[Editor's Note: This is part 3 of a multi-part article series on the Grant County Commission work session and regular sessions on June 13, 3017 and June 15, 2017.]

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

After the presentations at the Tuesday June 13, 2017, Grant County Commission work session, Financial Officer Linda Vasquez presented the financial expenditure report for the past month, ending June 7, 2017, for a total of $1,890,645.86, including two pay periods totaling $411,009.33.

She made the same presentation at the work session, where it was approved

 Larger expenses and payments included $26,789.08 to HCP Systems LLC for April and May medical management services at the Detention Center; $200,000 to Gila Regional Medical Center for an imaging unit purchase (fully reimbursable by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration); $11,844.44 to Occam Engineers for engineering services on the Rosedale Road and North Hurley Road Colonias projects; $23,299.76 to Southwest Concrete and Paving for road materials; $92,921.17 to the New Mexico Human Services Department for the fourth quarter contribution to the safety net care pool; $20,778.39 to Wright Express Fleet Services for April 2017 fuel charges; $40,559.50 to Southwest Solid Waster Authority for April 2017 tipping fees; and $81,7886.72 to Sacaton Construction for the LS Mesa Fire Station.

Commissioners approved a Silver High School Lady Colt Softball State Champions proclamation at the regular session on Thursday. Six girls represented the team, which includes Makayla Guerra, Daezia Morales, Zoe Abeyta, Shaianne Aguirre, Madison Mattie, Sherelle Rodriguez, Alyssa Sublasky, Kamryn Trujillo, Aubrey Misquez, Ezriel Chavarria, Ajia Richard, Kiana Mendoza, Lexy Ruiz, and Alex Rios. Duane Trewern, Mike Lopez, Larry Polanco, Jason Sanchez and Enecia Olivera coach the team.

Bernadette Sublasky, executive assistant to the Grant County commissioners and manager, and also the mother of one of the team members, said she attended the state tournament. "They played as a team."

Nursing student Tiva Andrews takes Commissioner Billy Billings' blood pressure

Chris DeBolt, program coordinator for Helping Seniors Stay Healthy, gave a year-end report at the regular meeting. "We thank Freeport-McMoRan for funding the program through a Community Investment Fund grant and again for next year starting in August." She introduced Alexis Harsh, Western New Mexico University nursing professor, and students Lorenzo Saenz and Tiva Andrews.

"This summer we started a new endeavor and will be going to senior centers through the summer," Harsh said. "We made 40 visits to senior centers during the fall and spring and will be doing eight more this summer. We have checked more than 380 people for vital signs and did lots of other things, such as talking to them, playing pool and eating with them."

In introducing Saenz,Harsh said: "Lorenzo was a medic in the Army for 10 years."

"I'm a nursing student," Saenz said. "They teach us so much about interventions on the simulation machine. Human interaction is one of the most important parts to gain their trust."

Andrews said the program has had a big impact on the elderly, "who are so thankful for us to be there."

DeBolt said other places are looking at the program as a model. "We will present it in Arizona."

Commissioners at the regular meeting approved the affirmation of Public Employees Retirement Association annual reporting for volunteer firefighters for Sapillo Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

Also approved was a many page inventory deletion request from multiple departments.

Two applicants requested appointment to fill one lodgers' tax advisory committee vacancy. It was unclear at the regular meeting whether one had met deadline. County Manager Charlene Webb said they would clear up the issue.

For Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, 13 applicants were received.

At the work session, Commissioner Billy Billings requested a special meeting to meet the candidates. It was decided among the commissioners that 13 was an untenable number, so Commissioner Harry Browne suggested each commissioner rank every applicant and Browne would put them into a spreadsheet and determine the top five.

Commission Chairman Brett Kasten suggested each of the five be asked the same question and be allowed to speak for up to five minutes and then mingle with the public. He suggested the question be: "Why do you want to serve as a trustee?"

At the regular meeting, the commissioners approved filling the one vacant physician slot by appointing Dr. Victor Nwachuku, who is currently serving on the board and was the only physician applicant.

Browne announced the top six, as there was a tie for fifth. In no particular order, he announced them as Don Guber, Jeannie Miller, Garrett Olin, James Weisenberger, Ed Wilmot and Tom Blanchard.

Kasten asked staff to contact the six and request they attend a special meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 29. "They will mingle before the question. We will go into recess, then we will ask the question, and they will speak. After they speak, we will make a decision."

The next agenda item announced the final version of the memorandum of understand supporting community development of Fort Bayard by Santa Clara.

Southwest New Mexico Council of Government Executive Director Priscilla Lucero, at the regular meeting, said the MOU would need to be approved by the village of Santa Clara at its June 15 meeting. "Once Santa Clara approves it, I will send it to the other entities."

