Grant County Commission holds combined work session and regular meeting 091818, Part 2

[Editor's Note: This is the second in a multi-part series of articles on the combined work session and regular meeting of the Grant County Commission on Sept. 18, 2018. Apologies for the lateness, but the week had several problems that had to be worked out—technical and personal.]

Photos and Article by Mary Alice Murphy

Grant County commissioners after hearing the Gila Regional Medical Center monthly update and public input, delved into the business of the meeting. They can be read at http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/46708-grant-county-commission-holds-combined-work-and-regular-session-091818-part-1.

The first item was the monthly expenditure report, as presented by County Financial Officer Linda Vasquez. The total expenditures for the month were $1,807,253.88 for the period ending Sept. 7, 2018. The total included two payroll periods totaling $414,184.62.

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The commissioners approved the proclamation declaring the month of October 2018 as "Dyslexia Awareness Month." Everyone representing the group had left to go back to school.

Richard Lawyer of the Grant County Fair Board received the proclamation naming Sept. 19-23 as Grant County Fair Days. He said most students had been working much of the year on their projects, especially those raising animals. Lawyer said the fair has been going for 65 years.

The next proclamation was to recognize the month of October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month." "At El Refugio, this year, we have served 453—women, men and children—from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018," El Refugio Director Rachel Sierra said.

Commission Chairman Billy Billings said he recently attended an event at El Refugio. "The number of balloons was staggering. It began as a political attendance, but it became emotional."

Detention Center Administrator Mike Carillo extended his thanks to those who support El Refugio. "I was one of those who put it together 30 years ago. My thanks to you, Rachel, and everyone who works there."

Commissioner Alicia Edwards read the proclamation declaring October 2018 as "Farm to School Month" and the week of October 1-5, 2018 as "New Mexico Grown" week in honor of the partnership between New Mexico ranchers, farmers and public schools. She said she had requested the proclamation wearing her Healthy Kids, Healthy Community hat to honor all participating food producers, current and future, "as partners with the public schools to provide locally grown food to the schools."

VanTellingen thanked Edwards and said she was happy to work on the project. "I'm extremely passionate about beef and ranching."

Three volunteer firefighters from the Pinos Altos VFD were recently certified as Firefighters I-II. County Fire Management Officer Randy Villa said that when he first took the fire management position, "one of my goals was that I wanted to work with volunteer fire departments to bring down their ISO rating [to make homeowners' insurance more affordable] and to train firefighters for more comprehensive firefighting in conjunction with the Firefighting Academy in Socorro. We do the training and the academy administers the test. We started with 18. These are three who have completed the course. We have three to five more coming through the first cadet program. It involves 40 hours of Hazmat training, tactical testing, hosing and equipment and getting into and out of gear. It is a 150-question written test." He thanked the VFDs and the 300 volunteer firefighters in the county. "The volunteers go through the same training as those working in municipal fire departments. We're really proud of them as the first ones to pass the testing."

Commissioner Brett Kasten thanked the newly certified firefighters for protecting the residents of Grant County and Villa and Groves for planning and conducting the training. Billings echoed them by thanking them for their volunteer service.

Commissioners approved out-of-state travel for Planning and Community Development Department Director Michael "Mischa" Larisch to attend a trails and economic development forum in Boulder, CO, in late October. County Manager Charlene Webb said the event was invitation only and all expenses would be repaid or reimbursed at no cost to the county.

Dean Foster was appointed as a Shooting Range Advisory Board member.

Commissioners approved a special management inmates policy and procedure to process inmate correspondence, publications and package.

The final budget for Corre Caminos was approved. Corre Caminos Director Kim Dominguez said the budget had no increases in the operating budget, but employees received a 4 percent increase. "We were also awarded capital for one bus purchase."

Under agreements, commissioners approved the agreement between the Department of Finance and Administration through the Local Governments Division and Grant County for $50,000 the purpose of equipment and security upgrades at the Grant County Detention Center.

Commissioner Harry Browne noted funding for the detention center is also on the bond issue up for approval at the Nov. 6 General Election. Webb said this allocation does not duplicate the request in the bond.

