By Roger Lanse
From left, Grant County Commission Chairman Brett Kasten, Richard Lawyer of the Grant County Fair Board receiving the Grant County Fair Days proclamation, and Commissioner Ron Hall.
From left, Grant County Commission Chairman Brett Kasten, with Rachei Sierra, interim El Refugio Inc. domestic violence shelter director receiving the proclamation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Commissioner Ron Hall.Several Grant County Sheriff's deputies spoke to the Grant County Board of Commissioners at the Commission's Sept. 15, 2016 meeting saying they feel funding is inadequate for equipment and salaries. Deputies pointed out that New Mexico has experienced 153 line-of-duty deaths, that administrative personnel in the department who may suffer a paper cut now and then are paid more than deputies who put their lives on the line on a daily basis, that Grant County's deputies are not in parity with other counties or even the Silver City Police Department, and that much of the department's equipment needs replacing.
The deputies went on to say that the sheriff's department is being asked more and more to answer calls in county municipalities when the municipality's officers are not on duty or when the residents request a deputy. When a major crime occurs in a municipality, they said, it is the sheriff's department who takes over the scene, utilizing their investigators and other resources. All this comes out of the sheriff's budget, they stated.
To emphasize the respect the department has for county officials, one deputy quoted Scripture saying Rom. 13:1 reminds us that every person should be subject to government authority as there is no authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Grant County Sheriff Raul Villanueva told council that he stands behind his deputies and what they are requesting. He also brought up the issue of poor radio communication that the department has been experiencing for some time. The cause, Villanueva said, is believed to be caused by the older equipment they use being overpowered by radio transmissions from more advanced equipment used by neighboring agencies. GǣEvery single day I experience interference. It's a big problem,Gǥ he said.
Ben Rasmussen of the Food Policy Group told the commission that his group is working on two main issues; local food production and hunger. He asked commissioners to promote local food production, sales and purchases and for support in alleviating hunger in our region.
Richard Maynes spoke in favor of allowing side-by sides and UTVs on public roads within Grant County. Commission Chairman Brett Kasten and County Manager Charlene Webb, with County Attorney Abigail Robinson, held a discussion on the subject among themselves for a few minutes which was difficult to hear.
County Treasurer Steve Armendariz informed the commission that property tax rates will rise very little for 2016 over 2015. He explained that a property in the Silver City area with a net value of $120,000 will see an increase of $1.68 in property tax.
In other business, all of which was discussed at Tuesday's work session, the commission approved:
- An animal control ordinance;
- An ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds, not to exceed $55,000,000 to defray the cost of bonds issued to design, acquire, construct and equip the Fort Bayard Hospital;
- September, 2016 expenditure report;
- Proclamation declaring Sept. 21-24 as GǣGrant County Fair Days.Gǥ Richard Lawyer, fair director was present to receive the proclamation;
- Proclamation declaring October, 2016 as GǣDomestic Violence Awareness Month.Gǥ Rachel Sierra, Interim Director of El Refugio accepted the proclamation;
- An agreement with Bohannon Huston Inc. For completion of a comprehensive plan, asset management plan and grant application support;
- An agreement with Pyramid Peak Mining, LLC. For road maintenance on Carlisle and Summit Peak roads;
- Inmate housing agreements with Sierra and Hidalgo counties for housing in the Grant County Detention Center;
- A resolution to form a loss prevention committee;
- A resolution declaring the abandonment of the San Ysidro Street property and authorizing its sale:
- A resolution supporting the 2017 legislative priorities of the New Mexico Assoc. of Counties;
- A resolution adopting CDBG annual certifications and commitments;
- A resolution declaring the abandonment of the alley lying adjacent to Lot 9 of B&H Subdivision property and authorizing its sale; and
- A resolution accepting roads within the Rio Mimbres Subdivision for maintenance.
The base bid of $477,269, by Sacaton Construction of Silver City to build a new volunteer fire station on Bear Mountain Road in the LS Mesa area was approved.
Recessing as the Grant County Board of Commissioners and reconvening as the Grant County Indigent Hospital and Health Plans Board, $13,242.35 in claims was approved.
For more details on these approved items, visit http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/31685-grant-county-commission-holds-special-meeting-and-work-session-091316