[Editor's Note: This is part 6 and the final part of the Grant County Commission work session of May 14, 2019. It covers the review of the regular meeting agenda on Thursday, May 16, 2019 and will include the decisions made at that meeting on the items not discussed in more detail. Part 7 will complete the regular meeting.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

After the presentations and the discussions on the preliminary budget at the Grant County Commission work session of May 14, 2019, the commissioners heard a review of the regular meeting agenda, which would take place on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

County Manager Charlene Webb said several presentations and proclamations, including a law enforcement memorial presentation, and two proclamations, one proclaiming the week of May 16, 2019 as Secondhand Smoke Awareness Day and a second proclaiming June 12-15, 2019 as the First New Mexico Bank Wild, Wild West Pro Rodeo week, would take place.

County Financial Officer Linda Vasquez presented the expenditure report of May 8, 2019. The total expenditures of $2,042,673.31 included two payrolls totaling $407,269.58. The chart below lists the expenditures that totaled more than $10,000 each.

Under new business, Webb said the commissioners had heard the presentation of the PNM representative, Bruce Ashburn, earlier in the meeting, and would consider the notice of intent to participate in the PNM Solar Direct Program at the regular meeting.

[Editor's Note: This article may be read at http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/51342-grant-county-commission-work-session-051419-part-2 ]

At the work session, commissioners heard an overview of the magistrate court clients under surveillance from July 1, 2018 through Feb. 4, 2019. At present a total of 32 clients are being served. Webb said the program is transitioning into pre-trial services. "Rather than just ankle bracelets, which is what it has been so far, they are being placed in pre-trial status and being matched with resources needed before trial, not just surveillance. Magistrate Judge Maurine Laney is using it and has nothing but good to say about the program."

Ted Martinez of the Treasurer's Office said he had sent out just short of 200 registered letters to those delinquent for more than $100 on their solid-waste accounts. "I will file about 93 liens on the properties of those who have not paid."

Treasurer Steve Armendariz said people have to pay the liens whenever they need a tax release.

Webb said the county ordinance requires the commission to approve the liens, which it did at the regular meeting. Webb said she was looking at the solid waste ordinance to see if changes could be made. "I sign off on a couple a week on average."

Next on the regular meeting agenda were several inventory deletions and transfers. Deletions included old computer equipment and transfers included a compressor from the Santa Rita Volunteer Fire Department to the Road Department; a 1994 Chevy truck from Fort Bayard VFD to the Road Department; and a 2004 Chevy Blazer from the Maintenance Department to the Tyrone VFD. They were approved at the regular meeting.

Two applications were received for four vacancies on the Grant County Shooting Range Advisory Board. At the regular meeting Dean Foster and Robert Love II were approved for two of the slots for two-year terms. The vacancies will be re-advertised. The next ones approved will be for one-year terms.

For the Complete Census Count Committee several names, Misty Pugmire, Johann Bencomo, Dan Otero, Jesse Bustamante and Bobby Marquez, as well as Tanya Ortiz as a Bayard alternate, were added to the original list and the list was approved at the regular session.

Also, at the regular meeting, commissioners approved a Stonegarden grant of $275,000 to the Sheriff's Department. Edwards asked if the department would purchase vehicles with the funding.

Sheriff Frank Gomez said some of the funding would be for a Chevy Tahoe and also for training for younger deputies on UTVs and ATVs.

At the work session, discussion ensured on the new contract with Encartele for the inmate phone system at the Detention Center. "This is at no cost to the county," Webb said.

Commissioner Harry Browne said he understands that families of inmates get charged "huge amounts."

Webb said the rates charged by the vendors "are not in our authority to change. This company is on the state contract, so there is no RFP (request for proposals) process required. I, too, understand that it's expensive. It's for the inmate to call out."

Browne said he had heard that families pay $20 a minute. Webb said the rates are set by the Federal Communications Commission.

All items discussed in the work session were approved at the regular session, with the exception of an application to the FAA for airport funding, which was not quite ready for approval and would be presented at a June meeting.

