Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
PORTALES — Roosevelt County officials emphasized Tuesday that the recent district realignments did not entail any change in which constituents are represented by which commissioners.
In her county manager report at the regular commission meeting Tuesday morning, Amber Hamilton said she had received “a significant amount of calls” — approximately 20 — following recent word of the one-time realignment mandated by House Bill 407. The change was organized by the secretary of state’s office to create system where odd-numbered districts appear on presidential election ballots and even-numbered district appear on the gubernatorial election ballot.
The adjustment entailed a term extension for some local representatives — Commission Chairman Shane Lee and Probate Judge Michelle Bargas — but no other changes save for some different numbers. District 2 is now 5, District 3 is now 2, and District 5 is now 3.
“They only renumbered,” said County Clerk Stephanie Hicks. “Your district remains the same, your commissioner remains the same.”
Hamilton said officials are “in the process of getting our maps updated” online.
Also at Tuesday’s commission meeting, with votes unanimous and only commissioner Dennis Lopez absent:
• No action following an executive session of about 15 minutes.
• Approval of road closure for one mile of South Roosevelt Road 9 east from SRR N, following a recommendation from the road viewer committee.
• Kudos from Hamilton to Commissioner Tina Dixon, who recently “took out a posse of homemakers” to pick up eight bags worth of garbage and debris from outside the county fairgrounds entrance.
• Approval of consideration of the closure of two miles of SRR AL north from SRR 21, with property owner Mark Watts saying the road becomes impassable for several days after rains and proposing county road 19 as a “much better alternative.” Commissioners appointed a road viewer committee of Scott Burton, Ernest Gard and Gene Creighton, with Darrell Chenault as alternate.
• Presentation from the administration department’s Carol Acosta-Flores on the Annual Healthcare Assistance Program, which approved $218,094 in claims during Fiscal Year 2019.
• Approval of FY 2020 final budget, with a balance of $4.153 million in the general operating fund.
• Presentation from Cannon Air Force Base Lt. Col Russell Gheesling, who spoke to forthcoming designs on access roads to the Melrose Air Force Range in Roosevelt County. Air Force officials are hoping to access federal funds in FY 2021 toward establishing Roosevelt Road AV as the “primary access road to MAFR” and meanwhile looking toward enhancements to Sundale Valley Road, the main existing access road. The projects entail no cost to the county but will “all hinge, of course, on commission approval,” Hamilton said.
