County seeks new spot in Colorado City
 
By Jayne Hanson
Today's News-Herald
 
KINGMAN — Mohave County supervisors voted unanimously Monday to look for a new spot in Colorado City to relocate the multi-purpose facility given the boot earlier this month from its current location at the North Mohave Community College.

Mohave County Supervisor Gary Watson, R-Dist. 1, gave a second to the motion to vote for approval on condition the multi-use facility in Colorado City would include only county, state and federal functions.

"That means the nonprofit organization Defenders of Children will not be included," said Supervisor Buster Johnson, R-Dist. 3. The reassurance of the county’s multi-use center to remain in Colorado City was a victory in itself even at the cost of losing that one resource, Johnson said.

Discussion prior to the supervisors’ decision was derailed from the relocation of the multi-purpose center and disintegrated to threats, allegations and accusations directed toward Mohave County law enforcement.

"The Colorado City multi-facility was brought in not to serve the people, but for a vindictive vendetta. We need law enforcement, we need government, but we need it with an element of help," said Willie Jessop, property owner in Colorado City and Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints member.

Jessop said county law enforcement has been abusing its power and has been downright rude while doing it. He claimed it is the reason the FLDS lean toward a closed society way of life.

"We don’t have a problem with law enforcement, it is the attitude we have a problem with," Jessop said.

Jessop threatened the board of supervisors with letters he apparently wrote to the Arizona governor as well as the Arizona attorney general regarding how Mohave County law enforcement is abusing its power and wreaking havoc on the small township of Colorado City.

"If he (Jessop) thinks threats against Mohave County and myself will deter me from my job, which is to provide honest law enforcement, then he is foolishly mistaken," said Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan.

Sheahan said he has jurisdiction to provide law enforcement to both unincorporated and incorporated areas of Mohave County, and he has every intention of doing what is necessary in accordance to the law.

On March 2, Mohave County Board of Supervisors voted 2 to 1 in favor of vacating its government resource center’s current location on the North Mohave Community College campus in Colorado City because of an expiring lease. The contract was originally signed in April 2004 and ends April 1.

The resource center has been operating at the college location for five years and houses the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Economic Security Disability Division, public attorney services and Defenders of Children representatives.

MCC reported decreased student enrollment and timing to be the main reasons surrounding the school’s decision not to renew the existing lease.

MCC will remain in its current location in Colorado City.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.
 
havasunews.com
Originally published Monday, March 16, 2009
 
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