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At its meeting on April 4, the Gila County Board of Supervisors discussed the security guard situation at the Gila County Courthouse in Globe and at the Payson Courthouse.
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Globe — At its meeting on April 4, the Gila County Board of Supervisors discussed the security guard situation at the Gila County Courthouse in Globe and at the Payson Courthouse.
Blackstone Security Services, Inc. currently provides armed security for both buildings. The renewal of an $83,081 contract for another year at the Payson Courthouse was on the agenda at the April 4 meeting.
Public Works director Steve Sanders presented the agenda item to the board, and then Board chairman Tommie Martin wondered aloud why Sheriff’s Deputies don’t provide security.
“It seems to me that there’s a better and cheaper way of doing this,” Martin said.
Supervisors Tim Humphrey and Woody Cline both seemed to be in favor of making a change.
“We need to look at this a little deeper,” Cline said.
Humphrey added that the County could also look at a different security company.
The Supervisors voted 3-0 to table the agenda item and have County staff further explore other options.
Infrastructure project
The Board unanimously voted to direct Deputy County Manager Michael Scannell to obtain Requests for Qualifications for the County’s infrastructure project in the northern part of Gila County.
According to the agenda packet, “the current allocation of space that makes up the County’s northern area service delivery system is woefully inadequate and, as a result, adversely impacts the County’s ability to serve the needs of the community in a meaningful manner.”
County staff will present the RFQs to the Board and “seek authorization from the Board to prepare an agreement … that will meet the objectives that the County deems appropriate.”
On a related note, the Board also unanimously approved the formation of a Citizen’s Advisory Committee to address and identify County space and infrastructure needs in northern Gila County. Scannell reported that the committee will include members from the Gila County Planning and Zoning Commission, the Gila County IDA, the Northern Gila Realtors Group, the Payson Chamber of Commerce (two members), the Tonto Apache Tribe, the Town of Payson, the Town of Star Valley, and Pine-Strawberry Planning Committee.
Scannell will now contact the various groups in order to get nominations to the committee. He said that once the group begins meeting, its work will take six to nine months.
