During the Navajo County Board of Supervisors regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13, the board elected Supervisor Daryl Seymore as the chair for 2026, and Supervisor Dawnafe Whitesinger as vice chair.
The board then recognized Supervisor Jason Whiting for his service as Chair for the past year. Whiting expressed that it was an honor to work with the board, stating, “We don’t all see things eye to eye individually, but collectively when looking through the lens of the whole of the county, I’m always excited about how we come together in the end to try and do what’s best for our citizens.”
The board also acknowledged Honorable Robert J. Higgins on his retirement after approximately 14 years of dedicated judicial service. In his career, Higgins served as a Navajo County Superior Court Judge, which included time as presiding judge as well as a justice of the peace in Precinct Six for the last five years. “I’ve been in Navajo County now 31 years, practicing law or being a judge, and it’s been a great career,” said Higgins. County Attorney Brad Carlyon talked on the impact of Higgins efforts beyond the bench, specifically the Catholic school that he and his wife Laura founded in Show Low called St. Anthony Catholic School. “I can’t think of a bigger influence that anybody could have on others’ lives than help kids reach and find their potential.”
Higgins recommended David Widmaier to fill the role as justice of the peace for Precinct Six vacancy for the remainder of the term. The board appointed Widmaier, effective Feb. 8.
While the board convened as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, Deputy Health Director Ciera Hensley presented on the 2026 Navajo County Community Health Needs Assessment Survey (CHNAS). CHNAS is conducted every three years with the intention to gather information on the health needs and overall well-being of county residents.
“This survey gives residents a direct voice in identifying health needs and barriers and priorities across our county,” explained Hensley, “It ensures our planning and investments are grounded in lived experience and not just assumptions.”
The results guide how the Public Health District prioritize initiatives and develop strategies to improve community health and safety. CHNAS began in 2023, making this the second year it has been conducted. The survey will be open from Feb. 2 to April 30 and will be available online and on paper for county residents 18 and older. The survey covers physical, mental and social health, healthcare access, substance use and social determinants of health. Hensley also announced a photo contest in conjunction with the survey, encouraging county residents to submit a landscape photo to be including and highlighted in the final report in September. For more information, visit the Navajo County Public Health Services District website.
The Public Health Services District made a proclamation declaring the week of Jan. 18-24, as National Medicolegal Death Investigation Professionals week in Navajo County. This is to honor and recognize the vital contributions of professionals and allies who investigate deaths. These experts, including medicolegal death investigators, coroners, medical examiners, forensic pathologists, forensic autopsy technicians, administrative staff and others, play an essential role in public health and safety.
The district also honored Code Enforcement Division Manager Rhonda Krouse, who was selected as the health district’s 2025 Employee of the Year.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the 2026 Board of Supervisors committee assignments.
* Approved the Determination of Suitability General Condition for the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) Arizona Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant. Determination of Suitability General Condition is required for activities that benefit a set of individuals under 18 years of age. Navajo County Victim Services, under this grant, will provide services to victims under the age of 18.
* Approved and accepted the FY 25/26 Services Training Officers Prosecutors (STOP) grant. Arizona Governor’s STOP grant pays for the Navajo County Sexual Assault Response Team Coordinator supporting victims of sexual assault. The purpose of a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is to provide a coordinated and compassionate response to incidents of sexual assault. This financial support will allow the county to provide support and enhance services for sex crime victims in Navajo County. The grant awards $83,397, with a match requirement of $29,110 from the general fund.
* Approved contracts signed by the county manager/assistant county manager pursuant to board of supervisors resolution: EX2 Technology, LLC, Change Order for the Fiber Optic Infrastructure to extend warranty.
* Approved Arizona Public Service (APS) Utility Easement at Holbrook Complex. APS has a segment of aging, direct bury electric lines near the facilities management building at the Holbrook Complex that has experienced multiple faults. APS would like to abandon this older electric line and install new infrastructure to replace it. The location of the existing electric line and associated easement is not the most ideal alignment and would require cutting through existing paved parking areas to replace them. The purpose of this easement is to grant a new eight-foot-wide strip or path for APS to install the new buried electric lines along a more favorable route. The existing easement location will be abandoned after the new infrastructure is installed.
* Approved to acknowledge receipt of the complete real property assessment roll of Navajo County for the tax year 2026 and direct the Clerk to accept it for filing.
* Approved naming two existing unnamed roads in the Pinetop Lakeside area to Meadowstone Lane and Copper Ridge Court in Section Nine, Township Nine North-Range 23 East in District IV.
* Approved naming an unnamed existing road in the Pinetop Lakeside area to Roundhouse Way in Section Two, Township Eight North – Range 23 East District V.
* Approved a Juvenile Diversion Program contract amendment to extend the contract with Advent Financial Systems, LLC for one additional contract year.
* Approved an agreement between the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Navajo County. The sheriff’s office applied for and was granted funding in the amount of $683,814 from DPS for law enforcement services pertaining to the deterrence, apprehension, prosecution and detainment of individuals charged with drug trafficking, human smuggling, illegal immigration and other border-related crimes within Navajo County. The awarded amount includes $506,134 in salary and employee related expenses, $75,000 for the aviation unit, $66,500 for license plate readers and $36,000 for Flock license plate readers maintenance.
* Approved awarding the Financial Wellness Benefit Program contract for county employees to Advanced Planning Solutions, Inc.
* Approved sympathy letters to Katelin Lerma, Kristyn Saunders, Brandon Andrews and Janice Lucero.
Convening as the Navajo County Jail District, the board:
* Approved an amendment extending the Navajo County Jail Medical and Psychological Services Contract with Wexford Health Sources, Inc. for one additional year to March 7, 2027.
