[Editor's Note: This is part one of a multi-part series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session of Oct. 22, 2019.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

County reports began the Grant County Commission work session on Oct. 22, 2019.

Grant County Detention Center Administrator Mike Carillo:
We have no vacancies at this time. We have started distributing Narcan kits, 34, so far. The average inmate count for the month was 89, with 88 today and 89 on Oct. 15.

We have been focusing on emergency drills once a month. We are also addressing caustic chemicals, which we have moved into one location for security. We are also thinking about putting them in one five-gallon barrel with larger containers to keep better security on the cleaning supplies.

We have been addressing the code of ethics as part of staff development and have put hiring and retention in our policies. We have an emergency plan for all volunteers. We have completed 107 of the 194 policies and procedures.

District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne:
Do you have any data on Narcan?

Carillo:
At the time of release, we send inmates first to medical and once they are cleared, we ask if they want to take a Narcan kit with them. We started with 75 and have handed out 34.

Browne:
What is the cost of the program?

Carillo:
We receive them from the state at no cost. When I do Narcan training for the community, we will have kits available.

District 3 Commission Alicia Edwards:
Are there any opioids that Narcan doesn't work for?

Carillo:
It works with all opioids.

We went with another commissary for the jail. We went to Trembly (spelling?). The quality of the food is better, and it is working out very well.

Road Superintendent Earl Moore:
We are addressing resident complaints and getting roads in shape. We have a bit of money left over from Rosedale and we will do more intersections, seven of them.

District 4 Commissioner Billy Billings:
What about Kern Road?

Moore:
We have gone to the cattleguard to Franks Ranch. It leaves about a mile.

General Services Director Randy Villa:
Maintenance has poured the handicapped parking spaces at Bataan Memorial Park.

The HVAC units are in and we will start installing them in November.

For the Courthouse, the roof, which was put on the 1930s was fixed to drain into the sewer. Now it will drain onto the grass. Jason Lockett got on it and got it done. Our guys also fixed the fence around the Courthouse.

At the airport, we are waiting on permits. The asbestos abatement is done. It will be a couple of weeks before we start.

I want to thank Del Taco for their participation for the event ending Fire Prevention Week.

We had one fire. A mobile home was destroyed in Arenas Valley.

Chairman and District 1 Commissioner Chris Ponce:
What about drainage? Is there any way to capture the water for future use before the monsoon?

Villa:
I have seen different devices. I will look at it and get back to you.

Browne:
We've talked about the old Detention Center and about landscaping the area.

Villa:
I was thinking a barrel system. I will get back to you with what I find.

Planning and Community Development Director Michael "Mischa" Larisch:
I want to give you some information about meetings that (County Manager) Charlene (Webb) and I attended last week at Western New Mexico University. It was the Southwestern New Mexico Interagency Internship Collaboration meeting. We discussed ways Western can collaborate with partnering with the municipalities, county and agencies such as New Mexico Parks, the Forest Service, National Parks Service, and others related to outdoor recreation. We would create high school and college internships. We talked about funding strategies and marketing strategies. It's part of a technological assistance grant Western received.

Browne:
Is it related to the Better Cities effort in Silver City? Or is this a different initiative?

Webb:
It's different. We hope to tie them all together, however. Western is focusing on the internships portion. It includes economic diversification, vocational tech, Better Cities, the Forest Collaborative and others. Eventually, they will all tie together. There is a lot of good effort to move it together. The state Office of Outdoor Recreation is watching us. We may be a model for the rest of the state.

Edwards:
Is it Better Cities that will tie it together?

Webb:
We're all working together as partners.

Larisch:
We are working with the additional funds for Rosedale that Earl mentioned. We are also adding additional sidewalks in Tyrone. As we start the CDBG (Community Block Development Grant) for Bataan Park, it has strict requirements that will require commission approval.

District 2 Commissioner Javier Salas:
Can you meet with me, so I can learn about the CDBG process?

Larisch:
I would be glad to.

Webb:
A little update on the work we're doing. At the end of September, we were about 45 percent complete on the job description portion. Phase 2 of data collection from other counties was about 25 percent complete.

Gilbert Helton has just started a comprehensive course that he will finish in March. It consists of about 30 hours a week on projects, how to fund them, writing grants. Terry Brunner is president of the Grant Collective and encouraged us to have someone participate. Gilbert will be looking at funding from local sources to federal grants. I asked him to focus on outdoor recreation.

Christina Wolford of SPIN (Supporting persons in need) talked to us at the Stepping Up meeting. It was beneficial, because housing will be a key piece for transitional housing.

Ponce:
I had a meeting with Ms. Wolford and (Santa Clara) Mayor (Richard) Bauch was also at the meeting. I think there has been discussion of property in Santa Clara?

Webb:
I know there has been discussion, but I don't know anything beyond that.

Browne:
I had a conversation about SPIN with a constituent. SPIN has one transitional housing location but is looking for more permanent housing. These are two different initiatives.

The next article will begin the review of the regular meeting agenda.