Williams and Flagstaff constables ask board to weigh small operational raises and vehicle support amid heavy rural service demand

The two elected constables who serve Coconino County justice courts — from Flagstaff and Williams precincts — appeared before the Board of Supervisors on May 7 to describe heavy rural workloads, vehicle maintenance challenges and requests for modest operational support.

What constables said: Flagstaff Constable Danny Thomas described daily duties of serving court documents and the office’s administrative workload. He asked supervisors to consider additional compensation for a part‑time administrative employee whose responsibilities include financial accounting, records and covering front‑office duties. Williams Constable Gregory King described a large, remote service area that extends from near the Grand Canyon Caverns to the Colorado River and includes unmarked or difficult access roads; he said lengthy travel and harsh roads stress vehicles and increase repair budgets.

Budget context and county response: Both constables noted their offices received the standard 5% CPI recommendation and that vehicle repairs were a priority. The county manager’s office said centralizing motor‑pool repair funding and the CPI adjustment could create capacity that would help meet the constables’ temporary‑wage requests; management pledged to follow up with concrete options for hourly increases or limited‑term adjustments.

Operational context: The constables emphasized that their roles are focused on serving process (summonses, subpoenas, eviction notices, orders of protection and warrants) and that timely service is essential to court calendars and the rights of parties in both civil and criminal cases. They also highlighted safety considerations when serving documents in remote areas.

Ending: Supervisors thanked the constables for the presentation and asked management to return with options that balance the small-scale operational requests against countywide budget limits.