[Editor's Note: This is a continuation of a multi-part series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session of Feb. 19, and regular meeting on Feb. 21. It will include the elected officials' reports and at least some of the four hours of public input, which will require additional articles.]

With the change of commissioners at the January meeting and the possibility of setting up evening meetings, it was requested that elected official reports be made at the beginning of the meetings, so they didn't have to stay until the end to give their reports.

The Grant County Commission at its regular meeting on Feb. 21, 2019 heard elected officials' reports right after the revised agenda was approved.

Treasurer Steve Armendariz said his office had collected more than $3 million in 2018 property taxes this month. In total, his office has collected $50.703 million for the county and all entities which are taxed through the county. "I expect the Department of Tax and Revenue will be here for delinquent sales around the end of March."

Probate Judge Mary Ann Sedillo said she is available to citizens five days a week. "Reach me at 575-313-4417."

Assessor Raul Turrieta thanked the hundreds of people gathered to give input "for your voice. It is so important. This is what Grant County is all about." He also thanked his office staff for the work they do.

Undersheriff Jess Watkins said the department has seen increases in domestic violence, breaking and entering, fraud and suspicious activity. "We are spending more time on Dispatch calls than on citizen contacts."

Commission Chairman Chris Ponce then called for public input.

The first to speak was Linda Nichols. "I want to thank Freeport McMoRan for everything they have given to the county. I am speaking specifically to Commissioners Harry Browne and Alicia Edwards. Yes, there have been layoffs. One parent would stay here to work and the other would leave to find work. These bills would affect not just Freeport, but subcontractors, 98 percent of the businesses, schools because there would be no school children, the hospital. Homes will get foreclosed, cars repossessed. Is that what we want for Grant County? Think your decision through because you are going to destroy this county if you make the wrong decision."

Jim and Debbie Nennich came forward to speak on HB 220 and HB255. Jim Nennich said it is a difficult legislative year. "There are a lot of bills that are going to affect businesses. These two bills will impact our entire community and future generations. For the past 25 years, we've experienced layoffs. They usually last one to two years. Stores have closed. It's difficult to stay afloat, but the layoffs were temporary. What we're faced here with these two bills is permanent. This is our lives, and this is our community."

Debbie Nennich said: "We're from Air Force families, so we've lived all over. We chose Grant County to settle down. Our kids and grandkids live here. If the mines close, we will have to close our business. Permanent layoffs will devastate the economy. And on the issue of the gun legislation, no one has the right to infringe on our right to bear arms. The only ones who will still have guns are the criminals. Four times, I've had to pull out my gun. One time, it was a drug dealer, and I pulled it out and told him: 'I am not willing to have you threaten me.' It ended right there. Japan did not invade us during World War II because they knew there was a gun behind every blade of grass." To the assembled crowd, she said: "Thank all of you for being here. God Bless America and God Bless Grant County."

Rebecca Collins, a Grant County citizen, said she had come to defend her Second Amendment rights. "These proposed laws do nothing to protect us from criminals. We have a right to bear arms. We have to protect our country based on the U.S. Constitution. We can't let it keep getting dwindled away. Thousands of people have died to allow me to stand here. It is my right to have a loaded gun at my house. Don't be telling me I need to get permits. As my dad said: 'An unloaded gun is as useless as tits on a boar hog.'"

Catherine Jewell said she is from a third-generation mining family. "A lot of food has been put on a lot of tables because of the mines. Shut it down and you're shutting down my family. You get revenue from these companies that extract coal, copper, and oil and gas. Where are you going to get the money to replace that? If you raise taxes, how are you going to get taxes out of people who aren't working? And you are not going to take my guns. I'm not going to get a piece of paper to be able to own my guns."

Elizabeth Hines said she is a retired educator. "I carry with me a copy of the Constitution. I taught AP History and AP English. The words "must be" you cannot put your own interpretation on. I want to speak to the Second Amendment and give you a history lesson. The British government was abusing the people in the colonies. The British soldiers were confiscating weapons, because they did not want a rebellion. The Constitution give us the right to own firearms to oppose an overreaching government. We have a governor and state government right now that are overreaching. Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent, you have the rights given to you by this document," she said as she held up her copy of the Constitutions. "I come from eastern New Mexico where oil and gas are the economic engine. Mining is our economic engine. Economics is important. If we do not oppose the mining legislation, we run the risk of not having revenue for schools, the hospital. Economics is the No. 1 issue for Grant County."

