Cobre High School Band members played for the commissioners and audience. Those playing include, not in order, Brianna Cabrera,, Tatiana Cabrera, Amber Peña and Alexis Rico on flute; Rylyn Phillips, Hannah Rileym Emmarie Ryan and Joby Torres on clarinet; ana Escarcega, Kayla Gonzales, Caitlyn Hyde, and Vanessa Padilla on saxophone; Jesus Badillo, Elysha Montoya and Ty Warhank on French horn; Maurillo Gomez, Matthew Sals and Juan Urenda on trumpet; Analysia Salcido on Baritone; Robert Gomez, Jaime Hernandez, James Lawrence and John Trujillo on tuba; and Aiyana Arellano, Jaedyn Arellano, Brandy Hernandez, Sam Holguin, Zeke Ramirez and Michael Vasquez on percussion.

Article and Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

At the beginning of the Grant County Commission Thursday, May 14, 2015, regular meeting, immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance and the Salute to the Flag of New Mexico, the championship Cobre High School band played The Star-Spangled Banner, which you can hear below.

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Commission Chairman Brett Kasten asked to move, to right after the public hearing, the proclamation recognizing the band for its 16th state championship in the past 17 years.

Commissioners heard public input.

Howard Reinert said he was an ex-employee of the assessor's office. He said he received a letter from the county saying that it had been notified that he "had harassed Randy Villa. I was forbidden from entering the administration building unless it was on specific county business, such as paying taxes. The letter said if I came in on personal business, I would be charged with criminal trespass. This is part of the bullying that goes on in the county. I would like to see proof of my hostility, yelling and cussing. I did address him as an asshole, but that's not cussing."

The next to speak was Cecilia Bell, speaking on behalf of the Oregon-California Trail Association, which recently met in Silver City. "First I want to say hats off to our band."

She said the Continental Divide Trail is not the only trail in the area. "We have the Butterfield-Overland Trail, which intersects the Continental Divide Trail. The Butterfield goes all the way to California."

Bell said OCTA was trying to get the Butterfield designated as a national trail, with the possibility, with permission of Western New Mexico University, of having the trail's archives placed at Western.

"We want two signs-one in Silver City and one in the county to recognize Kit Carson," Bell said. "When he lived in Grant County, he worked at the mines. In Silver City, he would be recognized as a miner and a guide. The county sign would recognize Gen. Stephen Kearny, Lt. William Emory and Carson for their military service."

James Baldwin, county resident, asked about the recycle bins, which were not in place in the county parking lot for two weekends in April and the first weekend in May. "They are not always here. If we can't recycle, we are filling up the landfill, instead of sending the recyclables to El Paso for a second or third life."

He also noted the Southwest New Mexico Solid Waste Authority had saved thousands of dollars by switching auditor firms. "Maybe Bayard could also save money by changing auditors."

Baldwin also asked for another recycle bin near Gough Park for larger items that would not fit into the new small bins to be placed in Gough Park.

Gabe Holguin, Gila National Forest fire management officer, said the outlook continues to be for cooler temperatures with above normal precipitation for the next 30 days. "We expect minimal fire activity. We have completed our prescribed burns. We have had a few small fires, with a 20-acre one on North Star Mesa and about 20 acres near Reserve."

"We will continue to be busy with initial attacks," Holguin continued. "The potential for smaller fires of 10 to 30 acres will continue. Oh, and I'm also here to support my son in the band."

Linda Pafford said she wanted to speak on the recent Interstate Stream Commission report. "The ISC has finally admitted there is not enough water in the Gila to divert and they want the taxpayers to pay for (a diversion). Plus, they want to put another scar on the landscape on the San Francisco River."

Steve Armendariz said he was speaking as a resident, not as county treasurer. "As a member of the community, I take exception to the comments I heard from the commission chairman at Tuesday's meeting.

He quoted from an article written about the meeting with Kasten saying that he and the assessor "made a good point" which the public has made about officials not working together as well as possible and the possible need for policy change.

