Each July, Gila County closes the books on the previous fiscal year, or budget year, and starts the next. This is a time for department heads and elected officials to look back on the previous year’s accomplishments.  

Included here are select highlights from Gila County departments and elected officials—numbers they’re proud of, things they’re working on, and important milestones for the 16-17 fiscal year. All items are countywide, unless otherwise noted. 

Gila County Superior Court Administration, Superior Court Administrator Jonathan Bearup:

• The Court launched its “Victims’ Friendly Court” Initiative which is designed to provide improved legal services and better accommodations to victims in Gila County.

• The Court also developed a pilot program for the Supreme Court’s “Dependency Case Processing Initiative” which is centered around expediting permanency for children involved in Dependency actions.

• Additionally, the Court was (and is) working on criminal case process to improve the disposition time of criminal matters.

• The Court has worked extensively with the Clerk’s Office to clean up old civil and guardianship cases.

Gila County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd:

• The Gila County Sheriff’s Office Drug, Gang, & Violent Crimes Task Force seized 1090.5 dosages of narcotic pills, 834 items of drug paraphernalia, and 8.96 pounds of methamphetamines.

• Volunteer groups that assist the Sheriff’s Office, such as Globe Search & Rescue, gave 22,342 hours countywide for a total savings of $806,546 for Gila County. 

• The Gila County Sheriff’s Office Detention Bureau logged 3,490 bookings and 3,440 releases.

Gila County Community Development, Director Scott Buzan:

• An average  of 35 customers were served at the counter daily

• Gila County Community Development received 63 new single family residence permits 

• Code Enforcement staff opened 325  code enforcement complaints and closed 304 code enforcement complaints

• Community Development inspectors drove 71,000 total miles

Gila County Recycling and Landfill Management, Director Sharon Winters:

• 43,910 tons of trash collected  

• 610 tons of paper recycled   

• 8.3 tons of electronics recycled  

• 354 tons of metal recycled 

• 2,224 tires collected from rural sites 

• Worked with the Forest Service on the “Pack it Out” program, furnishing 9 bins and hauling 16.24 tons of trash dropped off by campers in order to help keep the forest clean

Gila County Community Services, Director Malissa Buzan:

• Gila County Community services VITA program prepared 197 tax returns in Globe-Miami for a total of $225,364 federal refund dollars and $44,988 state refund dollars

• Community Action Program helped residents with 818 utility services, including deposit and bill assistance.

• Gila County Community Services has continued to evolve its case management process.  The staff is able to provide more individualized case management to ensure clients can achieve and sustain self-sufficiency.  The staff are empowered and encouraged to go beyond the client’s immediate crisis by using a more holistic approach to deter future crises.  

Gila County Facilities and Land Management, Director Bob Hickman:

• The commercial kitchen in the Gila County Fairgrounds exhibit hall has received a facelift to include a new refrigerator and freezer as well as counters and sinks. Everything from floor to ceiling has been refurbished.  The exhibit hall restrooms received new counters and faucets.

• The public restrooms in the Gila County Courthouse also had new touch-free, ADA compliant faucets installed.

• Gila County Facilities received 1,152 work orders and completed 1,131.

Gila County Superintendent’s Office, Superintendent Roy Sandoval:

• Revamping the appointment process for school boards and making a number of great appointments.

• Holding consistent meetings with Gila County school administrators and local legislators

• Securing a $412,000 math and science grant, which made it possible to hold a residential in-service summer institute for Gila County teachers 

District One Supervisor Tommie Martin:

• Unanimously elected by her colleagues to serve as President of the County Supervisors Association (CSA) at the November 17, 2016 meeting of the CSA Board of Directors.  

• Continued annual pre-fire season meetings in District 1 and helped facilitate reopening Pine and Blattner brush pits. 

• Appointed as chair of the Public Lands Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties (NACo).

District Two Supervisor Tim R. Humphrey:

• Brought the Army Corps of Engineers to Gila County for a site visit in order to walk the creeks and bring issues to their attention, with the ultimate goal of obtaining a maintenance permit to allow Gila County to maintain the waterways.

• Helped initiate summer youth employment program funded by constituent funds, county departments, and Arizona at Work/WIOA funding.

• Working on changing policy that governs the way that Gila County deals with blight

District Three Supervisor Woody Cline:

• Working on addressing water issues in Carrizo Creek area by partnering with White Mountain Apache Tribe and Congressman O’Halleran’s office to pursue funding for a filtering system 

• Developed a plan to provide senior center funding as a line item in the county budget rather than being paid from constituent funds.  

• Helped initiate summer youth employment program program funded by constituent funds, county departments and Arizona at Work/WIOA funding. Supervisor Cline and staff also plan to work with the Forest Service in developing an application to obtain funding for a Youth Conservation Corps in Gila County.