During the Navajo County Board of Supervisors regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, the board received a follow-up presentation by BluEarth Renewables US regarding its proposed utility-scale wind development project known as Papermill Wind LLC submitted, which would be located northwest of Snowflake. The project overview revealed 85 turbines and up to 340 megawatts (MW) of generation and 500 MW of battery storage. Up to 48 of the wind turbines would be on private land and up to 37 would be on state land.
“Our team has carefully reviewed the comments and questions raised, revisited key aspects of the project design, and prepared a detailed response package that was submitted to the county last week,” stated BluEarth Renewables Project Development Director Keaton Lever.
Lever explained how the project either meets or exceeds requirements outlined by the county pertaining to open safe spaces, land use and appropriate setbacks from residential and recreational lands. It was also noted the project does not overlap with Snowflake’s identified growth areas. “The presence of wind development has not, and based on the current plan, will not prevent the town from identifying and advancing future employment, residential, commercial or growth opportunities,” Lever added that they have made attempts to contact Snowflake to address concerns raised, but those offers were declined.
According to Lever Arizona state land does not have use designations, “but evaluated proposals on a case-by-case basis.” He continued by referring to the county’s rural residential designation, stating, “The rural residential designation is not a zoning, but a guideline intended to preserve large rural properties similar to what currently exists, and the project supports this goal by preserving ranching activities and rural space. The designation in no way is to prohibit renewable energy.” Adding that the comprehensive plan specifically identifies the area north of Sitgreaves National Forest as “the county’s most suitable location for utility scale wind development.”
It was also noted by Brianna Gries, a project developer with Blue Earth Renewables, that setbacks were increased and areas removed in response to community and county feedback. “Now only 1.6 linear miles of project boundary are directly adjacent to the national forest.”
After providing responses to community concerns, Supervisor Jason Whiting responded that he appreciated that follow up but still had concerns in regard to compatibility with the comprehensive plan and proximity to residential areas.
Eight county residents spoke in opposition of the project, and one resident spoke in favor.
During call to the public for items not on the agenda, Aaron Peterson also spoke against the idea of renewable energy entering the county. Donna Wastchak spoke about election conduct in the county.
The board adopted a resolution granting a Navajo County Highway Easement extinguishment for a portion of an unnamed and undeveloped road in the White Mountain Lake area.
The board also approved a recommendation for the Department of Liquor Licenses & Control to approve a liquor license application from Maria Danille Burgess for Circle K, located at 1581 Mainline Road in Heber. The application is for a 009 Liquor Store Location Transfer license. A public hearing was held prior to the recommendation, during which no one spoke.
The board approved the consent agenda with the exclusion of the minutes from the Sept. 22 meeting, as requested by county resident Brent Meyer. Meyer made comments on how a vote was conducted by the board, which had but it was realized that the issue he had was from a meeting two meetings prior on Sept. 8. Following his comments, the board approved the minutes.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the Northeastern Arizona Local Workforce Development Board shared governance agreement (SGA). Changes to the SGA were made to correct numbering and sequencing only. No substantive language or verbiage was changed.
* Approved notification of negotiated local levels of performance for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I-B Programs for Program Years 2026 and 2027. Per the SGA, the Local Workforce Development Board and staff are responsible for completing the performance measure negotiation process. The negotiated performance measures were adjusted downward to provide the local area an opportunity to improve performance and establish appropriate performance expectations during the transition to the new Title I-B service provider.
* Approved of a memorandum of understanding with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management for cooperative removal and treatment of invasive Siberian elm within the Navajo County right-of-way in the Juniper Ridge area and authorize the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to execute the agreement on behalf of Navajo County.
* Approved a letter of support for Arizona Public Service for conversion of the Cholla Power Plant to natural gas generation.
* Approved contracts signed by the county manager/assistant county manager for professional services with Nicklaus Engineering, Inc. for cost-construction sound monitoring for West Camp Wind Farm. This cost will be reimbursed based on a condition of the special use permit. The developer is in agreement that the contract price will be fully reimbursed.
* Approved the statement of work re-entry program modernization project agreement between Kyndryl and Navajo County for the building, configuration and management of a statewide cross-system, recidivism tracking database that will support all counties in identifying people with social determinants of health, mental health and substance use disorders, aiming to link them to care to prevent them from re-offending. The purpose of this amendment is to extend the period available for completion of the Re-Entry Implementation Services described. This amendment applies only to the project implementation services and does not modify or extend any managed services term. The revised end date is November 30, 2026, from the original of July 31, 2026, with no fiscal or other changes.
