During the Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting held Tuesday, May 26, the board tabled the consideration of a liquor license from Theodore Van Gaines III, acting as an agent for the Love’s Travel Stop on the outskirts of Joseph City, located at 4703 Main St.
Two residents spoke out against the license, including Karilyn Bushman, who has lived in the unincorporated town for over 50 years. “Liquor has not been sold in our community since its founding in 1876,” she stated, adding that this is not the first time the gas station industry giant has tried and failed to get a license. “To my recollection, this is the third time we have opposed Love’s in getting a liquor license. The first was at its founding and another a few years back.” Bushman also stated that Love’s has made no effort to contribute to the community in terms of supporting local events and activities and is not affiliated with its chamber of commerce. She provided the board with a petition which had over 200 signatures against the license since it was posted four days prior to the meeting on Facebook.
Concerns expressed by Bushman included the lack of a local police force, as the community relies on the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office to respond to criminal incidents, which has a broad region to cover and response times could be delayed.
Although not legally required, she also criticized the lack of public outreach to the community by Love’s representatives prior to submitting the liquor license application to the county to receive community comment. “The community should have been given adequate notice and information so that all community members could express their opinion.”
Fellow longtime resident Jenny Oldham remembered a pledge citizens made when Love’s first entered the community nearly three decades ago, “We promised them that every time they attempted to get a liquor license, we would fight it, because we love our community and there’s no reason for it to change.” Oldham explained many residents choose to live in Joseph City for family-centric values, adding that those wanting to purchase alcohol are able to go to the Jackrabbit Trading Post five miles west of town as well as Holbrook 10 miles to the east.
Oldham claimed that due to the lack of notice, many residents were unable to attend the meeting. “I’m just asking that if you’re not inclined to straight out deny it today, that you table it and give us an opportunity to let people get off work and come and let you know as a community how we feel about this.”
Initially Chair Darryl Seymore explained that the board must vote within their purview on the basis of compliance with regulations and guidelines by the applicant. “It would be up to you as citizens to reach out to Love’s, to the applicant, to see if they would wish to change that, or to the State Board of Liquor Licensing.”
After some discussion between the board and staff, Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai, who represents Joseph City’s district, asked for details on how the previous liquor licenses were denied. Although it was stated by the residents present that the previous liquor license denials were due to a previous board’s decision to deny the application, staff was unable to confirm this, which prompted the item to be tabled so more information could be gathered.
A public records request by The Tribune was made to Navajo County requesting documentation from the Board of Supervisor’s denying a liquor license application for Love’s located at 4703 Main St. prior to this meeting. The reply from administration was that a search of all Navajo County Board of Supervisor meeting minutes from 1995 to the present was performed and there were no agenda items pertaining to a liquor license application for Love’s Travel Stop before this meeting. The board will further review the license application during their next regular meeting June 9.
Joseph City, an unincorporated community, is considered the oldest Mormon settlement in the state, with a population of approximately 2,000 residents and a large Mormon presence still remains in the community.
Love’s Travel Stop & County Stores have over 640 locations in 42 states and is in the top 20 of America’s Top Private Companies in 2025, making $22 billion in revenue in 2026.
The Love’s Travel Stop in Joseph City is currently under renovation, with operations being conducted from a trailer on the property. Gas and restrooms are still provided.
Also in the meeting, the board recognized various youth groups throughout the county for their recent accomplishments. This included the Monument Valley High School Rez Kidz Robotics Teams from Kayenta, which won the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Inspire Award, the highest honor presented at the FTC Four Corners Tribal Teams Championship. Kayenta’s Baker Middle School Coltz-n-Boltz Robotics Teams were also honored for winning the FTC Control Award at the Championship, an award for the most advanced and effective use of sensors, software, automation and programming strategy.
The Joseph City High School softball team was praised for winning the 1A Softball State Championship as well. This is their third straight state title.
Superintendent of Schools Rachael Lewis provided a report on the Navajo County Superintendent of Schools Office & Education Service Agency service programs.
Also during the meeting, the board:
* Approved an agreement between Northeast Arizona Training Center (NATC) and Navajo County for the Shooting Range Berm Improvement Project. The shooting range berm at NATC needs to be raised to meet current safety standards. The range is regularly used by the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies for training and certification. Raising the berm will improve safety for range users and for members of the public utilizing nearby recreational trails. Total project cost is not to exceed $10,000, with NATC contributing up to $5,000. Navajo County will contribute up to $5,000 from the general fund to reimburse public works for labor and equipment costs. Additional in-kind contributions from both parties include the provision of soil materials and use of equipment and personnel.
* Approved a liquor license application for Patricia Ann Bennett, agent for Wild Woman Saloon in Overgaard.
* Approved individual tax exemptions with waivers.
* Approved the use of the southwest corner of the Navajo County Complex for the annual community July 4 fireworks display.
* Approved the release of property damage claim on one claim against Navajo County for Earl and Debra Kester, who were awarded $6,390 as compensation for an incident, accident or event which occurred on Oct. 29, 2025, while traveling northbound on Highway State Route 77.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between Navajo County Superior Court and Gila County Superior Court for juvenile detention services.
* Approved contracts signed by the County Manager for professional services with Johnson Walzer Associates, LLC for the Navajo County Historic Courthouse and museum masonry wall repair and stabilization.
* Accepted a grant award from the Arizona Community Foundation and the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona in the amount of $42,500 for the County Historic Courthouse restoration plan and design project.
* Approved a resolution supporting the Superintendent of Schools Office to request $25,000 from Tohono O’odham Nation grant funds for development of the Navajo County Literacy Momentum Initiative.
* Approved an amendment to extend the legal counsel for the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System and Corrections Officers Retirement Plan Boards, with Ryan Rapp Pacheco Sorensen, PLC for one additional year.
* Approved the appointment of Christopher Thomas Dunn, Alan Wayne Belnap, Jason Andrew Gartner, Joyce Lori Belnap, Robin Kae Reidhead, Myron Matthew Hamilton, Brent Alldridge Meyer, Laura Lynn Meyer, Karen Lynn Cannell, Kaylee Noel Harston and Susan June Brock as Republican Precinct Committeeman for their respective precincts. Appointments valid through Oct. 1.
* Awarded the annual newspaper advertising and printing contract to Painted Desert Media Group, LLC dba The Tribune in an amount not-to-exceed sum of $4.50 per column inch as payment in full for all services rendered.
* Approved an agreement with Sandhill Consultants, Inc. for data management of county data in the amount of $68,500. This project addresses an ongoing finding that has appeared in the county’s financial audit for multiple years. This is a budgeted expense.
* Approved a certificate of removal and abatement purging record of tax, penalty and interest on personal property taxes.
* Approved a letter of support for the city of Holbrook’s grant proposal development for the US Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All Program.
* Approved sympathy letters to Donald Perkins and Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai.
Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:
* Approved the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Public Health (ADHS). PHEP is a Center of Disease Control funded program that supports planning, training, exercises and coordination activities that enhance whole-community preparedness and improve response readiness across Navajo County.
* Approved the 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant awarded to Navajo County Emergency Management. These funds support initiatives that strengthen countywide preparedness, coordination, and resilience among residents, partner agencies and county staff.
* Approved an agreement between Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division and the Navajo County Public Health-Medical Examiner Program.
