Solutions sought for illegal dumping

PORTALES — The Roosevelt County Commission engaged in trash talk Tuesday morning, as solutions are being sought to combat illegal dumping.

Commissioners did not make any policy changes regarding laws or penalties on the practice, but acknowledged more needs to be done when residents simply drop off trash on county roads instead of using the convenience center operated by the city of Portales.

Laveta Patterson, who lives south of Portales, said there has been a rash of illegal dumping over the last several months, and it’s upsetting and disgusting to see it when she makes the effort to use the convenience center.

“They’re cleaning up their backyards,” Patterson said, “but they’re sure messing up ours.”

County Manager Amber Hamilton said dumping has become a larger issue recently.

“We’re having to send out trash crews every two to three months,” Hamilton said. “Even though we’re not staffed for that, even though that’s not a function of the county road crew, that’s something we do. The problem is, with 6-foot tall weeds, some of these places are really good at hiding trash.”

Much of the dumping takes place under the cover of night, Hamilton said, which makes catching the perpetrators difficult. The county has installed security cameras in problem areas, but that has limits because illegal dumpers “also know where the cameras are, and they’re good at getting out of the camera’s view.”

“There’s only so much that we can do electronically,” she said.

The county in 2019 implemented a $500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of illegal dumpers, and Hamilton said the county is trying to find ways to encourage people to report. It’s an issue in pretty much every county, she said, and nobody’s found a “golden ticket” approach.

It was suggested by audience members that Portales, which charges non-residents by yardage to dump trash at the convenience center, to have a free dumping day for county residents. Commissioner Shane Lee said that would be a decision for the city of Portales to make, and Commission Chair Tina Dixon said she’d be happy to talk to the city council about the matter.

Hamilton noted that even though such ideas have good intent, there would be antidonation clause issues if a municipality takes a service funded by its taxpayers and offers it at no charge to people who aren’t its taxpayers.

Dixon asked to look into the matter in subsequent meetings, possibly to see if any policies can be changed on penalty and reward amounts.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• The commission met in executive session for about 40 minutes, and in open session agreed to accept a settlement on a lawsuit against the New Mexico Tax and Revenue Department for $34,688.62 in underreported gross receipts tax benefits to the county between 2010 and 2017.

• The commission approved its Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan list. The list included 17 projects that would be eligible for capital outlay dollars from the state. The state requires any item it funds through capital outlay to be on a municipality’s ICIP. The top five projects listed were road improvements, road equipment purchases, detention center electrical upgrades, fairgrounds master improvement plan and fleet replacement for the sheriff’s office. The list will be posted on the county website.

• Detention Center Administrator Justin Porter said the facility had 57 detainees, 44 males and 13 females. The center had 56 bookings in August, compared to 67 releases. Porter also noted the department has brought aboard its medication-assisted treatment program manager, and that the center was working on a community orientation program in the next few weeks.

• Hamilton told commissioners federal American Rescue Plan funding has been secured, and that she would like to have a meeting with commissioners in the upcoming weeks to plan out potential uses dealing with infrastructure and specific items related to COVID-19.

• Commissioners approved an amended agreement on ballot drop-off box security. County Clerk Mandi Park said Portales city officials raised concerns about who would be responsible for surveillance should internet service go out at the Memorial Building, which is one of the locations for a box. Park said it was her understanding the county would have responsibility, but Portales officials felt more comfortable having it in writing.