Meeting

11/07/2025
NSD Business Office
1326 W. Highway 92 #12
Bisbee, Arizona 85603

Unapproved Minutes

The regular meeting of the Naco Sanitary District was called to order at 10:09 AM. Present were Charles Behney, Jesus Guerrero, and Luis Silva and Stephen Day. Andrew Foster was absent. Mr. Ralph Garren was in attendance.

Under Old Business, the minutes for 10/03/2025 were discussed. No corrections nor additions were made by the board. A motion to approve was made by Mr. Behney and seconded by Mr. Silva. The notion passed unanimously.

The search for legal services is ongoing. Mr. Behney has not heard back from Carl Sammartino nor Mary Judge Ryan. Mr. Behney suggested Lewis and Rocca as a potential law firm, but a local option is preferred. He plans to ask the Douglas City Manager for a referral for an attorney. Mr. Dey emphasized the necessity of having legal counsel for routine matters such as contract and grant reviews.

Next, the federal government shutdown and furlough are impacting USDA grants with employees unable to access emails nor conduct business. NADBank is not furloughed, but is also impacted. NSD qualifies for WIFA loans but needs the USDA SEARCH grant to match funds for the Preliminary Engineering Review. Kimley Horn is willing to do a full PER for $60,000.

The last test on Monitor Well Number One showed 6.5 parts per million for nitrates, which is below the actionable level of 10 parts per million. This has triggered an accelerated monthly test with ADEQ. Monitor Well Number Two is still experiencing problems. Mr. Matthew Tanner is scheduled to inspect MW#2 at 11:30 AM to potentially pull the pump so that a portable pump can be used for testing. NSD is now testing for halides and other chlorine byproducts as part of an improved testing regime. Mr. Dey noted that the water quality standard will soon change from total coliform to E. coli.

Under New Business, Mr. Ralph Garren was introduced as the new Office Manager, having purchased the business from Ms. Monika Patience. Ms. Patience will continue to assist NSD as necessary.

A motion to add Mr. Garren to the signature card for National Bank, the Cochise County Treasurer and Clerk of the Board was made by Mr. Behney and seconded by Mr. Silva. The motion passed unanimously.

The board then discussed the need to update the outdated NSD Bylaws to remove obsolete billing rules and add the property tax revenue. Mr. Behney suggested work sessions for this purpose.

Under Public Comments, Mr. Dey shared news about ADEQ and EPA grants for the distribution of 1000 DIY HEPA air filters and fans for Naco, Bisbee and Palominas. Mr. Behney confirmed efforts coordinated by Ms. Carolina Bracamonte of ADEQ that involves Cochise County School Superintendent Jaqui Clay and BUSD#2 School Superintendent Jennifer McBeth to educate students and help with distribution of the fan kits to local homes.

A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Behney and seconded by Mr. Silva. The meeting adjourned at 10:43 AM.

__________________________
Charles Behney, NSD Chair

Meeting

10/03/2025
NSD Business Office
1326 W. Highway 92 #12
Bisbee, Arizona 85603

Minutes

The regular meeting of the Naco Sanitary District was called to order at 2:11 PM. Present were Charles Behney, Jesus Guerrero, and Luis Silva and Andrew Foster, Stephen Day was absent.

The minutes from the September 5, 2025, meeting were presented for approval. Charles Behney moved to approve the minutes as written. Luis Silva seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Legal services were discussed. Carl Sammartino, a property attorney with water experience, offered services at $300 per hour without a retainer. For General Municipal Work, a request has been made with Mary Judge Ryan and atttorney with decades of experience in Pima County. Mr. Behney will follow up with Juan Flores, a former city attorney for Douglas, to explore other options for legal counsel. The environmental justice attorney, Mrs. Adriene Hoffmeyr, did not respond, indicating a lack of interest.

The status of grants and loans amidst government furloughs was discussed. Mr. Behney reported on the impact of federal furloughs and shutdowns. The pending $30,000 USDA SEARCH grant is delayed due to the furlough of key personnel (Jeff Hooper and Michael Dean).

WIFA (Water Infrastructure Finance Authority for Arizona) grants and loans were confirmed to be unaffected by the shutdown. The district plans to pursue a preliminary application for loans and grants for monitor wells through WIFA.

Monitor Well Status: Victor Silva reported that Monitor Well #2 is functional for testing at half pressure, and Monitor Well #1 (the pump house well) is fully functional.

Monica Patience reported that the district is financially solvent. Taxes have begun to come in (approximately $3,000–$4,000). The district is utilizing a $20,000 credit line with the county, which will be automatically repaid upon the arrival of property taxes in November.

Action Items discussed were: Mr. Behney to call Nick Altamirano regarding water tests. Mr. Behney next moved to adjourn the meeting. Andrew Foster seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 2:18 PM.