Sheriff Eric Ellison told the Board of Supervisors the county secured a local border‑support grant intended for border‑related investigations and enforcement and that the funds arrive as a lump sum.

"Now this grant was $228,000," Ellison said, and he also described asking for larger amounts during the application process: "So we asked for $750,000. We got $2.28." The two statements appeared in the same presentation; staff did not reconcile the different figures during the meeting and the difference was not resolved on the record.

Ellison outlined how staff proposed using the money: two fully equipped county vehicles, about $5,000 for Starlink communications to improve connectivity in rugged terrain, an $11,000 Mavic drone and $50,000 set aside for investigative overtime. He said the grant’s rules limit uses to law‑enforcement activities tied to border crimes and cautioned that the award cannot be used to supplant other county funding for unrelated services.

County Attorney Gary Griffith introduced Luke Arvizo as the county’s new investigator and diversion officer and the sheriff answered supervisors’ questions about training and FAA certification for drone pilots.

A supervisor moved to authorize the agreement between the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office "pursuant to ARS 11‑9‑52." The board approved the authorization by voice vote.

The board directed staff to proceed with the agreement; staff and the sheriff did not provide a written reconciliation of the differing dollar figures on the record. The sheriff said the funds will be used to expand investigative capacity and to prevent supplanting of the sheriff’s regular budget.

Next steps: staff will finalize the intergovernmental agreement paperwork and oversee the approved purchases and overtime allocations.