BOS

Board of Supervisors Background

The Board of Supervisors is the governing and policymaking body of the Cochise County. The Board is empowered to perform acts necessary to fully discharge its duties as the legislative authority of County government.

The powers of the Board are very broad in nature and are defined in the Arizona Revised Statutes § 11-251 Powers of board. The members of the Board feel that one of their primary responsibilities is the in-depth oversight of the County Budget and consequently they have set in motion a policy of fiscal responsibility which is paying dividends as this Board has been able to lower the tax rate for three consecutive years and at the same time provide additional services required by the rapid growth of the Sierra Vista area.

Public Meetings

Regular Board of Supervisors meetings are held in the Board Hearing Room located at 1415 Melody Lane in Bisbee and begin at 10 a.m.,
unless otherwise indicated when the meeting is posted.

The start time for the scheduled Special (budget) meetings will be determined when the agenda is posted.

If you have questions, please contact the Board office at (520) 432-9200.

Notices and Agendas

Meeting agendas are posted online at www.cochise.az.gov at least 24 hours prior to the meeting start time.

The 2012 public meeting schedule is posted here.

BOS Member Biographies

Patrick Call
District 1, Vice-Chairman
1415 Melody Lane, Bldg. G
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone: (520) 432-9200

Regional Cooperation

Established County recycling committee and sat as the Board of Supervisors liaison to the committee
Regional Solid Waste and Landfill Operations
Joint Planning with Cities and Towns
Joint Traffic enforcement
County liaison to the Huachuca 50
Established Cochise County's Business Friendly Task Force, liaison to the Board of Supervisors

Sierra Vista Area Services

Fry Town site task force with Sierra Vista
New Superior Court Division in Sierra Vista
New Justice of the Peace Court in Sierra Vista
New Sheriff's office in Sierra Vista
New and enlarged County Planning and Zoning office in Sierra Vista
Expanded County Health Services in Sierra Vista
Graffiti abatement agreement with Sierra Vista
Joint law enforcement efforts

Water

Chair of the Upper San Pedro Partnership Advisory Commission
Member, Upper San Pedro Partnership Executive Committee
Member Arizona's Water Resources Development Committee (WRDC)
Co-Chair, Legislative Recommendations Group, WRDC
Created the Sierra Vista Sub-watershed overlay district

Representing Cochise County

Member of the Arizona Water Resources Development Committee
President and current member of the US/Mexico Border Counties Coalition
Governor's appointee to the Arizona Growing Smarter Oversight Group
Governor's appointee to the Southern Regional Area Council, Arizona Department of Homeland Security
National Association of Counties
Arizona County Supervisors Association
Past board member and member of Arizona Town Hall

Community Service

Board of Directors, Rotary Charities, Inc.
Past Board of Directors, C.A.N.T.E.R.
Board of Directors, Court Appointed Special Advocates
Board of Directors, Cochise Community Foundation (affiliate of the Arizona Community Foundation)
Member, Sierra Vista Rotary
Chief Pyrotechnician, Sierra Vista 4th of July Fireworks
Member of the Greater Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce since 1981, past member Board of Directors, past Chair of the Chamber's Legislative Affairs committee and current member
Producer and host for the Friday Report, a weekly talk show dedicated to local issues and people.

Personal Information

Married: Trish
Children: Ryan, 25 Ed, 23
Education: BS Biology
Hobbies: woodworking and road/mountain biking
Currently serving third term as District One, Cochise County Supervisor

Ann English
District 2, Supervisor
1415 Melody Lane, Bldg. G
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone: 520-432-9200

Cochise County Board of Health, Public Safety Retirement Board, Correction Officers Retirement Board.
Southeast Arizona Governments Organization Representative
Superintendent, Elfrida Elementary School District, 1999-2006. Retired, 2006.
Administrator at Douglas High School; Youth Fair Chance, School-to-Work & Vocational programs, 1995-1999.
Graduate of Northern Arizona University, Masters in Educational Leadership, 1994.
Cochise County Board of Supervisors, District 2, 1985-92. Two terms.
President of Arizona Supervisors, 1991.
Arizona Criminal Justice Commission – Appointed by Gov. Rose Mofford.
Realtor for Sulphur Springs Realty and Bisbee Realty, 1981-1984.
Taught school in Coolidge, Elfrida and Douglas, Arizona. 20 years.
Graduate of New Mexico State University, B.S. in Home Economics, 1963, with Honors
Graduate of Marshall High School, Marshall, Arkansas. 1959.
Born in Searcy County, Arkansas, 1942.
Married to Pat English, parent of three adult children and grandparent to four precious young grandchildren

