By Mary Alice Murphy

"Everyone in the county is thinking about Brian Robinson, and we hope he gets well soon," Grant County Commission Chairman Brett Kasten said at the Tuesday, May 12 work session.

He also asked for a moment of silence because Financial Officer Linda Vasquez's father-in-law passed away the day before.

The first item to be addressed on the Thursday, May 14, 2015, regular meeting agenda is another public hearing on the proposal to increase the Board of County Commissioners to five members.

In the absence of Vasquez, County Manager Charlene Webb presented the financial report. Expenditures since last month total $1,620,004.05, with the one payroll totaling $206,378.05. Extraordinary expenses included $27,000 for the Tri-City Landfill; $16,000 for diesel fuel; $50,000 to Malloy Dodge for two patrol cruisers; and $17,000 for jet aviation fuel.

In the cash flow analysis, the General Fund expects to have a surplus of $73,443 at the end of the fiscal year, after subtracting the required three-twelfths reserve of $2,362,053, from the anticipated year-end balance of $2,435,496.

The Road Fund estimates a cash balance at June 30 of $194,779 minus the required one-twelfth reserve of $137,684 leaving a surplus of $57,095.

The Corrections Fund has no required reserve and is estimated to have $14,145 on hand at the end of the fiscal year.

Two proclamations will be made at Thursday's regular meeting. The first will recognize the 16-time state champions Cobre High School Band, led by Chuck Gerheart. The second proclamation will declare May 30-June 6 as 1st New Mexico Bank Wild, Wild West Pro Rodeo Week.

Commissioners will approve or disapprove the following to be appointed or re-appointed to the Grant County DWI Planning Council: Heidi Ogas, county resident; Mike Barragree, Office of the Medical Investigator; Lee Mullen, New Mexico State Police, special investigation division; Kathleen Hunt, Border Area Mental Health; John Holguin or designee, District Attorney's Office; Brett Jensen or designee, New Mexico State Police; and Kendra Milligan, Grant County Community Health Council.

Commissioners will also consider the appointment of Michele Giese, R.N. to the Grant County Food Policy Council for the 2015-16 terms.

In addition, commissioners will discuss and approve or disapprove the purchase of a Type 6 Brush Truck for $139,917 for the Whiskey Creek Volunteer Fire Department to be paid for with the department's state excise fund receipts.

In contracts and agreements, commissioners will consider two agreements between the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Grant County. The first is for an obligating award document for $45,000 to update the Mitigation Plan and a second to clear up a 2013 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program in the amount of $2,747.18.

In bids, five applications were received for airport engineering services, and it is recommended the award be given to Bohannon Huston.

As the Grant County Indigent and Health Plan Claims Board, commissioners will approve or disapprove 57 indigent claims for $39,647.88.

Following the regular session, commissioners will go into executive session, regarding threatened or pending litigation regarding the governor's line item veto of a sunset clause in Senate Bill 268 from the 2013 legislative session. According to Webb, the county will decide whether or not to join the New Mexico Association of Counties in the threatened litigation.

During county reports, Commissioner Gabriel Ramos said he would be unable to attend Thursday's meeting, but "I want to congratulate the Cobre High School Band for their 16th championship."

Sheriff Raul Villanueva said the county and his staff had a lot of activity this weekend with several festivities.

"We are preparing for graduations, then for the Blues Festival, we will assist the town of Silver City. We are fully staffed right now."

Commissioner Ron Hall asked if there had been any incidents in the bike race to which Villanueva said nothing as major as last year.

Kasten asked what the sheriff plans for the bridge coming down and at Broadway and Cooper.

Villanueva said the intersection at Broadway and Cooper is now a three-way stop. "We will have heavy patrol at the Truck Bypass Road. It's not going to be easy, but we are coordinating with the city. More of the Bypass is in the county, and we know people will be using Cooper."

Assessor Raul Turrieta asked to give his report on Thursday, as auditors were in his office looking at the department, and he wanted to report on the results.

Kasten noted that the commissioners would hold two meetings this month, with the second set the last week of the month.

Treasurer Steve Armendariz said in 20 days, he has collected $1.024 million of the county's portion of taxes. "The deadline was yesterday (Monday) and we have collected 85.67 percent of the county's portion."

He pushed again for an additional position in his office to focus on delinquent taxes. "We can focus on mobile homes only from February through April. We have collected $43,000 just focusing on mobile homes. By spending $40,000 on a position, we could generate that amount and bring the delinquencies down to pay for the position and for additional commissioners."

Armendariz noted that "a lot of value out there isn't really value, because the homes are unlivable or not there. We have delinquent accounts for about $840,000, with about $275,000 just mobile homes. As we collect some delinquent accounts, others become delinquent. A new hire would focus on delinquent taxes year-round."

Kasten asked if the office goes out and looks at properties that are delinquent.

"We are working with the assessor's office to clear the records of those that are not livable or are no longer there," Armendariz said. "We gave the list to the assessor to see if the mobile homes were there. Many actually were not there. Our job is to collect the taxes, not the assessor's job."

