[Editor's Note: This is part 6 of a multi-part series of articles on almost six hours of Grant County Commission meetings on Feb. 11 and 13, 2025.)
By Mary Alice Murphy

In the work session on Feb. 11, 2025, Grant County commissioners heard from department directors. The next one came from Joseph Holguin, director of the planning and capital projects department.

He noted that some of the things he would report are a review, "but I just want to keep them on schedule and let you guys know the current projects that we have under construction are the Upper Mimbres Valley Volunteer Fire Department where we have underground storage tanks going in at the Main Station. That area has been laid out, and they're doing excavation on that this week, so that's almost complete. After moving the soil, they will get the tanks underground. The North Hurley roadway drainage improvement project is in phase three, where they are making progress on the retaining walls. We're in the design phase on the public safety building, along with some courthouse renovation or new construction and for the Franks and Crum Road projects. We continue to work with the architect and civil engineers on these projects."

Holguin said: "On future projects, including local government road projects we will of course work with Public Works, on the LGRF (local government road fund) projects."

He noted that three applications made to the Colonias Infrastructure Fund last year were approved for improvements, including along the first project on Ridge Road all the way to the Detention Center. The second project is design work for Arenas Valley Road off US. 180 near the animal clinic and to Elias Road, where the county plans to do chip seal work and some work on the shoulders, as well as near the Dragonfly trailhead. "There are no shoulders at this time and it's kind of hazardous for those riding horses or bicycles or hiking. And then the last Colonias project that was submitted last year is to complete Little Walnut Road to the end of the pavement at the Little Walnut campsites."

Holguin said the commissioners would approve resolutions for upcoming projects for Colonias 2025. "We are applying to take on the next phase of work on Arenas Valley Road to take care of that Arenas Valley Road Loop."

"So phase one was the design work," Holguin continued. "Phase two is what was just approved for 2024 and then phase three is going to be the continuation of phase two."

He commented on the legislative conference they attended toward the end of January. "I enjoyed it and I really appreciate the support for that. It was a great opportunity to network and understand upcoming projects. Later this month, we have some LGRF training down in Deming on February 19. We have an administrative assistant in the planning department now, so she's going to be attending that with us, and she will be helping manage the projects as well."

District 4 Commissioner Eddie Flores asked about whether the county owns pickle ball courts in the Cliff area.

County Manager Charlene Webb replied: "Yes and no. We have tennis courts out there and they have converted them to be able to play pickle ball on them. They play pickle ball there regularly. We own them as part of the Gila Community Center."

Flores said he was contacted by a citizen there, asking if the county could possibly look at just maintaining them or doing a some work on them. Obviously, pickle ball is a popular sport now, especially with older people."

Holguin said he would look into it. "one last comment, I'll just give a follow up to (District 2) Commissioner (Eloy) Medina. I did reach out to COG (Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments) about possible walking paths along highway 35 so they're going to help us with some of that communication to the Department of Transportation, and then when we're down for training on the 19th I'll ask as well."

Medina thanked him and said he would also be sending a request and would copy Holguin.

District 5 Commissioner Tom Shelley asked if there were maps that laid out more precisely the location of the Colonias projects that the Commission would be approving at the Thursday regular meeting.

Holguin said the resolutions would be the first step and would acknowledge that the county was willing to budget the match part of the projects. "We will be refining each of them in the coming months, and I can definitely get you a map of where the work will take place."

Shelley said he was unaware that they would be having additional discussion on the specific actions. "So thank you, Mr. Holguin."

The next report came from the Public Works Director Jason Lockett, beginning with facilities maintenance.

Lockett said the courthouse holding cell project is about 85 percent complete. The work here at the administration building is 50 percent complete. "You can see the railing system in the front of the building is going in as we speak. We are 90 percent done painting in the treasurer's office. We are about 98 percent complete with the storefront installation in the Treasurer's Office and Solid Waste ADA. Painting of the Detention Center and main hallways is about 65 percent complete."

