Kayenta gets $251,000 for powerlines, 24 families to benefit from proposed $1 mil project

AYENTA, Ariz. - With officials from the Kayenta Township, Kayenta Chapter and Council Delegate Nathaniel Brown (Chilchinbeto, Dennehotso, Kayenta) in attendance Aug. 3,Council Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd (Jeddito, Cornfields, Ganado, Kin Dah Lichíí, Steamboat) presented $251,000 to help pay for power line projects in the community of Kayenta.

The money was made available through legislation sponsored by Shepherd and approved by the Navajo Nation Council in April, from the Navajo Nation's Undesignated, Unreserved Fund Balance.

"As the chair of the Resources and Development Committee and on behalf of the Navajo Nation Council, I want to say thank you for helping our people to put electricity in their homes," Shepherd said to officials including former Council Delegate Katherine Benally, who represented the community of Kayenta on the previous Council and advocated for the funding.

According to officials with the Kayenta Township, the $251,000 will assist in providing electricity to 24 families with an overall estimated cost of more than $1 million.

Prior to the presentation, Shepherd and Brown met with officials from the Kayenta Township and the Kayenta Chapter to discuss how the two government entities can begin a government-to-government relationship.

Acknowledging that the two governmental entities have encountered challenges,

Shepherd said RDC members encourage the two sides to have open lines of communication and to work cooperatively for the benefit of community members.

"It is always great to have our Diné leaders work together to improve the quality of life for ourpeople by providing basic necessities, especially for the elderly people," Brown said. "I know this will lift the spirits of the families and we will continue to seek additional funding to complete the project."

Shepherd and Brown thanked chapter administration, elected officials, and chapter members for their continued support of the projects.

Brown said he hopes to see the project fully funded in the next several months and the project completed in about one year.

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