Roosevelt to consider fire restrictions

PORTALES — Burners beware: A resolution seeking to restrict fire activity in Roosevelt County will be considered at today's commission meeting.

County Manager Amber Hamilton said that because of extremely dry conditions in the county, a resolution to re-institute a fire ban will be brought before the commission.

"We have a current ordinance on the books that allows for us to look at the various studies and geographic information coming out in regard to the current fire conditions," she said.

According to the resolution, violators can be cited and penalized by the Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office and held liable for any damages caused by the fire.

A U.S. Drought Monitor map provided by Hamilton showed that Roosevelt County is split between "severe" and "extreme" drought conditions.

Also at today's meeting at 9 a.m. at the Roosevelt County Courthouse:

• Members of the Roosevelt County Soil and Water Conservation District will provide an update on the organization's water conservation efforts.

Items will include updates on a "shade balls" conservation project and a "weather modification project," according to Hamilton.

• Commissioners will review data from studies conducted on the intersection of South Roosevelt Road 7 and South Roosevelt Road S.

Hamilton reported to the commission in February that residents had expressed "extensive concerns" about individuals running stop signs on South Roosevelt Road 7, and was asked to request studies on nearby intersections.

"They had asked for additional thoughts, different intersections to be studied, and we do have all of those traffic counts and such," she said.

• Commissioners will consider applications by the Arch and Milnesand Volunteer Fire Departments for the 2019 County Fire Protection Fund.

Arch is applying for $39,058 and Milnesand is applying for $117,168, according to the applications.