[Editor's Note: This is part 4 of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session on Sept. 12, 2023 and the regular meeting on Sept. 14, 2023.. This article continues with the review of the regular meeting agenda at the work session. This article begins with a hearing and action on the bond sale issuance at the regular meeting and goes into recognitions and a presentation.]

Appraiser Associate Denisha Lucero received the certificate of 10 years of county service from Assessor Misty Trujillo.
Corre Caminos Manager Kim Dominguez recognizes Patricia Graziano for 10 years service as a driver.

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

In the review of the Sept. 14, 2023 regular meeting agenda, County Manager Charlene Webb noted the hearing on the bond sale. [Editor's Note: The discussion at the work session was covered in part 3 of this series, with the link at the bottom of this article.]

At the regular meeting, commissioners heard from County Financial Advisor Mark Valenzuela. He explained that this bond sale is the first tranche of $2 million from last year's voter-approved $8 million in bond sales. "We chose $2 million this time to ensure over the next 12-15 years that the property tax rates do not increase. We hope to come back next year to issue another $2 million, but we want to make sure to keep the tax rates steady. I know the manager has plenty of projects ready to go.

"We just came out of bond rating communications, and Moody's which rated this bond transaction and the county itself, affirmed the current county rating of A2 and eliminated what was an negative outlook on the bond rating, which is very positive, so we are very pleased," Valenzuela continued. "Congratulations to your county manager for taking you through that conversation and to you for the way you have managed the county. Going into the conversations we were getting indications that the agencies were considering downgrading the county, so I'm very pleased with how that came together. I know you had a long discussion on Tuesday, but I'm happy to answer any questions."

No one else testified, so a vote was taken close the hearing. With no discussion, commissioners approved the ordinance.

In public input at the regular meeting, commissioners heard from Kurt Albershardt, a telecommunications engineer, questioning the need for money to be put toward wireless broadband expansion in Pinos Altos. "I have three decades of experience, so I have a couple of comments on the broadband design deployment and infrastructure building and the proposed broadband subsidies to be decided at this meeting. At first, I thought it was proposing taking fiber to homes in Pinos Altos, which I think would be a great idea, but I understand it would be prohibitively expensive. Technically, I think fiber to Fierro is a great proposal, and I support that. The proposal to deliver services to Pinos Altos involves putting a tower at the VFD (volunteer fire department), where there are a large amount of trees. The problem in Pinos Altos for broadband providers, including WNM Communications, with providing wireless service to residents from existing locations on the upper mountain and on the lower mountain is really the trees. The lower frequencies that can penetrate the trees are better from above than from lower down. Someone, I don't know if it's WNM, has constructed a 5G tower on the upper mountain, which has service that will cover Pinos Altos. I don't know what speeds or what prices, but that infrastructure is already in place and presumably paid for. As an engineer, I'm not sure that putting a tower at the fire station is going to provide much. My perspective is that it's a worse location than the upper mountain for most houses in Pinos Altos, so I'm not sure about that. It may be a good proposal, but I would need to see more details."

Steve Mitchell of Buckhorn said he wasn't going to speak, but "I really want to thank some people. I learned that the state has approved some funding for repairing the track and field at the school in Cliff I met with Mrs. (Jenean) Garney (Cliff School principal) and also talked to Mr. (William) Hawkins (Silver Consolidation Schools superintendent) out at the fairgrounds. Mrs. Garner has some ideas about what needs to be done, and Mr. Hawkins said he would love to see some bleachers. I also met with some school board members. Out at the fairgrounds we have some bleachers that aren't used most of the year. I thought I would ask the county if the bleachers over by the FFA area could be put on a trailer and moved to the school. We could use them at the school in the spring and summer when the school needs them and then bring them back in the fall for the fair. I've had positive feedback, but I don't know what the next step is to work out the details, but it would benefit the whole community. The school has expressed that it has a welding club that would like to take on the project of making the trailer. I want to thank all the people who were involved."

Webb continued with the review of the regular meeting agenda and said the presentations would recognize two county staff members, each for 10 years of service to the county.

