Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Sheriff Raul Villanueva at left, recognizes Armando Medina, second from right, as he retires from the Sheriff's Department.
Grant County Commissioners present the Fair Housing Month proclamation.
Article by Michael LaReaux
After the Pledge of Allegiance and the salute to the New Mexico state flag, the Grant County Commission at its April 1,2025 regular meeting opened the floor for public comment.
Steve Mitchell of Buckhorn spoke first, praising the work of Sherriff Raul Villanueva. Mitchell told the commission about a discussion he had with Villanueva during the Sherriff's election campaign. In that discussion Villanueva made some promises, and Mitchell declared that those promises, including the hiring of deputy Don Gatlin, were honored. According to Mitchell, "Gatlin has done an outstanding job in our community. He lives in the community, he grew up in the community and graduated from Cliff School." Mitchell expressed concern about a possible curtailing of Deputy Gatlin's patrol area. He believes that Deputy Gatlin's current patrol area provides adequate service to the county's residents, and should not be restricted. In closing, Mitchell praised Deputy Gatlin, describing him as one who "exemplifies the spirit of the law." He urged the Commission and others in attendance to "support the law enforcement that we have in our community."
Raul Salcido spoke next. Salcido owns property in North Hurley, and he expressed concerns about a road project that runs adjacent to his land. According to Salcido, the road project resulted in a substantial retaining wall, approximately seven feet high, which is designed to support the road. Before the retaining wall was built, brush and trees grew next to the road, offering some protection in the event a car left the roadway. With the trees and brush cleared during the construction process, the possibility of plunging down the seven-foot embankment now represents a danger. Salcido suggested that a guardrail placed on this elevated curve would offer drivers a measure of safety. As Salcido described it,"Before there were trees and brush to slow people down, but now we got an nice turn where people can fly a little bit. I think we need to look at that." Salcido claimed that his efforts to bring the potential danger to members of the city government have been unsuccessful.
The next speaker was Denise Pratesi. Before she addressed the Commission, she distributed a document to everyone in attendance. Pratesi represented a committee that intends to put on a drone festival, which she named "Vistem." The festival would be held at Bataan Park, and include makerspaces to give children lessons in drone construction, vendors, and an opportunity to fly newly constructed drones. "We need this for our community because the kids are being left behind." She and the committee have high hopes for the new festival, hoping that it will become as iconic and popular as the annual Balloon Fest. She called on the Commission and all in attendance to get involved.
Sherriff Raul Villaneuva spoke last, taking the opportunity to recognize the retirement of Armando Medina from the Sherrif's Office. "I want to wish him the best in his future endeavors," Villanueva said, "Congratulations, Mando." Villanueva presented Medina with a certificate of retirement and a shadow box, commemorating his years of faithful service to the citizens of Grant County. Villanueva and other uniformed officers posed with Medina for a photo, as he held up the certificate and the shadow box with smiles all around, and with appreciative applause from those in attendance.
Before the Commission moved on to consider resolutions, state Sen. Gabriel Ramos praised the Commission for its excellent work, and offered District 5 Commissioner Thomas Shelley birthday wishes, citing their lifelong friendship going back to grade school.
The Commission closed the floor for public comment and moved on to the consideration of resolutions. The first, a resolution to restrict fireworks due to severe drought, required a public hearing. After carrying a motion to open the public hearing, the Commission sought public testimony. When no such testimony was forthcoming, he Commission closed the public hearing and passed the resolution with a unanimous vote.
The next resolution up for consideration was a Proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week. The Resolution honors the work of dispatchers and emergency communications personnel, whose efforts are crucial in the effective deployment of first responders' mission to protect life and property in Grant County. The motion carried unanimously.
A Proclamation to recognize April as Fair Housing Month, which commemorates Title 8 of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, also passed without opposition.
The final proclamation under consideration honored the 10th anniversary of the Continental Divide Trail Days, a celebration the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which stretches some 3100 miles between Mexico and Canada. The four-day festival would feature food, vendors, and music, and honor Grant County's connection to one of the three "Triple Crown" American hiking trails.
