Commission takes first look at redistricting plans

PORTALES — Roosevelt County commissioners took a first look at redistricting that must be finished by the end of the year during Tuesday’s meeting.

The commission plans to approve one of three plans on Dec. 21, after giving the public two weeks to look over how Districts 1-5 will change or not change. No decision was made by commissioners following the presentation from Brad Morrison of Research and Polling, which the county hired to provide three redistricting plan options.

The News attended the meeting virtually.

Morrison took commissioners through the process and their requirements as the elected body. The county, Morrison said, was tasked to redraw lines to maintain compact, contiguous districts that do not dilute minority voting rights and are close to each other in population — more specifically, within 5% of 3,838 citizens per district.

The plans, when presented as views of the entire county, looked similar, but a Portales-only view showed various differences between the plans:

• Plan A: District 4 gains property from Districts 2 and 3 that is north of West University Drive and southwest of Avenue B.

• Plan B: Everything north of Spruce Street between NM 467 and South Roosevelt Road S moves from District 5 to District 1. An approximate triangle of property enclosed by Commercial Street, Boston Avenue and Third Street moves from District 1 to District 4. District 3 also grows one block southeast, taking former District 2 property between Seventh and Eighth streets west of Chicago Avenue.

• Plan C: District 3 and District 4 trade land, with District 4 getting the section of Portales south of 18th Street and west of NM 206 and District 3 getting two triangular pieces of land north of West University Drive — one south of the Abilene and Seventh intersection and another south of the Main and Commercial intersection. District 3 also gains land from District 2 that is southwest of Abilene and land southwest of the University and Globe Avenue intersection.

Chair Tina Dixon said she favored Plans A and B, while Commissioner Dennis Lopez felt Plan A made the fewest changes.

When asked what plan he recommended, Morrison said it’s really not his or his firm’s job to impact a local decision. He did note that in general, entities like to go with the least change possible because it’s easier on voters and clerk’s offices.

In other business during the Tuesday meeting:

• Commissioners said the county will have a road workshop following their Dec. 21 meeting, and asked residents to either attend the workshop or contact their commissioner beforehand to help them establish priorities on road projects for 2022.

“I would rather you tell me (about road issues) beforehand than complain about it later,” Dixon said.

• The commission approved a hiring and referral incentive program for the detention center. County Manager Amber Hamilton told commissioners retaining the employees the detention center does have, along with reducing a 40% vacancy rate.

The incentive program offers a $300 incentive after six months on the job and $1,000 for 12 months on the job for a full-time detention officer hired between Tuesday and June 30 of next year.

County employees who refer a hired officer are provided a $250 incentive if that officer stays on for six months and a $500 incentive if the officer stays on for 12 months.

Employee are responsible for federal and state tax withholding and any other regular withholdings and deductions.

Dixon said she didn’t understand why the policy couldn’t simply be county-wide. Hamilton said detention was the only department where the county was having hiring and retention difficulties. Dixon countered that if there were no staffing issues in other departments, it shouldn’t cost the county anything to include them. Lopez said it was not an apples to apples comparison because detention jobs have more liability issues.

Commissioners approved the plan, and added sheriff’s deputies as a position.

During her report, Hamilton told commissioners an upcoming meeting would include measures to address compensation for other county employees.

“It’s really imperative we stay competitive,” Hamilton said. “There is just not a substantial workforce out there and we’re really facing issues keeping them. The state has moved their starting rate to $20 an hour. We are at $13.10.”

• The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 21 at the Roosevelt County Courthouse.