By Mary Alice Murphy

On Tuesday, July 21, 2015, Grant County commissioners reviewed the regular meeting agenda set for 9 a.m., Thursday, July 23, 2015 at the Grant County Administration Center.

The first agenda item is the final public hearing to receive input on whether to increase the commission from three members to five. The decision will be made at an August meeting.

Financial Officer Linda Vasquez gave the financial report. The total of the expenditures was $2,156,374.64. Part of the total equaled $429,820.28 for three payroll periods. Other major expenses included oil for road work in the amount of about $104,000; an amount to Malloy Dodge for a truck for the Sheriff's Department; aviation fuel and the airport truck lease payment, about $91,000; about $9,000 to the Bayard Library Fund; $17,000 to W.H. Pacific for airport services; Tyler Technology, about $31,000 for software license renewal; about $8,000 to Architectural Workshop for the Conference Center and the Sheriff's Vault; $226,000 to New Mexico Insurance Authority for workman's comp; and about $31,000 to Wright Express for fuel charges.

Commissioners will proclaim that Aug. 1 be Davila Day in Pinos Altos, because of the Davila family members' long and significant contribution to New Mexico and the United States of America. The proclamation cites the history.

Several new and updated Sheriff's Department policies will be considered. They include the Use of Force, which according to Sheriff Raul Villanueva is moving away from the reactive policy and is following case law to make it simpler to deal with aggressive people.

Commissioner Ron Hall, said, as a former police officer, "A lot of things go through your mind in a split second. It still scares me, and it is a huge responsibility."

Another policy addresses vehicular pursuit. Villanueva said sometimes the officer does not know the situation, but the policy says that pursuit is not warranted for a misdemeanor. "We changed it strictly to felony."

Commission Chairman Kasten said he agreed with the change. "I think the safety of your officers and the general public is most important."

An additional change is to the retention period and release of Sheriff's Department records. Records will be retained for three years to match the federal statute of limitation.

The last change is to the advanced taser policy and matches the use of force policy, moving away from a reactive control mode.

County Attorney Abigail Robinson said all changes were approved by her and were "more cautious."

Commissioners will approve or disapprove the signature of delinquent solid waste liens.

The American Civil Liberties Union of the New Mexico Southwestern Chapter will have several members in attendance to discuss a Detention Center Oversight Committee.

Also under consideration will be Grant County Detention Center policies and procedures and three changes.

"The purpose of the new policy," Center Administrator Mike Carillo said, "is to address suggestions from the New Mexico Association of Counties. They thought there was a need for a different policy for special needs inmates. It will allow special needs inmates to have more time out and more space, and to be able to walk around when time is available, so they don't regress while in detention."

The Detention Center is also updating its use of force and will include a team of certified officers, who will begin with verbal and then hands on, if needed.

In addition, the Detention Center will change its less-than-lethal delivery system. Only "cert" members may use the preliminary steps, such as pepper balls, with Carillo the only one authorized to use force.

The next agenda item, an addition to the agenda, will be a discussion on the lease and purchase of an ambulance for Gila Regional Medical Center. Jeff Hobbs, EMS director, said the hospital recently bought a new ambulance. "We're doing pretty well financially on the ambulance side. Last year, we were in the red. We now want to buy an additional new ambulance. We are looking at one for $89,000. Our transfers by ambulance are increasing. The past two weeks, we've had 17, while our average is 19-23 per month. We are using more trucks, and we want to expand our services to 24 hours. Now we cut off ambulance services at 1 a.m. We can use our fire funds for the new ambulance. We anticipate about $10,000 trade-in value, and we will finance the $79,700 through the New Mexico Finance Authority."

He said the new ambulances will save in fuel costs, and the interest rate for the loans is at a low 1.25 percent. "We will pay $25,000 down on the newer ambulance, and $15,000 down on the new one. Mileage will be an average 18-23 miles per gallon."

Hall asked why transfers had increased.

"We decided we were losing money on transfers," Hobbs said. "We did the research and we are using helicopters less often. Last July, we had 10 -14 transfers and by November, we were up to 17. Call volumes are from 380 to 410 a month, with transfers about 160-170."

County Manager Charlene Webb also asked that a professional services agreement for the surveillance program be added to the agenda.

Under resolutions, Road Department Superintendent Earl Moore has asked that Broken Arrow be added to the list for chip sealing. "I had a little money left over, with the oil prices down."

