Roosevelt approves public safety resolution

PORTALES — Roosevelt County commissioners on Monday approved a resolution “supporting legislation focused on meaningful public safety reform while opposing legislation that would detrimentally and disproportionately impact Roosevelt County and rural New Mexico.”

County Manager Amber Hamilton said while Roosevelt County acknowledges the need for public safety reform, she said very few of the bills currently being considered by the state Legislature address the root causes of problems in public safety but instead, work toward making litigation less costly.

“Our argument has collectively been, ‘Let’s provide for meaningful reform,’” Hamilton said. “I think everyone acknowledges that we need to see some kind of public reform, but we want it to be meaningful.”

Hamilton said House Bill 375 seems to be the most meaningful public safety legislation so far, because it calls for meaningful changes, such as one academy board to handle training and a separate academy board to handle certification. The legislation also provides the funding source for the reform. She said the only change counties would like to see to this legislation is the addition of a sheriff or similar law enforcement official sitting on the board for the bill.

Commissioner Tina Dixon abstained from the vote due to not having had time to read the resolution.

Other actions taken by commissioners Monday in the Jake Lopez Building at the county fairgrounds:

• Treasurer Layle Sanchez gave the finance report, saying there is $6.2 million in the general fund after $2.5 million in debits and $630,557 in credits.

As for county investments, Sanchez said they are “trending slow but safe and secure.” “Most of the smaller accounts are seeing interest payments. We still see a bright future coming our way as far as investing,” she said.

• Hamilton gave commissioners an update on reimbursement for COVID-19 expenses and legislation the county has been following, as well as other items.

• She said the county has been working on its second application for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement for COVID expenses from May to December 2020. She said county officials were given an estimate of $2-2.6 million for the city of Portales from U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez and a $3.6 million estimate from the National Association of Counties Organization (NACO) for Roosevelt County federal recovery allocations. She said she is uncertain how much the county might receive. She said it is encouraging that the funding be allocated directly to the local governments as prior funding was delayed for months by the state.

• Hamilton said a town hall will be held at 6 p.m. today to discuss the local Income Support Division office, which has been closed since July due to COVID-19 but seems to be in high demand. She added that the county will hold an auction to get rid of county assets on March 27.

• Hamilton updated commissioners on unemployment, saying Roosevelt County is continuing to see elevated numbers, with unemployment at 6 percent, which is a 1.9 percent increase between December 2019 and December 2020.

• Hamilton told commissioners there was no significant setbacks or damage from weather conditions last week, and roads had minimal damage.

• Hamilton reported that renovations have started in the Jake Lopez Building. She said the front doors of the building have to be replaced, which will be an additional $10,000.

• Hamilton reported that so far, she has heard that $1.1 million for capital outlay will be issued to each New Mexico representative and $2 million to each senator.

• Hamilton said the New Mexico Association of Counties is tracking about 300 legislative bills. She said bills of concern are those directed toward law enforcement and House Bill 268 (the workers compensation bill), and House Bill 110 to increase minimum wage to $15 and to eliminate overtime pay, which “could have a very powerful impact to our businesses, our government, and our agricultural community.” She said she will continue to provide lists of the legislation and their updates to commissioners.

• County Clerk Mandi Park reported that the school bonds for Portales schools and Floyd schools were passed in the recent special election with 1,787 ballots cast, which is 18.21 percent of the eligible voters, In Portales, voters approved bond sales, 1,176 to 461. Floyd approved bond sales, 82-63.

• Commissioners approved a replat of lots two and three for the Farm Town Subdivision. Planning/Emergency Manager Johnny Montiel said the replat has been approved by the city of Portales, and it meets all of the county’s guidelines on plot subdivisions.

• Commissioners approved a resolution for third quarter budget adjustments.

Finance Specialist Lilliana Rivera said many of the adjustments were for insurance for hail damage from June of last year. She said one adjustment was for the HVAC system replacement for the Jake Lopez Building, and a $300,000 adjustment was for a state grant the county will be receiving under recreation. She added that it also included the $10,000 adjustment for the Jake Lopez Building door and its Americans with Disabilities capability.

Hamilton added that one of the adjustments was for another fleet unit for the sheriff’s office and a transport unit for the detention center, but the county was able to salvage nine older vehicles, so the salvage amount will fund the two new units.

• Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the county to submit an application to the Department of Finance and Administration, Local Government Division, to participate in the Local DWI Grant and Distribution Program. This would move the DWI program from the city’s jurisdiction to the county’s, according to misdemeanor and DWI compliance officer Dana Hernandez.

• Commissioners approved a resolution supporting Senate Bill 174, relating to capital outlay for non-governmental entities.

Hamilton said this was a priority that New Mexico county managers took to the Senate, because they acknowledge that non-profit organizations are important, but “we want them to have to come to the governing body and seek approval before applying for this capital funding.”

Hamilton said serving as fiscal agents for such funding means local governments have to go through contract requirements and procurement, insurance, and liability processes, which cause huge potential impacts to their budgets.

“When we’re saddled with fiscal responsibility, we end up being landlords … and we have to go through all the additional fiscal responsibilities and the list goes on and on,” Hamilton said. “We know non-profits are very important, but we just want them to communicate with the governing body, so we can respond appropriately and adjust our budget.”

• Commissioners approved a resolution declaring an exceptional drought and fire danger emergency in Roosevelt County.

• Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Finance and Administration, Local Government Division, for the DWI Program.

• Commissioners approved a Statement of Assurances for the local DWI Grant and Distribution Program.

• Commissioners approved a bid of $73,500 for a used John Deer tractor from the county road department.

• Commissioners went into a canvas meeting to approve the election canvas for the special election for school bonds. The canvas was approved unanimously.