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Cochise County supervisors approve rezoning, airport drainage grant, water-testing IGA and multiple HR policy changes
Summary
At their Jan. 7 meeting in Bisbee, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on a rezoning request, an ADOT grant for Wilcox airport drainage, an intergovernmental agreement for water testing, and several human resources policy updates.
Bisbee, Ariz. — The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on Jan. 7, 2025, to approve a rezoning application, accept an Arizona Department of Transportation grant for airport drainage work in Wilcox, enter an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Douglas for state-required water testing, and adopt several revisions to county human-resources policies.
The board — Supervisors Tom Crosby (District 1), Kathleen Gomez (District 2) and Frank Antinori (District 3) — handled the items in a single regular meeting held at the county supervisors hearing room in Bisbee. Most measures passed with little debate and no recorded opposition.
Votes at a glance: • Zoning ordinance 25-01 (docket RZ2423): Adopted to rezone tax parcel 1025-3017 from R-36 (one dwelling per 36,000 sq. ft.) to RU-4 (one dwelling per 4 acres) pursuant to application of Patrick Wilson. Planning staff recommended approval; Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval, 8-0. Vote: 3-0, motion passed. • ADOT grant agreement E5S5G01C (Wilcox airport drainage): Approved to accept $180,000 from the Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautics Fund for drainage improvements at the Cochise County Airport in Wilcox, with a county match of $18,000. Vote: 3-0, motion passed. • Intergovernmental agreement with City of Douglas (water testing and monitoring): Approved a contract to provide state-required testing and monitoring of the county-managed wells that supply the Douglas-area correctional facility, at $2,190 per month, effective Jan. 1, 2025–Jan. 1, 2027. Vote: 3-0, motion passed. Board discussed the county’s intent to seek cost recovery from the primary water user. • Human-resources policy amendments (multiple items): The board approved amendments to HR policies to (a) include 911 dispatchers in traumatic-events counseling (policy 2230), (b) revise leave-of-absence without pay rules to align with federal military reemployment protections (policy 2236), and (c) adopt an employee recognition and awards policy clarifying de minimis value limits and criteria (policy 2237). All passed 3-0. • Consent agenda (items 3–10): Approved as presented, 3-0. • Agenda item 17: Discussion and possible action regarding state and federal legislative matters; motion to proceed as described passed 3-0.
Why it matters: The rezoning changes the allowable residential density for a parcel near Purdy Lane and Naco Highway and was presented as compatible with the county comprehensive plan and surrounding low-density development. The airport drainage grant addresses a recurring flooding problem at the Wilcox airport and is intended to improve operational reliability during rain events. The water-testing agreement formalizes the county’s relationship with the City of Douglas to meet state monitoring requirements for wells used by a correctional facility; supervisors discussed transferring those operating costs to the primary user where possible.
What else the board did: The supervisors elected Frank Antinori as chair and Tom Crosby as vice chair for 2025 at the start of the meeting, and approved routine consent items. Interim County Administrator communications included scheduled work sessions on the comprehensive plan and a meeting with the county insurance pool in late February.
Votes and roll: Where recorded, motions passed by a 3-0 vote (Crosby, Gomez, Antinori present and recorded as voting aye). No roll-call tallies showed any votes in opposition during the approved items.
