By Mary Alice Murphy

The first item of business to be considered at the Thursday, April 10, regular meeting is the financial report. Expenditures for the month, since the last Commission meeting about a month ago, were $1,808,982.07.

According to County Manager Jon Paul Saari, they include two payrolls, a payment of about $144,000 to Presbyterian Health Care insurance for county employees, and a payment of $61,000 to the Public Employees Retirement Association. "We are also finishing construction projects, such as the North Hurley sewer project, by drying out the former sewage ponds, so they can be cleaned out, which is the same situation in Tyrone. We have finished the front of our building; we are fixing the sewer system at the Cliff Fairgrounds, and waiting for state capital outlay to build the bathrooms. Those who have rented the building will not be impacted by the construction. We have the drawings and will begin soon on the Sheriff's Department Vault."

He also gave reports on the General Fund, which, as of the end of February, had a cash balance of $2,321,773. With projected transfers in and out of the fund, with projected revenues and operating expenditures, such as projected salaries and benefits, the fund will have a cash balance of $2,682,622 at the end of the fiscal year, on June 30. Subtracting the required three-twelfths reserve of $2,105,342 leaves a surplus of $577,280. 59.85 percent of budgeted revenue has been collected.

The Road Fund had a cash balance at the end of February of negative $341,333. Saari explained transfers out of the General Fund into the Road and Corrections Fund generally take place closer to the end of the fiscal year. Total projections of $481,470 into the Road Fund leave a cash balance at the end of the year at $140,137, minus the required one-twelfth cash reserve of $130,935, leaving a surplus of $9,202.

The Corrections Fund at the end of February had a negative cash balance—$-1,216,007. After projected transfers and expenditures, the cash balance not requiring a reserve, at the end of the fiscal year, is projected to be $19,226.

Saari requested to add an item to the recognition of state champion wrestlers from Cobre and Silver schools. He noted that Road Department Superintendent Earl Moore's son was second in regionals for basketball and will be going to nationals.

"We'll have all the kids in at first, so they can get back to school," Saari said.

The New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce will report on its second quarter tourism fulfillment.

Saari said that now that the regular chamber is back, the county would consider it.

"I personally feel now that it's back we should help them for fulfillment," Commissioner Gabriel Ramos said.

The county at its Thursday regular meeting will approve or disapprove:
• Entering into an agreement with Hazair to complete the Grant County Emergency Operations Plan at a cost of $44,940;
• The reappointment of Becky O'Connor and John Rohovec to the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board;
• Grant County Sheriff's Department Policy 18 on physical fitness. On-duty time is allotted for all commissioned/certified personnel to participate in physical fitness training. Undersheriff Kevin Flamm said the former policy was based on the Cooper Institute's plan, but the guidelines were taken out, because the department does not have a trainer to follow them; and
• A program work plan for an agreement between the county and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services for predator control. $28,500 in funding for the program is paid out of the personal property assessment per head of livestock.

Commissioners will read and consider four proclamations. They include the Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community; a declaration of April 1-30 as Grant County Trails Month; a proclamation naming April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month; and declaring June 22-28 as Cancer Relay for Life Week.

Under resolutions, budget adjustments will be made on Thursday to cover supplies and materials, supplies and tools, retiree health care, Social Security/FICA, Workmen's Compensation and liability insurance for Senior Services grants. In addition, intergovernmental grants, such as the fire funding to the area volunteer fire departments, lodgers' tax and capital project funding will be adjusted.

Other resolutions include:
• Authorizing the execution and delivery of a loan agreement and intercept agreement by and between Grant County and the New Mexico Finance Authority to pay $335, 517 to finance the cost of constructing a new office, bathroom and meeting room on the existing Tyrone Volunteer Fire Department Station. The amount will be repaid out of the TVFD's fire funding that will be intercepted by the state;
• The determination of cost of road improvement to be constructed by the county in the Viva Santa Rita Subdivision Community Area Improvement District;
• The portion of cost to be assessed to the benefited tracts in the Viva Santa Rita improvement district:
• Filing of the assessment roll for the Viva Santa Rita improvement district; and
• The time and place for the assessment roll hearing for the Viva Santa Rita improvement district.

Dolores Dominguez, county ordinance officer, requested the hearing be held May 20, for approval at the regular meeting on May 22. "The ordinance to be approved on May 22, will levy the assessments with liens on the properties until the amount is paid in full. We have a grace period before the liens are placed, because some residents want to pay in full and not have a lien on their property."

Ramos thanked Dominguez, because "the residents say you've been very pleasant to work with." Commissioner Ron Hall echoed the sentiment and thanked her for her hard work.

Dominguez said the Road Department then has 60 days to begin.

Attorney Abigail Robinson said the ordinance could be adopted on June 12, because of a period of protest.

Moore plans to begin the project in June.

The commissioners will adjourn and reconvene as the Grant County Indigent and Health Plan Claims Board to approve 636 claims for $150,704.65 for in county claims to GRMC, GRMC ambulance, and two IPA Physician Payments for February for 358 claims and 137 claims.

"We had no out-of-county claims," Saari said. "There was confusion about them, so the hospital will start submitting them again."

Saari called Senate Bill 268, a "bad bill." The bill passed this legislative session and was signed into law, with an emergency clause, but there was no funding until July 1. "The Commission will send 1/12 of 1 percent of the county's gross receipts tax to the state on a quarterly basis. The amount is based on the previous year's GRT. It frees up about $400,000 that, in talking with the hospital, we may be able to help fund some uncompensated care."

County reports will be covered in a future article.

After the reports, the commissioners went into executive session.

The regular session will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Grant County Administration Center.