By Mary Alice Murphy

The Grant County Commission Feb. 11, 2025 work session meeting continued with the review of the Feb. 1, 2025 regular meeting agenda. This article finishes the two meetings.

County Manager Charlene Webb, during the work session said the first item of new business considered the approval to expend the Fire Prevention Grant funding of $278,816.10 for handhelds and radios for the Whiskey Creek Volunteer Fire Department. She noted that the grant was 100 percent funded with no required county match.

Commissioners at the regular meeting approved the expenditure of the funding.

The next item considered the purchase of a 2025 Peterbilt 4,000-gallon water truck at a cost of $189,755.50.

Commissioners approved the purchase at the regular meeting.

The final item of new business addressed the creation of a letter of request to join the County Livestock Loss Authority to reimburse wolf depredations of livestock.

Commissioners approved the letter at the regular meeting.

Under agreements, the first considered an agreement with the NM Department of Finance General Fund capital appropriation for infrastructure for the Cliff Baseball Field in the amount of $1,019,000.

Commissioners approved the capital appropriation at the regular meeting.

An agreement for mutual aid for fire and rescue and emergency medical services between Grant County and Sierra County was approved by commissioners at the regular meeting.

They also approved the amendment with the NM Department of Finance and Administration for enhanced 911. Webb explained it was funding for the required equipment, as the state was moving all 911 operations to a next-gen system.

The following agreement addressed approval of the New Mexico Department of Health intergovernmental agreement in the amount of $192,500. Webb said it and the next three were all approving the county to continue as the fiscal agent for the funding from NM DOH.The first two were retroactive, with the second one in the amount of $150,000. The third and fourth were sub award agreements between Grant County and the Center for Health Innovation (CHI).

Commissioners approved the four agreements at the regular meeting.

Several resolutions were on the agenda. The first two addressed amendments to local government road fund projects—the first for Patton Road and Tyrone Bridge Access Road, and the second for South Bear Creek Road, Bridge Road and Redrock Road.

Commissioners approved the amendments.

County Deputy Manager Andrea Montoya presented the budget adjustment requests (BAR) at the work session. To a question, she replied that it was doing transfers in and expenditures out to clean up what has been received on grants and the like. She explained that much of the money was revenue received, but not on the books when the budget was created. "The majority of it is new funding for projects and the expenditures on those projects."

Commissioners approved the BAR report at the regular meeting.

The following resolution addressed the submission of an application for airport aid to the Federation Aviation Administration and submission to the New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Division for the Terminal parking lots improvements and design. Airport Manager Rebekah Wenger noted the local match is 1 percent.

Commissioners approved the application submission.

Another resolution addressed the submission of an application to the Colonias Infrastructure Board for 2025 projects. Planning and Capital Projects Director Joseph Holguin said it was a request for funding for various projects.

Webb explained the resolution was the first step to show that the county supported the plan to apply for funding for specific projects. "It's the first of many steps and documents."

Holguin noted the county match is 10 percent and 90 percent of the costs comes from the Colonias Infrastructure Fund.

District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce said the Colonias funding helps the county do many projects, it would otherwise not be able to do.

Commissioners approved the resolution requesting Colonias funding.

The final resolution addressed the Commission's support of the Freeport-McMoRan Tyrone Peak and EMMA exploration plans. Ponce explained the projects would extend the life of the Tyrone Mine for many more years. "It irks me that certain groups of people come after Freeport. Without the mines, it would affect the county economy. I support this because of the workers. It bothers me that people talk about contamination of the water due to the mines. Ask Hurley if they are drinking contaminated water. They have received their water from Freeport for many years."

He said he also supports the regional water plan, which will extend water availability from Hurley to Silver City, including Bayard and Santa Clara. Freeport has donated water rights to the municipalities, and the regional plan will connect the municipalities and domestic water associations, so the the water will be available to all located along and near the lines.

District Commissioner Nancy Stephens said it bothers her that some groups want to do away with the mines. "I've heard questions from some constituents wanting better maps, as well as hours of exploration and what the levels of light, noise and dust might be. I would like to support the resolution, but I would like some clarification on the light, noise and dust, as well as the plans for protection of the groundwater wells nearby. I've heard questions whether there will be fencing to protect wildlife and what will be done to protect migratory birds."

Ponce said the mines have staff to deal with wildlife and migratory bird issues. "When people bring projects like this, there has to be transparency. But this community has been built by the mines. I just ask everyone to remember the workers."

District 4 Commissioner Eddie Flores noted that most of the concerns and questions brought up had been answered at a meeting between Freeport and the nearby residents to the project the week before.

Shelley said he appreciated the questions that were posed, including by GRIP (Gila Resources Information Project). "At the end of the day, exploration is the first step to mining. I'm excited about Freeport doing it. There are specific rules the mines have to follow to meet to protect the surface and groundwater. Nobody will ever be fully satisfied, but the meeting was part of the permit process."

District 2 Commissioner Eloy Medina said Freeport did a good job at the meeting. "They went above and beyond telling the participants what they would do. There are a lot of safeguards in place. At the Bayard Council meeting last night, they said without the mine jobs, the municipality would not survive. Freeport is doing it right. It is their personal property, but they are doing it correctly and letting residents know what to expect."

Shelley said the projects are absolutely critical for the Tyrone Mine. "I appreciate what they are doing that will benefit the community."

Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution at the regular meeting.

At the work session, Medina in his commissioner report said he would be holding the quarterly meeting in Mimbres the next morning.

Flores said he would hold a GRMC (Gila Regional Medical Center) townhall on March 5, and asked the commissioners to attend. [Editor's Note: Due to a power outage at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center that night, the townhall was canceled.]

Shelley said when he attended the legislative conference, the county received an award for reducing risk among its operations. He also said he found the New Mexico Counties meetings very informative. He noted also that several county employees received training and certification and were recognized.

Stephens said she has heard from a lot of constituents during her first five weeks as a commissioner and appreciates the help she has received to work more effectively in her role. She also said she wanted to address open space and trails connecting the county and Silver City.

At the regular meeting, the commissioners recognized Webb for her work at reducing risk to county employees.

Webb said it was all due to the employees being more aware and careful.

Shelley said the award was presented at the legislative conference. "It's a great honor to receive the award."

He also reported that he is hearing from constituents about concerns of the places where junk vehicles are in his neighborhood. "I have had discussions with code enforcement saying they will follow through."

Ponce said the commission would be looking at such places and discussing what it can do.

The commissioners at the work session went into executive session, with no action planned after the meeting. They adjourned from the closed session.

Commissioners adjourned directly from the executive session following the regular meeting also.

To visit the previous articles, please go to https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-part-1; https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-part-2 ; https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-part-3 ; https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-part-4 ; https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-part-5; https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-part-6 ; https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-and-regular-meeting-021325-part-7 ;https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-and-regular-meeting-021325-part-8 ; and https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/grant-county-commission-work-session-021125-and-regular-meeting-021325-part-9