A capital appropriation agreement with the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration for the plan, design, construction and renovation of the parking lot for $200,000 was approved at the regular meeting. Webb, at the work session had said the bid came in at $278,000, but the county would use bond funds for the additional $78,000.

An additional capital appropriation agreement for $115,000 was approved for Sheriff's Office vehicles.

A third capital appropriation agreement for $200,000 for roof replacement of the Administration Center had received a cost estimate of $474,000 and the additional funds will come out of the bonds. This agreement also was approved at the regular session.

A resolution was approved to remove the requirement in policy for commissioners to approve out-of-state travel for county staff, if they have the funds in their budgets.

A resolution declared the eligibility and intent to submit applications for funding of North Hurley Road and Bandoni Drive projects to utilize portions of the $500 million the New Mexico Department of Transportation received from the state. Webb said the NMDOT received the funding and issued a call for projects. "The cabinet secretary said he was looking for shovel-ready projects and these are two we have. The one for North Hurley Road will cost about $1.5 million and Bandoni Drive about $568,000." She explained that Bandoni has received severe flooding and wasn't designed to withstand the flooding, which also impacted Cottage San Road and could possibly damage homes. The cash match for each is 5 percent from the county.

A resolution amended the Open Meetings Act resolution for calendar year 2019 to allow two work session meetings a month and two regular meetings a month beginning in June. The regular meetings will occur on the second and fourth Thursdays, with the work sessions on the preceding Tuesdays. "We have a conflict in October and also in November and December. The new schedules will reflect the necessary changes."

In bids, one was received for Rosedale Road improvements, Phase II. Webb recommended approval to Southwest Concrete and Paving for $630,987.50, which includes a 10 percent match by the county. Commissioners approved it at the regular meeting.

Commissioners gave reports.

Commissioner Billy Billings thanked the staff for the budget review. "I will have limited access for the hearing on May 23. I've picked it apart, why this and why that, but I will be inclined to go with what management recommends. I understand there will be requests for tweaks. There are limited funds, and it's why we have a manager and a budget manager. PNM seemed to be part of going solar without having to tear up the roof and parking lot."

Edwards said it was bothering her that Billings wouldn't be able to attend.

"I set up a difficult schedule the first month after school was out," Billings said. "I will try to be there for a couple of hours."

Chairman Chris Ponce said he has heard from residents who are upset that inmates are being released and walking along Ridge Road. "People are worried about liability."

"We were driving them to the Hudson Street Plaza, but we got complaints from there," Webb said. "My concern is that they are no longer in our custody. I've had conversations with other commissioners who suggested using Corre Caminos. But who would pay? We can't because of anti-donation laws. We continually run into this problem. Some are mentally ill, have substance abuse issues, and getting people to medical appointments is not an option unless they are still in the jail. They are citizens just like you or I. They have the right to walk down the street."

Ponce said he thought the Visioning meeting was really good. "I saw some good ideas. It will be good whatever comes out. On the budget, to me I don't want to accept the status quo. We need to take a hard look. I know we have limited monies, but we need to look at it from our employees' point of view. We need to try to make it work without having to adjust down the road."

Edwards said she serves on the Tu Casa Advisory Board. "Michael (Carillo) and I have been talking about the transportation problem. I would like to get the inmates to the Bridges to Care building—the former Twana Sparks building. If they have transportation, there will be a better change of their getting help and resources. HMS (Hidalgo Medical Services) as a federally credentialed facility has strict regulations. If they pick them up at the jail and take them to Bridges, they are doing self-referral, which is prohibited. Some employees are transporting them in personal vehicles, but that, too, is a liability. Where can we get the funds for Corre Caminos?"

Browne suggested a once-a-day route to the Detention Center.

"It's the fare that's the issue," Webb said. "And it's expensive to set up a new route."

Edwards said Carillo estimates it would cost about $1,000 a year. "There is a huge need with a relatively simple solution that we haven't figured out."

She also took umbrage with implications in comments by other commissioners that "we haven't carefully considered the budget in prior years or that we haven't properly addressed it in all the prior years. You are implying that the five of us weren't looking at it in prior years. We have, and in depth."

Ponce and Salas apologized for implying that.

The next article will cover the rest of the regular session.