By Mary Alice Murphy

At the Grant County Commission work session on Tuesday, Dec. 9, Gila Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Brian Cunningham gave a hospital update.

He reported the October finances, which were approved by the Board of Trustees at their November meeting, to be a positive $180,000 for the month, bringing the year-to-date positive total to $891,000.

"Our days of cash today are 142," Cunningham said. "Our quality—a composite score out of hundreds—over the quarter was 96 percent. As of today, it has risen to 98 percent. We want to be the best rural hospital in the country to best serve our community."

He said the hospital would be doing a targeted space assessment, because labor and delivery and nursery need more space.

"We will work on the finance plan to pay for any changes," Cunningham said. "As healthcare continues to shift, more and more hospitals are forming collaborations with physicians. We have done a pro forma assessment to include a family practice clinic, probably in March or April."

He said the recent Light Up a Life event celebrated "our deceased family members."

He announced that night's State of the Hospital Address. Read a report on it at http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/19094-grmc-holds-its-state-of-the-hospital-address-2014

Sheriff Raul Villanueva said burglaries are down, but "the holidays are busy for us. We have purchased cameras, which will be beneficial to the officers and the community."

Eric Morales, deputy assessor, said this was his last month to work for the county. "I will miss it."

Mike Carillo, Detention Center administrator, gave his Nov. 8-Dec. 5 report. He reported officers are taking instant command training online and would attend a tabletop exercise with Emergency Manager Gilbert Helton. The inmate support group is soliciting funding for the program and presented at the recent Prospectors Forum and will also attend a legislative committee meeting on the issue.

He said the average daily population was 62, up three from last month, with 14 charged with felonies, and 78 with misdemeanors. The average length of stay is 7.66 days. The month saw a total of 186 males and 65 females, with 191 released. "Today the health department will give flu shots to employees and any inmates that want them."

Commissioner Ron Hall asked about the discussion they had had on saving time in jail.

"I had a conversation with La Frontera and they will do full mental and substance abuse assessments on inmates," Carillo said. "These inmates fall into the special needs category. We will work with La Frontera to give the best care we can and possibly get them into other treatment."

Hall noted it was an issue on the length of time for assessments. "We'll try to speed up the process," Carillo said. "La Frontera asked about costs and agreed it would do full assessments using non-Medicaid dollars."

Commission Chairman Brett Kasten asked how many inmates the state should be providing reimbursement for.

"If they don't bond out or a sentence is revoked, we have to house them," Carillo said. "The reimbursement from the state is minimal, about three-fifths of our costs. And we have to wait until one day in May to submit the survey. That's skewed."

Kasten said the New Mexico Association of counties is looking at the issue, but "with the oil price going down, New Mexico has lost about $150 million in expected revenue."

General Services Director Randy Villa said the Department of Finance and Administration would be doing a regular audit on the DWI program. The Senior Program purchased a food truck that will keep hot food hot and cold food cold. The volunteer fire departments held a training session on a propane burn. They will have some more training with State Forestry, Villa reported. The Tyrone VFD got its certificate of occupancy a couple of months late.

In public works, the shooting range is trying to get the trap shooting building complete. "Inspectors put a stop to some things and after they were fixed, it's trying to get the inspectors to come and fit into his schedule. We continue to work on the glitches in the p.a. system."

"We are constantly working on the Fort Bayard park," Villa said. "We are working on satellite restrooms. I think it will be more cost efficient to have Porta-Potties."

Villa said the airport got its fuel truck last week and the inspection was Tuesday. "World Fuel will come down, I hope by next week. We are working to put a diesel tank at the airport, so we can fill our equipment. The slurry sealing is complete at the airport, with striping next week. Boutique Air will start flying out on Jan. 15."

He said the senior centers were being made ready for winter. The Conference Center is busy until the remodeling project begins. "I have to thank Justin's team. They are all over the county making sure county facilities are maintained."

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos said Western New Mexico University was trying to build a Firefighter 101 course. "Chief Chavez and Gabe Holguin from the Forest Service are working on it so we can have local training."

Hall asked if they were working with the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, to which Villa said they were looking at the city one and the county one. "We have to have community involvement to understand the fuel types and how property owners can hold off wildfires," Villa said. "We got a grant to update our CWPP on how to mitigate high-risk areas. We need Community Firewise. What we want to do is prepare properties. Tell people to get their documents together and be ready to go, so property owners will have done their due diligence to get the properties protected."

