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[Editor's Note: This is the fifth of a multi-part series of articles on the Grant County Commission's work session on May 9, 2023 and regular meeting on May 11, 2023. This article continues with Commission updates from county department heads.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
The next Commission update came from Fiscal Services Director Linda Vasquez at the Grant County Commission work session on May 9, 2023.
She reported current projects including RFPs (requests for proposal) and bids. The first RFP 23-07, due May 8, 2023, addressed Airport engineering services; RFP 23-08, due May 12, 2023, addressed Tu Casa Crisis Consultant Services; RFP 23-09, due June 14, 2023, addressed legal services; and RFP-23-10 addressed External Auditor Services, due May 15, 2023.
The bids including Bid B-23-02, due May 23, 2023 for Truck Bypass widening and culvert replacements; B-23-03 due May 25, 2023, for Airport apron pavement maintenance and slot; and B-23-04, due May 31, 2023 for Little Walnut Phase I.
[Editor's Note: This is the fourth of a multi-part series of articles on the Grant County Commission's work session on May 9, 2023 and regular meeting on May 11, 2023. This article continues with Commission updates from county department heads.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
The next county report came from the General Services/Fire Management Director Randy Villa.
He spoke first about the airport. "Alamogordo and our fire base are the only ones open for fighting fires in the state at this time. We are ready for any fire in New Mexico, West Texas and Eastern Arizona. We have an air tanker, a spotter plane, two Type 1 helicopters and a medical helicopter with two seats."
Villa said April fuel sales for Advanced Airlines had totaled $79,835 for 15,558 gallons. All other sales totaled $111,852 for 16,238 gallons. "We added another 5,000-gallon Jet A fuel truck. For the fuel farm project, Airport Manager Rebekah Wenger has made a change to the FAA grant to increase the request by $475,000 to relieve the financial stress on the county. We thank staff for working with us in meeting grant deadlines."
He noted that the DWI Program has a new vehicle and will also get a new display trailer to set up at events. "They are also updating the compliance equipment, including breathalyzers and ankle monitors."
By Roger Lanse
Silver City Police Department officers responded Saturday, May 13, 2023, at about 4:43 p.m., to a breaking and entering call at 138 Sheriff’s Posse Road. The caller told the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority dispatcher that she had caught two males breaking into her father’s storge shed. She said the two males were now sitting on a hill east of her father’s property.
According to an SCPD incident report, the responding officers made contact with the female caller who stated the two males had left the hill and walked into the Walmart parking lot, so she had driven to the parking lot and took photos of the pair.
As an officer was on the way to the Walmart parking lot, they officer saw one of the males crossing Highway 180 toward Hatch Toyota. The male identified himself as Sean Gueffroy, 31, whose address was listed in the report as homeless, Silver City. Being advised by GCRDA that Gueffroy had an active warrant, Gueffroy was placed under arrest and handcuffed but resisted being placed in the rear seat of a patrol vehicle.
On March 20, 2023, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) closed NM 152 “Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway” from milepost 15 (San Lorenzo) to milepost 40 (west of Kingston) due to a potential roadway failure. Large cracks in the asphalt were found that could lead to further roadway deterioration.
A NMDOT heavy maintenance crew has worked on site and has been backfilling the area. Although paving was planned for this week, due to the rainy weather, it could not proceed. The plan now is to schedule paving the week of May 22, 2023. NM 152 is estimated to be reopened by May 26, 2023.
Ami Evans, NM DOT District 1 public information officer, told the Beat that this plan, as always, is weather pending.
By Lynn Janes
The town of Bayard held a special meeting May 11, 2023. The meeting started with Mayor Chon Fierro calling the meeting to order and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Attendance at the meeting included councilors Eloy Medina, Frances Gonzales, and Jose Diaz. Mayor Pro tem Raul Villanueva didn’t attend.
The council approved the agenda.
The council went into closed session to discuss personnel matters and stipends for the fire department.
The council came back from closed session.
Action items resulting from closed session.
By Lynn Janes
The Village of Santa Clara held its regular meeting May 11, 2023. Mayor Richard Bauch called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza, trustees, Olga Amador, Arnold Lopez, and Peter Erickson attended.
The council approved the agenda for the meeting with the change of moving roll call after closed session.
The council approved the minutes from the April 27, 2023, meeting.
The council approved the April 2023 department reports.
Mayor's report
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