Vasquez listed the budget adjustments needed to close out fiscal year 2015. Some were transfers, some were increases in revenue due to changes in grant agreements, and there were adjustments to the Indigent Fund and the Santa Rita Road Improvement Assessment District. She said a transfer would decrease the Commissioners' Fund with the money to go to the Maintenance Department.

Commissioners will consider a resolution for the annual Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments agreement and dues for fiscal year 2016 and the appointment of elected officials as the voting representative and alternate to the COG board.

Priscilla Lucero, SWNMCOG executive director, said the COG was requesting an increase in dues for the first time in 15 years, because the COG has faced a 25 percent decrease in state funding, while the mandated responsibilities for the COGs continue to increase from the state.

Commissioners will approve a notice of intent to consider the adoption of an ordinance increasing the size of the Board of County Commissioners to five members. The ordinance will be on the agenda in August.

Commissioners will also designate a representative and an alternate, pursuant to the New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entity joint powers agreement.

An added resolution will create the Loma Verde Road Improvement District.

As the Grant County Indigent and Health Plan Claims Board, commissioners will consider 120 claims for a total of $84,450.63.

Gila Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Brian Cunningham gave the first county report.

"In a review of our finances from May, we had a $300,000 positive bottom line for the month," Cunningham said. "For the year through the end of May, we have a $1.5 million negative bottom line. We expected this, as this year has been a big rebuilding year for us. We are putting a lot of money into IT and physician practices. We are up $4 million from last year, and our days in cash is up to 141. We continue to hold down costs."

He said Patricia Sheyka, chief nursing officer, would be stepping down at the end of August. "We did an internal hire and chose Peggy White to step into the position. Pat and Peggy are managing the role together during the transition."

"We will also pull in candidates for permanent chief executive officer," Cunningham said. "We have four candidates from offsite, and we will do a rigorous interview process."

He said the hospital would collaborate with law enforcement to determine how better to manage costs for people in custody.

Cunningham announced the hospital has been certified as Baby-Friendly for mothers and babies. "Mary Gruska has been the manager of the project, and we have received the Baby Friendly designation."

He said the next series of changes coming as part of the Affordable Care Act are bundled payments and value-added services. "The act requires more collaboration between the hospital and physicians. Our overall goals are to decrease the costs of care, increase patient satisfaction and manage the health of populations better. We will formally partner with physicians. The collaborative approach is an attempt to support the sustainability of the physicians and the sustainability of the hospital, with a better model of care for citizens."

GRMC is creating a clinically integrated network, and "there are some competing models."

Kasten asked about the financial situation for next year and beyond.

"This year, we hope to break even, but the IT expansion will continue for four to six months beyond the end of the fiscal year," Cunningham said. "We hope in the second half of the year, we will see the benefits. I think we will have a 2 percent to 3 percent increase next year, and in the following year a 4 percent to 5 percent increase. We are making enough for equipment to remain state-of-the-art."

"We can see daylight," Kasten said. "Please say thank you to all the employees and the board members from all of us."

Carillo said the jail has been holding refresher training. The inmate support program is putting together a coordinator description.

"Our daily population is 69, the same as last month," Carillo said. "The average length of stay is 9.35 days."

Hall asked if the length of stay was due to inmates serving out sentences.

"That and recidivism," Carillo said. "We have 29 felony inmates and 69 misdemeanor inmates."

Randy Villa, General Services director, said Public Works has been taking care of weeds and leaky roofs.

"The Business and Conference Center will close after a Forest Service planning meeting on Aug. 5," Villa said. Renovations will begin on the building.

At the Grant County Airport, weeds are being taken care of. "As a result of a Federal Aviation Administration inspection, we addressed some minor items. The fire academy in Socorro let its certification expire on Aviation Route Forecast, so we will work through Kirkland Air Force Base."

He noted the volunteer fire departments have had a slow wildfire season but continue to train on structure fires.

The Tyrone VFD will hold an open house on Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to show off the expansion.

Villa said the county had received about $251,286 in fuel sales at the airport, but had purchased about $265,000 worth. "We have about $40,000 in inventory in aviation and jet fuel and some receivables are out. The Forest Service and Boutique Air continue to buy fuel from us."

He said a Corre Caminos Department of Transportation inspection is coming up.