The first was to Denisha Lucero, who started out spending three years in the manager's officer and since has served as an appraiser associate in the Assessor's Office.

At the regular meeting, Assessor Misty Trujillo said she respected Lucero as an employee. "She is the manufactured-home assessor. It is not an easy position. She works with title companies as well as the residents. She will give 110 percent and go above and beyond helping the property owners. Denisha is a New Mexico certified appraiser, which is a huge accomplishment by itself and shows her work ethic. I just want her to know we all appreciate her in the assessor's office and we hope she sticks with us until retirement."

The second presentation recognized Patricia Graziano for 10 years serving Corre Caminos as a driver. Corre Caminos Manager Kim Dominguez said Graziano "has been with us for 10 years, always interesting and sometimes challenging years, especially during the pandemic when she kept on driving without hesitation. We can always count on Patsy to show up with 30 minutes notice to cover shifts. She has driven with failing a/c without complaint. She always walks through the door with a smile in the morning. Patsy's an invaluable member of our team, so thank you, and here's to another 10."

The presentation came from Ty Bays, Grant Soil and Water Conservation District board member. He requested the county pass a resolution addressing the noxious weeds issue. "We passed a resolution at our August meeting, which we presented to you for your consideration. We passed this resolution somewhat out of frustration with the New Mexico Department of Transportation. We are seeking cooperation with the Department of Transportation. We have a grant and the capability to control noxious weeds. We have worked with the NM DOT to control these noxious weeds. Of late, we seem to have miscommunications with the NMDOT, and maybe it's because of new faces and new roles at the department. Our intent is to bring up this topic, because these noxious weeds are a concern. There are places in Montana that have been taken off the tax rolls because of noxious weeds. We have had bad Dalmatian toadflax and Russian star thistle and a multitude of others. We know where they are; we have identified them. We've in the past worked with NMDOT. It's important for us to work with the DOT, because as they move equipment and do mowing, that's how the weeds get spread. Recently we had a patch that resurfaced on 180 near the Bypass Road that we thought we had had taken care of. We were working with DOT to take care of it and then they went and mowed it. We are concerned that the seed is now being spread wherever they are mowing. To make it clear this is not just a farmer-rancher issue, these weeds are also noxious to our wildlife. They can take over our native flora and devastate our wildlife habitat as well.

"We are not asking for money from the Commission," Bays continued. "We are asking for you to pass this resolution or a similar one with the same intent. We intend to also present this to the New Mexico Conservation Board, which is our state organization for our conservation districts. We may also seek some legislation, maybe a line item, to make sure the Department of Transportation is working with the soil and water conservation districts or on their own to control these noxious weeds. Unless we work together cooperatively, we will not be able to control them."

District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne said he believed the resolution Bays has presented was directed at the conservation districts, "so I drafted a resolution that reflects our perspective as the county. I will share it with you, Mr. Bays, and it should be in all the commissioner mailboxes. Overall, I totally support the intent. I can't see anything wrong with intergovernmental cooperation and addressing noxious weeds is a high value. I'm in support in general. We just have to work out the details."

District 3 Commissioner Alicia Edwards echoed the support. "I briefly looked at the resolution Commissioner Browne drafted, and I believe it strengthens the county's support."

Webb said it could be put on a special meeting agenda at the end of the month or the October meeting.

District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce said it's also a statewide issue.

Bays confirmed that and said in Luna County, they have some big issues. "You can see the African rue on the sides of the highway leaving Deming especially on the road to Hatch. Again, they mow that and the seeds get in the mower and wherever that mower goes, it is planting more seeds."

Ponce asked Webb to send the conservation district resolution and Commissioner Browne's version to New Mexico Counties, "so we can have a discussion at the end of the month."

Webb agreed.

The next article will begin with proclamations.

For previous articles, please visit https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/80266-grant-county-commission-holds-work-session-0912223-part-1 ; https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/80291-grant-county-commission-work-session-091223-part-2 ; and
https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/80329-grant-county-commission-work-session-091223-and-regular-meeting-part-3 .