By Mary Alice Murphy

The Grant County Commission work session, before its review of the Thursday, April 21, regular session agenda, heard an update on the recent legislative session by New Mexico Sen. Howie Morales.

"It was a busy and challenging session," Morales said. "You had great county representation there."

He said, as of last August, the estimate for new money for this 2016 legislative session was about $230,000. "However, with the price of oil and gas going down, by the time of the session, the estimate was $20 million to $30 million. That was the only new revenue we had."

"There is a question out there about whether we will need a special session," Morales said. "If we do, it will probably be later in the year.

"You do such a good job with having your audits in place," Morales said to the commissioners. "With your help at the session, you will move forward on Tu Casa. I will meet with the commissioners specifically on Colonias funding. It is always under attack. We really have only two senators in the southern part of the state who want to make sure the dollars are there."

He said he would like to know what the next priority is for the county, since Tu Casa and the Conference Center remodel are underway. "What about the Road Department roof?"

County Manager Charlene Webb said the county had just signed the agreement on the Road Department roof. "We put in some county money and we will do the entire roof once the windy season is over."

Morales asked whether the county has received its grant agreements.

"We've gotten all of them," Webb said.

"If we go into special session, I want to make sure none of our communities has money lingering out there that could be taken away," Morales said.

He asked the commissioners to keep him informed about ongoing gross receipts tax discussions. "A healthy state government is dependent on healthy local governments."

"Thanks for your help on the regional water plan (which will provide water to Hurley and subsequently to the rest of the Mining District)," Morales said to commissioners.

"During the last week in April, NMAC (New Mexico Association of Counties) will have tax meetings," Commission Chairman Brett Kasten said. "One of our lingering questions is the Fort Bayard Medical Center. Can you please clarify?"

"Fort Bayard Medical Center is an economic driver for Grant County," Morales said. "It has ongoing problems. My concern is on the operational side. The amount of dollars we give the Department of Health is large. Fort Bayard is just one example. We want an independent review on Fort Bayard and the other state facilities, so they don't end up under the U.S. Department of Justice, as they have in the past. A huge amount of money is going to contract nurses. We want fair compensation for our local staff, including nurses and C.N.A.s. Let's bring in an independent review."

Commissioner Ron Hall thanked Morales for his support for Tu Casa, the substance abuse treatment center that is on its way to being built. "Your guidance was critical. My concern is Yucca Lodge. It was brought into the Fort Bayard Medical Center hospital. I want you to keep it in mind to protect Yucca Lodge for inpatient care. My last concern is the Medicaid issue. We will not have Medicaid for Tu Casa. A lot of individuals who will come into Tu Casa will not have insurance."

Morales agree that Medicaid is a concern. "The program is $88 million short, which affects not only those receiving it, but also those providing services."

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos thanked Morales for his open door policy and being willing to meet with commissioners any time during the session.

"We have all the municipalities on board for the Twin Sisters regional project," Ramos said. "We will be asking you for help. The project is to reuse the effluent waters out of the treatment plan. Santa Clara has gotten $100,000 for planning."

Morales asked under whose Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan the priority would be. Ramos said it had been in the county's ICIP for some time, but never a top priority. "I think Santa Clara will have it as one of the top three."

Linda Vasquez, county financial director gave the expenditures report. Checks in the amount of $2,430,284.93, included $67,824 for Engineers Inc. for two North Hurley projects and one on Rosedale Road; one to Stoven Construction for $585,823 for the Conference Center renovations; Wright Express for fuel for March in the amount of $32,600; an amount of $83,137 for the state safety net care pool; $34,000 to the New Mexico State University Grant County Extension Service; $60,900 to Dement Electric and $52,260 to J&S Plumbing for North Hurley projects; $15,495 to High Desert Humane Society for January through March; and $95,000 to Artesia Fire Equipment for volunteer fire department equipment.

Payrolls 6, 7 and 8 combined equaled $608,563.08. The total for the month was $3,038,848.01.

Under new business, three proclamations will be presented at the regular meeting on Thursday. The first will recognize the Cobre High School Boys State Champion Wresting Team; the second will declare April 2016 as "Start by Believing" to bring awareness to sexual assault; and the third to declare May 14, 2016, as Give Grandly! Give Local! Day.

Commissioners will hear a presentation from the New Mexico Association of Counties to highlight the agency's services to the county.

Assessor Raul Turrieta will present the Assessor's Office valuation maintenance program update.

Commissioners will have several items of new business to consider. They include:
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