* Approved an amendment to extend the website development, hosting and maintenance contract with CivicPlus, LLC for one additional year to Jan. 23, 2028.
* Approved an amendment to extend the delivery and application of magnesium chloride contract with Desert Mountain Corporation for one additional year to Nov. 17, 2027, and increases the prices by 4%. Funds are budgeted in the FY26/27 budget under road maintenance.
* Approved naming an existing unnamed road in the Overgaard area to “Beargrass Court” (East-West) in Section 32, Township 12 North, Range 17 East in District IV.
* Approved a budget modification for the Arizona Attorney General Re-Entry appropriations monies. The overall budgeted amount requires no update.
* Approved an award of funds in the amount of $24,819 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office for the purpose of overtime, employee related expenses, and the purchase of eight Talon directional mounted radar systems.
* Approved an award of funds in the amount of $21,600 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to the Sheriff’s Office for overtime and employee-related expenses for the purpose of impaired driving enforcement.
* Approved an award of funds in the amount of $340,266 from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission to the Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of a BRASSTAX Acquisition Station for three years, a Matchpoint Analysis Station for three years, four Nighthawk user licenses for three years, a PAG800 stereo zoom microscope, and salary and employee related expenses for a property and evidence tech. This specialized equipment will aid the sheriff’s office and other local law enforcement agencies with firearm-related criminal investigations.
* Approved the amendment of the termination date to the Border Fencing and Technology grant to June 30, 2027, from Sept. 30, 2027.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the City of Holbrook and Navajo County for interim building plan review and inspection services. The agreement shall be in effect for a period of one year.
* Approved a request for $2,500 in funds from Arizona Anti-Racketeering Fund to support the Show Low Youth Recreation and Sports Foundation.
Convening as the Navajo County Jail District, the board:
* Approved an amendment to the inmate food services contract with Trinity Services Group, Inc. to extend for one additional year to Nov. 3, 2027, and implementing the third-year pricing per the contractor’s proposal.
* Approved an amendment to the Navajo County Jail Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program contract to extend for one additional year to Dec. 9, 2027.
Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District (NCPHD), the board:
* Approved an amendment to an IGA with the Arizona Department of Health Services for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Overdose Data to Action in States program to correct the contract begin date, which had inadvertently been changed in a prior amendment. The amendment also revised the scope of work, including program tasks and contact/reporting information; establishes the new budget period of Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2027; and updates the required federal funding exhibit for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). The revised FY27 price sheet establishes a cost-reimbursement budget not to exceed $83,635 for Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, 2027. The budget includes personnel, employee-related expenses, travel, operating expenses and indirect costs.
* Approved the Arizona State Opioid Response (SOR) IGA between the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and NCPHD. NCPHSD receives $138,637 annually in SOR funding to support the Overdose Fatality Review and Case Management components.
* Approved a grant agreement between the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and NCPHSD. The FY27 grant award is $23,112 to strengthen the district’s child passenger safety program and improve the use of occupant protection devices throughout Navajo County. Grant funding supports community car seat education, Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) certification and retention, and purchasing child restraints for eligible families who might otherwise lack access to an appropriate car seat. The majority of the funding is allocated to purchasing child restraints for eligible Navajo County families.
* Approved an amendment to the Immunization Services IGA between ADHS and NCPHSD. The amendment updates the budget period to July 1, 2026-June 30,2027.
The board convened as the Navajo County Flood Control District, with Supervisor Fern Benally opposing the convening, stating “My roads are not being fixed by the county or helping at all.”
While convening as the Navajo County Flood Control District, the board:
* Approved an amendment to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the Woodruff Drainage Improvements Final Design Professional Services contract provides for additional design services to complete the Woodruff Drainage Improvements Final Design Project. This amendment adds an alternative assessment for storm drain and ditch alignments in regard to trees and fences located in the construction area. The amendment also provides construction engineering services during the construction of the project. This amendment increases the contract by a not-to-exceed amount of $23,990, resulting in a revised total contract amount of $192,645. Supervisor Benally voted against.
* Approved contracts signed by the county manager for Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc and Navajo County Flood Control District for Linden drainage improvement scoping study at State Route 260 and School House Lane. Supervisor Benally voted against.
* Awarded the Drainage Mitigation for Linden Trails contract to Mountain High Excavating, LLC. Vice-Chair Dawnafe Whitesinger, who was attending by phone, lost contact and was unable to vote on this item.
