WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The 21st Navajo Nation Council approved the 2009 audit report of the Navajo Nation government and passed a resolution overriding Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr’s veto of the Western Agency Decentralization Pilot Project.

KPMG, LLP of Albuquerque conducted the 2009 audit report, which the Council approved on a vote of 66-5 with one amendment. The audit report reviews the combined financial statements of the Navajo Nation and a single audit of the Navajo Nation’s federal grant programs during fiscal year 2009. The audit report indicated that the 2009 Navajo Nation Undesignated Unreserved Fund had seen a decline as a result of low cost of oil and gas and low profit from land revenues among other revenue sources. The audit report also consisted of a compliance audit, which identified 34 findings in the Navajo Nation’s federal grant programs.

The amendment, which was motioned by Honorable Katherine Benally (Dennehotso), will require the Navajo Nation to set aside funds for a projected payment of claims and settlements of legal claims against the Navajo Nation. The Council voted 47-27 on the amendment.

Benally said the purpose of the amendment is to allow for access to proper financial data particularly access to the Contingency Management Fund, which the Navajo Office of the Controller and Navajo Department of Justice only have access to.

“In a very recent time, Mr. Mark Grant, controller of the Navajo Nation, presented to the Council or the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and in that report we asked him what the Contingency Management Fund was for,” Benally said. “He said it was specifically for settlement claims. I am concerned because only the controller and Navajo Department of Justice are the two entities that have access to financial data regarding the Contingency Management Fund.”

In other action, the Council passed a resolution overriding President Shirley’s veto of the Western Decentralization Pilot Project on a vote of 64-8. The Western Navajo Agency Council is leading the effort to decentralized governmental services to Navajo constituents and chapters within the Western Navajo Agency of the Navajo Nation.

“When chapters saw and heard of the president’s veto, they wanted an override immediately,” Sponsor Leslie Dele (Tonalea) said. “They dreamt of the decentralization project happening one day. A lot of this effort has been in place since the MacDonald era. We will work in phases and in the near future have an agency CEO.”

Dele added that the next step for the pilot project is adopting and implementing its plan of operation. The Western Navajo Agency Council is scheduled to meet tomorrow to review and approve its plan of operation.

PHOENIX  – Delwyn Aaron Randall, 26, of Cove, Ariz., was sentenced here Tuesday, August 31, 2010 by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Randall  pleaded guilty on March 24, 2010 to one count of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

On January 23, 2009, the defendant, who in 2004 had previously been convicted in New Mexico State Court of conspiring to distribute marijuana, possessed a revolver outside his home in Cove, Ariz.  This led to an eight-hour standoff with police officers of the Navajo Nation which ultimately ended peacefully.

 The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Brian E. Kasprzyk, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:    CR-09-08120-001-PCT-NVW

RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-194(Randall)

PHOENIX – Drivers heading to the high country, the beach or elsewhere over the Labor Day weekend will not face any construction closures along state highways.  That’s the word from the Arizona Department of Transportation.

No construction closures are scheduled for state highway projects, including improvement projects along Phoenix area freeways, over the three-day holiday weekend.

While no closures are scheduled, ADOT Director John Halikowski is urging travelers to be prepared in the event of an unscheduled closure.

“Those of us in the business of public safety have no control over where or when a crash might occur, or if a vehicle breaks down,” said Halikowski. “Drivers have to avoid all impairments, including alcohol or drugs, too little sleep or everyday distractions. That way, we lessen the chances of an unscheduled highway closure because of a crash.”

ADOT recommends travelers bring extra drinking water, snack foods and other supplies to help them stay cool in case they face an extended stop.

In 2009, seven people were killed in five fatal crashes on highways and local roads in Arizona over the Labor Day weekend.

ADOT joins with the State Department of Public Safety and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in urging drivers to follow these safe driving rules.

• Never Drink and Drive; Arrange for a Designated Driver if necessary
• Check Your Vehicle, Including Tire Pressure, Before Traveling
• Get a Good Night’s Rest Before Starting Out on a Trip
• Buckle Up – That Includes You and Your Passengers
• Follow Speed Limits; Don’t Follow Other Vehicles Too Closely
• Use Caution in Existing Work Zones

Motorists also are asked to be extremely cautious about the continued fire danger this weekend.  All it takes is a tossed cigarette or a hot vehicle pulling onto a highway shoulder to ignite dry brush.  Despite monsoon rains, the danger of wildfires still exists across the state.

You can stay up to date on highway conditions prior to traveling by visiting the ADOT Travel Information site at  www.az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.- Officials from the Navajo Nation and many other American Indian Nations gathered Monday evening at the Flagstaff City Council’s special meeting to oppose amendments that will allow artificial snow to be made on Dook’o'oslííd, the San Francisco Peaks.  
 
