Roosevelt transitioning to new Commission

Roosevelt County commissioners on Tuesday said farewell to two members who have reached their term limits.

The terms of District 1 Commissioner Dennis Lopez and District 2 Commissioner Rodney Savage expire Dec. 31.

Replacing the two are Fabian Muñoz in District 1 and former County Sheriff Malin Parker in District 2. Their terms officially begin Jan. 1.

Remaining members - Commission Chair Tina Dixon and Commissioners Paul Grider and Roy Lee Criswell paid compliments and asides with Lopez and Savage.

Lopez and Savage returned compliments to the remaining commissioners.

In other business:

• Dixon reported she met with State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard on Dec. 13 over the issue of county roads crossing state land.

“I think we’ve made a lot of headway. If we don’t do anything that will be between us (Roosevelt County) and the new land commissioner,” Dixon said.

Garcia-Richard’s term runs for two more years.

Commissioners voted to put the matter off until next year.

• County Clerk Mandi Park reported to commissioners that with a new law in effect in the state, commissioners now have the option of action on pay raises for certain county personnel and elected officials, including the county clerk.

Park asked commissioners to consider meeting before Dec. 31 to move on a raise for Park and other elected officials.

Commissioners voted to meet on the matter at 9 a.m. Monday.

• Roosevelt County Sheriff Javier Sanchez gave commissioners his “End of the Year Report,” one point being his department’s deputies had 5,913 calls over the year.

Another point was there were 29 DWI arrests in Roosevelt County in the year.

“That’s 19 more than last year,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez also said the department will be using a new DWI trailer for DWI checkpoints.

• Probate Judge Kendall Terry gave his department report, noting he handled 40 probate cases in 2024.

He said the highest number he handled in the past few years was “during COVID” when there were 88.

Terry had praise for Park for her work regarding the probate court.

Terry told commissioners he will be holding probate workshops in outlying areas in 2025.

The first one will be in Elida at a meeting of the Elida Women’s Club, 11 a.m. Jan. 10.

• County Human Resources Director Gemma Martin handed out anniversary awards to county employees Carla Weems, Gary Spinks, Tasha Grassel, Jacob Bonner, Clint Dickerson, Lilianna Mauldin, Johnny Montiel, James Burris, Shayla Ramsey, Danion Rich, Steven Aldridge, Lucas Hermosillo, Kristine Paulus, Johanna Jimenez and Darla Reed.

Martin also presented service plaques to Lopez and Savage. Dixon reported she met with State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard on Dec. 13 over the issue of county roads crossing state land.

“I think we’ve made a lot of headway. If we don’t do anything that will be between us (Roosevelt County) and the new land commissioner,” Dixon said.

Garcia-Richard’s term runs for two more years.

Commissioners voted to put the matter off until next year.

• County Clerk Mandi Park reported to commissioners that with a new law in effect in the state, commissioners now have the option of action on pay raises for certain county personnel and elected officials, including the county clerk.

Park asked commissioners to consider meeting before Dec. 31 to move on a raise for Park and other elected officials.

Commissioners voted to meet on the matter at 9 a.m. Monday.

• Roosevelt County Sheriff Javier Sanchez gave commissioners his “End of the Year Report,” one point being his department’s deputies had 5,913 calls over the year.

Another point was there were 29 DWI arrests in Roosevelt County in the year.

“That’s 19 more than last year,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez also said the department will be using a new DWI trailer for DWI checkpoints.

• Probate Judge Kendall Terry gave his department report, noting he handled 40 probate cases in 2024.

He said the highest number he handled in the past few years was “during COVID” when there were 88.

Terry had praise for Park for her work regarding the probate court.

Terry told commissioners he will be holding probate workshops in outlying areas in 2025.

The first one will be in Elida at a meeting of the Elida Women’s Club, 11 a.m. Jan. 10.

• County Human Resources Director Gemma Martin handed out anniversary awards to county employees Carla Weems, Gary Spinks, Tasha Grassel, Jacob Bonner, Clint Dickerson, Lilianna Mauldin, Johnny Montiel, James Burris, Shayla Ramsey, Danion Rich, Steven Aldridge, Lucas Hermosillo, Kristine Paulus, Johanna Jimenez and Darla Reed.

Martin also presented service plaques to Lopez and Savage.