At their March 3 meeting, the Gila County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on a potential $18 million bond issue to support flood recovery projects within the county. If approved, the county could close the transaction by mid-May.
The board also heard presentations regarding the United Fund of Globe-Miami, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program, and election drop boxes. The board also discussed emerging challenges in regard to green waste disposal.
The board convened a public hearing to receive input on a proposal to issue a long-term financial obligation related to the county’s flood recovery efforts. The hearing was required under an Arizona law that mandates public notice and comment when counties under 500,000 in population consider certain types of long-term financing.
Financial advisor Mark Reader of Stifel, who is assisting the county with evaluating financing options, explained that the proposal involves issuing a revenue bond to help pay for emergency infrastructure projects connected to the flooding. Reader said the county is currently considering borrowing roughly $18 million to fund public works and emergency management projects already underway.
Reader emphasized that the bond would be backed by pledged county revenues from various sources. He noted that this type of financing has been used by the county in the past and is considered a more cost-effective option than other alternatives, such as lease-purchase financing.
“We’re not going to go out and have a property tax bond. That's not in the cards.” — Mark Reader, Stifel financial advisor
If issued at the currently estimated level, the bond would require approximately $2.3 million in annual debt service for up to 10 years. However, county officials intend to pay off the debt as soon as possible using state or federal grant funds as they become available. Reader said the financing structure would allow the county to repay the bonds without penalty if outside funding arrives.
Following the public hearing, the county will seek bids from financial institutions and return to the board on April 7 with a resolution that would delegate authority to finalize the financing. If approved, the county could potentially close the transaction by mid-May.
No members of the public offered comments during the hearing.
Susan Guerrero, community relations and social media director for the United Fund of Globe-Miami, provided an update on the organization’s flood relief efforts. Guerrero explained that the nonprofit, which typically supports other local charitable organizations, launched a special fundraising effort to assist residents and businesses affected by the September 2026 flooding disaster.
Working in partnership with the Salvation Army, the United Fund established a residential flood relief program aimed at helping households recover from damage. Guerrero said the program is continuing as part of a longer-term rebuilding effort. To date, more than $300,000 has been distributed, with $800,000 allocated for residential assistance overall.
The organization also collaborated with Local First Arizona to administer a separate business flood relief program. Most of those payments were distributed around the Christmas season, Guerrero said, with the final disbursements completed toward the end of January. In total, $1,400,706 was distributed to 73 businesses in Globe and Miami.
Guerrero said the United Fund was grateful for the many donors and partners who made the program possible, including Gila County, the City of Globe and the Town of Miami. Detailed information about donors, recipients and program outcomes is available on the United Fund of Globe–Miami website at ufglobemiami.com.
Lori Urban, the State Director for USDA Rural Development in Arizona, provided an overview of federal programs available to support housing, businesses and community infrastructure in Gila County.
She explained that Rural Development operates as a bank, providing loans, loan guarantees, subsidies and some grants aimed at helping rural communities grow and thrive.
The agency obligated about $5.5 million in Gila County last year, primarily supporting housing programs. The agency finances both single-family and multi-family housing, often through direct loans or guaranteed loans that help borrowers secure financing from traditional banks. Rural Development also supports small businesses and community facilities, which can include projects like fire stations, ambulances, schools, water systems and sewer facilities.
“Our only mission is to help rural communities. If it’s anything rural, come to me. … We are all about trying to make towns and the county prosper.” — Lori Urban, USDA Rural Development
The agency can also assist with disaster recovery. Unlike some federal programs, USDA Rural Development does not require a disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to begin offering emergency assistance. Instead, aid can move forward based on a governor’s declaration, and additional support may also be available through a declaration from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Urban said the agency is currently exploring ways to help Gila County recover from flood damage, including possible assistance for housing repairs and damaged sewer infrastructure.
Board Supervisor Tim Humphrey pointed out that sewer system damage has been reported in both Globe and Miami, and Urban confirmed that Rural Development is already working with the Tri-City Sanitation District and may be able to assist with repairs, septic conversions and other infrastructure needs. She also highlighted programs that help low-income homeowners make repairs through both loans and grants.
County Recorder Wendy Mannigel-Smith reported plans to renew agreements with several local entities that host ballot drop boxes for Gila County elections. The discussion comes as the county prepares for upcoming elections under recently changed timelines that move the primary election to July and shorten other election-related deadlines.
Mannigel-Smith explained that previous intergovernmental agreements governing drop box locations expired in December 2024. Because some drop box sites are operated by private organizations rather than government entities, the recorder’s office is now using site location participation agreements.
The participating locations include the Town of Miami, Town of Hayden, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Canyon Day Assembly of God Church, Tonto Basin Fire District, Young Public Library, Town of Star Valley, and Pine-Strawberry Fire District.
“There's a lot of legislation, [in] both the House and the Senate, and on the federal level, that may change the way that we vote and what voting looks like.” — Wendy Mannigel-Smith
Mannigel-Smith noted that the Pine-Strawberry Library had asked to remove its drop box due to difficulties securing the site at the close of voting on election day. To ensure continued service to the community, the drop box will instead be placed at Pine-Strawberry Fire Station 41 on Hardscrabble Road.
Because the election calendar has been accelerated, Mannigel-Smith said she wanted to inform the board of the process early while her office works to collect signed agreements from the participating sites. Once those agreements are finalized, she will return to the board to request formal approval.
Mannigel-Smith also confirmed that the drop boxes remain secured and monitored by cameras, noting that the system has proven both popular and reliable. With nearly 40,000 registered voters in Gila County, including more than 25,000 on the active early voting list, she said the drop boxes provide an important option for local voters.
