Commissioners back conditional funding for community fridge after county raises health concerns

A proposed community fridge project—referred to in the application summary as Flag Bridges—generated a split reaction among reviewers at the Sustainability Commission meeting. Some commissioners praised the concept’s ability to expand food access, while others flagged readiness and health‑compliance concerns raised by Coconino County Health and Human Services.

Reviewer comments noted the proposal lacked a confirmed site and appeared to follow parts of an older scoring rubric; those gaps lowered some scores. Eve, identified in the meeting as deputy director of Coconino County Health and Human Services, told staff she raised flags about the prior project and that the county would monitor food‑safety issues. Diane said Eve did not make the project ineligible but requested monitoring.

Commissioners discussed conditional funding as a way to balance support with safety: holding funds until applicants documented compliance with county health requirements or structuring a timeline for remediation. "We hold the funds and we can release the funds once things are met," one commissioner said, urging that the commission tie funding disbursement to specific benchmarks. Several commissioners also recommended clear contingency language and suggested staff include enforcement measures such as reclaiming funds if requirements are not met.

The commission did not vote on an individual award for the community fridge that evening; instead, it approved the overall package of top grants with direction to staff to attach contingencies and monitor compliance where appropriate.