Q&A: Roosevelt County manager gives updates on jail, food pantry

Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of state-of-the-entity interviews with local officials. Amber Hamilton has been the Roosevelt County manager since 2014.

Q: What are some of the main topics of discussion right now during County Commission meetings?

A: The Commission is in the final stages of adopting a preliminary budget. So that's something the commission and county leadership, all the department heads, elected officials and such have been working on for the past several months.

It is a very detailed and extensive process. The county has regular ongoing conversations in regard to roads and the detention center.

Q: What is the jail situation these days? Are you short of detention officers? How many prisoners are you averaging?

A: Right now, we are at a point where we do not have any current openings within the detention center. We have 31 fully staffed positions. But there is regular turnover in that position as it is high stress and entry level.

We, as of this morning, or this week, we've been averaging about 30 in custody. So, our average daily population is down. The jail has 145 beds.

Q: What's going on with the Roosevelt County food pantry? Why was it necessary to add this along with services provided by the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico?

A: We were approached by the Food Bank, and they started this initiative. They have been doing regular food distributions, and there is a significant need and demand within Roosevelt County for food insecurity.

The distribution was happening through drive-thru methods at the Roosevelt County Health Clinic. And it just proved that there was a need for a permanent Food Pantry location.

It is in the final stages of construction. We anticipate that construction should be complete by the end of June.

Q: Why was it decided to trade in a 2006 truck for a 1993 truck for the Arch fire department? Why go with something older?

A: They started having little, small issues that turned into something much larger and, at this point, the truck requires a complete transmission overhaul and massive work that exceeds the value of the truck.

The truck was valued at $44,750 at this point because it's nonoperational and they can't pull a tanker with it. They need a truck that can get the tanker out in the field so that they have water available for their team when they're fighting fires.

Chief Jay Lang has done extensive research. They did find an older truck, but it's very comparable in hours it's been in operation.

Q: In the strategic planning you presented at the last meeting, one of the goals was to find a solution for the dispatch center. Where does all of that stand now?

A: The Commission found a solution through June of 2024, and they contracted with the city of Portales. The county is continuing to explore the regionalization options.

One of the things that the Commission has expressed interest in is looking into a partnership with Lea County. We had a public meeting with them, where the commissioners gathered with Lea County officials and just started that initial discussion.

The main thing is to ensure that our first responders, our law enforcement, fire personnel, and those within the volunteer districts are all safe, and they have access to dispatch services.

What do you feel is the county's No. 1 priority today? And how are you and commissioners addressing it?

A: I believe financial stability and continued conservative management is a priority, because that impacts every facet of county government.

As the commission continues to be good stewards of the very finite resources that we have in Roosevelt County, we're able to address road issues, we're able to continue to take care of our facilities, we can implement and plan for the upgrades.

The strategic plan that has laid out the next three years' goals and the direction of the county and the Commission helps to really identify the underlying importance of continued financial stability.

The largest portion of the expenses ... is always personnel. They are our greatest resource. They are the driving force. They are the public servants that get the work done and making sure that you're taking care of and investing in your staff and developing them, providing them with the tools they need to do their job.

- Compiled by staff writer Landry Sena