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County asks school district whether Navajo Nation should take over two fire stations
Summary
The commission approved a letter asking the San Juan County School District whether it wants to retain or transfer leases for two fire stations in Monument Valley and Montezuma Creek; the county said transferring to the Navajo Nation would help resolve jurisdiction and liability concerns and return equipment to locally purchased ownership.
San Juan County commissioners approved a letter asking the San Juan County School District to state whether it prefers to keep or transfer two fire-station leases in Monument Valley and Montezuma Creek, a step that could let the Navajo Nation assume operation and reduce county liability.
Fire Chief David (Dave) Gallegos presented the item and said the Navajo Nation approached the county about taking over the stations, both of which sit within Nation lands and were equipped largely with funds from Navajo sources. The county’s existing lease arrangements with the school district do not allow a straightforward sublease, so the county is seeking the district’s direction: allow the county to sublease to the Navajo Nation, or terminate the county lease so the school district can lease directly to the Navajo Nation.
“Ultimately, the equipment and everything was purchased by the Navajo residents,” Gallegos said. He added that the Nation has funding commitments to staff the stations full time, replacing volunteer responders in those communities, and that transfer would address jurisdictional and liability issues when county responders enter Nation lands.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the letter to the school district requesting guidance on whether the district prefers the county to sublease or to transfer the lease directly to the Navajo Nation. Commissioners said the county would remain available to assist the communities where needed even if the Nation assumes operations.
No lease assignments or transfers occurred at the meeting; the vote authorized the letter requesting the district’s preference so the county and Nation can negotiate next steps.