Turrieta said many of the manufactured homes were not livable or had been moved, which has created a lot of false value. He said his office had four people going out to do reviews next week. "We will hit reappraisal pretty hard this year. We saw three manufactured homes that were not livable and not collecting for solid waste."

Ramos said he was concerned about the cost to hire someone, and suggested a team effort between departments.

Armendariz said things were "out there" that should not be on the tax roll.

Hall suggested a part-time person would be enough, with part of the work done by the assessor's office.

Armendariz persisted and said a full-time person could collect delinquent taxes and deal with delinquent accounts. "The numbers are not going to change unless we collect. As some are collected, others become delinquent. I think the position will pay for itself and create more revenue."

"I think you have made a great argument for one of the main public complaints we hear," Kasten said. "We need more cooperation among departments and changes probably need to come statute-wise. If we are 16 percent delinquent that will hit our revenues, but we won't overspend our revenues."

Clerk Robert Zamarripa said: "I am sitting on my hands until I know whether there will be five commissioners," to which Kasten said: "We don't know yet."

Detention Center Administrator Mike Carillo said his department has several vacancies. The inmate support group continues to meet and develop the program. He said last week was Corrections Appreciation Week, and jail personnel chose those who they believed deserved to be recognized by their peers.

The average daily population of the jail was 54, with the high population of males at 60 and of females at 10. The average length of stay was 7.51 days. "We have had an increase in males and a decrease in females, with a slight increase in offenses since last month."

County Planner Anthony Gutierrez said he has been working with ASA Architects on the Courthouse and Bataan Memorial Park. "ASA is having engineers reviewing the courthouse scope of work."

He said he had not yet sent the commissioners a draft of the CAP Entity joint-powers agreement for use of the Arizona Water Settlements Act allocated water and funding. "I want to wait until it is hammered out between the attorneys. At last week's ISC meeting, there were suggestions and changes. When we have the final draft, a resolution will come before this commission to become a part of the CAP Entity."

Gutierrez explained the CAP Entity and the Gila/San Francisco Water Commission would be separate entities. "The Interstate Stream Commission has made it clear that there may be investments from the communities that are part of the Central Arizona Project Entity. If we are part of the CAP Entity, we will have input in the design and build. I have made clear that I have concerns about the design and build. We are still having a lot of negotiations on the exact duties of the Entity."

Kasten asked who would be part of the CAP Entity.

"Whoever wants to join, as long as they are a state-recognized water entity or a government entity in the four counties," Gutierrez said. "Most members of the Gila/San Francisco have submitted letters of interest. The ISC is wanting to place the responsibilities and burden on local governments, but we have protections built into the JPA."

He said the county was working on Rosedale Road and would soon prepare the bid to send out.

North Hurley wastewater project is in the engineering phase for those who were not able to tap into the original project. A solar unit is part of the planning.

"We also have a regional water planning meeting this afternoon (Tuesday)," Gutierrez said.

Ramos asked about Loma Verde subdivision road improvements, and Gutierrez said a public hearing would be held at the next commission meeting. "We are also working on Wind Canyon, and we will have to do negotiations with residents. We have to take out loans to pay for the work. But the invoicing monthly is taking a lot of staff time, so we are considering an invoice once or twice a year."

Hall said he was still receiving calls about progress on the Wind Canyon project. "Please let us know your progress, so we can tell constituents."

"This assessment district will have more residents, so it will be more tedious," Gutierrez said. "We are also updating the regional transportation plan and assisting the Council of Governments in that plan. We are trying to push that the funding from the state is outdated."

Ramos asked about the billing process in North Hurley.

"We are paying back a USDA loan with the charges," Gutierrez said. "North Hurley is supposed to be billing."

Ramos said North Hurley thinks it should only bill for water, not for sewage.

Gutierrez said the recent Colonias Infrastructure Fund meeting in Silver City was supposed to make awards, but some issues needed to be taken care of, so "hopefully in June. We are up for two awards-North Hurley and planning for Tyrone."

Road Superintendent Earl Moore said his personnel were working in Cliff and as weather gets warmer will be doing chip-sealing. To a question about the road to the mine from Hanover, Moore said the mine planned to fence in the road on both sides, and that to put in a concrete slope, he needed to get a permit.

General Service Director Randy Villa said Bataan Park is booked into October, because the conference center will be closed as of August 1. "We are spraying weeds and making sure facilities are clean with all the events going on.

At the airport, "we are working on a storm-water protection plan and a fuel spill containment plan. Boutique Air plans to make changes as of June 1."

He said the Senior Program is looking at all the centers so that needs are met.

"We continue to train for fire season," Villa said. "I am working with Roger Groves at Tyrone for the ISO rate inspection, which we hope will lower the ISO from six to five or four. It's the largest VFD in the county."

He said Corre Caminos is getting ready for the Blues Festival and Rodeo. "We want to be prepared."

At the Parks and Recreation Committee, "we are working on a paved evacuation path from Fort Bayard Medical Center to Bataan Park."

To Hall, Villa said the water break in the Cliff Exhibit Hall had been repaired.

Before adjournment, Kasten said Turrieta's report would be added to Thursday's agenda.

The regular meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 14, at the Grant County Administration Center.

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