Also approved was an agreement between DFA LGD and the county to purchase and equip vehicles for the Sheriff's Department for $60,000.

Edwards noted that it was for more than one vehicle. Webb said: "With other allocations, we are able to purchase two vehicles."

In resolutions, commissioners approved an amended and restated resolution for a Colonias Infrastructure Project Fund loan/grant agreement by and among the NM Colonias Infrastructure Board, the New Mexico Finance Authority and Grant County for financing the costs of Rosedale Road Phase II reconstruction and safety improvements for $1.1 million. Webb said the total, along with additional funding from Colonias, would fully fund completion of the project.

Commissioners approved a resolution to apply for funding from the New Mexico Water Trust Board for the North Hurley drainage project. Larisch said the county applies to Colonias every year for funding. "We can also tie the drainage project to Water Trust Board funding, so I'm asking for authority to apply."

Also approved were small changes to the Grant County Purchasing Policy to meet state statute for small purchases.

An approved resolution supports and financially commits the county to participate in the Corre Caminos transportation system. Webb explained the commitment came to $220,000, of which $80,000 is cash, and the other $140,000 is an administrative fee, which is paid by federal funding that comes to the county and "we pay it out. It washes. I commend Kim for putting Corre Caminos in the black."

Commissioners approved separate infrastructure capital improvement plans for the Mimbres and Gila Senior Centers. "The money goes to the same place as for our ICIP, but it comes from a different pot of money."

Then came the controversial resolution, which related "to the United States' Administration's Executive Order 13767: Declaring the Grant County Commission's opposition to the proposed construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The resolution was created by Mary Lynne Newell, who spoke in public input at the beginning of the meeting. Her opposition to the border wall can be read at http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/46708-grant-county-commission-holds-combined-work-and-regular-session-091818-part-1 .

Edwards presented the resolution. "I move we approve." Browne said he appreciated the drafting of the resolution, but "it leaves out the humanitarian element. Thousands of people die avoiding walls. With more walls, we endanger and terminate good people trying to benefit their families."

Kasten said he was not going to support the resolution as written. "There needs to be in the resolution that Grant County supports border security. I think no wall anywhere provides total security. I ask the federal government to put up virtual walls and more Border Patrol. We have to make sure we do our due diligence. I will work with someone to wordsmith this resolution."

Edwards noted that the last paragraph asked for alternatives to a border wall, as well as an analysis of the cost, effectiveness, necessity and consequences of the executive order.

Billings noted that he thinks it should be a federal issue, not a county issue. "I campaigned on focusing on county business. I will not vote in support of this resolution."

Edwards withdrew her motion and moved to table the resolution. The resolution was tabled.

Webb, on the next item to submit an application for financial assistance, asked that it be tabled until the October meeting.

The final resolution approved was the certification of property tax rates in mills for tax year 2018. Assessor Raul Turrieta said no changes to the mill rates were made to this year's taxes, with the exception of the Mining District municipalities, which had approved increases by resolution.

Under bids and requests for proposals, Webb recommended approval of a contract with Stantec for one year of engineering services. It was approved.

Treasurer Steve Armendariz said a committee went through the request for proposals for banking services and determined that Wells Fargo had the better proposal. Although there were increases in costs, the proposal would allow larger amounts to be held. "We recommend you accept the Wells Fargo proposal."

Browne asked if any consideration was given to local banks. Armendariz said points were issued to local banks, but even so, Well Fargo was the best proposal, "although it was amazingly close."

In the request for a proposal process for surveying services, Webb recommended the firms from both proposals received by awarded contracts. They are Souder, Miller through its Las Cruces office and Allsup Surveying in Silver City.

Edwards asked how the county determines who does which jobs. Webb said some by Souder Miller are less expensive, and "if it's a simple job, we use local contractors, so there is no travel expense."

Edwards said she appreciated the county using local contractors.

"It was qualification based and both met the qualifications," Webb said.

The commissioners, as the Grant County Health Care Claims Board, approved health plan claims in the amount of $14,181.95 and an indigent burial from Baca's Funeral Chapel.