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos asked that Santa Clara approve it first, and then he requested it be added to the special meeting on June 29.

A professional services agreement between the DWI program and Chris Helgert of Recovery Management Center was approved at the regular meeting. DWI Coordinator Cindy McClean said it is a treatment contract. "We are supervising 145 clients and most need treatment."

Also approved was the fiscal year 2018 DWI program agreement. McClean said the grant agreement would give $90,000 to the program rather than the $105,000 that was expected. "But we will still be able to fund Corre Cantinas."

A consent agreement that amends nine existing loan and intercept agreements with the New Mexico Financial Authority for fire department loans, for which pledged funds come from the State Fire Protection Fund, was approved at the regular meeting. The agreement allows payment from a special reserve fund, which will be repaid by fire protection funds.

The resolution amending the approved and adopted budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2017, was approved at the regular meeting on Thursday,

Sheriff Raul Villanueva answered a question about why a vehicle was not purchased locally. "We went off the state contract. We had to order it with the police package."

Webb said the county would clarify if a police intercept vehicle can be purchased from a local vendor.

Commissioners approved three resolutions that were cooperative agreements with the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

The first was for the County Arterial Program for $165,188, which includes a county in-kind match of $41,297, for North Hurley Road projects to begin next June.

The next cooperative agreement was for School Bus Routes for five miles of Little Walnut Road for $76,260, of which $19,068 is a county match.

At the work session, Browne asked if anything could be done to make the road safer for bicyclists. Road Superintendent Earl Moore explained county roads are not wide enough for adding a four-foot-bicycle lane.

Commissioner Alicia Edwards asked if the county could put up Watch for Cyclists signs and suggested a cooperative agreement where the bicyclists pay for half and the county pays for half. Moore said bicyclists could purchase signs, but the cost also involves a pole and anchor. "I will get the full price to you."

The final cooperative agreement was to grade Sacaton Road for 7.5 miles and to add a six-inch cap of base course for $74,433, of which the county will provide $18,608.

A resolution was approved at the regular meeting, declaring the intent of Grant County to consider adoption of an inducement resolution authorizing and approving submission of an application to the New Mexico State Board of Finance for the project approval of qualified conservation bonds for the implementation of a green community and other qualified conservation projects and directing the county manager, county finance director and county planner to take necessary action in connection with the application.

The resolution allows the manager, finance director and planner to prepare the application for conservation bonds, as Mark Valenzuela had laid out in the presentation in http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/37458-grant-county-commission-hears-reports-on-the-potential-of-energy-savings-and-possible-bonding-to-pay-for-it-061317

Kasten noted it gives the county the authorization to go out for energy bonds at 1.6 percent interest. "It is inexpensive money to go after energy savings."

The next resolution establishes a Green Community Program for the benefits of residents of Grant County, so the prior resolution for application can be done.

The next resolution is a notice of intent to consider an ordinance authorizing and regulating the operation of off-highway motor vehicles on streets or highways owned and controlled by Grant County.

Villanueva said the state has already given such authorization for state roads and it allows each municipality or county to pass and regulate the use of OHVs.

During discussion of the resolution, before approval of the NOI, Webb explained, when County Attorney Abigail Robinson has made requested changes, the NOI will be in the clerk's office for public perusal.

"It gives the county 30 days of the notice of intent," Kasten said.

Richard Maynes, who is an advocate for the ordinance to be able to use all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles on roads, spoke at the regular meeting. "I researched the issue, and went to Pinetop and Showlow in Arizona. The vehicles are safe. If you go by the facts and not by personal judgment, make the ordinance strict and make sure safety comes first, they will bring economic development. I'm willing to help you. Everything is proven safe. Two or three of the commissioners asked me about the machines, but not about the people. The elderly and retired can use them in the forest. Grant County should give to those people. We love the outdoors. With safe ordinances, the handicapped and disabled can use them."

Commissioner Billy Billings who attended only part of the work session by phone asked what discussion led to eliminate ATVs from the ordinance.

"We wanted the small car-sized vehicles with a cage, because they are safer," Kasten said.

"The main accidents, for instance those that have happened in Arenas Valley were on ATVs," Ramos said. "We want to continue to have a forest of many uses, not for suggested uses."

Edwards asked how the county had gotten to this point. Webb said Maynes had given the commissioners a presentation, "and we got sheriff input."

The next resolution adopting the comprehensive land use plan for Grant County will be covered in a future article, because of extensive discussion.

Before county reports, which will be covered in a subsequent article, the commissioners convened as the Grant County Health Care Claims Board to approve funding from the Indigent Fund 8 claims to Gila Regional Medical Center and one claim to GRMC ambulance for a total of $26,464.47. Also approved was an indigent burial from Baca's Funeral Chapels for $600 from the indigent fund.