Graham County supervisors ratify evaluator contract, approve grant applications and several county agreements

The Graham County Board of Supervisors on April 7 approved a series of contracts, grant applications and policy updates, including ratification of a limited services agreement for Rule 11 forensic evaluations, authorization to apply for a juvenile crime reduction grant, an amendment to a Tetra Tech contract tied to an NRCS flood-study grant, a memorandum of understanding allowing state inspection of Central Dam, acceptance of an ADEQ delegation agreement, a consulting contract to update county ordinances, and the county’s annual public-safety pension funding policy.

Mindy (Superior Court) told the board the ratified agreement will bring Dr. James Holmes on as an additional evaluator for competency (Rule 11) assessments through June 30, 2026. "A party cannot proceed to trial if they're deemed incompetent," Mindy said, explaining the county must provide evaluation and, where required, RTC evaluation and treatment. Supervisors voted to ratify the contract after a motion and second; no formal opposition was recorded.

Probation staff said the board also approved applying for a Juvenile Crime Reduction Fund (JCRF) grant and ratifying the application. Probation representatives said funds would be used to upgrade the department’s education program — new computers, a smart-screen for the education room and training and materials for Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) now offered for juveniles. Supervisor Howard moved to approve and ratify the application and the board voted in favor.

Michael Bryce, county engineer, described Amendment No. 7 to the Tetra Tech professional services agreement, work funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to study off-site flows entering irrigation canals and contributing to town flooding. "They're trying to select the alternatives and that's what we're pushing for is for them to select alternatives that would have that type of impact," Bryce said. The board approved the amendment; supervisors asked for a work session briefing before the county’s engineer retires.

Bryce also presented a memorandum of understanding between Graham County and the Richard M. and Mary G. Clarridge Living Trust to allow state access to Central Dam for evaluation. He said the county’s involvement to date had been limited to maintenance and that the MOU is written to avoid county assumption of ownership or liability while permitting testing. Supervisor Paul asked whether the MOU allows non‑destructive and core testing; Bryce responded testing would cover what the state determines necessary. The board approved the MOU.

Brian Douglas of the health department asked supervisors to approve an updated Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) delegation agreement. Douglas said a key new element is delegation to inspect sewage-pumper trucks and that the agreement also requires more extensive reporting to the state — he estimated roughly a threefold increase in required reporting data. Supervisors approved accepting the delegation agreement.

Planning staff sought board approval to contract with CivicPlus to review and maintain the county’s ordinances and keep them aligned with Arizona Revised Statutes. Planning director Steve McGaughy told supervisors CivicPlus will compare the county code to state law, return recommended changes and host the updated ordinance going forward. The board approved the CivicPlus agreement.

Julie Rodriguez, presenting the county’s annual Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) pension funding policy, said the county has injected roughly $4,400,000 in extra payments between 2019 and 2024 to reduce its PSPRS unfunded liability. Rodriguez said the actuarial report shows the plan moved from a liability of about $555,000 last year to a small asset this year (about $14,000), and supervisors approved the PSPRS funding policy, with staff noting the county will withhold other discretionary contributions and monitor actuarial results before making further payments.

Board members and staff said next steps include separate briefings or work sessions on the Tetra Tech/N R C S flood study and the county engineer’s planned transition. Several approvals were voice votes with "aye" recorded; no roll-call tallies were entered into the meeting transcript.

Notes: the county manager’s staff report to the board also covered ongoing capital projects (probation building HVAC replacement, Main Street remodel planning, fairgrounds landscaping, inmate paving crews using highway millings, completion of a rented facility floor and sealer, shade-structure repair, ballfield lighting and a Motorola radio upgrade funded largely by grant money), but no board motion was required for those administrative updates.