The Navajo Nation strongly opposed the making of artificial snow, whether it was made with potable water or with recovered reclaimed water. 
 
Despite the special meeting’s purpose to decide which water source to use to make artificial snow, Council delegates Thomas Walker, Jr. (Birdsprings/Leupp/Tolani Lake), Rex Lee Jim (Rock Point), Leonard Chee (Birdsprings/Leupp/Tolani Lake), and Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly all opposed any and all snow making strategies.
 
Vice President Shelly spoke of the importance of water to the people on the Navajo Nation and that Dook’o'oslííd is precious to Navajos and many other tribes. He furthered mentioned that utilizing essential water for snowmaking is not eco-friendly, and that it is not a safe choice for anyone, even those who support snowmaking on the Arizona Snowbowl.
 
“Our community members, elders, spiritual leaders, deem this sacred mountain very holy and sacred,” said Council Delegate Walker. “It is the corner stone of the Navajo universe. We will do all necessary for the world, public, and the community members of Flagstaff to know this. We stand here with the tribal leaders who have already spoken, we stand united and our position has been consistent.”
 
Council Delegate Leonard Chee addressed the Flagstaff City Council next, saying, “I’m here as a member of the Navajo Nation Council. The Navajo Nation is gravely concerned about our water supply. Simply put, I still cannot get my mind wrapped around how this question is even being considered today.”
 
In December 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack designated all Arizona counties, except La Paz and Yuma counties, as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought and that the state is preparing for imminent long term drought. It was further noted that the request by Arizona Snowbowl to use drinkable water for non-essential recreational purposes is quite honestly unacceptable.
 
Many Indian Nation leaders gathered to protect Dook’o'oslííd. Present at the Council meeting were leaders and representatives from the Hopi tribe, Havasupai Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, Yavapai-Apache Nation and the Hualapai Tribe. In addition, community members from the Navajo Nation also expressed their disapproval of utilizing potable and recovered reclaimed water for artificial snow. 
 
“Always save a little for tomorrow,” added Council Delegate Chee. “Just because we have some water now does not mean we should waste it. That is our stand on the water source.”

The special meeting began at 5:30 p.m. and was still in session at 11:45 p.m. 

The Flagstaff City Council concluded that a decision will not be made until Thursday, 10 a.m. at the City Hall after agreeing deliberation and decision making would be unduly compromised in the early hours of the following day.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Honorable Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan announced the agenda for the Navajo Nation Council’s special session, which is scheduled to convene on Sept. 2 at the Navajo Nation Council Chamber.

The session will begin at 10 a.m. with one legislative action item listed under new business. The agenda has no items listed under reports and old business.

Honorable LoRenzo Bates, chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee, is sponsoring legislation (Legislation No. 0392-10) on the KPMG, LLP audit report of the Navajo Nation government. The audit report covers and reviews Fiscal Year 2009.

A complete copy of the special session agenda can be found online at www.navajonationcouncil.org.

“History has shown that failure to include the voices of tribal officials in formulating policy affecting their communities has all too often led to undesirable and, at times, devastating and tragic results,” – President Barak Obama

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Intergovernmental Relations Committee unanimously passed a resolution today requesting emergency consultation with federal agencies regarding snowmaking on Dook’o'osliid, the San Francisco Peaks.

On Nov. 2, 2009 President Barack Obama issued a Memorandum on Tribal Consultation to federal executive departments and agencies confirming that they are responsible for strengthening the government-to-government relationship between the U.S. and tribal nations through consultation and collaboration. Pursuant to the president’s memorandum, the committee on behalf of the Navajo Nation is requesting emergency consultation and collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Justice.

“History has shown that failure to include the voices of tribal officials in formulating policy affecting their communities has all too often led to undesirable and, at times, devastating and tragic results,” said Obama, in his memorandum.

The three federal agencies are actively engaged in enabling Arizona Snowbowl to make snow on Dooko’o’sliid, which is a sacred and holy site to 13 tribes in the Southwest, including the Navajo Nation.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act also requires tribal consultation when a federal agency’s project or effort affects a site that holds religious or cultural significance to a Native American Tribe, such as the case with the U.S. Department of Agriculture granting approval for snowmaking on the sacred Dooko’o’sliid.

In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted approval for snowmaking, using either reclaimed (effluent/treated wastewater) water or potable water for snowmaking at the Arizona Snowbowl, which the tribes continue to oppose. The proposal to use reclaimed water resulted in a civil lawsuit filed by various tribal nations due to public health concerns. Recently, however, the USDA has proposed using drinking-quality water as an alternative source, which the tribes still oppose.