Richard Searle
District 3, Chairman
1415 Melody Lane, Bldg. G
Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Telephone (520) 432-9200
Fax Number (520) 432-5016

Richard Roddis Searle was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2004 as the District 3 representative. He was re-elected in 2008 and is currently serving his second term in office.

District 3 is the largest of the three supervisory districts in Cochise County and includes all the northern half of the County. Communities in District 3 include Huachuca City, Whetstone, St. David, Mescal-J6, Benson, Pomerene, Cascabel, Dragoon, Pearce/Sunsites, Cochise, Sunizona, Dos Cabezas, Willcox, Bowie and San Simon, Fort Huachuca, a small portion of Sierra Vista west of 7th Street, and Parker Canyon Lake.

Supervisor Searle grew up on his family’s ranch in the Dragoon Mountains near Pearce. He graduated from Valley Union High School in Elfrida and has a degree in business from Western New Mexico University in Silver City, N.M. He has been a banker in the area for over 20 years and also grows pistachios in the Sulphur Springs Valley.

In addition to his normal County duties, Searle has also actively represented Cochise County in several organizations including the Arizona/New Mexico Coalition of Counties, the Coronado Resource & Conservation District, the Arizona County Supervisors Legislative Policy Committee, and the South Eastern Arizona Governments Organization.

Searle also served on the Valley Union High School Board of Education, where he was a member between 2001 and 2010.

Contact Supervisor Searle by .

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2011-2012 Contact Information

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2011-2012 Departments

County Departments

Courthouse

100 Quality Hill
Bisbee, AZ 85603

Administrator

Michael J. Ortega, Administrator

1415 Melody Lane, Bldg. G
Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Phone (520) 432-9200
Fax (520) 432-5016

The County Administrator manages the day-to-day operations of the County; implements policies and programs approved by the Board of Supervisors; acts as a liaison between the Board Of Supervisors and the external departments (i.e. Judicial System, Treasurer, Assessor, etc.) and has direct supervision over the internal departments (i.e. Finance, MIS, Human Resources, Facilities, etc.) One of the main functions of the County Administrator is to develop and implement a 130 million dollars budget.

Assessor

Philip S. Leiendecker, Assessor

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 168, Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone: (520) 432-8650
Fax: (520) 432-8698

The Cochise County Assessor's Office has the responsibility to locate, identify and value all locally assessable property within Cochise County at fair market value as defined by Arizona State Constitution and Title 42 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. This office maintains current property ownership records and property assessment maps. Exemptions for qualifying organizations and individuals are processed annually as are Senior Property Valuation Protection Option applications.

Attorney

Edward G. Rheinheimer, County Attorney

150 Quality Hill Road, 2nd Floor
P.O. Drawer CA
Bisbee, AZ 85603
e-mail: Attorney@cochise.az.gov
Telephone (520) 432-8700
Fax Numbers
Criminal (520) 432-4208
Civil (520) 432-8778
Drug Unit (520) 432-2487
Misdemeanor (520) 432-8729
Victim Witness (520) 432-8777

The Cochise County Attorney's Office prosecutes felony criminal cases in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona; misdemeanor criminal cases in the Cochise County Justice of the Peace Courts; and juvenile cases in the Juvenile Court.

We also provide legal advice and representation to all Cochise County departments; the Cochise County Board of Supervisors: and other county Special Districts.

We also handle property forfeiture cases; provide victim services; and provide adoption assistance at no charge to adopting parents.

The Cochise County Attorney's Office does not investigate crimes. All crimes must be investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency before a complaint is issued by the County Attorney's Office. If you believe you have been the victim of a crime, please contact your municipal police department if the offense occurred within city limits, or the Cochise County Sheriff's Office if the offense occurred within the county, outside city limits.