For future project, he said facilities would be working to change out fixtures with waterless urinals at the conference center, as well as a replacement of flooring at the facility. The department would create a designated outdoor space for administration building employees back of the building, with a place to eat outside and enjoy the sun on their breaks. He said they would be doing detention center training for a mock cell door installation and to do the detention center shower coating.

He showed images of some of the recent work, including giving kudos to Victor Placencio for his excellent work keeping the weeds down at the Detention Center. "He actually mowed all of that by hand with a weed eater. He likes to stay busy out there."

District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce asked if the county has anything that tracks the maintenance on all the county's facilities, some of them aging.

He said that because of changes in state law, they are having to look at changes at the courthouse. "But do we have something that tracks how we keep them up-to-date, so we don't have to rebuild or something. I don't remember when the detention center was built."

Lockett said in the maintenance department he has a rolling list of repairs that have been done at the facilities. "I think the future plan for us is to try to get a five-year plan in place for all of our facilities. I know when we used a lot of our GO (general obligation) bond monies, we took care of a lot of the issues that our buildings have. And so we're actually sitting really good in our buildings for what we have and for the age of them right now. We do need to come up with a five year plan for the buildings."

"You do a wonderful job," Ponce said, "but eventually, sort of like the courthouse, we'll get our hospital. Some of the buildings were built a long time ago. But it would be nice for future commissioners to know what has been done and what is planned."

Medina said he heard from a constituent about a fuel cell that was put up out in the Mimbres Valley. "What's that about?"

Lockett said it belongs to the county on county-owned property and it's where the county can fill up its road graders and other equipment, without having to come back to town.

Medina said the constituent thought it was a water source for animals or something.

Lockett said the EPA requires a containment in case of spills.

He next presented the Fleet Maintenance report, which included 20 oil changes and inspections, 14 diagnose and repair, two blades having the cutting edge replaced, four units had tires repaired or replaced and four windshields were replaced. "We continue to prepare for auction absolute or retired vehicles."

"Toby Rascon has been promoted to fleet manager and will be the contact for any fleet-related issues," Lockett announced. "He started his 30 years of service here, and he's going to do a great job for us. I'm going to be sending out the safety committee meetings minutes and things like that. But also, going forward, if you have any related issues, he's going to be getting the driver's seat for all of that stuff."

District 4 Commissioner Eddie Flores asked about when vehicles are being prepared for auction, when they are sheriff's vehicles, "who strips out the equipment so that they can be used for the new units coming in? Do you contract it or do you do it yourself?"

Lockett said it's a collaboration between the sheriff's office and the fleet staff to do that. "We used to have a container where we would put a lot of the older stuff in there to repurpose it. But a lot of times now the models change, and so that stuff just becomes outdated. We use it when we can, but mostly they keep changing the models."

On the road department report, Lockett said the crews continue routine blading on all county roads, doing routine maintenance such as blading, clearing cattle guards, clearing of trees on roadways, debris around guard rails and bridge approaches, as well as culvert maintenance.

"We installed 40 feet of a 48-foot culvert on Brushy Mountain Road that had collapsed and was beyond repair," Lockett continued. "The department cleaned culverts, installed extensions and reset to proper grade for the water flow on Ridge Road. They continue to do routine patching with cold and hot mix to fix pot holes and they also installed culverts and material for the Joseph Blaine project."

He said for future projects they will haul material to improve water drainage on Hereford Drive. They are also working with bridge contractor to bring all bridges up to necessary specifications. "We have planned to haul 500 tons of material to Royal John Mine Road for improvements."

We'll haul we're gonna for future projects, we're gonna haul some material and improve our drainage on her for Drive, working with bridge contractors to bring a lot of bridges up to necessary specifications, we plan to all 500 tons of material to Royal John Mine Road for some road improvements there."

Flores asked that the Road Department keep an eye on keeping the weeds down on Truck ByPass Road, as it gets hard for people coming out of their driveways. Lockett said he would.

Shelley thanked Lockett for the quick response to the issue on Ridge Road. "It makes our county look good when you respond so quickly."

Lockett replied: "We have a great crew out there."

The next article will begin with the review of the regular meeting agenda at the work session and the presentations and decisions made at the regular meeting on Feb. 13, 2025

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