They also discuss the forum that was to be held that evening

By Mary Alice Murphy

At the Grant County Commission work session on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, heads of county departments gave their monthly reports to the commissioners.

Detention Center Administrator Mike Carillo said his department is continuously revising its policies and procedures. He said the jail has two vacancies.

A recent state preliminary assessment of the facility on the 34 standards showed 20 in compliance, 10 deficient and three non-compliant, including one in the kitchen and two in the medical services, as well as a fire safety issue.

He said two officers are in the second phase of training, which should be completed in mid-June.

The average daily population of the detention center in the past month has been 88, with a high male population of 74 and a high female population of 21. "Today we have 86 in the facility. For all of the past year, the average daily population was 86. Inmates remain in the jail for an average 34.44 days awaiting transport to other facilities."

Commissioner Harry Browne asked if filling vacancies would be problem.

Carillos said he had a number of applicants and would screen them with background checks.

The new Dispatch Center Administrator Barbara Schalkofski said she had been in dispatch for 16 years and spent 12 years as director in Socorro County. "I'm happy to be here. It's going good."

Road Superintendent Earl Moore said North Hurley Road was still closed, but should be open next week. "Tu Casa got in the electricity, but we are waiting for an inspection. The construction is waiting on parts for the water for the facility."

He said Fowler Brothers was almost done in Wind Canyon. "We will do the low water projects there in July."

Moore said once the chip seal materials arrive, his department would start repairing roads.

Commissioner Alicia Edwards said she presumed the Road Department would get started in Wind Canyon before the rains come. Commissioner Billy Billings said one of Edwards' constituents told him that the gravel was less than one-inch thick.

Moore said some places were not complete and the total depth should be six inches. He said to Edwards' comment that installing the low water crossings would not take long and could be completed even after the rains begin.

Commission Chairman Brett Kasten noted the most expensive part of the road improvement is when the county takes over care of the road into perpetuity.

General Services Director Randy Villa said his grounds superintendent is working on replacing the handicapped signs that received damage at the Conference Center during renovation. "We have replaced the smoke detectors at the Fairgrounds. We are lucky that Jason (Lockett) can do a lot of repairs in house."

Villa said the Day in the Life of a DWI Offender saw 90 students go through the process, with former Judge Ron Hall and Magistrate Judge Maurine Laney sitting there and handing out "sentences."

"They made the students really look at the consequences," Villa said. "Cindy (McClean, DWI Program coordinator) breathalyzed several."

He said Corre Caminos is preparing for the Blues Festival and then the Wild, Wild West Rodeo.

As for fire, Villa reported a standard structure fire in Arenas Valley, with the cause under investigation. He said no nearby structures received damage. The Baca and Kerr fires are ongoing in the forest for resource benefit.

"We have more planes at the airport," Villa said. "I thank the new manager for making sure fees are paid."

Planning and Economic Development Director Michael "Mischa" Larisch said the LS Mesa Fire station continues under construction. He told Billings a tentative date to make a visit to it was May 24, and he would send him a confirmation email.

Larisch said the continuation of the Rosedale Road construction had been denied because of lack of funding. He said Tu Casa would hold a site meeting next Tuesday.

"I am expecting the final draft of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan today," he said. "I will be looking for input. I hope to have the final in June from Bohannon Huston, which plans to have representatives here at the June work session."

He noted WNM Communications was putting in fiber optic line to the airport, "but we have to put in the conduit to run it to the buildings." A 40,000-gallon water tank has been ordered for the Lower Mimbres Volunteer Fire Department.

"We started the ICIP (Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan) public meetings yesterday in Cliff, today in Hachita, where we expect to see people interested in our projects in the area, Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Administration Center and Thursday in Mimbres," Larisch said.

Kasten asked if Mr. Nichols who had a plane and an office at the airport had been notified, so he could connect. Larisch said he would get hold of him.

Browne asked if the county was sharing costs with the Forest Service. "WNM is bringing the line from the airport to the Forest Service facility out there," Larisch replied. "We have the airport, the pilots' lounge, Nichols and then the Forest Service will pay for theirs. We will pay just from the road and WNM will run the conduit."