Carillo gave his county official report first. He said the Detention Center has four vacancies and one new hire. The high daily population was 82, with the high male population at 63 and the high female population at 19. Both are up over last month.

He said the department would sponsor a Narcan training. (It was held this past week).

Edwards asked to see statistical data in a graph to see trends over the months.

Carillo said most of the statistics run fairly close, but the jail usually sees an increase from November through February, and small increases in the summer.

Browne said sometimes the jail holds inmates for Hidalgo County. He said he would prefer they be taken out of the numbers. Edwards agreed and wanted the report to focus on Grant County.

[Editor's Note: The Detention Center is paid by Hidalgo County to hold its inmates, so the bottom line reflects those inmates.]

Road Superintendent Earl Moore said the monsoon season had brought significant material wash outs, especially in Wind Canyon and on Cottage San Road. "Culverts are blocked up. We will need a local contractor to clean them." He reported his department had finished capping Little Walnut Road and Rosedale Road is almost finished. He reported damage in Arenas Valley and at Saliz Pass in Catron County, which his department helps when needed.

Villa said the maintenance department was working hard to ready the Fairgrounds for the County Fair this past week.

"We had some vandalism at Bataan Park, which the department has had to address," Villa said. "The airport is running smoothly. We are trying to fill a full-time position we lost out there. And there was a small grass fire in Silver Acres. Please, if you want to burn, contact your local fire department and give them a heads up and get a permit, if required."

"Why doesn't the county issue burn permits?" Edwards asked.

"Burning trash is always illegal, but ranchers have been maintaining their fields with burns for generations," Villa said. "We don't want to interfere with that. It comes down to common sense. Don't burn piles bigger than a VW Bug."

Edwards asked about the vandalism at Bataan Park.

"They bashed in a sliding aluminum door," Villa said. "We think it was the same group. They started in Santa Clara, then to Bataan and then to Fort Bayard, where they did damage to structures, all on the same night."

Larisch said he was still working on the Asset Management Plan. He said the Rosedale Road project is about to be all signed and ready to go out for bid. Whiskey Creek Fire Station is also out to bid. "I am working on the Water Trust Board application. Now that you have approved it, I can hit send."

He said he is doing a training with an application for contracts that would keep the county in flood compliance. "The public is welcome to attend, but it is geared toward contractors and septic providers."

"For Tu Casa, we're working to close out the CDBG grant," Larisch said. "The backup generator at the airport is in place. It's a Caterpillar, but it is not meeting requirements. We have to switch to a Cummins. Apex will eat all the costs, with no cost differential for us."

Kasten asked about the Santa Rita Fire Station in Hanover. Villa said that Chief Standard had stepped down. "The station is open and being used. We won't have a new chief until December."

Browne asked about the energy conservation work. Larisch said the resolution had to be tabled the day of the meeting because it is not ready.

Turrieta said his office would have the warrants and abstracts in a couple of weeks.
"I am sending staff to courses. We have a 73 percent completion rate. Desirae Liska has completed Course I, which is one of the toughest. Denisha Lucero also has completed I and passed the second course. Traci Burnsed and Matthew James have passed Course 600. We are waiting for information on parcel correction."

He said his department has two temporary openings and one full-time opening. He also thanked GRMC for taking good care of his wife, who was in intensive care for 15 days. "They are wonderful at Gila Regional."

He also announced Oct. 13 as the 150th birthday of Santa Clara.

Armendariz had his Chief Deputy Veronica Ruelas of the Treasurer's Office give the report. She said the county has collected $5,548,405 or property taxes for a 93.92 percent collection rate.

She also said the office has a temporary position opening.

Kasten invited everyone to the fair, starting on Thursday, Sept. 20, with animals, exhibits, rodeos and dances. "It's the largest agricultural gathering in the county." He also noted that Silver Schools has invited commissioners to participate in a community partner group. He plans to attend and asked who else would. Browne said he could attend on Oct. 10.

The commissioners went into executive session to discuss the performance evaluation of the county manager.