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Paving Project Starting on US 160 West of Kayenta May 20

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Motorists traveling on US 89 Detour Route should expect minor delays

A pavement improvement project on a 14-mile segment of US 160, approximately 25 miles west of Kayenta, will begin Monday, May 20, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
 
The paving project will start at the Coconino/Navajo County line and extend east to Black Mesa (mileposts 358-372). Approximately three miles of the US 89 detour route from the county line to the junction of State Route 98 will be impacted by this work, but restrictions will be lifted on the detour route as soon as paving is completed to the SR 98 junction.

The $6.5 million project, which is scheduled for completion by the first of September, will include removing a layer of the existing asphalt and replacing it with new pavement, cattle guards and guardrail.

Work hours will be from sunrise to sunset Monday through Thursday. Traffic lanes will be narrowed and the speed limit will be reduced through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used to guide vehicles through the work zone in alternating directions and drivers should anticipate delays of up to 30 minutes.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the project area with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

For more information about this project, please call the Project Hotline at 1-855-712-8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. Visit www.facebook.com/azdot, www.twitter.com/ArizonaDOT or www.azdot.gov for more information about ADOT. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

IHS Job Announcement: Security Guard

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security_job

 

 

 

 

 

To view the announcement on USAJOBS:

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/343670000

To view the announcement on the IHS Website:

http://www.ihs.gov/Jobs/index.cfm?module=ViewPostDetail&option=ViewPostDetail&Announce=IHS-13-KA-892536-ESEP/MP

TITLE 17 SENTENCING PROVISION REVIEW: PUBLIC HEARINGS MAY 13 THROUGH 17, 2013

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PROPOSED CHANGES TO PENALTIES IN THE NAVAJO CRIMINAL CODE

The Law and Order Committee of the 22nd Navajo Nation Council established a Task Force to review the penalty provisions of Title 17, Law and Order Code of the Navajo Nation, and recommend appropriate and necessary amendments for purposes of enhancing sentencing provisions, by Resolution LOCJY-08-12 and reaffirmed by Resolution LOCJA-01-13.

  • In January 2000, the Navajo Nation Council eliminated jail terms and fines for a number of offenses, in part because the Nation had limited resources to prosecute and jail criminal offenders.
  • The Navajo Nation is constructing additional detention facilities.
  • The safety of people within the Navajo Nation is an important concern. There are violent and serious crimes being committed within the Navajo Nation.
  • Portions of the Code are outdated and should be revised to reflect the current needs of the Navajo Nation and people.
  • The Task Force began meeting bi-weekly in January of 2013.
  • The Task Force reviewed the criminal penalties and is recommending changes.
  • The Task Force’s recommendations for changes will be presented this week.
  • The recommendations are only a “first draft.” Revisions will be made after your comments are reviewed.
  • Public hearings are scheduled this week in Tuba City, Chinle, Fort Defiance, Crownpoint, and Shiprock to take comments from the public. This is your chance to have a say in the penalties for crimes.
  • A radio call-in forum is scheduled for May 22 on KTNN.
  • The Task Force will set up a way to make comments electronically.
  • The Task Force will record all verbal and written comments, make more changes in its recommendations, and make a report to the Law and Order Committee.
  • The Law and Order Committee will review the comments and the Task Force’s report and recommendations.
  • The Law and Order Committee will make changes and draft legislation.
  • There will be more opportunities for comment on the draft legislation.
  • The draft legislation will go before the Navajo Nation Council.

 PROPOSED NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL RESOLUTION

TITLE 17 SLIDESHOW

President Shelly Approves $8.6 Million for Water Projects and Studies

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Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly approved an $8.6 million measure that plans to bring water development projects and plans to several Navajo Nation communities.

The funding would come from the Navajo Nation’s Undesignated Unreserved Fund Balance.

“Water infrastructure is very important to my administration. Though I am concerned about maintaining money in our Undesignated Unreserved Fund Balance, these projects will bring water to our Navajo people and plan for future water projects. Navajo communities need water to be healthy physically and economically,” President Shelly said.

The legislation, passed by the Navajo Nation Council last week, outlines projects and plans for communities throughout the Navajo Nation.

