Graham County supervisors approve legal-services contract, probation staffing, court funding and renew Mexican wolf MOU

Graham County supervisors approved multiple administrative and program actions at their regular meeting, including a six-month contract for outside civil legal services, a new surveillance officer position for intensive probation, a Superior Court funding request and a renewal of a memorandum of understanding on Mexican wolf recovery.

County Attorney Scott Bennett said the county’s civil legal workload has outstripped internal capacity and recommended hiring former Pinal County attorney Ken Volkmar on a six-month contract that allows up to $75,000 in billed services at $125 per hour. “What we have before you today is our request to approve a contract for legal services with former Pinal County Attorney and current private attorney Ken Volkmar,” Bennett said, noting the office is “absolutely inundated with civil work.” The board voted to approve the agreement; the motion passed with the board concurring.

Mindy, identified as representing the Superior Court, asked the board to approve submission of the fiscal-year 2025 “fill-the-gap” state-aid application. Mindy said the available state aid this year is $12,723, plus a 5% set-aside from fines and fees, and that the funds would be used for the pretrial services officer’s salary and employer-related expenses. “Pretrial services basically monitors all defendants while their case is pending pretrial,” Mindy said, noting services include drug and alcohol testing, check-ins and referrals to counseling. The board approved submission of the application.

Herman Andrews of the county probation office asked the board to authorize an additional surveillance officer for the intensive probation unit to address growing caseloads. Andrews described current intensive-probation caseloads as high and said adding a surveillance officer would allow the unit to cover a larger caseload without hiring a full additional probation officer. When asked about vehicles, Andrews said the state provides vehicles and the office will request another if the new position is filled. The board approved the position.

Planning and zoning director Steve McGoin asked the board to recommend approval of a special-event liquor license for a Samaritan House fundraiser to be held at the VFW on March 1, 2025, from 6 p.m. to just before midnight; the application will be forwarded to the state’s licensing portal. The board approved the special-event liquor license and authorized staff signatures as needed.

County Manager Paul Welker briefed the board on a renewal of a long-standing memorandum of understanding among several eastern Arizona counties and the Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) to remain a cooperating agency in Mexican wolf recovery and management discussions with federal and state partners. Welker and a supervising member said the county’s role has been to “have a seat at the table” so local concerns — particularly those of ranchers and livestock interests — are represented in discussions with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, USDA and Arizona Game and Fish. The board approved the updated MOU.

Other routine actions approved during the meeting included the minutes of the previous regular meeting and work session, approval of demands and handwritten warrants, and a request to move into an executive session to discuss an ongoing tax-court proceeding. After the executive session, the board reconvened and adjourned.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes of the Feb. 3 meeting: motion passed (board voice vote). - Approve demands and handwritten warrants: motion passed (board voice vote). - Approve legal-services agreement with Ken Volkmar (six-month contract, up to $75,000, $125/hr): motion passed (board voice vote). - Approve submission of FY25 fill-the-gap application for Superior Court (state aid $12,723; 5% set-aside available): motion passed (board voice vote). - Approve authorization to add a surveillance officer for intensive probation: motion passed (board voice vote). - Approve special-event liquor license for Samaritan House fundraiser at the VFW on 03/01/2025, 6:00 p.m.–midnight: motion passed (board voice vote). - Approve renewal of memorandum of understanding on Mexican wolf recovery and management (cooperating-agency MOU with ECO and other counties): motion passed (board voice vote).

The meeting record shows board members voiced support for keeping a county presence in regional wildlife-management discussions and for staffing and court-funding steps intended to address immediate operational needs. The board moved into executive session to discuss a tax-court matter and later adjourned.