"I agree and I disagree," Armendariz said. "We do work together now, although we haven't always worked well together. We are striving to work together. The treasurers' and assessors' affiliates worked together to get several statutes passed this year. The commissioners have made it a policy to rent a hotel room at the legislative session for the whole time, which can be used by commissioners and staff. We do not have the dollars to spend to testify. Mr. (Commissioner Ron) Hall is the new representative to the New Mexico Association of Counties. I ask you to go into all our offices and get our input. In my eight years here, I have never seen a commissioner come in to talk to us to get feedback."

Assessor Raul Turrieta also gave public input. "I walked into the office on Jan. 2 with open arms. In my 35 years in the assessor's office, I never had issues with the electeds or department heads. This time I walked into one of the biggest messes ever in the department, with mapping and parcel mapping not having been completed. I just spent two days with auditors and I will give my report later." Turning to the audience, rather than the commissioners, he said: "I'm here for Grant County voters."

Next on the agenda was the public hearing, the third on the ordinance to increase the County Commission to a five-member board.

Kasten said a question at the end of the last public hearing was: "Why?"

"It's because when we were campaigning, the five-member board was always a question we heard," Kasten said. "At the end of the hearings, we will choose what we will do."

Shelby Hallmark, vice chairman of the Grant County Democratic Party, said the party commended the commissioners for considering the expansion. "It will allow more representation, more openness and more transparency. The present three districts are large. Five will be more compact. It's a good government initiative and the Grant County Democratic Party supports expansion."

A woman, whose name the author of this article did not get, said a headline in a local paper said: Residents show little interest in a five-person commission.

"I don't feel that the county is big enough for a five-member commission," she said. "The population numbers include children, who should not be counted, as they cannot vote. With each commissioner making $24,771 a year, it will cost the county $49,542 for two more commissioners, plus benefits and the costs of redistricting. I know there is little turnout for elections, and we are told who to vote for, but I would prefer to vote in the precincts, like we used to.

"The money for redistricting and for a consultant could be better used," the woman said.

Kim Clark, a fifth-generation Grant County resident, said she commended the commissioners for exploring a five-member Commission. "I support the expansion."

Pafford said she wanted to respond to the headline about little interest. "I believe our population is such that we need to cut down the population each commissioner represents. Plus I want more rural representation. I'm in favor of five."

Lorna Rubelmann county resident, said she is "really for five members. I think it would address some of the problems. Right now, each of you represents about 10,000 people, with five you would represent five to six thousand each. The area has many different sectors, such as rural and downtown. I support five members, and ask that you, when considering the mapping, pay attention to the mining district and district sectors."

Baldwin said he was opposed to five members, because "we don't know anything about it. "What will be the costs? Will there be an increase in commissioners' discretionary funding? Will there be an increase in salaries or the same amount divided five ways? I don't know when the election is for three or five members. Lobbying costs will increase, with five people going to Santa Fe or will it just be three? There is so much we have not been informed of. I say stay with three."

James W. "Bill" Harrison said he came to Silver City as city manager in 1969. "I am strongly in favor of a five-man commission. I taught business law and served on nearly every community or government commission here. When I lived in Alaska, we 'rassled' with the county system, and whether to let the counties decide what they could do or let the state tell them what to do. Unfortunately, New Mexico tells they counties what they can do."

"I was county commissioner part of 1992, all of 1993 and 1994," Harrison continued. "I won every precinct in my district, except for one, where I lost 3-4. Unfortunately, the other two commissioners couldn't work together. I was more like an arbitrator between sides. They were sincere, but it was almost impossible to get anything done. I think it was the most ineffective commission you've ever had. We could have done more with five, which I think is absolutely essential. At the time, we were told by our attorney that two of us couldn't be in the same place at the same time, we couldn't go to a funeral, we couldn't go to the same church. With five members you have more freedom. I recommend you take this action. We are fortunate to have three commissioners who will look at it openly. I'll be 93 next month but I still have a bucket list. It's high on my bucket list to see a five-member commission."