Projects funded by the $8.6 million appropriation include:

  1. Design      and construction of a new Rough Rock water well.
  2. Construction      of a waterline east of Dennehotso, Ariz. that will serve 62 homes.
  3. A      fund, placed under the Navajo Nation Water Management Branch, that will be      utilized to develop preliminary engineering reports and environmental      reports that will assist in leveraging funds from available federal      programs such as USDA-Rural Development.
  4. Leupp-Dilkon      and Kayenta regional water supply development projects. Cost share      required by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for feasibility studies.
  5. Water      studies to evaluate existing and future water supply and water      distribution system needs and development of plans for existing and future      improvements and water resource development for the following      regions:  Sweetwater to      Tsaile-Wheatfields, Tuba City, Many Farms to Nazlini, Coyote Canyon to      Lake Valley, and Shonto to Black Mesa.
  6. Natural      resources conservation plan for the Puerco Valley to manage, implement,      monitor, and evaluate farmland, water, and related natural resources.

“The studies are needed so we can ask for different types of funding from different sources. Many entities, like the U.S. Department of Agriculture need studies to justify the need. Our studies will do that. Also, they will help Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and Indian Health Service to composed long term plans for water needs and usage,” President Shelly said.

As vice president of the Navajo Nation, President Shelly spearheaded lobbying of the New Mexico legislature to spend over $30 million dollars on water development for Navajo communities.

Most of the $8.6 million will fund water wells, waterlines and studies in the Arizona portion of the Navajo Nation.  There is one project in New Mexico, which will funds a plan for a waterline from Coyote Canyon to Lake Valley and would complement the Navajo Gallup Water Supply project, a $1 billion water project, which Congress approved as part of the Navajo San Juan River Water rights settlement in New Mexico.

“I want the Navajo Nation Council, the States and Washington to know that Navajos are serious about water development.  It is a basic requirement to develop our Nation,” said President Shelly.

Kayenta IHS Announcement – Supervisory Clinical Nurse

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Announcement #: IHS-R2-KA-834861-ESEP/MP for Supervisory Clinical Nurse, GS-11 under the Outpatient Department at Inscription House Health Center, Shonto, AZ has been completed and released to USAJOBS – for posting.  PCN: MC4601

Opening date: 04/29/2013

Closing date: 05/17/2013

To view the announcement at USAJOBS:  http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/342556000

To view the announcement at IHS Website: http://www.ihs.gov/Jobs/index.cfm?module=ViewPostDetail&option=ViewPostDetail&Announce=IHS-R2-KA-834861-ESEP/MP

President Shelly Welcomes Energy Officials from Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Tribes

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Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly welcomed energy leaders from the Three Affiliated Tribes from North Dakota during a meeting Tuesday morning at the Navajo Nation Museum.

The group from North Dakota included Vice Chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes Rich Fox, who represents White Shield community. The three tribes that comprise the Three Affiliated Tribes are the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes.

Vice Chairman Fox said his tribe was visiting the Navajo Nation to gain information about tribal energy regulations.

“We are thankful to the Navajo Nation for presenting to us,” Vice Chairman Fox said during the introduction portion of Tuesday’s program that opened a day of presentations from the Navajo land Department, Navajo Environmental Protection Agency, Navajo Occupation Health and Safety Organization, Navajo Oil and Gas Company, and other programs.

President Shelly welcomed attendees, adding that the Navajo Nation is rich in natural resources, but have regulations that prevent the Navajo Nation from realizing its full potential in energy development.

“On the Navajo Nation, we are rich with coal, natural gas and other precious and rare metals, some which can only be found on the Navajo Nation. As rich as we are though, we have spent decades overcoming regulations set forth by the federal government,” said President Shelly.

“Gaining certain approvals for us to explore and extract natural resource has been a long standing issue that slows the ability for the Navajo Nation to truly establish self determination,” President Shelly added.

According to media reports, the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Tribe plans to invest in a $400 million oil refinery, which if built, would be the first refinery built in the United States in more than 30 years.

The meeting is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.

Navajo President Shelly Statement on Deputy Secretary David Hayes Departure from Interior

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Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly issued the following statement on Deputy Secretary David Hayes departure from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

“The Navajo Nation thanks Deputy Secretary Hayes for his guidance, leadership, and insight while at the Department of the Interior. It was a pleasure to work with Mr. Hayes on a variety of issues for the Navajo Nation including water and energy projects. His expertise is not only Indian Affairs but also department wide will be sorely missed. He is a friend to the Navajo Nation and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Navajo Lawmakers Advocate for Investments in Infrastructure

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Members of the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission, Budget and Finance Committee, Resources and Development Committee, and Health, Education and Human Services Committee met last week with federal agency representatives and lawmakers to discuss issues ranging from the effects of federal budget cuts to much needed investment in infrastructure.

