KINGMAN, Ariz. – The Kingman Young Marines presented the colors to open the Mohave County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday, July 6. Aviana Bremer sang the National Anthem, followed with prayer from Pastor Bob Pete from Kingdom of God Church.
Supervisor Lettman thanked Gail Merz of Bullhead City for the eight Revolutionary flags on display for the meeting; he explained what each was from the George Washington to the Green Mountain flag. He commented, “My parents believed that America was created by the hand of Divine Providence.”
Supervisor Gould said, “I made my children learn the Declaration of Independence; they know our rights come from God, not the government.”
He also told of his grandfather in the 10th or 12th power serving in the American Revolutionary War and how, at age 84, he applied for the pension that was set up for war veterans. He died before receiving it and his wife collected the $32.25 a year which was about $2.50 per month.
Supervisor Borrelli spoke of his trip overseas. He also spoke of his service in the Marine Corps and of their slogan: Honor, Courage and Commitment. “It’s not just a slogan,” Borrelli said. “It’s an everyday way of life … I’m honored to be buried in the American flag.”
Supervisor Martin said his family has served in the military.
“In our family, the oldest son in our family served in the military. I had a high draft number and didn’t have to go, but freedom isn’t free; somebody has to go.”
He continued, “I was the oldest in our family, so I left college, left a good life and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1969 and served two years, nine months and 28 days, but who’s counting … I was proud to serve.”
Board Chair Lingenfelter said he took his children, the youngest 18, to the National Archives in Washington, DC, to see the nation’s founding documents.
He concluded by saying, “250 years later, America is still worth believing in and still worth fighting for.”
Meeting Recap
After observance of America’s 250th, the supervisor’s got down to business.
Sup. Sonny Borrelli, District 3, relinquished his time for his Legislative Report to Sen. Hilde Angius. She reported on the County Supervisors Association meeting that was held last week.
Angius spoke of bills she was able to get passed.
The first, a breast cancer sharing bill, #SB1165, where the state helps pay for second tests that insurance doesn’t cover.
“I had the test and called back for a second,” Senator Angius said. “Thank God everything was alright, but insurance did not pay for the second test. A year later, I got a bill for $2500.” The second bill …
… for seniors.” Senator Angius also passed a bill, 1604, to establish secure behavioral facilities to ensure dangerous individuals requiring intensive mental health care are properly separated and treated.
She told of an incompetent man who killed his stepfather by stabbing him in the face but couldn’t stand trial because of his incompetence. The courts were going to release him because there were no such mental institutions in the state.
Sup. Don Martin, District 4 said South Cove water craft launch on the Arizona side of Lake Mead near Meadview is being utilized and keeping the community alive.
Sup. Chair Travis Lingenfelter reported on the Arizona Permanent Water Resources meeting held last week. Arizona is expected to make the largest deduction in water usage.
Agenda Item 15, to rezone 10 acres from agricultural/residential property to commercial/recreation in Golden Valley, was rejected.
Item 17 to allow for a 90-foot-tall sign that would exceed the maximum square footage for the Yucca area was approved.
Agenda item 24 to pay janitors $100 per hour for extra service which included contaminated waste cleanup in a Mohave County library bathroom, location not divulged, was approved after much discussion.
Item 36 for the purchase of an underwater drone for the Sheriff’s Office to locate drowning victims quickly through sonar was approved.
Agenda item 39 to allow a five-year contract with Motorola to update communications systems was approved for Sheriff’s Office.
Item 40 to allow new contractors to replace damaged fiber for project completion was approved.
Item 62 to approve a 100-foot tall, 500-square foot sign in the Desert Springs area was rejected.
Item 70 to rent office space in the County Administration building to the Hospital Board was continued for two weeks without approval.
Supervisors went into executive session to discuss item 71 allowing Allen Tempert, former Mohave County elections director who recently retired, and Mohave County to conduct temporary election as-needed advisory assistance. When they reconvened, agenda item was approved.
Connie “Ceejay” Jones
