Roosevelt officials discuss capital requests

PORTALES — The Roosevelt County Commission meeting was sparse Tuesday morning with only three commissioners attending.

During the meeting, the commission discussed capital requests for its fiscal year 2020 budget and went over its previously approved its 2020 Capital Outlay Priority list during the meeting.

With the year coming to an end, County Manager Amber Hamilton presented the commission with options to relocate county gross receipt funds to previously held projects.

The commission discussed purchasing a new four-wheel drive pickup as an administration vehicle, while transferring the current administration vehicle to the Detention Center. Hamilton cited issues with the current vehicle getting stuck while traveling county roads and having issues making long trips to Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

The commission also discussed purchasing a new patrol vehicle for the Sheriff's Office and a new work vehicle for the Road Department, as well as a new ice machine at the county courthouse.

Improvements to facilities at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds were also discussed, but ranked as a lower priority project.

With those items listed as high priorities, they'll be put up for approval in a budget adjustment at a future meeting.

Hamilton went on to review the 2020 Capital Outlay Priority list previously approved by the commission in August.

The top priority items for funding included the ongoing Road Improvement Project at the cost of $500,000, followed by the Road Barn Construction project at $400,000 and then the Detention Center Security Improvements at $622,000. Also in the top five were Roosevelt County Enterprise and Courthouse HVAC system renovations at $60,000 and the Fairgrounds ADA Compliance Plan at $750,000.

Hamilton said that the priority list is a living document and can be changed later down the line so it is advised that the commission revisit the list periodically to consider changes.

The commission also received reports from several county departments during the Tuesday morning meeting:

• The Detention Center reported it currently has 77 inmates, 20 females and 57 males, and had 81 intakes in November.

Justin Porter said the Detention Center is moving forward with its laundry renovation project to replace two washers and two dryers. The center's phone provider recently did a building survey to begin the process of adding wireless support for the Detention Center's educational program.

Porter also said that since the county approved raises for the facility's officers there have been seven new officers hired.

• Hamilton provided the road department report and gave an update on South Roosevelt Road 8.

Hamilton said Road 8 has been a priority and that the county has attempted to chip seal the road four times, but expects the project to be finished within the next few days.

Hamilton added that the finished road will help with the heavy traffic in the area.

The commission's next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Dec. 17 at the Roosevelt County Courthouse.