During the Dec. 16 call to the public, several residents urged Cochise County supervisors to address rural road maintenance and transparency in county engineering decisions.

Alfred Kern, who said he has attended meetings for four years, told the board his neighborhood off Leslie Canyon Road contains more than 40 homes that pay taxes but receive no county road services, and urged the county to add their roads to the maintenance schedule. “We have probably more than 40 homes... and they're all paying taxes, but we have no county... services,” he said.

James Schmidt of Dragoon pressed the board to investigate conduct by the County Engineering Office and said he had filed a written complaint about an employee. He asked why the county would seek to widen Old Ranch Road to a 66-foot easement — requiring landowners to move fences and surrender property — and why the county had not provided him with a professional survey after offering to share it earlier. Schmidt asked the board to suspend any actions on Old Ranch Road that affect landowners until they are included in the process.

Supervisor Gomez responded that she and staff had inspected the roads, that some roads will be dropped from county maintenance lists and others cannot be served because they are private or too remote, and she said she would meet with Schmidt in January to explain next steps. Gomez said material such as tailings or railroad millings cannot be used without owner permission. The board did not take formal action on these public comments at the meeting.