By Roger Lanse

At its Thursday, Sept. 10, meeting the Grant County Board of Commissioners approved the apparent low bid of $2,400,275 for the interior renovation of the Grant County Veteran €™s Memorial Business and Conference Center to Stoven Construction of Albuquerque.

A proclamation declaring Oct. 4 through Oct. 10, as 4-H Week was approved, however no one was present to accept the honor.

A second proclamation declaring Sept. 26, as Walk for Heroes Day was also approved. Liz Lopez, who together with her husband Mike, has coordinated the event for the past six years, told the council the walk would extend from Steven’s Store in Hurley to Bataan Park, a distance of 13.3 miles. The community-driven fundraiser in support of local military families begins at 9 a.m. and ends at approximately noon, Lopez said, and honors first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack and Gold Star mothers. There is a $20 fee to enter the event, which includes a T-shirt, Lopez said.

County Assessor Raul Turrieta requested certification of the Grant County tax rates for the 2015 property tax year. Turrieta also pointed out several ways county residents might save on their property taxes and encouraged residents to call his office to determine if they qualify. He stated that the net taxable value in Grant County was $822,204,992. The Commission approved the certification.

County Planner Anthony Gutierrez asked commissioners to approve a Colonias project declaring a prescriptive easement on North Hurley Road. Gutierrez said that the road has been used by the public and maintained by the county for years and the easement was needed to allow for the first of three improvement phases. He stated that although available surveys were quite old, it didn’t seem as if the prescriptive easement would encroach on any private property. Commissioners approved the declaration.

District 1 Commissioner Gabriel Ramos asked Gutierrez if there was an escape route in case of emergency for residents living along North Hurley Road, other than the one way in. Gutierrez answered: “I think that they have an additional access gate there (on the back side), but it’s not really open to the public. So, to my knowledge, nobody has actually brought that to my attention, but I’m assuming that we could take a look at it but that would take being able to take more right-of-way. For emergency purposes, potentially, I think we could probably do it.”

The Commission approved the proposed 2016 fiscal year budget of $1,058,300 for Corre Caminos.

Applications for monies that have reverted to the State from various entities were approved. County Manager Charlene Webb told the Beat that the applications were for a total of $20,000.

An agreement covering wages and working conditions for the period 2015-2017 between the county and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 18, Grant County Public Employees, Local 2516, was ratified.

Commissioners approved a partnership agreement with Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments for the SWNM Energy and Green Jobs Task Force Stakeholder Board. “The agreement basically outlines what everyone’s roles and responsibilities are to move this task force forward,” Webb said. “It doesn’t obligate us to anything monetary.”

Commission Chairman Brett Kasten asked, “The only thing it costs us is having somebody actually go to these meetings? Are they worthwhile?”

“I believe they are,” Webb responded.

Continuing, the Commission approved an agreement with the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Webb told the commissioners that this grant is for one-half of Grant County Emergency Manager Gilbert Helton’s salary, for which Helton has to complete certain tasks. “We’re meeting all the requirements,” Webb said.

Senior Center Director Terry Trujillo, in support of an Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan funds request for updating the county’s senior centers, told the Commission that all centers are more than 20 years old. Trujillo listed some of the improvements and updating needed for various centers.

Kasten recommended that since the town of Santa Clara owned the Santa Clara Senior Center and Silver City owned the Silver City Senior Center, Trujillo would have a better chance of securing funds from the Legislature if those two municipalities could be brought on board financially.

Finally, Grant County Sheriff Raul Villanueva informed the council that much time has been employed with the opening of schools and getting ready for the county fair. Villanueva encouraged residents to be careful now that schoolchildren are out, and said: “It’s been quiet.”