On Sept. 2, the Flagstaff City Council will decide to (1) amend its current contract with Arizona Snowbowl to allow either directly delivered reclaimed water (effluent water/treated waste water) or indirect delivered reclaimed water (potable or drinking water) contingent upon Snowbowl committing to one or the other, (2) leave the original agreement in place and provide direct delivered reclaimed water (effluent water/treated waste water), or 3) develop a new agreement to use indirect reclaimed water (potable/drinking water) only.

The view of the Navajo Nation is that if the federal government is engaged in further desecration of sacred sites, then consultation and coordination with tribes needs to occur before any funds, approvals, permits or authorizations are given to Arizona Snowbowl for snowmaking using reclaimed or re-injected potable water. Both reclaimed water and potable water are still being considered by the Flagstaff City Council.

Honorable Raymond Joe, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, sponsored the resolution. The committee passed the resolution with a vote of 7-0.

The Navajo Nation Department of Information Center will host a Google Application and Basic Computer troubleshooting Workshop at the Dennehotso Boarding School Conference Room:

September 16, 2010 Thursday
10:00 am-3:00 pm.

The application will assist Kayenta Chapter, Chilchinbeto Chapter, Kayenta Township, and Western Navajo Agency entities become knowledgeable in Google Applications which has more than 20 applications which include efficient use of gmail, calendar, and other helpful applications that will help participants be proficient in fast paced work environment.  Facilitating the session will be Sylvia Jordan, Navajo Nation Information Technician.  The  training is Free and Open To The Public.

Residential Trash:                                                    New Price:

Extra Small Bags – Shopping Bags Size                             $   0.50
Small Bags – 13 gallon & Tall Kitchen Bags                     $   1.00
Large Bags – 33 gallon                                                            $  1.50
Extra Large Bags – 50 gallons                                              $  2.00

Loose Trash:                                                             New Price:

Small Bed Pick-up                                                                    $  6.25
Small Bed Pick-up Heaped                                                   $7.50
Short Bed Regular Pick-Up Level                                      $ 8.75
Short Bed Regular Pick-Up Heaped                                  $ 10.00
Long Bed Regular Pick-Up                                                   $ 11.25
Long Bed Reglar Pick-Up Heaped                                      $ 12.50
Flat Bed – Level                                                                          $ 12.50
Flat Bed – Heaped                                                                      $ 13.75

Appliances:                                                        New Price:

Stove                                                                                             $ 10.00
Dryer                                                                                             $ 10.00
Washer                                                                                          $ 11.25
Battery                                                                                          $ 1. 25
Tires                                                                                               $ 2.50
Water Heater: 7-10 gallon                                                    $ 5.00
Water Heater: 30-40 gallon                                                 $ 7.50
Swamp Cooler: Small                                                              $ 5.00
Swamp Cooler: Large                                                              $ 7.50
Bath Tub: Plastic                                                                       $ 6.25
Bath Tub: Steel                                                                          $ 18.75
Sink                                                                                                $ 5.00
Refrigration w/o Freon                                                         $ 62.50
Refrigration w/ Freon                                                            $ 12.50
Mattress or Box Spring – Twin                                            $ 1.25
Mattress or Box Spring – Full, Queen, King                   $ 2.50

Effective: 1 July 2010

TO: ALL CONTRACTORS & BUSINESSES

WE RENT:

1. 40 CUBIC YARD OPEN BINS at $ 820.00/PULL.

2. 20 CUBIC YARD OPEN BINS at $ 410.00/PULL.

3. 8 CUBIC YARD OPEN BINS at $ 68.00/PULL.

4. 96 GALLON RESIDENTIAL CONTAINERS (4 PULLS at $ 20.00/MONTH.)

5. A MONTHLY $ 100.00 PROPERTY FEE WILL BE INCLUDED.

APPLICATIONS CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE KAYENTA TOWNSHIP FINANCE OFFICE.

CALL TODAY. 

          Kayenta Township Commission
          Public Works Department
          Post Office 1490
          Kayenta, Arizona, 86033
          T: (928) 697- 8404
          F: (928) 697-8461

EFFECTIVE: 1 July 2010

DATE                 OPPONENT                                               TIME
Aug. 25              KMS OPEN                                          4:30 pm
Sept. 03             KMS Invitational                           3:00 pm
Sept. 11                 at Chinle Invitational                            9:00 pm
Sept. 15               Pizza Edge Invitational             5:15 pm
Sept. 18                 at Hopi Invitational                              10:00 pm
Sept. 22                 at Page Invitational                                 3:00 pm
Sept. 24                 at Mt. Elden Invitational-Flagstaff    2:30 pm
Oct. 02                   at Tuba City Boarding Invitational 10:00 pm
Oct. 08                   at Shonto Invitational                            4:00 pm
Oct. 20                   at Navajo Mountain                                4:00 pm