Browne asked why there had been no public meetings on the land use plan. Larisch said meetings had been held with stakeholders, of which there were about 20. "The public has an opportunity to give more input. The Council of Governments is involved with us."

Browne asked if the public could fill out the survey or would some have been identified as stakeholders. "I wish we had done public meetings."

Larisch said he plans to look at the plan again in five years and would plan public input sessions.

Gila Regional Medical Center Interim Chief Executive Officer Alfredo Ontiveros gave his report. "The new CEO, Taffy Arias, will be on board 30 May. I will be available to help with the transition up to 30 days after that."

"The Cancer Center had two responses—UNM Cancer Center and New Mexico Cancer Center—to the request for proposal," Ontiveros said. "The committee selected UNM and met last Thursday to begin negotiations. New Mexico Cancer Center has filed an appeal to the state procurement code. I hope the transition will take place around July 17-18."

In his report he said the MediTech go live date is still set at June 1. "For the March report, we had 183 admissions, the second highest year-to-date, but less than March 2016. March 2017 was the highest month for the clinic services, including cardiology, surgery, pain management and family practice. In March, we had 522 full-time employees. We still have a lot of staffing levels to look at. We are still rich in staff."

In his financial report, he said the bottom line was $281,000 positive. January was positive; February was negative and "I think April will be positive."

He said he would attend the Forum on the Cancer Center to be held that evening (May 16, 2017).

Edwards asked if Ontiveros could explain the request for proposal and why it had been done at this time.

"The contract expired in November 2016," Ontiveros said. "We did the last extension, so we had to go out to RFP. When I got here, the RFP was already in place."

Edwards asked if the process could be considered in the decision-making process.

"Did you receive the proposal?" Ontiveros asked her. "If you did you saw the criteria. You can see where issues had to be addressed, with 70 percent in providing services and 30 percent not."

Billings asked if the request had resulted in learning who was on the committee.

"No, because that was not requested," Ontiveros said. "If you send me a request, legal counsel will advise me."

Edwards asked the timeline on the appeal, and Ontiveros said he did not know, "but the termination letter to New Mexico Oncology lists July 17 as the last day. I think it may require longer, but I have to ask counsel. It will be based on operations. In my opinion, we have to have no loss of services during the transition."

Browne said he had more questions for the Board of Trustees, to which Ontiveros suggested he call the chairman, Jeremiah Garcia.

Browne said he had concerns on the selection committee process of choosing the CEO. "A consulting firm was the one that led it. You are a managing partner of that firm."

"That was fully disclosed," Ontiveros said. "I was not part of the process of choosing the consultant firm. Yes, Executive Workforce Connections chose me as a possible interim CEO, and EWC was chosen to oversee the choice of a new CEO. That's why I wanted to be at arm's length from the process. And yes, 10 years ago, I worked with Arias."

Browne asked if Ontiveros recommended Arias.

"I was not involved in the selection committee," Ontiveros said. "EWC chose the potential candidates.

Edwards asked if the selection of Ontiveros as interim CEO had anything to do with the RFP for the CEO.

"I don't know what process they used, either on me as a choice for interim or the choice of EWC for the CEO selection process," Ontiveros said. "I try to stay at arm's length from any conflict of interest."

Edwards asked that clarification be made about the forum to be held that evening. "It has been misconstrued as being sponsored by the County Commission. It is not. It is being hosted by Billy and me as individuals, not as the commission."

Kasten asked if UNM had been invited and asked Ontiveros to invite anyone he wanted to. "I'm afraid it will be one-sided."

Billings said the speakers would be first come, first served. "I will open that we are not taking sides and the public has a way to get their questions out there."

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos said he did not want it to be one-sided and was glad that Billings and Edwards were not representing the Commission.

"The public feels it hasn't had the opportunity to have their concerns heard," Edwards said.

Ramos said RFP processes were good, because they offered competition.

Kasten said the regular session would take place on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 9 a.m.