With the proclamation's unanimous passage, the Commission turned the time over to District 39 Representative Luis Terrazas and New Mexico State Senator Gabriel Ramos for a report on the state's legislative session.
Terrazas spoke first. In the legislative session, Terrazas served on the Veteran's Labor Committee and the Tax Committee. His work on the Tax Committee enabled him to maintain good communication with Senator Ramos, who maintained a seat on the same committee in the Senate.
The state legislature oversaw a $3 Billion surplus, but the money didn't last. As Terrazas described it, "They went through the money pretty quick." The legislature had to get into reserves to support a tax cut, which resulted in a scramble to find $70 million. As result, discretionary funds, commonly called grow funds or junior funds, disappeared. Without those funds, important projects which previously received support, such as the hiring of professors, organizing conferences on important issues, and food services, could no longer rely on state assistance. "A big loss, in my opinion, for Grant County and the state," he said.
Terrazas outlined some of his legislative work during the session. HB 47 created property tax exemptions for veterans and their spouses. HB 161 extended Veteran's Day passes and park passes, so that veterans could enjoy the parks for free. Terrazas sponsored or co-sponsored 150 pieces of legislation during the session, including work on creating higher reimbursement for doctors. From his point of view, the ideological divide was not between Democrats and Republicans, but between the urban and rural populations. Doctors in urban areas enjoy more amenities than those in rural areas, and thus it is easier to entice doctors to practice medicine in urban areas. Terrazas worked to narrow that divide, giving doctors more incentive to take their skills into rural settings.
Terrazas also discussed HB 315, a bill designed to help create more effective geological and archaeological surveys used in wildfire prevention. The surveys are necessary for the creation of buffer zones, but as Terrazas put it, "They don't have enough boots on the ground." HB 315 would help mitigate this problem by working with colleges and universities to produce qualified surveyors in high numbers.
Terrazas then mentioned HB104, a bill supporting law enforcement, specifically focused on crimes committed against law enforcement officers.
The controversy surrounding spending in higher education made its way into the conversation. "We should have a study on responsible spending by higher education institutions…and reports concerning that," Terrazas said. He clarified his remark by adding that such a study should not be limited to one university, but should cover all institutions of higher learning that receive state funding.
Terrazas outlined some of the capital expenditures slated for Grant County. The hospital would be receiving $700,000 for a new CT scanner. The airport's parking lot paving project would receive $220,000. Another $250,000 would go to maintenance projects at the Grant County Detention Center, while Fort Bayard would receive $60,000 for improvements there. Overall, Terrazas and his team brought in approximately $4,000,000 for Grant County. While that was a cause for celebration, Terrazas reminded the Commission that the community's needs far exceeded the money coming in.
He closed his presentation by admonishing those in attendance to keep him and his office informed of any potential impacts from legislation being considered at the State House. "What's important is that because there were 1200 bills between the House and the Senate, we rely on our communities, our commissioners, our council people, our law enforcement…whatever department you're in or whatever you're doing, to reach out to us if there's a bill that's going to affect you."
l Ramos took the podium following the completion of Terrazas' remarks, joking that his colleague took all the time. He thanked the Commission for their assistance in going over important issues, and then delved into his work at the State Senate.
Ramos began with praise for the Majority Leader, extolling their work on election and insurance bills. Next, he moved into the anti-mining and oil bills that appear in the legislature every year. Since 50% of the state's budget comes from oil and gas, such bills threaten much of the state's funding. In addition, New Mexico's companies produce the cleanest oil in the United States, and by extension, the cleanest oil in the world. Pushing oil production out of New Mexico would require tapping overseas sources, which are far more environmentally destructive than the methods used in New Mexico.
"We have to keep oil and gas and mining alive in New Mexico. They are the lifeline of the State of New Mexico," Ramos declared. Despite the state's stringent mineral and gas extraction regulations, the legislature continues to see the same anti-mining and anti-gas bills "over and over again."
Ramos moved on to discuss his work in tax, business, and transportation. His focus was on trying to cut back on taxes, and to make sure that no new taxes went through. A new tax package ensured that, as the legislature found money within the budget to cover expenses. Thanks to the budget surplus, "taxes were not passed on to the local people."
