The recent wildfire in Canada reminds all of us of the potential dangers we face here in Coconino County. As we head into summer and spend more time outdoors, this is a good time to talk about the county’s new Wildfire Defense Ordinance. The ordinance replaced an outdated Open Burning Ordinance and was adopted by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors (BoS) last August in anticipation of this year’s wildfire season. Many people, along with our sister agencies, helped to create the new … [Read more...] about Understanding New Wildfire Defense Ordinance
Cynthia Seelhammer
Measuring Coconino County’s Customer Satisfaction
It’s always good to ask for feedback from the people you serve to gain an accurate perspective on how you are doing and what improvements can be made in your service delivery. With this in mind, Coconino County recently completed its 2016 Citizen Survey in order to measure our ability to meet the expectations of our citizens. The county contracted with a full-service social science research firm to conduct a telephone survey of 600 full-time, adult county residents. Questions focused on … [Read more...] about Measuring Coconino County’s Customer Satisfaction
Coconino County Celebrating 125 Years
Every now and then it is good to pause, look back and reflect on how far we’ve come – as we did recently when we kicked off Coconino County’s 125th anniversary year of celebration. Last month, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors and the County Manager’s Office had a special presentation that highlighted moments in the history of the county since its creation on Feb. 18, 1891. That was the first of several events to commemorate our “Proud Past, Promising Future” throughout the year, … [Read more...] about Coconino County Celebrating 125 Years
Lawmakers Considering County Budgets
The 2016 legislative session at the Arizona State Legislature is underway, and the state budget and legislative proposals affecting Coconino County residents are being debated by lawmakers. We are hopeful that the session will lead to good solutions for counties. While there were many successes during last year’s session, counties across the state were required to help balance the state budget by financially subsidizing state government more than in any previous year. This budget cycle, … [Read more...] about Lawmakers Considering County Budgets
Seelhammer Named Finalist for Excellence Award
The Southwest Alliance for Excellence (SWAE) has announced that Coconino County Manager Cynthia Seelhammer is one of three finalists for the organization’s 2016 Leadership Award. The SWAE Leadership Award recognizes an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership in the pursuit of performance excellence and has furthered performance improvement beyond the boundaries of their organization. Jonathan Gardner of Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and Adrian Juchau of LDS … [Read more...] about Seelhammer Named Finalist for Excellence Award
Preparedness is Key to Surviving an El Niño Winter
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Benjamin Franklin – and looking at our weather forecasts, this seems good advice for the winter. It is probably always good advice for winter, but this year, the National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting a wetter than normal winter season for Northern Arizona because of a strong El Niño weather pattern. This means winter preparedness is more important than in recent years for Coconino County residents. There are several things you … [Read more...] about Preparedness is Key to Surviving an El Niño Winter
Basic Business Empowerment Program Revamped
One look at Flagstaff’s bustling downtown on each First Friday of the month, and I am reminded how small businesses contribute to personal wealth and job creation. Looking statewide, according to the latest U.S. Census data, small businesses in Arizona employed over two-fifths of the state’s private workforce in 2012, or 955,194 workers. This is one of the reasons Coconino County Community Services Department, a Community Action Agency, launched the Basic Business Empowerment Program in spring … [Read more...] about Basic Business Empowerment Program Revamped
Staying Healthy Throughout the School Year
Parents of school-aged children know that getting kids ready for school involves more than a new wardrobe and backpack filled with school supplies – it also involves back to school vaccinations. The county plays an important role in public health and now, with the start of school, is a good time to remind people about vaccinations and other health tips. Students from preschool to college all need vaccinations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making sure … [Read more...] about Staying Healthy Throughout the School Year
United Way Kicks Off New Campaign This Week
More than 300 community partners marked the formal kickoff of the annual United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) fundraising campaign today, living up to this year’s theme that “Great Things Happen When We LIVE UNITED.” Led by 2015-2016 Campaign Chair and Coconino County Manager Cynthia Seelhammer and featuring keynote speaker Dr. Rita Cheng, president of Northern Arizona University, the kickoff celebration illustrated the United Ways focus on Education, Income and Health and how goals in those … [Read more...] about United Way Kicks Off New Campaign This Week