Graham County supervisors approve contracts, accept vehicle transfer and clear multiple land-use and licensing items

The Graham County Board of Supervisors on July 7 approved a slate of routine fiscal, public-safety and land-use items, including two contract ratifications, acceptance of a transferred public-safety vehicle, treasurer actions to clear certain taxes and a series of land-use approvals that included road names, a family cemetery special-use permit and several rezonings.

During the consent and regular-agenda items the board approved minutes, demands and handwritten warrants, and an agenda change to move a Superior Court presentation to the start of the meeting.

Ratifications and contracts: The board ratified a fiscal year 2026 limited-services agreement with a private investigator, Larry Rivas of Northwest Investigations, to provide criminal-defense investigation services when appointed by the court. County staff said Mr. Rivas charges $70 per hour plus travel; last year the county used just over $6,000 of a $20,000 budgeted appropriation for such services and the expense is covered by the general fund. The board also ratified a separate limited-representation contract for the dependency alternative program (DAP); staff discussed that contract and estimated modest county savings from its use (covered separately).

Vehicle transfer: The board approved acceptance of an unbudgeted capital vehicle offered by Santa Cruz County through the Department of Homeland Security under the Operation Stone Garden program: a 2023 Chevy Tahoe designated for Stone Garden activities. County staff said the vehicle can be used only for Stone Garden operations; supervisors and the sheriff's office noted it will help preserve patrol mileage on other vehicles. The donor county asked when Graham County would retrieve the vehicle.

Treasurer actions: Treasurer Cindy Orr presented two items. First, the board approved the annual certificates of clearance to abate taxes on personal property (mobile homes) that county staff determined were removed or destroyed; the treasurer cited state statute as the authority for the abatement as stated in the record. Second, the board approved an over-the-counter tax-deed offer on parcel 109-16-029 from an adjoining property owner; a supervisor said the offer was about $1,700 and met the county's minimum required payment for taxes and fees.

Licensing and land use: The board granted a packaged-liquor license (beer and wine, not for on-premises consumption) to Dollar General store number 30083 at 7937 S. U.S. Highway 191 after staff said the application and responsible-party training were in order and a 20-day posting received no public comment. Planning and zoning staff led a series of public hearings and the board approved four proposed road names (Gray Ghost Lane; Butterfly Lane; Seraphim Way; and Kielberg Creek Road) to serve small parcel developments or addresses across the county. Board members noted some road-name items had only one or two addresses; one remote property owner is expected to seek a building permit and a future use permit for a private heliport.

Special-use permit and rezonings: The board approved a special-use permit for a family cemetery requested by Chris and Monica Stauffer; planning and zoning reported required neighbors had signed the posting and recommended approval. The board also approved several rezoning requests: a residential split for a parcel applied for by Ryan Layton (rezoning to single-family residential), a request from Neil Brooks to rezone two parcels to RMH for a travel-trailer park (planning and zoning recommended approval and one neighbor raised a utility easement concern that will be addressed by easement), and a 20.29-acre rezoning behind a co-op yard (applicant and county staff said the change would allow expansion of an electric co-op yard; planning and zoning recommended approval).

All motions described in the public transcript passed by voice vote; the chair declared each motion passed after members present responded "aye." The transcript records no roll-call vote tallies by individual member name for these items.

Votes at a glance: the board's motions and outcomes as recorded in the meeting transcript follow.

- Approve minutes of special meeting and work session (July 30): approved (voice vote). - Approve demands and handwritten warrants / pay bills: approved (voice vote). - Approve agenda with flexibility (move items to accommodate presenters): approved (voice vote). - Ratify FY26 limited representation DAP contract: approved (voice vote). - Ratify FY26 limited services agreement with Larry Rivas (Northwest Investigations): approved (voice vote). - Accept transfer of 2023 Chevy Tahoe (Operation Stone Garden) from Santa Cruz County / DHS: approved (voice vote). - Approve annual certificates of clearance for personal property tax abatement (per statute cited in meeting): approved (voice vote). - Approve over-the-counter tax-deed sale offer for Parcel 109-16-029 (amount met county minimum; ~ $1,700 as stated): approved (voice vote). - Approve liquor license for Dollar General store #30083 (packaged beer/wine only): approved (voice vote). - Approve road name: Gray Ghost Lane (addresses: 1-2): approved (voice vote). - Approve road name: Butterfly Lane (to serve 5 subdivided lots): approved (voice vote). - Approve road name: Seraphim Way: approved (voice vote). - Approve road name: Kielberg Creek Road (remote southwest county property): approved (voice vote). - Approve special-use permit for family cemetery (applicant: Chris & Monica Stauffer): approved (voice vote). - Approve rezoning (932-25, applicant Ryan Layton) to single-family residential for lot split: approved (voice vote). - Approve rezoning (833-25, applicant Neil Brooks) to RMH for travel-trailer park: approved (voice vote). - Approve rezoning (834-25, ~20.29 acres behind co-op yard; applicant referenced as Eric Swanson/others) to allow coop expansion: approved (voice vote).

The board called for a short work session after the meeting for highway, planning, zoning, engineering and parks projects and adjourned with no public commenters at the call to the public.