Arizona State and Local Government Documents Collection

This report consists of management’s representations concerning the finances of Coconino County. Consequently, management assumes full responsibility for the completeness and reliability of all the information presented in this report. To provide a reasonable basis for making these representations, management of the County has established a comprehensive internal control framework that is designed both to protect the government’s assets from loss, theft, or misuse and to compile sufficient reliable information for the preparation of the County’s financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Fort Lowell was a supply base for the United States Army “Apache Campaigns” between 1873 and 1891. Following abandonment of the fort in 1891, settlers moved in and used some fort buildings as residences, or stripped the buildings of useful materials. By the 1930s, much of the fort had fallen into disrepair or had been sold off. Eventually, the City of Tucson acquired a large portion of the old fort which became what is today’s “Fort Lowell Park.” A 5.2 acre (“Adkins”) parcel of the former fort containing several original adobe buildings was still in private ownership, and the 2004 County bond election passed a proposal to acquire the land and preserve the historic resources.

This past fiscal year is best characterized as one of significant accomplishment by the office in the midst of increasing caseloads and budget tightening. Our criminal caseloads are trending back up after some slight reductions in recent years, but the exception is seen in juvenile court filings which are significantly down. We hope this is due, in part, to our prevention efforts and diversion programs. We have proudly partnered with many other agencies to develop new Diversion Courts. We have increased our community outreach and prevention efforts.

As you know, these are dynamic times and more is being asked of each of us in our community – mostly to come together and address the common issues and concerns that affect our daily lives. In an effort to meet the growing needs of our citizens and to create new possibilities for our community. We recognize that we have a responsibility and an opportunity to seek new ways of working together and providing the services you depend on and need.

The greater Williams area CWPP is a strategic plan developed to provide all land owners with a broad spectrum of treatment options as well as prioritize areas for treatment on federal, state, and private lands. Site specific planning and treatment is the responsibility of each land owner or jurisdictional agency and should be guided by this plan.

Community protection and preparedness is a critical step toward mitigating immediate fire hazards and restoring adjacent wildlands. A combination of fuel management, FireWise standards, and appropriate wildfire suppression response across ownerships within and adjacent to at-risk communities will reduce threats to life and property, protect values-at-risk, and create a safe context for the use of fire in subsequent forest ecosystem restoration efforts. This plan outlines actions needed to prepare and equip the community to live and thrive within our fire-adapted ponderosa pine forests.

The collaborative process for developing the Tusayan Community Wildfire Protection Plan began May 5, 2004 at a Tusayan/Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce Board meeting in Tusayan. A CWPP is developed to assist local fire districts, local governmental agencies and residents in the identification of lands—including federal lands—at risk from severe wildfire threat and to identify strategies for reducing fuels on wildlands while improving forest health, supporting local economies, and improving firefighting response capabilities.