Villa noted that Assessor Mary Guthrie would retire at the end of the year. "I worked with her over 20 years. I thank her for her excellent service and wish her the best."

Road Superintendent Earl Moore said it was business as usual in his department. "We are doing patching as weather permits."

Clerk Robert Zamarripa said the single day for Cobre and Silver School Board candidates to apply is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16 at his office.

To a question about the land commissioner recount, Zamarripa said the date kept changing.

County Manager Charlene Webb said she wanted to let employees know that Silver Health Care was discontinuing taking Presbyterian insurance. "We will have it resolved by renewal time in March. Anthony Gutierrez and I presented to the Prospectors forum. Boutique Air has the intention to hold an open house between now and Jan. 15. We are excited to have airport fuel coming our way."

Attorney Abigail Robinson said DFA had approved the land trade with Freeport McMoran to transfer three acres of Freeport land for one acre of county land. "We will improve the road to make up the difference," she told the Beat. "It's to build a Santa Rita VFD substation in Hanover."

"We appreciate Freeport working with us," Kasten said. "I don't know why DFA fought with us on it." Robinson said it took six to seven months to get it approved."

Ramos said he has received a lot of calls on the Presbyterian situation with Silver Health Care.

"I will miss Mary and Eric," Ramos said.

Kasten announced the swearing in of newly elected officials would take place at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12.

At the regular session, Villanueva said, at the four-way blinking red light at the corner of highway 180 and Pinos Altos Road, a Sheriff's Department officer's vehicle was rear-ended. He was transported to the hospital and released.

Kasten said when it's a four-way stop around rush hour, it's very dangerous. "I suggest you contact DOT and maybe get a blinking yellow light one direction."

Probate Judge Velia Miranda said her workload has doubled and her work hours have tripled. "It's going very well. Residents are confident they can get help. I will continue to serve the best I can."

Treasurer Steve Armendariz thanked commissioners for what they had done for electeds. "As of Dec. 8, we had 47.2 percent of taxes collected. We had many additional ones come in Dec. 9 and 10, and today we are at 55.52 percent for the 2014 county's portion. We are halfway through the tax year and have collected a little over half the taxes. I expect an additional 3 percent to 5 percent over the next two days, as we receive ones postmarked by Dec. 10, the deadline."

Assessor Mary Guthrie said it had been an honor and a privilege to have worked in the Assessor's Office for the past 30 years. "I want to thank Randy Villa, because you put your trust and faith in me that I could do the job when you recommended I be appointed assessor," she said to Villa. "I will be working with Jon Saari at his State Farm office. I'm very excited about the opportunity."

Zamarripa said the recount began in his office this morning. "The test was done, and we will review the 9,560 ballots. We will pay the poll workers and be repaid by the state."

"The date to sign up to run for school board is next Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at my office," he said. "Cobre has an at-large system, but those who want to run in district 4 or 5 are the ones to be elected. Cobre also has a capital improvement tax question on the ballot. Silver has an election for districts 3 and 5, which have set boundaries."

Armendariz said he forgot to mention that his office is in the process of closing on the $6.2 million refinance of old bonds. Webb said the refinance would save the taxpayers about $186,000 and would pay off the bond two years early.

She said the county's insurance broker continues to work with Presbyterian on the insurance issue.

"I want to say thank you to Mary," Robinson said. "I really appreciate your excellent job."

Ramos also thanked Guthrie for her service. He noted how proud he was of the county football teams. Silver made it to the final four and Cobre to the final, with both teams losing to the same team from Ruidoso. "We probably had 4,000 people at the Cobre game on Saturday, with many fewer from Ruidoso."

Hall echoed Ramos' comments and said the high school teams, coaches and fans "represented us well."

Hall also thanked Guthrie because "you served the public well."

He is working with consultants on the continuum of care. "I had a call from Bernalillo County asking me questions about our plan." He said the exhibit hall in Cliff continues to advance. He also continues to work on the animal ordinance.

"Randy and I had a meeting in reference to the wildfire protection plan," Hall said. "Now is a good time to work on your defenses.

"This is the last meeting of this year, so I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year," Hall said.

Kasten agreed that the schools had represented Grant County well. "It was like a Cobre high school reunion. I also want to thank the Las Cruces public schools, which hosted us very well."

He also said he was happy to see the land trade going through. Robinson said the only thing left is the closing.

"A new Hanover substation of the Santa Rita VFD and improving the roads are part of the agreement," Kasten said. "I also want to thank Mary for her service."