[Editor's Note: This concludes the series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session of Feb. 8, 2022, and the regular meeting on Feb. 10, 2022. This report covers the review of the regular meeting agenda at the work session and includes decisions and discussions at the regular meeting.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The first item on the Feb. 8, 2022, Grant County commission's work session's review of the regular meeting agenda addressed the financial report.

Financial Officer Linda Vasquez first presented the quarterly report that ended the second quarter of the fiscal year on Dec. 31, 2021. She first gave the recap of the General Fund, which began the quarter with $4,308,588 million in cash, $8,993,754.09 in investments, revenues of $6,762,861.81, transfers out -$1,826,801.81, expenditures of $4,763,713.12, adjustments of $13,829.45, leaving a balance of $13,486,518.42. With required reserves of $1,190,928.28, the adjusted balance was $12,297,590.14.

The Road Department Fund had a beginning balance of $509,332, with zero investments, revenues of $395,256.84, zero transfers, expenditures of $857,005.23, leaving a balance of $47,583.81, minus required one-twelfth reserves of $71,417.10, leaving a negative balance of $23,833.49.

The Jail Fund for the Detention Center had a beginning balance of $280,604, with zero investments, revenues of $415,264.12, transfers in of $1,457,703.25, expenditures of $1,771,833.17, leaving a balance of $381,738.20, with no required reserves leaving the adjusted balance the same.

Vasquez said the overall balance of all funds totaled $26,248,374.25, minus required reserves of $1,262,345.38 leaving an adjusted balance at the end of the second quarter at $24,986,028.87.

District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne asked why the fire protection fund balance was larger than usual. Vasquez explained it includes money that is encumbered for fire trucks.

District 2 Commissioner Javier "Harvey" Salas asked about the indigent fund and where the money comes from. Vasquez said it is a gross receipts tax increment.

District 3 Commissioner Alicia Edwards said the fund pays for health care at the detention center.

Vasquez agreed and said the funds are transferred from the indigent fund to the jail fund.

Browne asked about the detailed report budget for the GRT.

Vasquez said she separated the compensating tax, "but it is doing well."

Browne commented that the report and the budget for the GRT was "surprisingly good news."

Commissioners approved the second quarter of the fiscal year 2021-2022 at the regular meeting.

At the work session, Vasquez presented the expenditure report from Jan. 7-Feb. 3. Expenditures totaled $2,218,493.28, which included two payroll periods totaling $439,795.73.

The extraordinary expenses above $10,000, which are included in the above totals, are shown in the PDF below.

Under agreements, Planning and Community Development Director Priscilla Shoup said the county would receive funding from CDBG (Community Block Development Grant) for projects, "but we are having an issue with Covid inflation, because all the bids came in over budget."
However, she noted that the county had received an amendment of $262,144, bringing the county up to what the bid was. "It's CARES money through HUD."

Commissioners approved the amendment at the regular meeting

The next agreement addressed the El Grito Inc. lease agreement for the county childcare facility. "Everyone has done the review," County Manager Tim Zamora said. "We need the board to approve the lease recommendation."

Commissioners approved the lease agreement.

The following agreement was for financial support for the DWI program. General Services Director Randy Villa said it is a standard agreement.

Commissioners approved the financial support for the DWI program.

Resolutions began with one that had been inadvertently left off the January agenda. It addressed the formality of naming commissioners as a member and alternate to the New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entity. Browne was approved as the county member and Salas as the alternate. District 4 Commissioner who serves as county representative and as president of the entity said the only cost the entity incurred was for a legal notice of the February meeting in the Silver City Daily Press.
A resolution addressing the Colonias project for Little Walnut Road Phase 1 is required, Shoup said. "We have a $200,000 match from the county. I am asking for an increase in next year's budget to pay for the match."

Zamora said during the budget process, "we will look to see if we have enough, and if not, we are looking at a loan option."

Edwards requested the county to explore any other alternate funding options.

