The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 25, during which the board approved the certification of the E-2 Environmental Review Record, Documentation of Exemption for the Joseph City Pedestrian Improvement Project. The county, in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), are working on a pedestrian improvement project in Joseph City. According to a letter provided by Wilson & Company, the engineering firm facilitating the project, Joseph City lacks facilities for pedestrians, including school children, and this project will provide safe access to new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) sidewalks, multi-use paths and road crossings along the following roads:
Westover Avenue from Main Street to 4th North.
Shelley Avenue from Main Street to 2nd North.
North Randall Avenue from 1st North to 4th North.
1st North from Bushman Avenue to North Randall Avenue.
Bushman Avenue from Main Street to 2nd North.
3rd North from Westover Avenue to 300 feet east of Randall Avenue.
4th North from Westover Avenue to North Randall Avenue.
The work would include the following activities:
* Removal and replacement of striping.
* Relocation of existing signs.
* Removal of concrete and asphalt.
* Construction of sidewalk and multi-use paths and ADA improvements as necessary.
* Replacement, addition and minor trimming of vegetation.
* Improvements to existing drainage features.
The project is located within ADOT easements on private and Arizona State Land Department lands. No new right-of-way or temporary construction easements are required. Construction is anticipated to begin this spring and is
expected to take approximately six months to complete.
The work may require temporary road closures in some locations during construction, but Navajo County will maintain access to all homes and businesses during construction.
The board held a special meeting Wednesday, Feb. 26, to approve a Declaration of Emergency due to extreme fire danger and to enact Section 6 of the Navajo County Ordinance 01-19 Emergency Fire Restrictions, to enter into Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning last week. All residents, visitors and businesses are urged to educate themselves and others about the measures necessary to prevent human-caused wildfires. Such measures include refraining from constructing, igniting, or using wood, coal, charcoal, or briquette fires except in areas designated for that purpose, such as authorized campgrounds or locations on private property that are free of debris. Additionally, smoking materials and fireplace ashes must be disposed of responsibly, tow chains should not be allowed to drag and all mechanical activities—such as welding, grinding, or cutting—should be conducted only in safe areas and on days when wind speeds do not exceed 10 mph. These and other mitigation strategies are critical to protecting our community from dangerous and costly wildfires.
Also during the meeting, the board:
* Approved contracts signed by county manager pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: Addendum to the Administrative Services Agreement between Marpai Administrators, LLC and Navajo County.
* Approved a certificate of removal and abatement purging record of tax, penalty and interest on personal property taxes.
* Approved the appointment of Jodi Christine Poole as Republican Precinct Committeeman for the respective precinct valid through Oct. 1, 2028.
* Approved the appointments of Sheryl Eaton, Juliet Austin, Sally R. Bitsuie, Angela Bradley Joe and Marcie Ann Greenberg as Democrat Precinct Committeemen for their respective precincts through Oct. 1, 2028.
* Adopted a resolution canceling the election on May 20, for White Mountain Lakes Special Road District No. 2 and appointing the candidate(s) or deeming the position vacant. If only one person files or no person files a nominating petition for an election to fill a district office, the board of supervisors may cancel the election for the position and appoint the person who filed the nominating petition to fill the position. If no person files a nominating petition for an election to fill a district office, the board of supervisors may cancel the election for that office and that office is deemed vacant and shall be filled as otherwise provided by law.
* Approved and accepted the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission National Criminal History Improvement Grant for criminal history records and related information. The grant provides $89,100 to fund upgrades to county attorney’s case management system with two interface capabilities.
* Approved a sympathy letter for Michael and Linda Sandoval.
* Approved a liquor license for Phaedra Ann Snyder for Miss Bo’s Mercantile located at 2377 Bison Ranch Trail in Overgaard.
Acting as the Navajo County Jail District, the board:
* Approved an amendment extending Navajo County Jail Medical and Psychological Services contract with Wexford Health Sources, Inc. for one additional year and modifying the scope of services and billable rates.
* Approved an amendment to the Navajo County Jail Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program Contract which replaces Phase 1 pricing with Phase 2 pricing.
Acting as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:
* Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Navajo County Public Health Services District and CAN Community Health, Inc. for Community HIV/STD testing.
