County supervisors move landfill expansion forward at December 2 meeting

“The county is going to have to start talking about when we go beyond that 10-year picture, what do we ultimately want to do going forward?””

Aaron Codiga

County supervisors move landfill expansion forward at December 2 meeting

Members of the Gila County Board of Supervisors: Chair Steve Christensen (District 1), Vice Chair Woody Cline (District 3), Supervisor Tim R. Humphrey (District 2). All members were present at this meeting, with Supervisor Humphrey attending remotely.

At their December 2 meeting, the Gila County Board of Supervisors discussed the expansion of the Russell Gulch landfill, authorized an RFP for that project, and approved motions including an agreement to host the 2026 Arizona High School Rodeo at the County Fairgrounds on March 14–15.

Landfill expansion moves forward with RFP advertisement

Moving ahead with the urgent expansion of the County’s Russell Gulch Landfill, the supervisors authorized the advertisement of a request for proposals, based on their direction from the November 18 meeting.

Public Works Director Christine Smith explained that proposers will now be asked to price two options for addressing the metal building that has been posing an obstacle to expanding Cell 3B. Those options include dismantling the building for potential sale or donation, or full demolition.

The County will make the final decision about the building’s fate based on cost.

Smith also reviewed the operational background of the expansion. Cell 3A, which opened in November 2023, turned out to be only half of the originally intended full cell, due to a series of design revisions, material issues, and past decisions. As a result, its compaction face is smaller than typical, and the space is being consumed more quickly than planned.

“It’s not going to be any kind of a partial cell — it’s going to be the full completion of Cell 3.” Landfill Operations Manager Aaron Codiga

Aaron Codiga, who manages the landfill, clarified that the new project will complete the full footprint of Cell 3 as originally permitted in 2009. The 3B construction will finish the remainder of Cell 3 and will also allow upward expansion on the existing 3A portion once it becomes accessible.

Codiga estimated that the completed Cell 3 could provide approximately 10 to 12 years of operational life.

The Board also discussed long-term planning for the landfill. Supervisor Christensen noted that this is the second landfill “emergency” in two years, and Codiga underscored the importance of starting conversations soon about the facility’s ultimate future.

“The county is going to have to start talking about when we go beyond that 10-year picture, what do we ultimately want to do going forward?” Aaron Codiga

Those discussions will need to include whether the County should pursue land acquisition for expansion, resite the landfill, or plan for a transfer station model. Codiga emphasized that landfill permitting is a multi-year process, and early planning is essential.

Smith said approximately $2 million is budgeted for the landfill expansion within the Enterprise Fund, with additional funds in reserve in case that budget is exceeded. Codiga said Cell 3A costs around $3 million for half a cell.

Supervisor Humphrey expressed the board’s ongoing interest in securing adjacent land and suggested that County Manager Menlove’s staff begin reviewing old maps of surrounding parcels.

Menlove pointed out that the full cost of the expansion is not yet known, much of the cost of Cell 3A went to infrastructure, and that early estimates suggested Cell 3B could cost roughly half of what Cell 3A ultimately cost.

Motions approved

Economic Development

• Approving an economic development agreement in the amount of $2,000 between Gila County and Hayden-Winkelman USD #41 to support the school district. Supervisor Woody Cline explained that he annually supports the Hayden-Winkelman High School basketball team and that these funds, drawn from his constituent dollars, will help with travel expenses and uniforms.
• Approving an Economic Development Agreement with the Arizona High School Rodeo Association Inc. to host the Arizona High School Rodeo at the Gila County Fairgrounds on March 14–15, 2026. Amber Martinez pointed out that the Association has already toured the fairgrounds and identified dirt-work needs, which staff are addressing with a contractor.

