Commish: LPC listing 'harmful to working families'

The Roosevelt County Commission approved two oppositions in its regular meeting Tuesday morning that would “revolve around land use and ensuring residents are able to steward their lands without overreach by the federal government,” according to County Manager Amber Hamilton.

The opposition to the lesser prairie chicken (LCP) as an endangered species and the Gila wilderness livestock removal were a common theme in the meeting. Commissioner Tina Dixon has taken the lead on both items of business; however, the commission has been working to draft the resolution for the past month on the LPC.

According to the resolution, “the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as an endangered species will create a wide range of adverse effects upon communities, industries, and people who are located within, reside, ranch, farm, and use the millions of acres of public and private lands identified as Lesser Prairie Chicken habitat for a distinct population segment in the states of New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma.”

The resolution then goes on to say that the scope of protection offered by FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) in listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken as “endangered” will be harmful to working families, local industries and communities, and the state of New Mexico as a whole.

The commission will consider the resolution at its next meeting on March 21.

The opposition to the Gila wilderness livestock removal comes after The Gila National Forest issued a decision to remove feral cattle within the boundaries of the Gila Wilderness using lethal methods.

Commissioner Dixon asked the rest of the commission to sign a letter from the Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties.

Dixon said the letter had in it, “The Gila National Forest has been offered several humane alternatives no cost to the forest service.” By signing the letter, the commission agreed to ask the Gila National Forest to use these alternative methods. The commission approved to sign the letter, and that will now make its way to the governor.

In other items of business, Hamilton provided updates on legislative actions as the commission is monitoring over 130 bills that could directly impact the county.

County Clerk Mandi Park recently visited Santa Fe to attend hearings. Hamilton believes county clerks aren’t getting the recognition they deserve in Santa Fe.

Park said, “There has been a lack of collaboration with county clerks collectively on some of these initiatives,” and that they don’t just handle elections.

Park said in her report, “We heard three bills; Senate Bill 180, House Bill Four, and the IPRA bill. All three of those got a do-pass.” Other legislative updates were provided in Tuesday’s meeting.

Road Superintendent, Ricky Lovato told the commission in his report that there was “lots of maintenance going on.” This comes after the recent windstorms in eastern New Mexico. Lovato said his department was working to clear out tumbleweeds, push sand out of the roads, and clean out cattle guards. Commissioner Roy Lee Criswell thanked Lovato for his department’s work to make the roads better for the county.

Finally, the commission revisited a discussion from the Feb. 21 meeting about an agreement between Roosevelt County and city of Portales regarding the Portales Communications Center. The county attorney and Sheriff’s Office were to bring two drafts of the agreement to be considered, however those drafts were not completed. The Sheriff’s Office told the commission it needed to clear up the language, but that the drafts were almost done. Those should be presented at the next meeting on March 21.