Roosevelt approves temporary pay bump

PORTALES — Roosevelt County officials said their detention center employees have performed difficult work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, without the option of working remotely.

By a unanimous vote, county commissioners on Tuesday agreed to provide a temporary bump in their paychecks through the remainder of the fiscal year.

At the tail end of a roughly hour-long commission meeting, Detention Center Administrator Justin Porter sought permission for a $150 additional stipend per pay period, prorated to 86 hours of work.

“These people have made a conscious decision to come to work and fulfill their duty,” said Porter, who noted the wages were comparable to collecting unemployment.

The $18,750 cost, assuming all employees qualify for the stipend over the next five pay periods, is within the county budget, and County Manager Amber Hamilton said pending federal COVID-19 relief funds she'd referenced previously in the meeting can reimburse those costs.

Chair Tina Dixon said she made a recent visit to the detention center and was floored by the dedication she saw from the employees, and that she supported the stipend “100%.”

Commissioner Dennis Lopez said the commission should explore making the increase permanent in the upcoming fiscal year, and liked that the county would have two months to identify retention and recruitment benefits.

The item, like other items during the meeting, passed with a 3-0 vote. Commissioner Rod Savage also attended, and the commission axed an executive session and a budget workshop because of the two missing commissioners.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• Hamilton told commissioners the county planned to demolish a home that previously belonged to former New Mexico Gov. Washington Lindsey.

The house did not receive a bid during a March 27 auction, and Hamilton said a monthlong process to find a private buyer was unsuccessful. The house had an appraised value of $5,000 — the county could not sell it for less due to the state antidonation clause — and none of the three prospective buyers who contacted the county and toured the facility wanted to pay the price tag or the moving costs.

• The county's credit rating saw an upgrade from AA3 to AA2/AA3 from Moody's, which Hamilton credited to the commission's stewardship of funds.

Hamilton said the county had $3.843 million in reserves, and reminded commissioners the county had no reserves in the 2015 fiscal year.

“I'd like to thank everybody who's in this room,” Lopez said. “I think it takes a whole team. Roosevelt County is where it needs to be.”

• Hamilton said the county assessor's and treasurer's offices will share an employee when the treasurer's office needs extra manpower collecting property taxes, and thanked both offices for their efficiency.

• Road Superintendent Ricky Lovato told the commission finding cutting edges for its road equipment was proving difficult with a lack of supply, and that the county would do what work it could.

Hamilton said the lack of supply is an impact from long-term manufacturing shutdowns from the pandemic, and similar issues are bound to come up in the next few years.

• Hamilton updated commissioners on a feasibility study for a regional mental health facility, which would be located in Clovis. The city of Tucumcari did not join in the study, but entities in Curry, Roosevelt and De Baca counties are on board, along with Quay County.

“It's still definitely in the infancy phase, but it's a vital need in our area,” Hamilton said.

• Commissioners approved a resolution continuing declaration of an exceptional drought and fire danger emergency in the county.

• The county approved 16 of 17 indigent claims totaling $10,897.30. The one rejected claim, worth $1,220, was not filed in time.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 25.