Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fairgrounds America250 Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Graham County manager outlines fairgrounds upgrades, CDBG sidewalks and expanded America 250 Fourth of July plans
Summary
County Manager Dustin Welker updated the board on multiple operational projects: a completed Main Street remodel for the county attorney, a public fairgrounds meeting tied to a state parks grant, an 18,000‑sq‑ft CDBG sidewalk contract, a drained fairgrounds pond for repairs, an opportunity‑zone application window and expanded America 250 July 4 events including larger fireworks.
County Manager Dustin Welker briefed Graham County supervisors on June 1 about several capital and community events projects the county is advancing.
Welker said the Main Street remodel to house the county attorney’s office is complete and staff will plan the move‑in. He said the county will hold a required public meeting that evening about fairgrounds improvements as part of a planned grant application to Arizona State Parks; the county aims to pursue federal funds available through that program.
Welker said half of the fairgrounds pond was drained to inspect and address leakage and thanked drain staff for the work. He reported the county awarded a contract to KENG for an 18,000‑square‑foot sidewalk project funded through CDBG and SIGO and expects a preconstruction meeting later in June with construction beginning after the Fourth of July event.
On community events, Welker described plans to expand America 250 festivities on July 4 — coordinating parades, pool access, vendors, a hired cover band and a larger fireworks display supported in part by the county and local partners. He said the opportunity‑zone application window opened June 26 and responses are due July 19, and that the county will work with partners in Safford and nearby towns on the submission.
Welker also said the county will meet with an architect at 2 p.m. to discuss potential renovations to the more‑than‑100‑year‑old courthouse. He said other recent work includes insulating and repainting fairgrounds buildings, gas‑line repairs and drone‑applied herbicide for fire breaks.
Next steps: staff will continue grant and preconstruction work, and the board will resume budget work sessions ahead of preliminary budget adoption.
