During the Navajo County Board of Supervisors regular meeting on Tuesday, March 24, Navajo County Planning Manager Cody Cooper presented on the investigation spurred by constituent concern about the red blinking lights located at West Camp Wind Farm south of Interstate 40 near Winslow and Joseph City.
Cooper explained that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires the lights be active at night continuously until the West Camp project is fully operational. “All those requirements are not something that we can supersede or override as a jurisdiction, as that’s a federal law,” stated Cooper. He did note that the farm will be fully operational by June, with hopes of an even closer completion date.
Once West Camp is operational, the red lights will only activate if an aircraft is detected within a certain area near the wind turbines. “As far as the new system, once that’s activated, it will have a horizontal buffer around the wind farm of three nautical miles in all directions,” explained Cooper, “Then if an aircraft is detected anywhere 200 feet above ground to 1,000 feet above the wind turbines, it will activate that system.”
During the meeting the board accepted the resignation of Timothy Jordan as Navajo County Recorder, effective April 15. Earlier this year, Jordan accepted a plea agreement pertaining to criminal charges involving a road rage incident that occurred in Show Low on Oct. 23, 2024. Jordan pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct with a weapon, a non-dangerous, non-repetitive undesignated class 6 felony and misconduct involving weapons, a class 1 misdemeanor.
Following the acceptance of Jordan’s resignation, the board then approved the list of candidates to be interviewed. The candidates, all of the Republican party as per statute, are Jose Lerma, Suzanne Hudspeth, Dawn Wilson-Golden, James Vance, Keith Johnson, Preston Root and David Marshall Sr. After an executive session where the candidates were interviewed, the board approved a motion to host a second round of interviews on April 14.
During call to the public Celia Laughlin cited what she believed to be faults with electric tabulation for counting election ballots. “I therefore respectfully request that the board declare electronic tabulation impractical for 2026 and direct the immediate planning of precinct level hand counts, or at a bare minimum hand counts at every voting center.”
Doanna Shurwin also spoke on election matters, stating she had found willing poll workers, but that the election coordinator at the time, Christen Haddock, did not call the majority back, despite saying they were shorthanded. Shurwin also accused the county of receiving grant money from Mark Zuckerberg through Center for Tech and Civic Life. “I find it interesting that Navajo County spent part of this money, which is more than half a million dollars, to build a large new election warehouse.” Belinda Quog also spoke about how elections are mismanaged within the county.
Steve Carvajal spoke out against wind and solar companies being built in the county, stating the operating companies need to be part of the permitting process.
Staff was requested by the board to look into the matters.
The board celebrated the Joseph City High School girls basketball team for winning the Arizona 1A State Championship. This is their second year in a row of winning the state title.
Show Low wrestling state champions Ruthie Wilhelm, Ben Freund and Dallan Rawlings were also recognized. Show Low High School wrestlers brought home three state champions this year.
There was recognition and acknowledgment of Navajo County’s 131st Anniversary, celebrating its history, community and contributions to the region. Navajo County was established on March 21, 1895, by the Arizona Territorial Legislature.
A proclamation was made, declaring the week of April 12-18 as National Telecommunicator’s Week in Navajo County. The month of April was also proclaimed as National Public Health Month 2026, and April 6–12 as National Public Health Week 2026 in Navajo County.
The board recognized select staff for their continued years of service, which included Clinton Haddox, Bryan Layton, Suzanne Smith and Kim Curley for 10 years of service; Katelin Lerma and Jennifer Ober for 15 years; and Anna Lesperance for 30 years.
During the meeting, the board:
* Approved consent to assignment of contract form for Parcel Fabric from Bruce Harris & Associates, Inc. to Schneider Geospatial. Vendor Bruce Harris & Associates, Inc. merged with Schneider Geospatial.
* Approved an amendment to the Starlight Pavement reconstruction final design, extending the contract for a year to May 12, 2027.
* Approved the fourth renewal of lease for museum purposes with the Show Low Historical Society for an additional five-year term.
* Approved the National Forest Funds Distribution $754,432 for the benefit of public schools, public road and fire wise.
* Adopted a resolution to cancel the board member May 19 election for White Mountain Summer Home Domestic Water Improvement District.
* Adopted a resolution to reaffirm the county’s fair housing policy, making known its commitment to the principle of fair housing and describing actions it shall undertake to affirmatively further fair housing in Navajo County.
* Approved the distribution of retroactive Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Title I funds to school districts for 2024. Snowflake USD No. 5, $124,309; Heber-Overgaard USD No. 6, $215,833; Show Low USD No. 10, $216,191; Blue Ridge USD No. 32 $81,419; and Navajo County Accommodation District No. 99 $50,000.
* Approved tax exemptions filed as a request for redemption of waiver for Frye Bunny, Hague Scott, Rodes Royce, Robinson Jesse, Hague Becky, Ledezma Delfina, Maywald Jacob and Kortekaas Irene.
* Approved a letter of support for Show Low for a congressional directed spending request and for Summit Healthcare for a congressional directed spending request.
* Approved an access agreement between Navajo County and Northern Arizona Council of Governments for the Historic Navajo County Courthouse in Holbrook for the purpose of completing a regulated building materials study.
* Approved additions to the personnel policy for civic duty leave policy and retention strategy policy.
* Approved 11 back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $7,323.
* Approved sympathy letters for Samantha Riepel and Lt. Jerry VanWinkle.
* A public hearing was held and the board adopted a resolution approving a final plat amendment to allow Cheney Ranches in Linden to split Track A into five parcels. No one spoke during the public hearing.
Convening as the Navajo County Jail District, the board:
* Approved an amendment to the contract between Wexford Health Sources, Inc. and Navajo County for the Navajo County Jail Medication-Assisted Treatment/Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Induction Program. The amendment removes the 1.0 FTE Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor position from the contract’s staffing plan, effective. This change decreased the contract’s annual fee schedule by $137,808, resulting in a revised annual not to exceed amount of $330,456.
Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:
* Approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) amendment between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District for the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) for minor line item changes.
* Approved an IGA amendment between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District for the COVID-19 Expansion. The amendment reallocates existing funds and adds an out-of-state travel line item, which was not included in the original contract. This adjustment utilizes salary and employee-related expense (ERE) savings and does not impact the overall award amount.
* Approved the 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) awarded to Navajo County Emergency Management in the amount of $271,799. This grant requires a 50% non-federal match. The county portion of the grant will be $135,899.
* Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Navajo County Public Health District and Show Low for the deployment of closed Point of Dispensing (POD). Under this agreement, the Public Health Services District will provide medical countermeasures. such as vaccines, medications or other supplies, from the Strategic National Stockpile to Show Low for distribution to designated city employees and essential personnel during a declared emergency.
* Approved the Mutual Aid Agreement between Navajo County Emergency Management and partnering agencies along Interstate 40.
Convening as the Navajo County Flood Control District, the board:
* Approved an IGA between the Flood Control District and the Silver Creek Flood Control District for financial assistance for the Silver Creek Drainage Maintenance and Improvements Projects in the amount of $50,000 per year for two consecutive years.