He discussed the two bills he presented. The first was Senate 3, a mental health and behavioral health reform bill. The bill brings in a billion dollars to New Mexico to help the state address mental health issues in the population. In addition, Senator Ramos supported bill SB221, an insurance bill intended to combat unfair insurance claims practices. For Ramos, who works in insurance in the private sector, the bill was a matter of putting what was right over his own economic interests. "When I go against the grain, against my own companies, they let me know about it," he said with a smile.
Insurance continued to dominate the Senator's legislative work with SB81, dubbed the New Mexico Fair Plan. This bill raises caps to $750k for people who can't get insurance due to their proximity to a bad fire zone. In cases such as this, the bill would provide insurance through the state.
Higher education took center stage in SB 19, that had been signed into law by the Governor. The bill requires regents to submit to ten hours of educational courses, including ethics, budgeting, and Robert's Rules of Order.
SB220 came up next. This bill dealt with transparency. Because of the bill all risk management claims would be placed into a digital portal, enabling any citizen to review cases where state money is paid out to settle lawsuits. The portal covers risk management cases from any government entity, including schools. "Biggest thing for me is always to have transparency," Ramos said, "And do everything we can to help out situations."
The ongoing controversy surrounding the president of the Western New Mexico University continued in the State House, with the Governor unwilling to appoint a new Board of Regents. "We waited until the last two weeks to get this done. We needed a board of regents to run this university. We need to start the search for a new president. We need to move forward and stop all the rhetoric. We literally have to come together and make sure this happens because that is a vital institution to the state of New Mexico, and a vital institution to southwest New Mexico."
Ramos announced the hiring of Brett Kasten as his aide. They served well together in the past, and Ramos is excited about bringing Kasten on board. Kasten's tenure would start on April 13th.
Robert Whitaker, CEO of Gila Regional Medical Center, presented his report. Discharges and deliveries remained relatively static from the previous year's levels, while ER and outpatient visits trended higher. The system as a whole was on track for over 90,000 patient encounters, a significant increase over the previous year.
The hospital saw $8.5 million in revenue against $8.4 million in expenses. A surplus of $245,000 dollars remained on the books, not including funds from HDAA 9 and SB161. Year to date, the hospital has received $ 6 million in HDAA (Healthcare Data Analytics Association) funding and $2.2 million in SB161 funds.
Projects, particularly those undertaken in conjunction with federal agencies, take time. The MRI project and the HVAC project continue, but have not yet been completed. The hospital signed an agreement with an architect to move forward with renovations on the ER and OP registration areas.
As Senator Ramos previously discussed, the hospital received $700,000 to replace the CT scanner. Completed projects included the phone system and the telemetry system. The nurse's call system remains in progress.
Ovation Healthcare, a privately owned healthcare management and consulting firm, was slated to take over hospital management.
General Surgeon Dr L'Amour began his tenure at the hospital in March.
The hospital's first annual Service Star of the Year Celebration recognized the outstanding contributions of clinical and clerical staff. Each month saw two clinical and two clerical staff members nominated, and from this pool, the hospital selected one from each category to be honored as Service Star of the Year.
The Joint Commission Accreditation would be performing a mock survey the week of April 14th.
The Hospital continued their support for the Tour De Gila, contributing money and EMS services to the event.
Because EMS Staff are so critical to the hospital's success, the hospital provided EMTs with critical care training. The training included a cadaver lab, giving EMTs an opportunity to closely study human physiology. The knowledge they gained from the training better prepared them for the situations they will inevitably face in the field.
Whitaker closed his remarks by reminding the Commission that Hospital Week was coming up, slated for mid-May.
The elected official reports followed Whitaker's report. County Treasurer Patrick Cohn delivered the Tax Maintenance Report. Total taxes collected in March amounted to $386,304.25 Total taxes collected for the 2024 tax rolls came to $9804814.14. The county has collected 67.52 percent of taxes due. $4,716,702.30 remained uncollected. The ten year total amounts to $117,577,755.01, or 92.83 percent of all taxes due. $9,079,793.01 remains uncollected.
