Graham County OKs out-of-state Spillman training, accepts $306,542 DPS grant and approves multiple highway pay reclassifications
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Summary
The Graham County Board approved travel for four dispatch/detention employees to Spillman annual training in Orlando, accepted $306,542.32 in DPS local border-support funds earmarked to buy four patrol vehicles, and approved a package of highway-department reclassifications and a new trainee position to address CDL staffing shortages.
The Graham County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved several personnel and public-safety actions, including out-of-state training, a DPS grant acceptance, and multiple highway-department pay reclassifications.
Sheriff Allred asked the board to authorize travel to a Spillman annual training event in Orlando for four staff who operate the county's records and dispatch software. "This Spillman training is a serious thing for us," Allred said, explaining the system is widely used by agencies across the valley and requires annual updates. A board member noted the per-person cost is about $2,500 including airfare and hotel; the board approved the request by voice vote.
Allred also presented a Local Border Support grant channeled through the Arizona Department of Public Safety totaling $306,542.32. He told the board the funds would finance four patrol vehicles for the county fleet. A supervisor praised sheriff's staff for pursuing outside funding. The board moved and approved acceptance of the grant.
Separately, county highway staff described ongoing recruitment challenges after a 2022 federal change to CDL training requirements, which now generally require third-party registered providers. The county said it lost several highway employees in 2025 to health issues and higher private-sector pay. To respond, the board approved creating a "highway operations technician I" trainee position that allows the county to fund tuition at Eastern Arizona College in exchange for a payback agreement for employees who leave before a required service period.
As part of the same personnel package, the board approved a set of reclassifications for the highway department: highway operations technicians (range 17 to 18), a technician III (range 18 to 19), equipment mechanic II (17 to 18), equipment mechanic III (18 to 19), assigned technician (18 to 19), and a reclassification of the highway deputy director from unclassified Range J to unclassified Range P. County Manager Dustin Welker told the board the annual cost increase for the approved moves is about $68,000 and said the highway department is funded from restricted highway-user revenue, not the general fund.
The recorder's office also received board approval to renew a maintenance agreement with Salisbury Engineering for the county's recording and public-notification system. Recorder Polly Merriman said the renewal includes a $190-per-month increase tied to ongoing maintenance of the public-notification service; she said Salisbury currently serves six counties and plans to offer transition time if the vendor retires. The board approved that renewal.
Other routine items handled during the meeting included ratifying a quitclaim deed donation to secure right-of-way for 8th Avenue and tabling an event liquor-license application until the next meeting.
The board concluded the business and moved to a public hearing later in the session on a separate zoning matter. The meeting adjourned after the hearing. The county said the accepted grant funds and the personnel changes will be implemented through normal procurement and payroll processes.
