Mohave County staff outlines plan to bring medical examiner services in-house; costs, sites and staffing remain unresolved

Mohave County officials presented a three-part plan on Jan. 21 to move medical examiner services from a private contractor into county control, telling the Board of Supervisors a final decision will require more analysis and time.

Manager Timothy Elthers outlined the plan and its three interdependent components: assets (transport vehicles, refrigeration/cooling systems and other equipment), personnel (investigators, technicians, administrative staff and a forensic pathologist) and a permanent morgue site. “The goal is to transfer these medical examiner services in house,” Elthers said, adding the timeline depends on board direction and site selection.

Director Kristina Palmer reviewed the contract history. “Serenity Group, owned by John Hassett, was awarded a three-year contract in 2021 with options to renew while the county developed an in‑house solution,” she said. The contractor moved its facility to Mohave Valley in September 2024 after a lease increase, and county staff have been negotiating transition details with the contractor.

Public Works Director Jeremy Latosky described two county-owned buildings under consideration: a former Mohave Valley substation on Vanderslice Road (about 8,000 square feet but with 8-foot ceilings that staff said make upgrades expensive) and a Horizon Boulevard traffic‑control storage building in Kingman (about 48,100 square feet, with existing 10‑foot roll-up doors and city sewer access). Latosky estimated renovation costs of about $3 million for the Vanderslice site if ceilings are raised and about $2.5 million for the Horizon site.

Chief Financial Officer Charles Moran summarized recurring operating cost estimates and one-time equipment needs. He said recurring operating costs for a county-run office (not including a forensic pathologist’s full cost) would be roughly $1.25 million a year; separate estimates for bringing a forensic pathologist on staff ranged from $350,000 to $500,000 annually. Moran also noted about $400,000 in one‑time equipment purchases would be required to transition from the current provider.

Procurement Director Tara Acting outlined a staged transition plan: within about six months of board approval staff would seek to transfer assets and employees from the contractor to the county; within about 12 months the county would aim to complete site build‑out and recruit or contract a pathologist. Acting said the county would amend the contractor’s agreement to reduce scope and cost as county staff and assets come online.

Contractor John Hassett said his staff worked with county staff on transition planning. Local pathologist Daniel Sidlovski, representing a private pathology group, told the board his firm could begin services within about three months and at materially lower cost than county estimates, and he urged the county to consider a phased subcontracting approach for speed and savings.

Why it matters: the county currently lacks a stable, locally controlled medical examiner operation. Board members said they value accountability and want the service to be sustainable. Several supervisors asked for more time and for staff to arrange facility site visits and additional financial detail before the board directs implementation.

What’s next: staff offered to arrange tours of proposed sites and to report back. Manager Elthers said staff would continue to refine cost estimates and implementation steps and to provide monthly updates to the board.