Tuesday's Regular Board Meeting, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the use of $446,552 in Operation Stone Garden grant funds to support the Cochise County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) public safety operations. The Sheriff’s Office was awarded two grants: one in the amount of $434,672 for overtime and mileage, and one in the amount of $11,880 for purchasing equipment needed to further support the operations of the Stone Garden Grant Program.
“The federal funding provides local law enforcement agencies with funds to combat human and drug trafficking and associated crimes," said Lieutenant Ken Foster. “The benefits of the grant include increasing proactive enforcement patrol without negatively affecting the Sheriff's Office schedule and with making a minimal impact to the county’s general fund.”
The Sheriff's Office has participated in the Operation Stone Garden Grant Program for many years. The two recurring grants funded by the Arizona Department of Homeland Security (AZDOHS) help provide the Sheriff's Office and its federal law enforcement partners, primarily the U.S. Border Patrol, with identifying and deterring the trafficking of humans and illegal drugs into the United States, specifically into Cochise County.
The funds will also allow CCSO to deploy additional personnel resources to remote areas of the county that are traditionally underserved, and significantly enhance law enforcement visibility and presence throughout the county for the benefit of all county residents.
In other action, the Board approved a six-month contract with HighGround, Inc. for public affairs consulting regarding the public involvement process and potential countywide election of the proposed Jail and Justice Center district. The contract in the amount of $3,500 per month is effective May 1, 2022, through October 31, 2022.
Additional agenda items approved by the Board include:
- Approved a contract with Progressive Roofing in the amount of $40,889.02 to repair the roof of the large hangar at the Bisbee-Douglas International Airport (BDI). This is one of the various recent repairs made to develop the airport's operations.
- Approved the appointment of Mr. John Pintek to the Board of Adjustment, representing District 2, effective April 19, 2022, through December 31, 2025.
- Approved the Arizona Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program Grant Agreement between the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission and the Cochise County Attorney's Office, in the amount of $7,332, for technology supplies to be used in support of the Victim/Witness Program. The award supports the victims in the program to apply for victim compensation benefits and provides Victim Compensation Board Members access to training materials and attend virtual meetings.
To learn more information about the meeting's agenda items, and to view the meeting minutes and video recording, please visit the Cochise County Agendas & Minutes site.
Specific information to attend future meetings via Microsoft Teams on desktop, mobile app, or by phone is provided on each agenda. If you have trouble accessing the meeting remotely, call 520-432-9200 for assistance.
Community members may comment on an agenda item during a Regular Board Meeting by emailing the speaker request form to the Clerk of the Board at board@cochise.az.gov by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up