County Administrative Assistant Denisha Lucero read the proclamation lauding the Cobre High School Band for its 16th championship in 17 years.

Band Director Chuck Gerheart said he thinks the students enjoy representing their high school and their community at a high level. "I know they enjoy performing at a high level and we talk a lot about being good citizens."

County Manager Charlene Webb gave the financial report. You can read it at http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/21795-grant-county-commissioners-review-regular-meeting-agenda-and-hear-county-reports-051215 as part of the Grant County Commission work session on Tuesday, May 12.

A second proclamation was made declaring the week of May 30 through June 6 as First New Mexico Bank Wild, Wild West Pro Rodeo Week. From left, are Kim Clark, Commission Chairman Brett Kasten, Marci Brown, Tiffany Brown and Commissioner Ron Hall.

Kim Clark, a member of the Southwest Horsemen's Association board, thanked commissioners for the proclamation, but said she didn't hear mention in the proclamation that 1ST New Mexico Bank is celebrating 25 years in the community. "Last year, we had 399 cowboys and cowgirls come into town. That is not including others for team rodeo and all the visitors that come for the rodeo. We are an economic driver."

She talked about the 1935 panoramic print of the rodeo. "The thing that struck me in that print is that if you think about the population of the county at that time, every citizen was in that photo."

Commissioners approved:
€¢ Appointment of Heidi Ogas, Mike Barragree, Lee Mullen, Kathleen Hunt, John Holguin or designee, Brett Jensen or designee and Kendra Milligan to the DWI Planning Council;
€¢ Appointment of Michele Giese to the Grant County Food Policy Council for 2015-16 terms;
€¢ The purchase of a Type 6 Brush Truck for $139,917 for the Whiskey Creek Volunteer Fire Department to be paid out of the department state fire funds;
€¢ An agreement between New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Grant County for $45,000 for an obligating award document to update the mitigation plan;
€¢ An agreement between New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Grant County for 2013 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program for $2,747.18; and
€¢ A bid to Bohannon Huston for airport engineering services for an unannounced amount.

The commissioners, as the Grant County Indigent and Health Plan Claims Board, approved 57 claims for $39,647.88.

Turrieta gave his assessor's report. "We mailed out the valuation notices. June 1 is the last day to protest, but we can still accept head of household, veterans' and above the age of 65 years exemptions."

He noted that the legislative session passed six bills, which would aid the assessor's and treasurer's offices. They include House Bill 49, HB 67, HB 248, Senate Bill 112, SB 348 and SB 506, all of which have been signed by the governor.

Turrieta said a GIS specialist from the NM Tax and Revenue Department had come down to work on computers and licensing. "All systems will communicate with GIS and parcel mapping. All our computers can be on the same page on parcels. We are caught up with 2014 parcel mapping and are still trying to get 2015 finished. We have two positions open."

During commission comments, Hall said he and a committee were still working on an animal ordinance, but it should go soon to County Attorney Abigail Robinson and then be ready for public comments. "The Gila Economic Development Alliance Roundtable with Boutique Air was quite enlightening. I again participated with the DWI Program on A Day in the Life of a DWI Offender. It walked students through the whole process from arrest to sentencing, which I did."

"I want to thank the electeds for voting me in as the New Mexico Association of Counties representative," Hall said. "I'm looking forward to it."

Kasten said he had helped the County Extension Office take 21 students to Raton for state competition in shooting sports. "We had the high-point archer and the high-point team, as well as several other awards."

"As the outgoing member of NMAC, I want to tell you there's a lot going on," Kasten said to Hall.

Kasten also said the footings have been poured for the Sheriff's Vault. "We have the floor plans for the Conference Center. We continue to work on the Continuum of Care."

The commissioners went into executive session and said they would adjourn out of the session.