Wellton council accepts three grant awards totaling up to $430,296 for public safety and school safety

The Wellton Town Council unanimously approved three grant actions during its Feb. 3 meeting that would add up to as much as $430,296 in funding or reimbursements for public-safety and school-safety efforts.

Police Chief David Rodriguez described the grants to council: the Arizona Department of Public Safety Local Border Support Grant covers a range of border-focused programs and may provide up to $242,636 to the town; a separate FY26 Anti-Human Trafficking reimbursement grant will cover technology equipment purchases up to $6,000; and a FY25 School Violence Prevention Program award of $181,660 is designated for campus alerting systems and related prevention measures. Vice Mayor Barbara Biggs moved to accept the Local Border Support Grant and the SVPP award; Council Member James Sampson moved the Anti-Human Trafficking reimbursement; all three motions passed 5-0.

Town Manager Richard Marsh told the council the town’s running total of grant funds received is about $4.3 million, placing the new awards in the context of prior funding. Chief Rodriguez noted that the Anti-Human Trafficking item is a reimbursement grant, specifying that the town will be reimbursed for eligible equipment purchases rather than receiving an up-front award.

Council approvals authorize staff to finalize agreements with the state and proceed with procurement and implementation where appropriate. The motions recorded in the meeting minutes show unanimous council support and assign follow-up steps to town staff for paperwork and compliance.