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Yavapai supervisors shorten public‑notice contract to one year after local publisher objects
Summary
After testimony from a local publisher who said a contract revocation stemmed from a questionable reading of state law, the Board of Supervisors amended the county’s public‑notice contract to a one‑year term and approved the award 4–1 to preserve flexibility while county attorneys review statutory interpretation.
The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors amended and approved the county’s public‑notice printing contract on Dec. 17, shortening the term from two years to one after concerns from a local publisher that the award decision misread Arizona law.
Kyle Larson, general manager of Larson Newspapers and the Cottonwood Journal Extra, told the board his paper had been identified as the lowest and best bidder but that the award was rescinded because county staff interpreted the statute to require that a newspaper be physically printed within the county rather than published there. “We publish, distribute, and even mail from Camp Verde, Arizona. That's what matters,” Larson said, arguing the county’s revocation created an unfair barrier that benefits out‑of‑county printers and could increase costs for taxpayers.
County attorney Mr. Brennan told the board that bids are not final until the board awards them and that the attorney’s office had reviewed the recommended award and found it to meet legal requirements. He advised that legal questions could be discussed in executive session if supervisors wanted privileged legal advice.
Supervisor Check moved to approve item 7 with an amendment reducing the contract to a one‑year term; a second carried the motion. The board recorded a 4–1 vote in favor of the amended award, with one supervisor opposed.
Board members said the shorter term preserves local preference and gives the county room to seek legislative clarity. Larson told supervisors his proposal was 35–40% lower than the other bid and that over two years the savings could reach “tens of thousands of dollars, if not $100,000” when elections and other notices are included. Several supervisors said they intend to push for state‑level clarification of the statute next year.
The county clerk will finalize the one‑year contract and the county attorney’s office will follow up on any outstanding legal questions. The board did not take the matter to executive session at the Dec. 17 meeting.
