La Paz County supervisors approve consent agenda, grant restaurant liquor license, authorize DPS inspection MOU and sell a tax-deeded parcel

La Paz County supervisors on March 17 approved several routine and business items, including the consent agenda that included appointment of precinct committeepersons, granted a Series 12 restaurant liquor license for a Bouse restaurant, approved a memorandum of understanding with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to conduct commercial motor vehicle safety inspections, and awarded a tax-deeded parcel at public auction.

The action came during a roughly 15-minute session of the La Paz County Board of Supervisors that opened at 10:01 a.m. and concluded with the chair adjourning the meeting. The board approved the consent agenda — items 5(a) through 5(g) — by voice vote; later separate motions carried for the liquor license, the interagency memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the property auction.

The nut of the meeting was routine approvals that affect local elections administration, a new restaurant opening in Bouse, a law-enforcement information-sharing agreement and the disposition of tax-deeded county property.

Public comment and precinct committeepersons

Jen Morgana Morgana, acting chair of the La Paz County Democratic Party and a Bouse-area resident, spoke during the public-comment period about one of the consent-agenda items that will approve precinct committeepersons (PCs). "This truly is an historic event," Morgana said, adding that seven PCs being validated amount to 25% of the party's PC allotments in La Paz County and will serve as the initial organizing body for a functional county Democratic Party. The consent agenda that included those approvals passed as presented.

Liquor license for El Mirache Restaurant LLC

The board held a public hearing and then voted to approve an application to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (ADLLC) for a Series 12 restaurant license submitted by Jose Maria Alejandre, doing business as El Mirache Restaurant LLC, at 27620 Arizona Highway 72 in Bouse. County staff member Lori reported that the license notice was posted on the building for the minimum required 20 days and that the county had received no objections. Lori also said the county had received a February 4 note from the health department indicating no operating permit was on file at that time, but that she had followed up and "as of now, they do have a permit to operate, and they are up and running." The board moved and approved the license application without recorded opposition.

MOU with Arizona Department of Public Safety for commercial vehicle inspections

The supervisors approved a memorandum of understanding between the La Paz County Sheriff's Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety to allow county participation in commercial motor vehicle safety inspections and access to the SafeSpect portal for uploading inspection data. County staff described the MOU as a budgeted measure with no local match required and no fiscal impact. The sheriff's office was not represented at the meeting. Supervisors approved the MOU as presented.

Tax-deeded property auctions

The board held an auction for a tax-deeded parcel identified in the meeting record as "parcel number 30 Four-fifty Three-twenty 8" with a legal description listing Block 7, Lots 1 and 2 of Dickwick Hall Ranchos of Salome and a minimum bid of $7,974.15 plus a $30 recording fee. The board received a bid and, after no competing higher bids, closed the auction and awarded the parcel to Nicholas Saipens at the minimum amount plus the recording fee.

A second listed tax-deeded parcel identified in the record as "parcel number 3 Eleven-fifty One-sixteen" (Lakeside Subdivision, Unit 3, Lot 121) received no bids at the meeting; the board canceled the live auction and left the property on the county list of available parcels.

Votes at a glance: consent items, license, MOU and property sales were approved by the board by voice vote; recorded roll-call tallies were not provided in the transcript. Specific actions approved included: (1) consent agenda items 5(a)–5(g) (which included validation of seven precinct committeepersons), (2) ADLLC application No. 321695 (Series 12 restaurant license for El Mirache Restaurant LLC), (3) a memorandum of understanding between the La Paz County Sheriff's Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety to conduct commercial motor vehicle safety inspections and use the SafeSpect portal, and (4) award of tax-deeded parcel "30 Four-fifty Three-twenty 8" to Nicholas Saipens for $7,974.15 plus a $30 recording fee; a second parcel auction was canceled due to lack of bids.

Context and next steps

County staff noted that the restaurant's health permit was confirmed before the board's approval and that the MOU requires ongoing coordination between county law enforcement and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The board adjourned at the conclusion of the posted agenda items.

Ending note: the meeting closed following the announced agenda; no additional public testimony or contested items were recorded after the auction and cancellation of the second parcel sale.