Roosevelt County appoints clerk

PORTALES - Roosevelt County has a new clerk, made official Tuesday with the appointment of Stephanie Hicks and recognition of her predecessor in the county's commission meeting.

DeAun Searle was recognized for her years of service, holding the head clerk position since December 2013 and retiring this month. Commissioners in turn voted unanimously to appoint Hicks, her deputy clerk, to the position. The position will be up for election again in 2020.

"I love my job and I'm very happy and proud to be representing Roosevelt County in the county clerk's office," Hicks told The News. "I've been in county government full-time for 14 years in New Mexico and I've worked elections for 29 years."

Commissioners Paul Grider, Dennis Lopez, Gene Creighton and Dennis Lopez were present with Matthew Hunton out of town. Also at Tuesday morning's meeting, with votes unanimous:

• Two ordinances were approved for consideration at the Dec. 4 commission meeting. One concerned slight adjustments to the county's personnel ordinance, including updates to the paid birthday leave and cell phone policies. County Manager Amber Hamilton said the personnel ordinance was a "living document," and county attorney Randy Knudson said updates may still come as needed.

The other ordinance before the commission next month concerns ethical conduct among county officials, which Knudson explained was part of a statewide effort for governmental entities to include specific language articulating the standards of conduct and duties of local elected officials. It also calls for the formation of an ethics board consisting of five citizen members appointed by commissioners but who otherwise "shall not be affiliated with County government in any capacity," according to the proposed ordinance.

"It addresses the whole gambit of things and it's really designed to keep us out of trouble," explained Knudson, noting the New Mexico Attorney General's Government Conduct Act empowers each entity to formulate their own ordinance on the matter.

• Sheriff Malin Parker withdrew a scheduled request for the creation of an Evidence Technician Position, noting he would look at the possibility of a contract position for that role.

"There wasn't room in the budget for a full time position at this point," Hamilton added.

• A work session of approximately one hour followed the meeting, with officials in the planning stages of developing a list of roads for local governmental funding this coming spring.

"We'll probably have another workshop," Hamilton added. "We needed a list first, then we'll develop some projected numbers for what the roads will take, for the commission to decide priorities."