Navajo Committee Demands Concrete Action on Senior Center Repairs
On Dec. 7 the Navajo Nation Health, Education and Human Services Committee met with the Division of Community Development and the Navajo Department of Health to review implementation of Council resolution CO 43 24, which funds senior center repairs, renovations, and new construction. Committee members pressed agencies for immediate contracts, equipment orders, and contractor mobilization, citing urgent infrastructure needs that directly affect seniors and local communities.
The Health, Education and Human Services Committee held a focused review on Dec. 7 of how funds from Council resolution CO 43 24 are being used to repair, renovate, and build senior centers across the Nation. Committee leadership, including Chair Vince R. James, expressed frustration that agency briefings highlighted new planning tracks and consultant work rather than moving forward on chapters that have already submitted assessments and scopes of work.
Delegates urged agencies to convert assessments into action by issuing contracts, ordering needed equipment, and mobilizing contractors. They listed urgent infrastructure priorities that require immediate attention, including HVAC replacements to ensure heating and cooling, roof repairs to prevent leaks, electrical upgrades to support safety and modern equipment, and security systems to protect staff and elders. Members emphasized that delays place older residents at risk and stall community services that senior centers provide.
Agency representatives from the Division of Community Development and the Navajo Department of Health reported that they have opened project folders and are coordinating orders and assessments for the targeted sites. The committee accepted this progress report but directed agencies to provide a supplemental status report for each project showing specific contracts, how funds are being used, and the next steps and timelines for execution.
For McKinley County residents, many of whom rely on chapter senior centers for meals, social services, and culturally grounded programs, the outcome of this oversight matters now. Winters in the region make HVAC and roof work time sensitive, and transparent contracting affects local employment and the speed of repairs. The committee action signals stronger accountability within tribal governance and a demand for tangible results rather than extended planning.
Next steps require agencies to submit the requested project level status reports so the committee can verify movement from planning to construction and repair. Local chapters and elders will be watching for faster delivery on the repairs and clear timelines for when senior center services will be fully restored and protected.