The board approved an amendment to its intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Miami, providing $73,000 in county funding for the Copper Mountain Transit System from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Transit Coordinator Melinda Baeza gave the board a detailed overview of the system’s performance, operations and future needs. She said Copper Mountain Transit continues to provide two main services: the Dial-a-Ride curb-to-curb program and a fixed-route bus system serving the Globe-Miami area.
Dial-a-Ride operates weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering low-cost transportation by zone. This service is often used by people needing rides to work, shopping, medical appointments or other errands. Also, a fixed-route bus runs from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and includes a route-deviation option that allows pickups slightly off the main route for an additional fee.
The fixed-route bus costs a dollar, or 50 cents for seniors, students and people with a disability. Passes are available.
“If you live in Miami and you want to go to Walmart, that's all zone one. It's going to cost you a dollar to go to Walmart, a dollar to come back.” — Melinda Baeza
Ridership and revenue figures show the system gets heavy use. In fiscal year 2024, the fixed-route bus carried more than 14,000 passengers, while Dial-a-Ride served more than 3,500 riders.
Baeza said the program is especially important for elderly riders and others who do not have family members or private transportation available to help them get to grocery stores, doctor appointments and community services.
Baeza said one transit bus was lost in the September flooding, which had been parked along U.S. 60 for repairs and was destroyed. Since then, the system has received a new van and a new ADA-compliant bus through grant programs.
Looking ahead, the transit system hopes eventually to expand Dial-a-Ride hours to 6 p.m. or add Saturday service, though current funding does not yet allow for that growth.
A discussion about the Pine-Strawberry brush pit expanded into a broader conversation about changing rules for green waste disposal. Recent changes at the Novo biomass facility have made it harder for the Pine-Strawberry pit, the Blackner pit and the county landfill to dispose of some materials. Items such as loose pine needles, leaves and other “dirty” loads are no longer being accepted at Novo in the same way.
At the brush pit, incoming loads are monitored closely, and residents are sometimes required to take back prohibited materials such as concrete. With Novo changing its rules, residents might have to take some materials to the landfill instead of the brush pit.
“We’re going to have to start saying ‘no’ to certain products and send them to the landfill.” — Chairman Steve Christensen
At the landfill, the county is also seeking a burn permit to deal with large amounts of green waste that has accumulated. The landfill may eventually need to rely on a mix of burning, chipping and other methods to manage material that can no longer go to the biomass facility.
The supervisors approved a $5,000 economic development agreement with Pine Strawberry Fuel Reduction Inc. to help support the volunteer group’s operation of the brush pit, which provides free community brush disposal from April through November. The group also helps with local fire-wise efforts.
Chairman Steve Christensen, who sponsored the annual agreement through his constituent funds, praised the organization for its work reducing wildfire risk in the Pine-Strawberry area.
The board and County Manager James Menlove recognized Elaine Votruba on her retirement, thanking her for years of service as the county’s librarian and for helping strengthen library support and resources across the county.
Menlove pointed out that the county doesn’t have a library itself, but it provides funding, resources and materials to the libraries in Gila County. The supervisors praised Votruba’s dedication and community presence, and Votruba thanked the board for its support, saying her successor, Natalie Bulick, will do an excellent job.
County Manager James Menlove reported on a recent trip to Washington D.C. with Cline and staff, saying the visit was worthwhile even though uncertainty in the federal budget continues to make it difficult to get clear answers from agencies and congressional offices. He said the county continues working with federal representatives and agencies to seek resources for local needs, especially flood-related issues and other major county concerns.
He also mentioned that Gila County will host a state high school rodeo at the fairgrounds in March, calling it a huge win for the county. He will be attending Arizona Local Government Employee Benefit Trust meetings to push back against a proposed 17% increase in county health insurance rates, which he said was not workable.
Supervisor Tim Humphrey testified at the Arizona Capitol in support of Senate Bill 1067, a blight bill intended to help address neglected properties with no clear owner, and said the measure had passed the Senate and moved to the House. He tied that effort to broader county concerns about preventing additional properties from falling into similar legal limbo.
He also noted that state Rep.Walt Blackman’s request for flood mitigation funds failed to advance, though discussions are continuing on possible multi-year funding support.
Vice Chairman Woody Cline gave an extensive report on the Washington D.C. trip, including discussions involving the Forest Service, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and ongoing efforts to secure long-term federal support for county needs. He said U.S. Rep. Eli Crane remains active on flood-related issues and that discussions with U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly’s staff included progress on the veterans center bill. Back in Arizona, he attended Gov. Katie Hobbs’ rural Arizona event and hoped to meet with her staff again regarding support for youth programs.
He also mentioned an upcoming town hall in Young to discuss permitting, and said letters of support are being gathered for the State Route 512 project. A veterans retreat picnic is planned for May, a coming CSA podcast will highlight the veterans retreat, and the Farm Service Agency will be holding hours at the courthouse. Cline also spoke of concern over a lawsuit affecting 21 grazing allotments in the Tonto area. Cline is personally one of the permittees named in the case and warned that the matter could have a serious financial impact on the county.
Board Chairman Steve Christensen attended the governor’s rural Arizona event, calling it an honor to host and praising the turnout. He also attended a veterans coffee and plans to participate in a rural water gathering to advocate for solutions relevant to Gila County’s water concerns.
He highlighted volunteer trail work in Pine-Strawberry performed by the fuels and trails group, which has contributed thousands of hours to benefit recreation, wildlife, firefighting access and the local economy. He gave a short update on the Rally Around the Flags project, saying it remains on schedule, is still in engineering and architectural review, and has generated strong enthusiasm from the public. He closed by reminding the public about an upcoming preseason fire meeting in Payson.
To view this meeting online and access documents related to the meeting, click here.
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