Curry takes stand on bills

CLOVIS — The Curry Commission took a stand on a pair of bills moving through the New Mexico Legislature Thursday, opposing a civil action measure and approving one on capital outlay.

By a 5-0 vote at its Thursday meeting, the commission approved a resolution opposing House Bill 4, which creates a state civil rights act and prohibits a public body, or those acting on the public body’s behalf, from using qualified immunity as a defense of alleged act violations.

According to the resolution, the county finds the original bill problematic with no cap on compensatory damages, and that the substitute legislation’s caps have little effect because they are applied individually to claims and claimants.

The resolution recommends delaying the bill for another year for more analysis on the cost and benefits.

County Manager Lance Pyle said a bill that isn’t studied properly before passage and implementation could have drastic financial consequences, and that HB4 certainly fits that category.

The commission also unanimously approved a resolution in support of Senate Bill 174, which requires capital outlay requests for non-governmental entity projects have a municipality acting as the project’s fiscal agent. The measure is sponsored by Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview.

As of Saturday morning, HB 4 was in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, while SB 174 was in the Senate Finance Committee.

In other business at the Thursday meeting:

• County financial specialist Rob Burpo gave an update on federal and state financial matters, and doubted the Federal Reserve would make any rate changes for the next few years. The fed has said it won’t make rate changes until 2024, Burpo said; “I think that might be a little aggressive.”

He said there were holes in Senate Bill 33, which would establish a state bank in New Mexico. The bill would take $50 million from the permanent fund, the 11-member board would only have one elected official and the bill had no set or formula for rate of return.

“If you're going to create a bank,” Burpo said, “you're going to need more than a 13-page bill.”

• Capt. Kim Chatto of Cannon Air Force Base’s Public Affairs office said the base is planning quarterly meetings to discuss PFAS/PFOA contamination, with the first set for the evening of March 17.

• County Clerk Annie Hogland said the Clovis school board election conducted two weeks prior had roughly 18% turnout. A total of 21,290 ballots were mailed out, with 3,385 ballots accepted. An additional 366 were mailed in, but rejected by the absentee board due to various pieces of missing information. Hogland told The News the county had received around 1,500 ballots back as undeliverable, and that a few ballots were trickling in each day.

• The county agreed to a pair of contracts with Southwest Business Solutions. One covered general computer, network and professional services on an as-needed basis, and the other security camera installation and door access controls for Curry County Courthouse renovations. Neither contract can exceed $59,500.

County IT Director Todd Ulses said having SBS on retainer is good practice because, “IT is constantly changing and it's hard for one person to be 100% knowledgeable.” County Purchasing Agent Troy Hall said any project in excess of $5,000 requires county manager approval.

County Facilities Director Ben Roberts said handing the courthouse work to SBS will result in a lower overall contract with NCA Architects and likely head off a series of change orders.

• Commissioners tabled a resolution banning open fires. County Fire Marshal David Kube said counties were urged to put forth prevention measures after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a drought emergency throughout the state. Martin said the ordinance referenced in the resolution dealt with fireworks, and didn’t feel that justified any action.

• Commissioners were brief in their individual reports, with Commissioners Chet Spear, Robert Sandoval and James Ridling praising local vaccination clinic efforts and Sandoval saying, “I hope God sends a bolt of lightning down” to help people still not wearing masks realize their importance. Martin, a farmer by trade, said he was surprisingly thankful for the lack of storm clouds.

• The next commission meeting is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Curry County Administrative Complex.

This will be the first in-person meeting for the commission since last March. The meeting will not be streamed on the county Facebook page, but will be streamed on the county website and air on public access television. A conference phone will be set up for anybody who wishes to attend telephonically.

“I am looking forward to getting back in the commission room,” Commission Chairman Robert Thornton said, “and throwing this computer out the door, if you want the truth.”