County manager updates: Motorola radio upgrade, fairgrounds millings and chip sealing progress

County staff updated the Graham County Board of Supervisors on several ongoing projects and the budget timeline.

Dustin Walker, introduced in the meeting as a county manager, said staff completed a five‑hour budget work session and will reconvene for a second session to prepare a preliminary budget. Walker said fund balances provided in late May indicate the county is “in a good spot.”

Walker and engineering staff reported progress at the fairgrounds: a Department of Corrections paving crew has laid millings for the first fairgrounds parking lot in two lifts (an approximate 4‑inch depth), and work on a second parking lot has begun. Walker said the county is discussing emulsion treatment to stabilize millings for longevity.

Walker also gave an update on the county’s Motorola radio‑system upgrade, a roughly 18‑month project to convert towers and dispatch to digital. He said the system has been live for about four weeks, technicians remain on site to resolve bugs, and staff expect to finish before the end of the fiscal year.

Highway work reported by Walker includes chip sealing across Pima, Fort Thomas and the central county area since May 1 and a small contract to chip seal eight miles of town roads for the town of Pima. He said the county’s four graders were back in operation and road grading had resumed.

Supervisors also noted community events: a successful little‑league season and an upcoming adult league that will use the fairgrounds facilities. The updates were provided as informational reports; no board policy changes or funding votes were taken at this meeting.