KINGMAN — The Mohave County Board of Supervisors will discuss relocating the multi-use government resource center to another area in Colorado City during their meeting Monday in Kingman.

“There needs to be an up or down vote. These people (FLDS women and children) need to know if we support them, or if we don’t. We need to make a decision,” said Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson, R-Dist. 1.

Johnson said he feels the county needs to make a stand to send a message to abused women and children tied to the polygamist lifestyle of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which has a strong presence in that community.

The message needs to be either the county cares about the abuses of women and children, or the county has no interest in their well being, Johnson said.

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 lease, according to MCC Chancellor Dr. Michael Kearns

Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan and Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith both expressed their desire to retain a presence in the Colorado City community at the March 2 supervisors’ meeting.

The need for the multi-use government service station in that area is described to include monitoring the existing Colorado City law enforcement organization because of six recently decertified peace officers and others under investigation, according to early reports in the Today’s News-Herald.

The supervisors will also discuss and possibly vote on the county’s continued support of Quadstate Local Governments Authority, a group centered on the Sonoran desert tortoise wildlife classification and the looming financial effects that could impact the area if the tortoise is deemed endangered.

“There will be a financial impact on the county and the state if the Sonoran desert tortoise is looked upon as endangered,” Supervisor Johnson said.

The Board of Supervisors will meet 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Mohave County Administrative Offices located at 700 W. Beale Street in Kingman.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.