Council Delegate Joshua Lavar Butler (To’ Nanees’ Dizi) attended meetings with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona to voice the Navajo Nation position. “We are deeply concerned with more talk of cuts and legislation that attack Arizona sacred sites,” Council Delegate Butler stated. Council Delegate Butler also met with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, and discussed the Navajo Nation’s perspective on education and health priorities. Council Delegate Butler serves on the Health, Education and Human Services Committee.

Resource and Development Committee chairperson Katherine Benally (Chilchinbeto, Dennehotso, Kayenta) met with Department of the Interior officials to discuss Navajo Nation needs for investment in road infrastructure.

Navajo-Hopi Land Commission members also met last week with members and staff on the hill to share with legislators their plans on rebuilding the Former Bennett Freeze area. Chairperson Walter Phelps (Cameron, Coalmine Canyon, Birdsprings, Leupp, Tolani Lake) provided testimony in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on April 25.

Chairperson Phelps urged Congress to support legislation that will help the Navajo Nation attract private sector development and streamline federal regulations on the reservation, as well as encourage the BIA to assist the Navajo Nation in this effort. Other members of the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission that advocated last week included: Dwight Witherspoon (Hard Rock, Forest Lake, Piñon, Black Mesa, Whippoorwill), Lorenzo Curley (Klagetoh, Wide Ruins, Houck, Lupton, and Nahata Dziil), and Commission executive director Raymond Maxx.

Council Delegate Mel Begay (Coyote Canyon, Mexican Springs, Naschitti, Tohatchi, Bahastl’a'a’) met with the Navajo Nation congressional delegation, congressional appropriators, and members of the congressional Budget and Finance Committee to discuss the impact of budget cuts and the Navajo Nation fiscal 2014 request for funding.

“As a member of the budget and finance committee, I’m here to share not only what we need to continue providing critical services to the Navajo people but to also express to our members of Congress just how difficult it is for tribal governments to plan for fiscal cycles when we are put through non-transparent processes like sequesters and continuing resolutions,” Council Delegate Begay said.

Last week marked the beginning of fiscal 2014 tribal budget hearings. Washington was rife with tribal leaders attending Tribal Interior Budget Council, congressional hearings, and briefings by the National Congress of American Indians, Coalition of Large Tribes, and the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona.

Pavement Maintenance Scheduled on US 163 North of Kayenta

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Drivers should expect lane closures and delays

The Arizona Department of Transportation will be doing maintenance work on 14 miles of US 163 (milepost 396-410) north of Kayenta starting Monday, May 6. The work will last for approximately two weeks while crews seal pavement cracks to preserve the roadway surface.

Mile Post 398 on Arizona's Scenic Highway 163

Arizona’s Scenic Highway 163

Work hours will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Flaggers and pilot cars will be present to guide vehicles through the work zones. Drivers should expect delays of up to 30 minutes and are advised to plan ahead.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work
zones with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

For more information, email projects@azdot.govor call the ADOT project hotline at 1-855-712-8530.  Visit www.facebook.com/azdotor www.azdot.govfor more information about ADOT. For more information about ADOT projects and programs across Arizona see the agency’s latest blog posts at http://adotblog.blogspot.com.

Hopi Tribe Wins Round in Snowbowl Lawsuit

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) – The Hopi Tribe has won a round in its bid to stop Flagstaff from selling reclaimed wastewater to Arizona Snowbowl.

On Thursday, the Arizona Court of Appeals overturned a 2011 ruling by a former Coconino County Superior Court judge.

The Arizona Daily Sun reports that clears the way for the tribe to challenge the city’s water contract with Snowbowl.

The appeals court ruled the tribe was early in filing a lawsuit ahead of December 2012 snowmaking, that the case wasn’t a delay tactic and it did raise new questions.

The Hopi are suing under an assertion that Flagstaff’s decision to sell reclaimed wastewater to the Snowbowl ski resort causes a public nuisance. The tribe says that interferes with much of the public’s ability to enjoy life or property.