Public Works & Facilities

• Approving a contract in an amount not to exceed $74,987.05 with Norcon Industries Inc., for acoustical panel installation at the Tommie Cline Martin County Complex. The contract runs from December 2, 2025, through March 31, 2026. Facilities Manager Joseph Dickison explained that an acoustical assessment identified reverberation and clarity issues in several rooms, including the Board hearing room, affecting meeting recordings and court proceedings. The proposed installation will expand existing acoustic treatments to improve speech recognition and accurate judicial record-keeping.
• Approving a contract in an amount not to exceed $67,518 with GH2 Architects LLC for design services for the Rally Around the Flags Project. The contract runs from December 2, 2025, through April 15, 2026. Dickison explained that the design scope for the monument includes engineering, layout, and permitting for flags representing the United States, Arizona, POW/MIA, and each military branch, plus pedestals and lighting. The design is required because the originally planned site could not be used. The supervisors discussed the approximately $33,000 in donated funds, the need to reauthorize $15,000 in constituent contributions from a prior fiscal year, and additional funding to be provided by the County Manager’s office. The total project is estimated to cost $180,000 as a very rough estimate. The final cost will depend on the design.

Housing & Community Services

• Approving an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Apache Junction and Gila County Community Services, Housing Services Division, to receive Community Development Block Grant allocations through Central Arizona Governments for FY 2027 (to Gila County) and FY 2026 (to the City). Speaking in place of Josh Beck, Paula Horn explained that Gila County and Apache Junction alternate receiving the full CDBG allocation every other year through Central Arizona Governments, allowing each entity to undertake larger, more impactful projects rather than splitting funds. 
• Approving an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Health Services to revise the price sheet, for a total contract amount not to exceed $456,893, and to continue providing workforce development strategies to strengthen the public health workforce. The agreement’s term runs from December 1, 2025, through November 30, 2027. Paula Horn explained that the funds support staff recruitment, retention, and training, including the development of internal pathways for nurses and sanitarians.
• Approving a Funding Agreement between the Arizona Department of Housing and the County Public Health and Community Services Department with a total budget of $157,169. The funds will be used to continue providing weatherization assistance program services through September 30, 2026. Paula pointed out that current needs, such as heater installation, are high, and that additional funding may be forthcoming. She said the county typically receives a higher amount for energy-assistance installations for low-income residents.

Public Safety & Justice

• Approving a contract in an amount not to exceed $462,375 with American Guard Services Inc., for armed guard services. The contract runs from October 4, 2025, through October 31, 2026. Amber Martinez explained that these contract funds armed security services at the Globe and Payson courthouses and the TCM, funded out of the court’s budget.
• Approving the appointments of the following Justices of the Peace Pro Tempore and Civil Traffic Hearing Officers, all with terms expiring on December 31, 2026:
  Globe Justice of the Peace – Ms. Baeza, Mr. Medina, Mr. Johnston, Ms. LaBadie, Mr. Geiser, Ms. Rocha, Ms. Kanon, Mr. Adornetto, Mr. Torres, Ms. Manzo, Ms. Ruiz.
  Payson Justice of the Peace – Ms. McKeen, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Elkie, Ms. Kanon, Ms. Hamm.
  Civil Traffic Hearing Officers – Ms. Ruiz, Ms. Rocha, Ms. Levario, Mr. Griego, Ms. Aguilar.
• Approving an amendment to a Service Contract with Trinity Services Group Inc. for food service at the Gila County Detention Center in a not-to-exceed amount of $509,930.60, renewing the contract term from November 7, 2025, through November 6, 2026.
• Approving two professional services contracts for felony criminal, juvenile delinquency, and mental health legal services for the term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The first is with James Q. Buchanan, Attorney at Law, PLLC, in a not-to-exceed amount of $96,000, and the second is with Ramos Law Firm PLLC in a not-to-exceed amount of $132,000.

Property & Asset Management

• Authorizing the Chairman’s signature on a Quit Claim Deed for the Clerk of the Board’s over-the-counter sale of parcel number 207-17-116C to Glenn Kahler.
• Approving a contract in an amount not to exceed $108,723.50 with Courtesy Auto of Mesa LLC dba Courtesy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Superstition Springs for the purchase of two new 2026 Dodge Ram 1500 Bighorn trucks.

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