Roosevelt passes pair of bill resolutions

PORTALES — Two resolutions regarding Roosevelt County’s support and opposition for bills introduced in the current legislative session were discussed during its commission meeting on Tuesday.

The commission voted unanimously to support House Bill 33 regarding the Livestock Board and Meat Inspection and to oppose House Bill 4 the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.

On the agenda for the meeting the item submitted by Roosevelt County Manager Amber Hamilton read, “Urging the New Mexico Legislature to provide more resources for behavioral health prevention and treatment, since behavioral health issues are the root cause of many civil rights claims against local governments; and recommending damage caps on any new civil rights cause of action as well as funding for any increased costs associated with it.”

Though the agenda item cited concerns about how behavioral health issues and civil rights claims are connected, the commission did not address those issues during discussion.

The discussion during the meeting focused primarily on the potential financial implications of the bill.

No sources were given in regards to the statement that “behavioral health issues are the root cause of many civil rights claims,” but Hamilton did identify that opposition to the bill has increased around the state and that the bill only passed through the state commission with a 5:4 vote.

While reading from the dissenting opinion issued by the commission Hamilton noted that the existing Tort Claims Act provides for some of the most lenient caps for civil rights cases even though New Mexico is one of the poorest states in the union.

She also noted that, “It looks to create an environment where reinsurance isn’t available,” and that without a cap on awards the county would pay whatever insurance doesn’t. With the county’s current finances, Hamilton said a large legal award would put additional strains on taxpayers.

“I would consider this bill not to be a civil rights bill but I would more accurately term it the trial lawyer’s golden goose bill,” said Commissioner Rodney Savage, who believed the bill to be unethical and inquired about recommending it to the state’s Ethics Committee for investigation.

The commission voted unanimously to oppose the bill, with the consensus that it does not hit at reform but rather enforces additional monetary consequences.

For the discussion on House Bill 33 Pat Boone, past President and current member of the New Mexico Livestock Growers Association spoke on behalf of local beef producers.

Boone noted that of the two bills currently introduced in the session regarding meat processing the house bill was the one he thought support should be thrown behind because, “It states that the state meat inspection needs to reside with the New Mexico Livestock Board and that it needs to be fully funded.”

He added that the program is much needed after years of backlog on meat inspection, which was emphasized early on during the pandemic when large processing houses were shut down and a major demand for local beef emerged. Finding beef to eat was not the problem, however finding someone able to process it was.

When questioned about opposition, Boone noted that in the past the only major opposition was due to funding concerns. A meat inspection program was often passed over or cut so funding could go elsewhere, however the past year has shown the importance of communities having safe access to local meat products.

Savage noted that it would allow 4-H and FFA members to gain experience selling the product of their livestock. Commissioner Shane Lee added that it would open more doors for small scale producers to sell their meat on a local market, including expanding access to specialty meat cuts. He said it would also decrease producers from having to cross the border and pay taxes in Texas for processing.

In other business at the meeting:

• Roosevelt County Detention Center Administrator Justin Porter’s update reported 61 detainees at the facility, and one person in academy training. He said that they are not administering the vaccine at the detention facility but are providing new releases with information on how to receive it if they qualify. Porter added that implementation of a tablet program for detainees has had a positive response so far with the facility seeing a reduction in minor behavioral issues because of detainees access to tablets.

• Financial Specialist Liliana Rivera’s finance report showed that the county had so far expended 56% of its 2020-21 budget, which is slightly over their 50% target. Rivera noted the additional costs needing funding were for small scale projects.

• Road Superintendent Ricky Lovato said work is continuing on the road at the Sagamore Wind Far, and that the department would use nearly $40,000 in gifted materials to resurface the fairground parking lot.

• Hamilton’s county manager update included progress on the insurance maintenance from last year’s hailstorm. Maintenance is still in progress, and the next phase which includes the fairground buildings will being soon. 38 Roosevelt County businesses received CARES Act funding from the state. The unemployment rate went up one full percentile in Dec. to 8.2%, putting New Mexico at the fifth highest unemployment rate in the country. She attributed the rise to the second lockdown New Mexico went through that put strict regulations on businesses and restaurants. Hamilton also noted that the county is working with local entities and the state to come up with a creative solution to keeping local access to the Income Support Division Office if it were to close.

• The commission approved a resolution requesting the Legislature and Governor’s Office review a rule change by the New Mexico Retiree Healthcare Association. Hamilton cited concern about the rule change and how it could force teacher retirements or negatively impact county workers under the age of 30.

• A proclamation designating February of 2021 as 2-1-1 month was passed. This year is the fourteenth anniversary of the United Way of Eastern New Mexico’s 2-1-1 program which the proclamation reads is “a free, confidential referral and information helpline that connects people of all ages to essential health and human services they need.” Through 2020 the program provided assistance to 703 families by helping them avoid eviction or having their utilities shutoff.

• The commission discussed and approved possible upgrades at the Jake Lopez Building, where their meetings are currently being held. Options for upgrades included a $60,000 new HVAC system and $10,000 for the removal of a rarely used garage door that causes a draft.