At the regular meeting, when commissioners approved the resolution, Edwards commented that she was pleased to report the work done to getting the Local Road Development Fund expanded to allow trail traffic along the road. "The town of Silver City has secured funding for the road up to the city limits."

The next resolution addressed an application to the Colonias Infrastructure Fund for a preliminary engineering report for San Lorenzo. Shoup said the county needs a full scope, and probably the next step will be design for the bridges and roads that belong to the county.

Zamora explained: "Our roads get more drainage issues."

Edwards commented: "So the design of New Mexico 152 goes onto our roads." And Zamora agreed: "Yes, at one point."

Edwards asked if the PER pointed it out, "can we go to the state and say you need to fix your road before we fix ours?"

Commissioners approved the resolution requesting a Colonias fund application for a PER for San Lorenzo.

The final resolution authorized the county to submit an application to the Department of Finance and Administration, Local Government Division, to participate in the local DWI grant and distribution program.

Commissioners approved the resolution at the regular meeting.

As the Grant County Health Care Claims Board, the commissioners addressed the monthly indigent claims of $405.89.

District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce commended Procurement Officer Randy Hernandez for consistently cutting down the costs as compared to prior years and months.

Commissioners approved the claims and then reconvened as the Grant County Board of Commissioners to address county reports.

At the work session, Billings said he got a call from a constituent—"the fourth recently—on the subject of illegal dumping way out on Ridge Road. I suggested calling the sheriff."

Zamora said the problem is the ordinance officer should deal with it. "I'll get with the guys. We have to figure out a way to deal with it."

Billings said he wasn't sure if it was because the dump was closed.

Browne asked if the detention center cameras could capture traffic going by, going out full and coming back empty. "Maybe we need a camera at the landfill."

Ponce noted the same problem happens in Hurley.

Billings concurred that illegal dumping is a constant problem.

Edwards, in her report, said: "On a similar topic I brought up, I would like to see the abandoned building ordinance come back. And on another topic, at the request of the hospital, (WNMU President Joe) Shepard has expanded the Covid testing hours at Watts Hall from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, thanks to the folks at Curative."

Billings said he, too, had brought up the abandoned buildings ordinance. "It doesn't really address the problems I see. Maybe we need to determine the problems and build the ordinance around them."

Edwards said she is interested in getting old mobile homes taken care of.

"We need to fix it, so the code enforcement officer can't say his hands are tied," Ponce said.

Edwards noted: "But then we need staff to enforce it."

Salas said when he gets calls, he would like to be able to say: "We're on it." He said he does receive positive calls from constituents about the quick response from the Road Department and also positives about the Sheriff's deputies. "I also want us to research how we can put in solar and wind for potential savings on county buildings."

Browne said he brought up that there is no place on the county website where "I can go to browse the ordinances to see what is still in effect. I use the state ordinance website all the time. I want it to be as easy for the county's ordinances. I think maybe many of us got a call about participation in the Outdoor Recreation Plan for those who don't have internet access. That's why they need paper documents. Even folks online complained about it. Those without internet deserve to participate as well."

At the regular meeting, Browne had no report. Edwards commented about how rumors are flying in the community about the Cancer Center at the hospital. "We are doing everything possible not to have one second of disturbance with the transfer of the Cancer Center to a new provider."

Salas said he was happy to hear that the ceremony for the Bataan Memorial rededication was coming together well for it to take place on April 9, 2022, the 80th anniversary of the Bataan Death March.

The commissioners adjourned the regular meeting.

To read previous articles in this series, please visit these links: https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/70255-grant-county-commission-work-session-held-020822-part-1 ;
https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/70367-grant-county-commission-work-session-held-020822-part-2;
https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/70400-grant-county-commission-work-session-held-020822-part-3; https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/70483-grant-county-commission-work-session-held-020822-and-regular-meeting-held-021022-part-4; and https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/70517-grant-county-commission-work-session-held-020822-and-regular-meeting-held-021022-part-5 .