Board approves festival grants, liquor recommendations, county engineer appointment and flood-recovery reimbursement

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors on May 6 approved a set of consent and action items including community grants, two liquor-license recommendations, an intergovernmental agreement, an on‑the‑record appointment and a large flood‑recovery reimbursement.

The board unanimously approved funding agreements from Community Initiative (CI) funds to support arts and community events: $9,000 to the Museum of Northern Arizona for the Heritage Festival of Art and Culture, $4,946 to the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival for performances at senior centers, and $10,000 to the Southside Community Association for the 2025 Juneteenth gala and festival. The board also passed, without recorded opposition, a proclamation declaring May 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month and heard event plans from Health and Human Services staff.

The board approved two recommendations to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control: a recommendation of approval for a special‑event liquor license for the Book Blossom Foundation’s Kalan Mai fundraiser on May 30–31, and a recommendation for a permanent extension of premises for the Munns Park RV Camp liquor license in Munns Park. Both recommendations were made after staff confirmed required temporary‑use and food‑safety steps.

The board renewed an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Flagstaff to share the cost of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) coordinator; the CJCC director will remain a county employee and the city will fund half of the coordinator’s salary and operating costs under the new IGA. The board approved the county manager’s personnel action to appoint Nate Reisner as county engineer and recognize Chad Acker’s continued service as deputy public works director. Reisner was introduced at the meeting and the board voted to confirm the appointment.

Acting as the Flood Control District board, directors ratified an agreement with Transwestern Pipeline Company for reimbursement of $1,322,248 to cover protective measures and long‑term flood mitigation in the Government Tank corridor; the board accepted the reimbursement and approved the corresponding budget amendment. Flood Control staff said the agreement funds restoration work that benefits both the pipeline asset and downstream neighborhoods.

All recorded motions in open session passed unanimously on voice vote where recorded. For several consent and routine items the board heard brief presentations from applicants or staff before voting.

Votes at a glance (selected agenda items): - Proclamation: May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month — motion made and seconded; outcome: approved unanimously. - Museum of Northern Arizona (Heritage Festival) — CI funding $9,000 (district allocations noted) — motion/second; outcome: approved unanimously. - Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival — CI funding $4,946 — motion/second; outcome: approved unanimously. - Southside Community Association (Juneteenth) — CI funding $10,000 — motion/second; outcome: approved unanimously. - IGA: CJCC cost‑share with City of Flagstaff (coordination services) — motion/second; outcome: approved unanimously. - Appointment: Nate Reisner, county engineer (board appointment) — motion/second; outcome: approved unanimously. - Flood Control District: ratify Transwestern reimbursement of $1,322,248 and budget amendment — motion/second; outcome: approved unanimously. - Liquor license recommendations: Book Blossom Foundation special event; Munns Park RV Camp permanent extension — board recommended approval to state; outcome: recommendations approved unanimously.

What the board recorded and staff confirmed: all items above were moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote with no recorded noes or abstentions during the May 6 session. Staff from Health & Human Services, the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, Southside Community Association, CJCC, Public Works, and Flood Control presented facts or answered questions for several items.

Members of the public and agency presenters who spoke during these agenda items included: Patrice Horstman (Chair, Board of Supervisors), Michelle Oxland (Health and Human Services director), Tori Foster (Museum of Northern Arizona), Dawn Tucker (Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival), Deb Harris (Southside Community Association), Diana Calandros (CJCC director), Christopher Tresler (Public Works director), Chad Acker (Deputy Public Works Director), and Nate Reisner (appointed county engineer).