At the Grant County Commission work session, the agenda for Thursday's regular meeting was addressed.
After the financial report of a month's worth of bills, creating payments of $1,597,787.44, the next item of business will be recognition of the student winners of the Red Ribbon Essay Contest by the DWI Program.
Commissioners will hear an update from The Wellness Coalition on the recent AmeriCorps state program launch in Silver City. County Manager Jon Paul Saari said he heard it was successful, with 245 people coming to town and providing an economic boost to the community.
Alicia Edwards, co-chair of the Food Policy Council will give an update to show the “true purpose of the group and what it is accomplishing.”
Loren and Barbara Nelson will give a presentation on the Imagination Library of Grant County literacy project they began.
Commissioners will appoint two new members to the Gila Regional Hospital Center board of trustees. Three applications have been received, from three physicians, Dr. Darrick Nelson, Dr. Nathan Williams and Dr. Roberto Carreon.
“We are going to try to get, by statute, the hospital board members to come off in June, not twice a year in June and December,” Saari said. “We will stagger the terms of the members, so, for instance, both doctors don't come off at the same time.”
The commission will address amendments to the Use of Facilities Policy.
To a question, Commissioner Gabriel Ramos noted that the committee had recently met and the only changes at this time will be the increase in deposit and rental fees for the Business and Conference Center.
“The 10 percent payment for rental fees by county employees is already in the policy,” Ramos said.
“We will hold the rest of the policy for public hearings early next year,” Commission Chairman Brett Kasten said.
Commissioners will consider the Emergency Medical Service annual report and the EMS Fund Act local program application for fiscal year 2013 for the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire and Rescue and the GRMC EMS Department.
“This is no cost to the county,” Saari said. “We are the fiscal agent for the applications.”
Saari said he would add an item to the agenda, if he receives from the Southwest New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce its proclamation to “Buy Local.”
Under contracts and agreements, an amendment will be made to increase a grant agreement with the Department of Finance and Administration to the Grant County DWI Program by $6,340 to $88,440 for supplies, services and operating costs.
Commissioners will approve or disapprove a termination request from Lekisha Marquez, who, in a letter, said she would no longer be able to provide services to the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office.
An annual agreement host agency between the Aging and Long-Term Services Department and Grant County for the Senior Employment Program, in which, Saari said, seniors work about 20 hours a week at minimum wage, will be approved or disapproved.
A project agreement between the New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Bureau and the Sheriff's Department will provide $3,916 for overtime for Operation Buckle Down for seatbelt compliance.
An additional project agreement between the DOT and the Sheriff's Department will provide $25,811 for Operation DWI for personnel services, supplies and equipment.
The New Mexico Association of Counties requested every county in the state to support its legislative priorities for the 2012 session. Assessor Randy Villa is active on the NMAC executive board and helped determine the six priorities out of a list of about 40. The top priorities include:
• Support for a mechanism to correct property tax inequities and resolve the current constitutionality problem;
• Allow Public Employees Retirement Association retirees to serve as poll workers without risking loss of retirement benefits;
• Decriminalize traffic violations in New Mexico;
• Increase the portion of state liquor excise tax allocated to the Local Governments DWI Fund and dedicate a portion of that increase to the Administrative Office of the Courts for state drug courts;
• Create a system to ensure that local option gross receipts taxes are being remitted directly to the state, with the proper location code, to ensure payment of revenues to local government; and
• Empower County Commissions to ban all fireworks in their jurisdictions during extreme drought conditions.
Commissioners will also consider a bid for an aboveground 10,000-gallon double-walled diesel storage tank.
“We are having trouble getting diesel because companies are starting to hold supplies for the mines,” Saari said. “If we have a tank, we can order a whole tanker's worth at wholesale and be our own fuel source.”
Access to the fuel would be limited to access cardholders.
“We got three bids that were widely different, ranging from $29,000 to $74,000,” Saari said. “Earl Moore has made a recommendation.”
The commission will recess and convene as the Grant County Indigent and Health Care Claims Board to approve an indigent burial by Terrazas Funeral Chapels for burying Floyd Harrington. The claims board will also consider two claims reports one for 485 claims for $572,866.95 and another for 495 claims at $446,229.71.
Commissioners will also go into executive session to discuss limited personnel matters, regarding employee violation of Vehicle Policy, and to discuss real property and water rights, specifically the possible acquisition of real property.
The regular meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Grant County Administration Center.
County reports will be covered in a future article.