Clerk of the Board

Katie A. Howard, Clerk of the Board

1415 Melody Lane, Bldg. G
Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Telephone: (520) 432-9200
Fax: (520) 432-5016

Justice of the Peace Courts

Precinct 1 - Bisbee Justice Court

Dave Morales, Justice of the Peace
207 N. Judd Drive
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone (520) 432-9540
Fax Number (520) 432-5271

Precinct 2 - Douglas Justice Court

Alma Vildosola, Justice of the Peace
1012 N. G. Ave., Ste. 237
Douglas, AZ 85607
Telephone (520) 805-5640
Fax Number (520) 364-3684

Precinct 3 - Benson Justice Court

Joseph Knoblock, Justice of the Peace
CJ "Casey" Garan, Constable
126 W. 5th Street, Ste. 1
Benson, AZ 85602
Telephone (520) 586-8100
Fax Number (520) 586-9647

Precinct 4 - Willcox Justice Court

Trevor Ward, Justice of the Peace
450 S. Haskell Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
Telephone (520) 384-7000
Fax Number (520) 384-7019

Precinct 5 - Sierra Vista Justice Court

Timothy B. Dickerson, Justice of the Peace
100 Colonia de Salud, Ste. 108
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Telephone (520) 803-3800
Fax Number (520) 439-9106

Precinct 6 - Bowie Justice Court

Michael Skiles, Justice of the Peace
Bruce Austin, Constable
201 N. Central
P.O. BOX 317
Bowie, AZ 85605
Telephone (520) 847-2303
Fax Number (520) 847-2242

Sheriff

Larry A. Dever, Sheriff

Staff
Rodney W. Rothrock, Chief Deputy

Marc Denney, Commander - Enforcement

Kenny Bradshaw, Commander - Detention

Ken Buckner, Deputy Commander

Administration Office
205 N. Judd Drive
Mile Post 345, Highway 80
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone (520) 432-9505
Telephone (800) 362-0812

Investigation Office
100 Colonia De Salud, Ste. 105
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Telephone (520) 803-3280

Benson Patrol District
126 W. 5th Street
Benson, AZ 85602
Telephone (520) 586-8150

Bisbee Patrol District
205 N. Judd Drive
Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Telephone (520) 432-9500

Douglas Patrol District
661 G Ave.
Douglas, AZ 85607
Telephone (520) 805-5670

Elfrida Patrol District
10293 N. Central Highway
Elfrida, AZ 85610
Telephone (520) 642-3648

Sierra Vista Patrol District
100 Colonia De Salud, Ste. 106
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Telephone (520) 803-3850

Willcox Patrol District
450 S. Haskell Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
Telephone (520) 384-7050

Cochise County Jail
203 N. Judd Drive
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone (520) 432-7540

Your Sheriff's Office is committed to solemnly, faithfully and impartially support the Constitution of the United States, and the laws of the State of Arizona. As an organization and as individuals, we pledge to be valiant and true to the public trust.

Through education, training and deep community involvement, we will foster unity and leadership that will help deter crime and improve the quality of life in Cochise County. Respect, fairness and integrity will be the measure of our success.

We will continue to work toward a complete understanding of our dutiful stewardship. Within this framework, every Sheriff's Office employee will know and demonstrate, as stated by Sir Winston Churchill, "It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required."

Superior Court

P.O. Box 204
Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Telephone: (520) 432-8500

The Superior Court in Cochise County is a court of general jurisdiction in Arizona. Superior Court judges hear all types of cases involving civil claims of $10,000 or more, felony cases, extraditions, mental health cases and matters pertaining to domestic relations: divorce, annulment, child support and probate (including guardianships). The Juvenile Court is a division of the Superior Court and hears all matters concerning juvenile delinquency, dependency and adoptions. The Superior Court is also the appellate court for cases coming from limited jurisdiction (municipal and justice) courts in Cochise County.

