Roosevelt officials push to charge more for holding inmates

Roosevelt County commissioners on Tuesday further pushed for the city of Portales to pay more for holding inmates at the county detention center.

County Commissioner Tina Dixon led the discussion in updating the continued public service negotiations. Dixon said she has been discussing the matter of the detention center with the city and the City Council is still “matter of fact” about the facility and will only pay up until the inmates' arraignment.

“Detention is one of those places we’re stuck at because as you can see the laws are not clear. The statute is not clear on either side,” Dixon said.

Dixon said Portales has been paying an average of $55 per inmate for each full day of housing in the detention center. It was proposed to raise the price to $154 per day, which would go into effect for the month of September. The city continues to charge about $18,000 for water and trash at the facility, Dixon said.

County commissioners also discussed the possibility of closing down the facility and what payments the county would be responsible if they take that route.

Dixon said if the county were to close the detention center the county would be responsible for covering transportation of Portales inmates to other facilities. County Attorney Michael Garcia said based “on the logic with Portales” it would then be the responsibility of the receiving facility to pay the daily rates of the inmates.

Garcia informed the commission he would have to conduct more research to see if there is a statute in place requiring the county to cover daily rates at a different facility.

In other matters, the commission:

• Listened to a presentation from Eastern New Mexico University President James Johnston about the increased enrollment at the university. Johnston said enrollment had increased for all three campuses with Ruidoso being up by 7%, Roswell by 8% and Portales at 5.7% in comparison to last school semester.

• Discussed whether to move into executive session to approve and reinstate the Enabling Act of 1910 in response to New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issuing a public health ordinance that suspends open and concealed carry of firearms in Albuquerque. The commission had unanimously agreed to pass the decision about the ordinance until the next county commission meeting on Oct. 3, so the commission board can have more time to be more informed.

• Approved a grant agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, which will provide a new database reporting system that will require the county to report quarterly instead of monthly with the state’s department of transportation

• Approved the NM Department of Finance and Administration fund capital appropriation project agreement for $100,000 so the county can purchase heavy equipment for the road department.