Bobbie Grimes said she is fourth generation in Grant County. "My grandkids are here. You don't like it here, move. I'm here for the mines and the guns. Our guns don't stop anyone from moving here or visiting."

Liz R. Morales said she was born and raised here. "I'm proud to be a New Mexican. I'm proud to be a Grant Countian. I'm here to oppose HB 220 and HB 255. I worked with the New Mexico Employment Division. I got to witness a lot of people unemployed when the mines shut down. More than 4,000 people. I got to witness it on a daily basis. After about three months when the first extension of unemployment benefits came into place, people wondered how it would play out. With each extension, it became harder for my fellow citizens, neighbors and families. It got harder to hear about their hardships. I tried to lead them in the right direction. Some had to leave because within a year's time, their benefits were exhausted. Families had to relocate, and the jobs never came back. The mines have employees from Hidalgo, Luna, Catron and Sierra, not just Grant County. Freeport continues to abide by all the New Mexico operational and environmental guidelines."

Sal Morales said he was born in Grant County. "My parents are here. My great- grandparents came from Mexico and my grandfather worked at the mine. The water is fine. We have a well and it's fine. The legislation is threatening to close the mine. You want to make a change in the law? We don't need to change the law. Contact Rudy, Gabe, Howie and Grisham and tell them this Legislature is out of control. The legislators forgot who put them in there. We need a resolution come out of here not to confiscate our guns and that we don't need the mines to close. I started as a laborer at the mine. Now I'm manager of maintenance. Freeport does not discriminate. HB 220 will shut Chino down. It could even shut Tyrone down, which is already working on a limited budget. Freeport has enough solvency to buy Chino and Tyrone 100 times over. We don't need to change the assurance. And also, I'm asking for no changes to our Second Amendment rights."

An unidentified man said he wondered what the legislators are thinking. "The mine is the lifeblood of this county and others nearby. If HB 220 becomes law, people will have to move. All my kids work here. I also want to mention guns. Those legislators are sitting in Santa Fe. They don't think about the impact of the laws they pass. They need to look at the Constitution, how we have rights. Coyote hunts are not for the thrill to kill, but to control the population. Everything that I believe has been said more eloquently."

Another man said: "You're either with us or you're against us. There is no compromise. They want to take our guns and they're coming for yours. I believe everyone has the right to protect themselves with firearms. I also support the mines. If they close, many will move away. I came back to Freeport. I'm a fourth-generation miner, not just in this county. Don't close the mines, because it will affect a lot of folks. We are here to back each other up."

A person named Harrison reminded the commissioners: "You were voted by the people for the people and you work for all the people. I don't stand behind all the speakers. I stand with them. You are not going to break up this family."

A man said he sent his statement to the legislators. "I am an elected official in Hidalgo County. I am a commissioner. After the closure of the Hidalgo Smelter, the fears you're hearing, I've lived them. We need to take a serious approach, a regional approach with Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties. We're living it right now with immigration. We cannot pay enough deputies to manage the situation. Twenty years later, we're still feeling the impact of the closure of the smelter. I work with Freeport. We are responsible stewards of the environment. It's our culture. It's why we call it the Mining District. Remember that the impact will be regional."

Samantha Morales said she is the daughter of a miner. "I have had an awesome childhood because of my dad being a miner. Freeport renovated the fields. Millennials are having to leave the state because there are no jobs. I am a 2016 graduate of New Mexico State University. I want Freeport to flourish. Mr. Browne, you want funding for Aldo Leopold School. You can't do it if you choke out Freeport. This is our land and we will fight for it."

Steve Ray Aguirre said he has had two jobs in Grant County. "One with Kennecott and one with law enforcement. All of you get registered, then you go vote, then you do your talking. I'm so proud to hear so many of you speaking in the right direction. When the time comes, go out and vote to defend our county."

The next article will continue the public input.