Dear County Commissioners and Local News Outlets,
My name is Brandi A. McCauley, and I have proudly called 445 McCauley Road in Cliff, New Mexico my home for over forty years. Many families along this road have deep roots here, spanning generations, and we cherish our tight-knit community.
As a child, I recall a county representative visiting our home, clad in a hard hat and safety vest, to inform us that McCauley Road had officially become a county road and would receive proper maintenance. My father later served as a County Road Department employee, operating a blade for many years. Under his diligent care, our road featured well-maintained water turnouts and remained in good condition—even after heavy rainstorms.
Regrettably, the current state of our road is vastly different. Large ditches, oversized berms, and narrowed one-way sections have made travel challenging and unsafe. Sandy Canyon, in particular, urgently requires attention. The rocks placed there have failed to improve conditions and seem to represent a misuse of taxpayer funds. Washboards throughout the area continue to damage vehicles, resulting in costly tire replacements and front-end alignments.
Before his passing, my father discussed with road crews the importance of properly rolling the moldboard. He was informed that the County could not afford new cutting edges, so crews resort to pulling dirt from one side of the road to the other—twice. This approach does not enhance road conditions and is an inefficient use of resources.
At one time, gravel was placed on the hill near our home (Marcea), but it has since been bladed off and pushed into a berm, rendering the effort—and expense—futile.
Additionally, rumors circulating on Facebook about County Manager Charlie Webb, including allegations of county equipment being used on private property and neighbors receiving warning letters, have caused concern among residents. Grant County deserves a clear public statement clarifying the truth of these claims.
In the past two weeks, emergencies on Norris Road have exposed serious issues with response and communication:
- In one incident, a horse arrived at a corral with a severe eye injury. Despite multiple calls to the County requesting assistance, no response was received. Three days later, my niece retrieved the horse herself, navigating a road in poor condition.
- In another incident, my 96-year-old uncle required an ambulance. Emergency services refused to drive up the road, forcing my sister-in-law to transport him over a wet-weather road to meet the ambulance.
These situations are unacceptable. As taxpayers, our calls should never go unanswered—especially during emergencies.
Last Friday, after rainfall, the canyon at 445 McCauley Road was not inspected, resulting in a truck and trailer becoming stuck, followed by another truck. Once again, calls for assistance went unanswered.
I will be attaching comments from Facebook regarding the County Manager and additional concerns from other residents experiencing similar issues with county road maintenance. We are taxpayers, and we are the people you were elected to serve. We seek transparency, accountability, and effective solutions.
Thank you for your time and attention to these matters.
Sincerely,
Brandi A. McCauley
Cliff, NM 88028
