Roosevelt to consider alcohol sales

PORTALES — County commissioners on Tuesday broached the topic of permitting alcohol sales in unincorporated parts of Roosevelt County, potentially opening new possibilities for wine tastings, beer gardens, and rodeo sponsorships.

Chairman Shane Lee suggested the change.

“I’m not saying I want everybody to go crazy out there,” he told The News. “I’m just looking for things to increase Roosevelt County, which also to me means Portales. We’re one of the few counties anymore that are dry.”

Easing up on the county’s historic dry status “gives us more opportunities,” Lee said.

“We have this beautiful site at the Fairgrounds, and I know there are some guys that want to have some ropings there, or ridings, and maybe have Budweiser sponsor them,” he said.

Commissioners agreed they would like to hear more next meeting from County Attorney Randy Knudson as to the particulars of what the process to lift alcohol restrictions would entail. It would likely mean petitions, public input and education before ultimately proffering a resolution by July in time to have something on the November ballot.

“What the general public wants, that’s what I’ll back,” Lee said. “I believe it’s accepted now. Things aren’t like they used to be, now that everybody is a more moderate person, and I thank officers for stopping DWIs.”

Commissioner Dennis Lopez agreed with Lee in Tuesday’s meeting, later telling The News he thought it could be a “community investment” and “a great economic boost to the city of Portales and Roosevelt County.”

Community support and controls for unintended consequences would be important steps, Lopez said.

“I think it needs to be well-planned, it needs to be supported by our stakeholders and our community, and I think we’ll fare well with it,” he said. “We just need to do a lot of outreach, a lot of education and maybe pump some funds into preventing DWI.”

The commission next meets June 4 at 9 a.m. in its chambers at the Roosevelt County Courthouse. Also at Tuesday’s meeting, with votes unanimous and all commissioners present:

• County Manager Amber Hamilton said the fiscal year 2018 financial audit “reflected strong financial stability of the county” and had zero findings, compared to 15 in fiscal year 2015.

As for recent operations, Hamilton pointed to 45 miles of county maintained roads that were enhanced and rehabilitated, almost half of which were funded through a $750,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

The Roosevelt County jail meanwhile had “zero major facility incidents” in 2018, and of two tort claims filed against the county both were dismissed “as frivolous,” she said.

• Commissioners approved ratification of a feasibility form submission to the state’s Department of Transportation for renovations to Sundale Valley Road. The scope of work includes “caliche, chip seal and a polymer modified master seal.”

The road is a bus route for the Floyd School District and grants primary access roadway to the Cannon Air Force Base Bombing Range.

The estimated project cost is $339,363, with a local match ranging from 5 to 25% and the rest from a federal share.

• Commissioners approved a contract renewal for healthcare services at the Roosevelt County Detention Center. Effective July 1 through June 30, 2020, the contract with Wellpath LLC includes a 2.4% annual increase for a total of $647,174. That includes a consumer price index increase and a salary boost for registered nurses, said jail Administrator Justin Porter, allowing the facility to stay competitive in hiring medical professionals.

• A request to approve the fiscal year 2020 preliminary budget was tabled, pending a budget meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. on May 30.