Republicans unveil Arizona budget plan
The Yuma County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved the requested salary for new Elections Director Mary C. Fontes, the third person to hold that position in a little more than two years.
Fontes is currently the federal compliance officer for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, Yuma County Recorder Robyn Stallworth Pouquette said at the board meeting.
Fontes began her career in Apache County, eventually becoming its elections director before becoming a budget analyst for the Arizona Secretary of State and then taking the Maricopa County job.
“I think her experience and expertise in (elections) actually exceeds what we were looking for, although during the recruitment process it was fairly difficult to identify experienced candidates, with the management experience not only on the local level but the state level,” Pouquette said.
She requested a starting salary of $83,262 for Fontes that was above the midpoint of the approved salary range for that job, which requires board approval.
“I do think her experience is going to be a huge asset for Yuma County and we are excited the recruitment process led us to Ms. Fontes,” Pouquette said. The starting salary range of $54,954 to $68,630 advertised for the position was not very competitive with jobs in other counties and states, she added.
Fontes is not related to Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, a highprofile figure who drew criticism from Republican Party leaders during last year’s midterm elections, she said.
“We don’t want him moving to Yuma,” Board Chairman Tony Reyes joked.
Fontes was selected by an Elections Advisory Committee, formed in February when Pouquette took over responsibility for the Election Services department from the county administrator’s office.
This job has been difficult to permanently fill for the county in recent years. Laura V. Sanchez, former deputy recorder for Navajo County, was hired in March 2017 and served for about a year. Willie Green III came on board from Floyd County, Ga., in September 2018, but left after one month.
Paul Melcher, director of economic development and intergovernmental affairs, has acted as interim elections director during the gaps, getting help from former director Sue Stallworth Reynolds.
Fontes’ first day will be June 17, Pouquette said.
In other action Monday the board:
• Approved construction plans for a flood retention basin in Smucker Park, at Avenue A and 28th Street in Yuma, and authorized the Development Services department to put the project out for bid.
The $7.4 million project will address long-standing concerns about flooding in neighborhoods along the East Main Canal during heavy rainstorms.
The first design documents for the joint project between the city of Yuma and the county flood control district were submitted to the state for approval in 2008.
• Granted five-year extensions for the Intensive Industrial zoning on two properties totaling 161 acres at the northwest corner of Highway 80 and Avenue 47 3/4 E, in Tacna. Current owner Agrinext LLC has not met the required schedule for development for the project, first proposed in 2006.
A special use permit issued in 2008 for an ethanol plant on the site has expired.
• Approved sending a letter to Richard Anderson, president of Amtrak, in support of the continuation of passenger rail service, especially to the Sunset/ Texas Eagle route that stops in Yuma. Anderson has announced plans to phase out passenger rail service in favor of bus service in most parts of the country.
• Endorsed another letter to Arizona’s congressional representatives to urge their support of a proposed $248 million in upgrades to the San Luis Port of Entry I, included in the Trump administration’s proposed 2019-20 federal budget.
• Authorized amendments to county personnel rules changing the name of the employee performance evaluation program from “pay for performance,” and stipulating all reviews are to be done on the employee’s work anniversary, rather than at the end of the fiscal year.
• Declared the Yuma Sun as the official county newspaper for purposes of advertising, publications and printing required by state statute, for the yearlong period starting July 1.