Curry county commission tables burn ban

Apparently driven by Curry County Commission Chair Robert Thornton's words, "I don't like to tell people what to do on their private property."

On Tuesday, commissioners tabled a request by the county's Fire and Safety Director to declare a "fire danger emergency" in Curry County.

Appearing at Tuesday's regular session of the County Commission, Fire and Safety Director Michael Booth had sought the emergency declaration "to get ahead of the game" in terms of possibly cutting down the number of possible range fires in the county by enacting restrictions.

Booth told commissioners the moisture forecast for the next 35 days is not good.

"We saw grass fires starting in late February," Booth said. "That's pretty early."

Booth said conditions are so dry at this time that a common cause for grass fires now is sparks from vehicles along roadways as was the case of the April 17 blaze east of Clovis on SR 523.

"Drought is not affecting just New Mexico, it's affecting the whole country," Booth said. "I don't see it getting any better."

Commissioner Seth Martin said he would rather see a public posting, online or in the newspaper, about what is allowed and what is not allowed in the county according to a 2016 ordinance on burning.

"I don't like doing these," Thornton said of the emergency action. "I'd like to think people have common sense. I really don't want to enact a burn ban."

Martin made a motion to table the matter until another time, and Thornton seconded the motion. The vote was four to one to table, Commissioner Brad Bender opposed tabling the matter.

Booth said he will be following through on Martin's idea of online posting of the county's 2016 ordinance regarding burning.

Commissioners took care of routine business during Tuesday's session such as paying bills, approving the Curry County Events Center operating budget and hearing road reports.

Proclamations were issued at the meeting.

Wayne Boydston, Pastor of Parkland Baptist Church, appeared reading the proclamation for National Day of Prayer, May 4.

Diana Delgado from the Curry County DWI Task Force had her proclamation of May 7 through May 13 as "National Prevention Week."

Curry County Adult Detention Center (CCADC) Administrator Mark Gallegos appeared regarding a proclamation for May 7 through May 13 as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. At Thornton's request Gallegos also told commissioners and the audience about the courses available at CCADC for detainees.

"Keeping them busy while they're detained," Gallegos said.

Curry County Sheriff Mike Reeves appeared before the commission along with former Sheriff Wesley Waller requesting a proclamation for May 14 through May 20 as National Police Week and May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Reeves took the time to remember a fallen officer from the Curry County Sheriff's Department, Brian Vannatta, who died from COVID-19 in January 2022.

Reeves told commissioners Vannatta is to be remembered this year on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the New Mexico Law Enforcement Memorial in Santa Fe.

During the commissioners reports part of the meeting, Commissioner Fidel Madrid told the group of his recent attendance at a Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

"There's a rumor going around that Cracker Barrel (restaurant) is coming to town," Madrid said. "That's just a rumor."

Martin reminded area residents that May 1 is the deadline to protest property taxes if they feel the need to do so.

"I encourage people to check their property tax forms," Martin said, to make sure everything is correct.

The next Curry County commission meeting is scheduled to take place May 9.