'On the road again' in Coconino County's D-5

Ya'at'eeh! (Hello)

Coconino County business has kept me on the road ever since the New Year started as well as occupied with proposed budget hearings, which will continue to keep me busy for the next couple of weeks.

We have 38 departments to budget for, such as sheriff's department, community health, schools, environmental, etc. so it takes us a while to determine the budgets. But on the bright side of travel, it is always a blessing to meet some of you while I am on the road.

Graduates

I would like to say, "Congratulations!" to all the graduates from pre-school, high school and through college. DinŽ College at Tuba City had more college graduates this year than the main campus at Tsaile. We had 48 graduates. Congratulations to all the graduates and to the hard work of the former Director of Dine College at Tuba City, Harold Joseph!

Uranium update

Our Western Navajo Agency Uranium Victims meetings are continuing to meet on regular basis with much success. Many community members, uranium victims, local officials and various uranium office officials attended our last meeting on Friday, April 14 at To'nanees'Dizi Chapter, where the Western Navajo Agency Uranium Victims recommended to draft a couple resolutions:

¥ Requesting of the Navajo Nation Council to support and appropriate funds to hire law firms for victims to get compensation.

¥ Supporting Navajo Nation Legislation No. 0886-04, an Act relating to resources, and DinŽ Fundamental Law, enacting the Dine Natural Resources Protection Act 2005, amending Title 18 of the Navajo Nation Code that will ban uranium mining which will contaminate the pristine underground water source.

So it was great news when I heard that the Navajo Nation Council banned uranium mining on Tuesday, April 19. If you should have any questions about any uranium issues or relating to filing for compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), you can call Tuba City Uranium Office at 928-283-3008/3009.

NaCo meeting

As I've reported before, I attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in the month of March. I attended along with Coconino County Supervisor Elizabeth Archuleta (District 2), Deputy County Manager Jerry Flannery and more than 2,000 county officials from across the country.

Aside from meeting with members of Congress on issues vital to local government, I also hand-carried letters to various United States Senators, Congressmen, Arizona State Senators and other Arizona Congressional Delegations concerning our local issues, such as uranium issues, the closure of Tuba City Adult Detention/Police Station due to inadequate facilities and the closure of Tuba City Boarding School due to construction problems. The Dine government and BIA stopped the Boarding School building project.

Another issue in the letter was snowmaking using reclaimed water at Flagstaff's San Francisco Peaks, which we Arizona Native Americans hold as sacred. Many native tribes, including the Navajo tribe, are opposed to the reclaimed snowmaking.

Frybread

It was also an honor to be part of the ceremonial blessing of the Piestewa's new home in Flagstaff, which was built in seven days in partnership with the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," California's San Manuel Tribe, Flagstaff companies and with a crew of more than 1,300.

Some of the "Extreme Makeover" crew really wanted to eat the famous Navajo frybread so badly and there is no restaurant in Flagstaff that makes it. So on the third day, I decided to buy a sack of Bluebird flour, baking power, salt and lard, and took it Liz Archuleta's house. I made the frybread there. It was nice of her to let me use her kitchen.

I made about 100, then I took it to the construction site. All the workers gathered around and they were so thankful for delicious frybread. What we need is some business minded Navajos to open up a Navajo restaurant in Flagstaff where the people of Flagstaff can enjoy mutton sandwiches, chili, frybread and Navajo tacos. The Extreme Makeover group and the crew also built a new Tuba City Veterans Affairs Office. We are so thankful for this. It was long overdue.

Grant lost

Not all my news is good news. The county entered into an agreement with Tuba City Family Harmony (TCFH) on Feb. 3, 2004 to assist the organization with a federal community development grant (CDBG) to acquire a modular unit to be used for an office for their operations. The County Board of Supervisors and staff diligently worked to bring this project to completion.

However, Family Harmony group seems to have disbanded and were no where to be found. Only one worker claimed to still be working but was not willing to sign for the modular housing. Sadly, the county was recently informed that TCFH was not successful in obtaining funding from the Navajo Nation and state to cover operation expenses earmarked for FY 2004-05. Thus, there was no potential to use CDBG funds for this project by the deadline established by the state. So we lost the $100,000 for the modular for a domestic violence office and shelter. This was a sad day for our area, for a community that needs this service. It was on a timeline and the county board asked the state to extend the deadline, and it was extended. But eventually, even with the extension, we ran out of time.

Spring Festival

On Saturday, April 16, I was honored to be on second annual Spring Festival Parade in Tuba City. Hats off to To'Nanees'Dizi Chapter on the idea of a way to help local college students who didn't get funded through the Navajo Nation Scholarships. So Hats off to Priscilla Littlefoot, Elvina Billy, chapter officials and all the wonderful hardworking volunteers who took it upon themselves to make a difference in our community. Job well done!

TC Park

There are always questions about the Tuba City Park many others and I have worked so hard for. It is coming at last!

Construction will begin on the Tuba City Park by November. If you want to see the plans for the beautiful park, they are at the County Branch Office on 49 Maple Street. Get your jogging and walking shoes and have a wonderful summer, knowing that next summer you'll be able to jog in the park.

Until next time. Ha'goo'nee!

(Louise Yellowman sits on the Coconino County Board of Supervisors for District 5, which takes in portions of the Navajo and Hopi Reservations.)

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