Police and fire sub-station planned at Twin Arrows

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The Navajo Nation Council will spend $4.5 million from the Shiasin Fund to build a police and fire sub-station at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, located 25 miles east of Flagstaff.

According to Council Delegate Seth Damon (Bááháálí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Tsé Lichíí', Rock Springs, Tsayatoh), who sponsored the legislation, the money would address the need for public safety at Twin Arrows.

"A police and fire sub-station is [greatly] needed at Twin Arrows to address public safety and medical emergencies," Damon said. "Twin Arrows will continue to flourish with housing opportunities, convenience stores other enterprise development. Thus, we need to be prepared for all public safety emergencies with growing development."

According to the executive director of compliance for the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, Michelle Dotson, the public safety building is shovel ready with all environmental, archaeology and biological clearances completed.

"This public safety facility has been ready for construction since Twin Arrows was completed and all we need is funding to complete the project," Dotson said. "This is the fourth attempt to seek project funding because it failed to be included in the Capital Improvement Plan and the Navajo Permanent Fund Income Five-Year Expenditure Plan and a failed attempt to request funding from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance."

The proposed 15,000 square-foot facility would be located near Twin Arrows and include a 911 dispatch room, a three bay garage for fire trucks, sleeping quarters for men and women, fire, medical and police administrative offices and training rooms.

The Shiasin Fund principal funds are from the $554 million settlement from the federal government and is managed and invested to provide financial support and/or financing for the planning and development of regional infrastructure supporting economic and community development, including housing and/or education opportunities for members of the Navajo Nation.

According to the agreement between the gaming enterprise and the Division of Public Safety, the police, fire and medical services will also serve the surrounding remote communities around Twin Arrows.