Taxes for the second half were due on May 10. However since May 10 fell on a Saturday, residents had until May 12 to pay, and thus avoid penalties and interest. Payments can be made in person, over the phone, or online.
Thirty-six-month delinquency notices have been mailed out. Anyone who has not paid 2022 taxes will have their case turned over to the state, which incurs an additional $125 charge. The Treasurer's Office is working on an auction list, which will be available sometime in the fall. In closing, Cohn expressed sympathy for the family of Rowena Tate, who worked in the Treasury Office from 1994 to 2007. He also expressed his gratitude for the Commission's support, describing his working relationship with them as "phenomenally awesome." He also thanked the Safety Committee and his staff for their diligence and hard work.
District 3 Commissioner Nancy Stephens asked if the amount collected would eventually match the 96 percent collected in recent years. Cohn responded by saying he hoped it would, but there was no way to know or to guarantee such a result. Collection rates tend to improve in June when the final notices are sent out. Cohn also clarified a particular column on the spreadsheet for Stephens, for which she was grateful.
District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce inquired about the County's investment program. Cohn informed Ponce that he was waiting for reports from the County's investment brokers, and with an investment advisory committee coming up in the near future, he expected to have results soon.
With his report completed, Cohn turned the time over to Sherriff Villanueva for his report on law enforcement activity. The Sherriff's office fielded 1,657 calls for service in March, while the Civil Process Division provided 10 round trip transports to various jails and prisons, logging 7,090 miles in the process. The division also served 391 papers, participated in 25 in person hearings, 10 criminal dockets, transported 67 inmates to court, and screened 882 members of the general public at the courthouse.
Eight staff members from the Sheriff's Office were scheduled to attend the Silver Regional Trafficking Conference. Attendees would learn how to identify and respond to victims of sex trafficking. One member of the staff was scheduled to attend advanced peer support training, a more in-depth exploration of peer support, while two others would attend basic peer support training. CIT, or Crisis intervention training, will assist officers in improving their verbal de-escalation skills. The number of police contacts with people in crisis continues to grow, and deputies who are well trained in crisis intervention will be an asset to the residents of Grant County. The goal is to conduct CIT training in Grant County with all Grant County Law Enforcement personnel invited. Currently, officers must travel to Albuquerque to attend a CIT course.
Villanueva related the details of two cases of interest, the first of which involved the theft of golf carts from Scott Park golf course. According to Villanueva, two individuals accessed the property through the parking lot. Using flashlights, the suspects searched a number of golf carts, ultimately stealing one. A search of the area revealed no further evidence. The next day, Deputies located three stolen golf carts at 3903 Broken Arrow Drive. Two subjects at the scene admitted that the golf carts did not belong to them. Deputies took all the items into evidence. An investigation of the stolen carts revealed that the serial numbers had been filed off. Ten days later, a civilian tip led deputies to yet another stolen cart, this one abandoned in the back of the golf course. After conducting field interviews, deputies apprehended Charles R (name?) on charges of burglary and larceny. The alleged culprit also had a warrant for vehicular homicide and felony possession of a firearm. He was uncooperative, and his accomplice remains at large.
The second case of interest stemmed from an altercation that took place within the Grant County Detention Center. The victim claimed that, while she was distributing medication, she felt a heavy blow on the head and remembers seeing a broom in her assailant's hands. The assailant struck a second time, but the victim managed to escape. The suspect was charged with two counts of aggravated battery on a healthcare professional and remains in custody at the Detention Center.
The Tour of the Gila, set for April 23-28, would have full support from the Sheriff's Office. Deputies would be stationed "through the county to help maintain a safe environment for the riders and the public."
The Easter weekend would see increased patrols to enforce off-highway vehicle regulations.
In closing, the Sheriff thanked the office's custodian for his diligence and hard work in maintaining the office's cleanliness, telling the commission, "We have a very clean office because of him." Villanueva then thanked his staff for their efforts. "I want to thank the staff for everything they do day in and day out for the community."
The Commission then moved on to the consent agenda. An executive session had yielded no action, and the agenda item passed without opposition.
