Graham County supervisors approve routine measures including inmate pay increase, school resource officer and county security purchases

The Graham County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 15 approved a bundle of routine administrative measures, including using forfeited RICO funds for a Safford Police Department purchase, accepting a quick-claim deed for a county right-of-way, approving a security-camera purchase for a Pima telecommunications tower, ratifying an increase in inmate labor pay and ratifying an intergovernmental agreement to place a school resource officer at Fort Thomas Schools.

The board approved the items during a regularly scheduled meeting in which members identified and moved each item with little public comment. County Attorney Scott Bennett asked the board to permit the use of RICO funds — forfeited assets from criminal cases — for equipment requested by the Safford Police Department. The motion passed after a voice vote.

Other motions approved by the board included accepting a quitclaim deed that will convey a right-of-way on Hallowell Lane from James and Tara Black to the county; authorizing up to $4,000 in unbudgeted capital expenditures for a security camera at a Pima telecommunications tower site; ratifying an amendment to the county's inmate work contract to raise inmate pay from $0.50 to $1.50 per hour; and ratifying an annual intergovernmental agreement with Fort Thomas Schools to provide a school resource officer for $75,000 per year.

Board members cited the inmate labor change as an effort to improve participation after COVID-related reductions in available inmate workers. County Manager Dustin Welker said the county had previously paid $0.50 per hour and the amended contract raises the hourly pay to $1.50 per inmate; Welker told the board the change had already produced an increase in crews available to county facilities.

When the board considered the security-camera purchase, McCoy Hawkins said the camera would protect county telecommunications equipment at a tower site near the town hall in Pima; Hawkins said the camera would provide views of the site and part of the town hall area but was unlikely to cover the nearby highway. The board approved expenditure "up to $4,000" for the purchase.

The intergovernmental agreement with Fort Thomas Schools keeps the county as the employer of the officer assigned to the school; Welker told the board the county covers full salary and related employment costs while the school district pays $75,000 annually under the agreement. The board ratified the contract after the district's board had previously approved it.

Several street-naming requests were also approved during the meeting (see separate itemization below). The board opened scheduled bid notices for fair concession stand operations but reported no bids had been received; staff said they would pursue additional outreach and that the county could accept proposals outside the formal bid opening process if necessary to fill the concession stands before the fair.

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows the board passed each motion by voice vote with "ayes" and no recorded noes or abstentions. The audio transcript records affirmative voice votes but does not list individual roll-call tallies for each motion.

Items approved at the Sept. 15 meeting (motions as recorded): - Approve minutes of the regular meeting held Sept. 4 (motion recorded and approved by voice vote). - Approve demands and handwritten warrants (motion recorded and approved by voice vote). - Approve the county attorney's request to use RICO-forfeiture funds for a Safford Police Department equipment purchase (motion recorded and approved by voice vote). Mover/second: not specified in transcript. - Accept quitclaim deed/right-of-way for Hallowell Lane from James and Tara Black (motion recorded and approved by voice vote). Mover/second: Supervisor Paul (mover), Supervisor Howard (second) as recorded. - Authorize expenditure up to $4,000 in unbudgeted capital for a security camera at the Pima telecommunications tower site (motion recorded and approved by voice vote). Mover/second: Supervisor Paul (mover), Chairman Mac (second) as recorded. - Ratify amendment to inmate work contract No. 25013-30 to increase inmate pay from $0.50 to $1.50 per hour (motion recorded and approved by voice vote). Mover/second: Supervisor Paul (mover), Supervisor Howard (second) as recorded. - Ratify the annual intergovernmental agreement with Fort Thomas Schools for a school resource officer (county to employ the officer; Fort Thomas pays $75,000/year) (motion recorded and approved by voice vote). Mover/second: Supervisor Paul (mover), Supervisor Howard (second) as recorded. - Approve naming requests from Planning & Zoning: Holden Street; Quartz Ridge Road; and Bamza Way (motions recorded and approved by voice vote). Mover/second: motions moved and seconded as recorded.

Notes: When the transcript does not identify individual movers or seconders by full name, the article does not attribute those procedural remarks to a specific named individual. Quotations and factual attributions in this item come only from speakers identified in the meeting record.