By Mary Alice Murphy

Grant County commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.

During public input, Chris DeBolt, who represents the county on the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging, said, at a meeting in October, the providers were informed that they were limited to spending no more than 45 percent of their budget, and another 5.5 percent cut was coming, so they needed to adjust contracts.

"So it's another area of population that is going to get hit," DeBolt said. "We have created rack cards to present to legislators to let them know how it will affect us. We are requesting the legislators keep the funding where it is, so seniors don't suffer so badly. We chose 'Because we can, you should,' as our selling point telling legislators why they should support us."

Commission Chairman Brett Kasten said the county is advocating for core services of the state not to be cut, but to cut only those that fall outside the core.

Pam O'Brien introduced herself. "I want to compliment you on the fine county of Grant County. It is well run and you offer a lot of amenities and services. You should have received the letter I sent last week. I ask you to review it in a favorable light."

Finance Officer Linda Vasquez gave the expenditure report. The total expenditures since the October meeting were $3,722,219.81, with two payrolls totaling $423,486.32 included in the total. Extraordinary expenditures included a check to Ascent Aviation for $12,000; to Sacaton Construction for $24,000 at the Forgotten Veterans Memorial at Bataan Park; to the High Desert Humane Society for first quarter animal services for $16,000; to ACA Architecture for work on the Santa Rita Volunteer Fire Department construction for $29,000; to Architectural Workshop for the Conference Center for $13,000; to James Hamilton Construction for runway repaving for $2.09 million; to Bohannon Huston for professional services at the airport for $28,000; and to Southwest Concrete and Paving for Rosedale Road for $279,999.

For the first quarter reports, as of the end of September, the beginning balance for the General Fund was $3,291,793; revenues were $1.28 million; transfers out $652,000; expenditures $2.259 million; leaving a cash balance of $1,663.981; required reserves of $564,758; and available cash at $1.099 million.

The Road Fund at the beginning of the fiscal year had a cash balance of $305,251; revenues during the first quarter were $198,238; expenditures of $418, 638; cash balance at the end of the quarter of $84,851; reserves at $34,887, leaving an available balance of $49,964.

The Corrections Fund had a zero beginning balance, with revenues to date of $216,350; transfers in of $482,213; expenditures of $671,293; with the ending balance at the end of the quarter at $27,270; no required reserve; and available cash at $27,270.

Commissioners approved the inventory deletion for the Lower Mimbres Volunteer Fire Department. Kasten said the VFD would try to donate the bunker gear to a department that needs it.

Claudia Duerinck had asked to speak again about what she considers an unlawful mill levy on residents in the Cliff-Gila Watershed District.

"In 1984, an unlawful extension of the watershed district was put into place," Duerinck alleged. "I have talked to Ms. Webb about the situation. She said she would fully review it. Our tax dollars have to be used for lawful purposes. I think a lot of people in the Cliff-Gila Valley would like to see the mill levy removed. I would like to see the district returned to its original size."

Webb agreed she had said she would review it. It is clear that there is a process for it, she said. "I have also been reading through the minutes. It will take me months to review all the documents."

Commissioner Ron Hall said: "We are concerned and are looking into it."

Duerinck asked if the taxes would be released to the district or held pending a decision.

Assessor Raul Turrieta said the county has a process any time there is a dispute. First, one should protest to the Treasurer's Office and then, if required, it will go to District Court.

County Attorney Abigail Robinson said generally the county has a protest period when the tax rates come out. "This one is complicated because it was so long ago."

Ben Rasmussen, on behalf of the Local Food Policy Council, presented a local food procurement draft policy for review by the commission. "We want to get more nutritious food to the local community."

Kasten said he was concerned it would not follow state procurement code. "We will send it to Abby (Robinson) to make sure what parts are legal. If we give preference to a local food provider we can pay up to 10 percent more, but it raises costs for the consumer."

Robinson said the county follows state statutes on everything it buys, including food. "However, we are transferring the senior centers to HMS. Once that's done, we won't be buying food. At the Detention Center, we contract out for the food, and the hospital buys its food separately from the county."

"We don't want to put pressure on people to buy this food," Rasmussen said. "We are working with schools and other cities and counties."

Robinson suggested he talk to the legislators to get preferences put on locally purchased food. "Get it into the procurement code."

Under agreements, because a grant agreement with the state of New Mexico Local Government Division for a Community Development Block Grant for the Tu Casa substance abuse treatment center had not been received by the meeting, the approval was for the chairman to execute the agreement upon receipt. It arrived toward the end of the meeting, and the Beat saw the chairman sign it after the meeting was adjourned.

Another approved agreement was an inmate-housing contract with Hidalgo County to house its female inmates at the Grant County Detention Center for $60 a day.

As the Grant County Indigent Hospital and Health Care Claims Board, commissioners approved five claims for inmates at the Detention Center for a total of $12,701.38. The funding comes out of the county Indigent Fund.

Returning as the Grant County Board of Commissioners, they heard reports from elected and other officials.

Sheriff Raul Villanueva said his department is fairly busy getting prepared for the holiday season. He said two of his staff recently graduated from the Albuquerque Police Academy, "so we will have two more deputies out soon. We will be fully staffed. I hope we continue to keep our staff money-wise. I thank the staff and wish Happy Holiday Season to the community."

"If you see suspicious behavior, please call us," Villanueva said.

He also remarked on the radio situation. "It was determined that the interference with our frequency was coming from the El Paso Sheriff's Office, which has the same frequency. About a month ago, El Paso shut down the offending repeater and we have had no problems since. However, El Paso said they might have to turn it on again. I request to be able to continue the research. We had the frequency first, but I have requested a new frequency."

Hall said at the Dispatch meeting, he learned the frequency issue is also impacting Hidalgo, Sierra and Otero counties. "We've had the frequency for a long time. Why did El Paso get the same one?"

"I would also like to commend your officers," Hall said. "A friend of mine passed away and your officers were so professional. They helped the widow arrange things. I was there and saw how much they helped."

Villanueva thanked Hall for telling him. "I also sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission. It's not El Paso's fault. Someone dropped the ball. Gilbert Helton is also working on another option. I did request getting a new frequency. We shouldn't have to, because we had it first."

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos said he had been receiving calls about a lot of public nuisance noise after 10:30 p.m. in Arenas Valley. "Does our ordinance have enough bite for you to cite people?"

"The time for not making loud noises runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.," Villanueva said. "Maybe we need a little more information in the ordinance. I ask community members to call us when it happens. The remedy is for us to respond and give the person a chance to turn off the loud music or whatever. We can also cite them and send them to court, if it continues."

Hall said he had looked at state statute and the only thing that comes close is disorderly conduct. "Maybe we need to broaden our ordinance a bit. I've heard complaints that it has become harassment to those who report."

"If it's done habitually, we can send to court," Villanueva said.

Kasten said he thought Silver City has a decibel level that cannot be surpassed.

"We have another ordinanceG