In new business, the Commission considered a motion to approve the purchase of new lifts for the fleet department. It carried without opposition.
Next, the Commission unanimously approved the Grant County Detention Center Inspection Report.
The motion to approve the Asset Disposal List carried without opposition.
The Commission then voted on the following resolutions:
Resolution amendment 2 on R24-31 – "Cooperative Agreement Control Number HW2 L100612 with the New Mexico Department of Transportation for LGRF Project for year 2025 for: drainage and shoulder improvements, patching roadways, and laying a single penetration chip seal with stripping on various county roads " carried without opposition
R25-24 A resolution authorizing submission of an "Application for Airport Aid to the Federal Aviation Administration" passed unanimously
R25-26- An application to FAA for airport aid. The measure passed without opposition
R25-27 eligibility and intent for Ridge Road project. The measure passed without opposition
R25-28 budget adjustment request. The measure passed without opposition.
Commissioners reports:
Commissioner Stephens had nothing to report
.
Commissioner Shelley reiterated a thank you for code enforcement group, praising them for "the actions we see taking place in the communities." He also offered gratitude to the Sheriff's Department. "And thank you to Sheriff Villanueva. We've all observed deputies in our neighborhoods. It was nice to interact with them."
District 3 Commissioner Eddie Flores began with a word of thanks for the county's state representatives. "Thank you to Senator Ramos and Representative Terrazas for all the work you did. We know it's a tough session up there and hopefully next year we'll get more of that $3 billion for Grant County." Flores then called upon County Manager Charlene Webb for an update concerning the fire station in Dos Griegos.
She reported that she had a meeting with the chair of the Homeowner's Association, requesting an MOU to approve construction. She is working with the fire chief for authority to move forward. If not, they will begin a search for a different location. Flores briefly mentioned his work on a new senior center in Cliff, and then updated the commission on the CLLA, or County Livestock Loss Authority. The Authority requires an odd number of representatives, and Flores is working on ensuring that Grant County has representation on that board. He is concerned about the wolf situation, and is working to address it. Flores then turned his attention to the pervasive problem of unreliable power in certain sections of the county. He wants to convene a town hall meeting, bringing all the stakeholders together for a meaningful discussion about the concerns of PNM customers in rural areas. Flores intends to involve state representatives and the lieutenant governor to assist the county in resolving the problem. Flores will also meet with the Fish and Game Commission to address the wolf issue.
Ponce weighed in on the proposed community center in Cliff. There was some money for the project, but that money could only be acquired through an application to the USDA. Jospeh Holguin expects an answer from the USDA, but bureaucratic setbacks have hampered the process.
"We're doing everything in our power to scale that project back to where it's something that the community wants and needs and falls within our budget," said Webb.
Ponce asked about wolf statistics for Grant County, so that county officials have a good grasp on the scale of the problem. Two ranchers in Grant County have been paid for depredations since the inception of the CLLA.
Discussion then turned back to the community center in Cliff. Flores described it as a "heartfelt need," as the facility is not large enough to accommodate everyone who needs it. Some residents are doing telehealth sessions in their cars to satisfy HIPPA laws, parking close to the building to make use of the building's internet connection.
Medina declared that being an elected official is an honor. You get to be people's voice and do the best you can for everybody. The greatest good for the greatest number…Senior services are important "to us as commissioners and we are not going to let them go away…Making people afraid of things is not the way to do business… We are in the business to keep services open. That's why we're up here. I will do everything in my power to keep that place open." GRMC foundation has fundraisers to help hospitals fund equipment. On April 14, an event would be held to help purchase equipment.
Ponce weighed in the senior center issue. "Our senior centers are very important to our community. The social aspect of it means a lot to these people and keeps them healthy. I think it is time to have that conversation. This fearmongering…that's not healthy for them. I can tell you this commission is for seniors, and we will do what we have to do."
Stephens reminded the Commission that the upcoming benefit piano concert for the Gila Regional Medical Center Foundation would be held that Saturday at 7PM, and she intended to go.
The Commissioners then voted to proceed to executive session, and the public meeting came to a close.
