COCHISE COUNTY, Ariz. — The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 2 voted 3-0 to approve $4,000 from the community enhancement fund to support a Pirtleville cleanup planned to begin Dec. 5.

Unidentified Speaker 2, a board member, moved to approve the expenditure, saying the community has struggled with "a lot of junk — appliances and tires" and that abandoned tires contributed to an elevated risk of West Nile virus this past summer. The motion was seconded by Unidentified Speaker 1 and passed by voice vote.

The funding will cover large dumpsters staged near the Grama Street firehouse for one weekend starting Dec. 5, with a second weekend and additional dumpsters for tires if needed, according to Unidentified Speaker 2. At a recent town hall about the cleanup, the speaker said about 60 residents attended and county staff from animal control, the health department (Axel Lopez), sanitation (including Mr. Fazio and a sanitation staffer "Robert Hills"), APS, and code enforcement staff (identified in the transcript as Dora and Maya) were present and answered questions.

"There's so much, you know, people have left rusted vehicles," Unidentified Speaker 2 said, describing the volume of debris and framing the cleanup as a public-health measure.

Board members discussed whether one or two weekends would suffice; the speaker said the second weekend may not be needed depending on use. The speaker also said county staff will begin enforcing code violations after the cleanup and that the cleanup could serve as a model for broader county efforts to address similar problems in Baker's and other communities.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (demands and budget amendments for operating transfers): motion to approve moved by Unidentified Speaker 2, seconded by Unidentified Speaker 1; voice vote recorded as "aye" by three members; outcome: approved (3-0).

- Community enhancement fund — Pirtleville cleanup, $4,000: motion to approve moved by Unidentified Speaker 2, seconded by Unidentified Speaker 1; voice vote recorded as "aye" by three members; outcome: approved (3-0).

The board opened and closed the special meeting in the Supervisor Hearing Room on Melody Lane in Bisbee and announced a work session on public works to follow.