Currently there are six Superior Court judges in Cochise County under the administrative supervision of the Presiding Judge, who is appointed by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. Four judges are located in Bisbee, Arizona. Two judges, including the juvenile court judge, are located in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

The Office of Court Administration provides administrative and budgetary oversight and services to both the Superior Court and the six Justice Courts in Cochise County. This office serves as the liaison between the judicial branch and the executive and legislative branches locally and on a state level. Programs and services provided by Court Administration include:

Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (ADR)
Automation and Field Training
Case Management
Court Interpreters
Court Security
Family Conciliation Court
Judicial Human Resources Department
Law Library

The Office of Court Administration is located in the main courthouse in Bisbee, Arizona

Superior Court Clerk

Mary Ellen Dunlap, Court Clerk

Bisbee
100 Quality Hill
P.O. Box CK
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone (520) 432-8570
Fax Number (520) 432-4850

Sierra Vista
100 Colonia de Salud, Suite 100
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Telephone (520) 803-3060
Fax Number (520) 458-4148

Marriages Licenses/Passports
Telephone (520) 432-8570

Jury Information
Telephone (520) 432-8585

Probate Information
Telephone (520) 432-8580

Child Support
Telephone (520) 432-8603

Finance
Telephone (520) 432-8573

Records Request
Telephone (520) 432-8575

The Clerk of the Superior Court is an elected officer established by the Arizona Constitution. Duties and responsibilities are prescribed in state statute, court rule, and case law. Supreme Court Administration order also provides that the presiding judge may prescribe additional powers and duties of the Clerk of the Court, in addition to those prescribed by the Supreme Court. State law was amended to clarify the clerks authority to manage her own staff and operations.

The Clerk of the Superior Court officially maintains all civil, domestic, criminal, juvenile and probate records. The Clerk issues writs and warrants; takes and transcribes all court minutes for all court proceedings; is the Registrar of Probate matters; maintains all court exhibits used as evidence; is the Jury Commissioner, providing qualified jurors for trials from the lists of all registered voters and holders of drivers licenses; accepts passport applications, issues and records marriage licenses; and prepares and forwards appeals to the Court of Appeals and State Supreme Court.

The Clerk also collects all fees, fines, bonds and restitution for the court. Monies collected are transmitted monthly to the county treasurer. The Clerk also receives monies to be held in trust in a fiduciary capacity for the Court.

School Superintendent

Trudy Berry, County School Superintendent

100 Clawson Ave., 3rd Floor
P.O. Drawer 208
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone (520) 432-8950
Fax Number (520) 432-7136
E-mail: tberry@cochise.az.gov

The mission of the Office of the Cochise County School Superintendent is to aid in the administration of the state’s laws pertaining to education in collaboration with the state board of education, the state superintendent of public instruction, and such governing boards as are provided by law.

The office serves as fiscal agent for 22 of 23 school districts within the county; provides education for the juvenile detention center and the county jail; supervises school bond, school board, and school override elections; maintains teacher and administrator certification records; and maintains home school records.

As an Educational Service Agency (ESA) the County School Superintendent supports school districts by providing services such as workshops, grant writing, special events planning, and technology integration support.

Recorder

Christine Rhodes

1415 Melody Lane, Bldg. B
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telehone (520) 432-8350
Fax Number (520) 432-8368

Voter Registration
Telehone (520) 432-8354
Telehone (520) 432-8358

Treasurer

Marsha Bonham, Treasurer

1415 Melody Lane, Bldg. E
P.O. Box 1778
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Telephone (520) 432-8400
Fax Number (520) 432-8438
E-mail: trsweb@cochise.az.gov

The Cochise County Treasurer is the fiscal custodian of the County and is responsible for the administration and control of cash and securities. The duties involved in this responsibility include tax administration; receipt, deposit and disbursement of cash; supervision of county bank accounts; cash flow projections; investment of idle funds; debt management of bond issues, lines of credit and registered warrants. The County Treasurer plays a crucial role in county government administration.

2012 Real and Personal Property tax notices have been mailed. First half 2012 personal and real property taxes are due October 1, 2012 and will be delinquent after November 1, 2012. Second half 2012 personal and real property taxes are due March 1, 2013 and will be delinquent after May 1, 2013. If you did not receive a statement by October 1, 2012, or have any questions, contact the Cochise County Treasurer at P.O. Box 1778, Bisbee, AZ 85603 or call (520) 432-8400.

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October 2012

Source: County Website