"We are looking for a part-time person at the airport, aren't we?" Kasten asked and was told yes. "It looks like we're about breaking even."

Villa said the airport had a "clear FAA inspection of the fuel farm. We are also working on the leased rentals at the airport."

Moore said his department was doing a lot of tree trimming on roads. "I have talked to Engineers Inc. to do a utility relocation on Rosedale Road."

Kasten asked if any work had been done on Burro Mountain Homestead Road, to which Moore answered: "Not yet. We will do Broken Arrow and then help Silver City and Bayard with fog sealing."

County Planner Anthony Gutierrez said he is working on the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan. "The Road Department needs a chip spreader, and we need a new Corre Caminos passenger bus."

"We will move ADA compliance up for the Colonias application," Gutierrez said. "We will have firm numbers for the courthouse electrical upgrade."

Moore said the chip spreader would cost about $275,000.

Kasten asked if the $2.6 million for the Business and Conference Center included furnishings.

"We have another $2 million identified as needed," Gutierrez said. "We still have an application into the USDA. I will do adjustments in funding. By our next work session, I hope to have the complete ICIP."

Lucero said she and Gutierrez will meet on requirements for the Community Development Block Grant process and to determine what other potential projects will be needed over the next year.

"From the state level, we are hearing that anything on the list for CDBG into the future has to be included in the ICIP," Lucero said. "CDBG has $1.8 million for economic development, $1 million for emergency needs, and $300,000 for planning. We need to look at things that are transportation related. We should be including them, too. And really new, under the NMFA, for loans for funding projects, they need to be on the ICIP, too."

She said that last year entities were not allowed to amend their ICIPs. This year they can, but amendments will not go to the Legislature.

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos asked what Lucero recommended for the Hurley water project.

"Put it in your ICIP planning process, so all the entities have it in their ICIP," Lucero said.

She said the new FundIt program combines reviews by the Department of Economic Development the New Mexico Environment Department, NMFA and the local government division all at the same time. "They will review your requests, even for the Colonias Infrastructure Fund. And I have to know the details of your projects, so I can defend them."

Gutierrez said he could help with the transportation projects. "I need to meet with the commissioners individually to determine the priorities for the ICIP. We received Colonias project funding. But before they allocate the funds, they want specifics for engineering, scopes of work and costs. In the planning process, we are working on phases. This coming month, we will have a resolution, because the North Hurley project has no right-of-way on the road. We have to document that we have been maintaining it. I have received approval for solar at the North Hurley sewer plant."

Hall asked about the Wind Canyon road improvement district.

"Ray (Castillo) has been working on stuff for the establishment of an assessment district," Gutierrez said. "It's a large endeavor, with a lot of property owners. Preparation for the hearing takes the longest, because we need the legal description of every parcel, and then we have a 30-day notice period. The residents have been helping a lot."

Lucero, adding to the Colonias, said it is really important to note that any award has three years from the date of closing the award to expend the money. "The chair will revert funds from 2012, with no extensions."

She also noted that Grant County is one of the few counties working with the USDA. "The USDA has to approve any loan, with a turnaround of one-to-two months. Anything you can do prior to the September deadline will help."

Kasten announced a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, to approve the final budget for FY 2016.

Villanueva said his department has been busy and is getting ready for the school year. "We have already completed the use-of-force training. We are doing firearms qualification training by in-house instructors. I have a question. No work has been done on the vault for three weeks. Why? We did have flooding in the back."

Kasten and Webb seemed surprised at the news and said they would look into it.

Assessor Raul Turrieta said his office is working on reappraisals and deeds and has just about finished protests. "Silver City has approved an ordinance to set up a TIF (tax increment financing) for the downtown Metropolitan Redevelopment Area. We will determine the value. Any valuation added will be set aside for improvements. Most of the properties are commercial and the town is mainly trying to bring buildings up to code."

Kasten said the TIF freezes the county tax value, and if valuation is added it is set aside.

Treasurer Steve Armendariz said his office is up to 91.21 percent collection. "For the past 10 years, we've been at 96 percent; for the past five closer to 99 percent."

Webb said she is working with local groups to improve senior programs. "We are still in transition for the Grant County Community Health Council."

The commissioners went into executive session for discussion of threatened litigation on a Grant County Detention matter.

The regular session will take place at 9 a.m., Thursday, July 23, 2015 at the Grant County Administration Center.