; a three‑year $499,905 professional services agreement with Logan Simpson to rewrite the county zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations; a $265,250 engineering contract for the Prescott East Highway and Antelope Lane pedestrian path project; and authorization to buy one 2026 Freightliner water truck and two 2026 Freightliner dump trucks (with plows and sanders). The board also accepted Gregory’s resignation and approved a staff timeline for soliciting applicants and making an appointment to the vacant District 2 seat.

The sheriff’s contract: purpose, cost and amendment

Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes told the board the contract would replace the sheriff’s prior full‑time government‑relations position with a contractor. The county will pay Fitzgerald Strategies LLC $12,800 per month for services, with a contract cap “not to exceed the amount of $217,600” for the term covering Feb. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the sheriff said. Rhodes said the arrangement should cost the county slightly less than the prior employee package — which he described as about $160,000 per year including salary and employee‑related expenses — because the county will not pay pension, insurance or workers’ compensation for the contractor. The contract also includes a vehicle reimbursement of $800 per month.

County legal staff noted a clause in the draft (identified in the agenda materials as part of section 2.4.1) that they recommended removing. The board approved the contract “as amended” with the sentence in question stricken after county counsel advised the board that the remainder of that paragraph was not required. The motion to approve the contract as amended passed unanimously.

Logan Simpson to update county code

Development Services Planning Manager Matt Blake told supervisors the county solicited proposals to create a new zoning ordinance, zoning map and subdivision regulations for unincorporated Yavapai County and received two proposals; staff recommended Logan Simpson, which submitted a $499,905 proposal. The work is described as a multi‑year, multidisciplinary effort that will run in phases through August 2028 and begin with a kickoff meeting; staff also said a joint session with the board is tentatively scheduled for March 27. Blake and senior planner Roger Eastman said the consultant’s proposal includes a robust public‑outreach program that uses multiple technologies and in‑person meetings to reach residents across the county. The board voted unanimously to award the contract.

Pedestrian path and vehicle purchases

Public Works Director Roger McCormick described a contract to design a pedestrian path along Prescott East Highway and Antelope Lane that would tie into an existing sidewalk project on Starlight Drive and provide continuous sidewalks linking several schools, including Franklin Phonetic School, Lake Valley Elementary School and Bradshaw Mountain High School. The board approved the professional services contract in an amount not to exceed $265,250 for the design work; the motion passed unanimously.

McCormick also asked the board to authorize purchases of fleet equipment budgeted in FY 2024–25: one 2026 Freightliner water truck to replace a 2001 truck and two 2026 Freightliner dump trucks (with plows and sanders) to replace 2008 models. He told the board the water truck price came in under budget at about $218,000 (budgeted at $275,000) while the two dump trucks arrived above budget at $791,000 (budgeted at $650,000); Public Works said it will offset the higher cost with savings elsewhere in its equipment purchases and remain within the approved budget. The board approved the purchases unanimously.

Accepting the resignation and setting an appointment process

County Manager Maury Thompson presented staff’s proposed timeline to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 19 resignation of Supervisor James Gregory. The board approved a motion accepting Gregory’s resignation and directing staff to proceed with the public appointment process following the posted timeline.

Under the timeline approved by the board, staff will publish a press release and solicit letters of interest, resumes, conflict‑of‑interest affidavits and financial‑disclosure statements. The deadline for applicants to submit materials is Friday, March 7 at 5 p.m., the county manager said. A second press release on Monday, March 24 would list the applicants and publicize the board’s regular April 16 meeting, the date staff identified for the board to appoint and swear in a replacement. The county will accept public email comment on applicants through Friday, April 4 at 5 p.m.; staff will aggregate comments and distribute them to the board prior to any interviews or votes.

Thompson proposed, and supervisors discussed, creating a small screening team — chair, vice chair and the county manager — to review all applicants and forward a recommended shortlist to the full board. The board discussed doing background checks but decided to conduct them selectively after narrowing the pool rather than on every applicant. Supervisors also discussed holding a public forum for finalists if it can be scheduled without delaying the April 16 appointment; the board asked staff to try to accommodate a public forum or other in‑person opportunities so District 2 residents can hear candidates directly. Several supervisors emphasized transparency and said the appointee will be required to run in the 2026 election for the seat.

What supervisors said

Sheriff David Rhodes framed the contractor arrangement as a way to retain government‑relations capacity at slightly lower cost than the prior full‑time employee and to continue the sheriff’s office’s work with the legislature, cities and other partners. Megan Fitzgerald, identified in meeting materials as the contractor with Fitzgerald Strategies LLC, told the board she was “excited to be here” and that she intends to avoid surprises in communications and coordinate with stakeholders internally and externally.

Matt Blake and Roger Eastman of Development Services said they expect a “robust and very interactive” public‑engagement campaign during the multi‑year code rewrite, and they described Logan Simpson as a firm with experience in both metropolitan and rural Arizona communities.

Public comment

One member of the public raised an unrelated concern during the call to the public about proposed battery energy storage and charging infrastructure tied to a land‑use or annexation issue near Sedona, urging caution about environmental and health risks. Board members noted that public comment is recorded and that staff may follow up or schedule the item for a future hearing if appropriate.

Votes at a glance

- Fitzgerald Strategies LLC — Public affairs/government‑relations services for Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office: $12,800 per month; contract cap not to exceed $217,600; term Feb. 1, 2025–June 30, 2026; approved as amended (clause in section 2.4.1 removed); vote: unanimous (all five supervisors voting yes).

- Logan Simpson — Professional services to rewrite zoning ordinance, zoning map and subdivision regulations: $499,905 for a three‑year, phased project through Aug. 2028; approved unanimously.

- Engineering contract for Prescott East Highway & Antelope Lane pedestrian path: not to exceed $265,250; approved unanimously.

- Fleet purchases — one 2026 Freightliner water truck (replacement) and two 2026 Freightliner dump trucks with plows and sanders: authorized; board noted a net budgetary position that offsets an overage on the dump trucks with savings elsewhere; approved unanimously.

- Acceptance of Supervisor James Gregory’s resignation and approval of staff timeline for appointment: motion to accept resignation and timeline approved unanimously; application deadline March 7, public comment deadline April 4, appointment target April 16 (appointee must later run in 2026 election).

Context and next steps

Staff said the zoning code update will begin immediately if the board awards the contract and that the project will include a kickoff meeting with county leadership and public outreach across multiple platforms. For the District 2 appointment, staff will post the press release and application instructions immediately and said it will provide a prominent webpage where applicants’ materials and staff notices will be posted. The board directed staff to try to include public forums for finalists if the schedule allows and to proceed with selective background checks after the board narrows the applicant pool.

— Reporting by the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 19, 2025. "