Meetings Watch - Dec. 21

Roosevelt County Commission

The following actions were taken at the Roosevelt County Commission meeting Tuesday morning in the Commission Room of the county courthouse:

• Commissioners heard reports from elected officials and department heads.

Sheriff Malin Parker reported having wrapped up a child predator case with which his office was assisting the Attorney Generals Office and the FBI.

He also reported that he and County Manager Amber Hamilton met with the National Guard Armory, which owns the sheriff’s office building, and officials with the Guard said they would be sending an independent contractor to look at the building.

Treasurer Layle Sanchez said her office has collected 32 percent in current taxes and 46 percent in delinquent taxes as of November. She said the county has $2.3 million in their general fund.

Roosevelt County Detention Center Administrator Larry Phillips reported that the jail currently houses 45 male inmates and six females and four out-of-county inmates.

He said two release mistakes were made in the last month-to-date, but they were remedied quickly.

Carol Acosta-Flores, who manages the county’s indigent health care, asked commissioners to approve three indigent health care requests totaling $14,455.

The commissioners approved the requests.

Road Superintendent Ricky Lovato reported that the road department has completed 2016 LGRF projects and is waiting on funding for 2017 LGRF projects.

He said his crews are covering a lot of miles each week with tumbleweeds being a huge problem currently. He said road crews were patching South Roosevelt Road 8 on Tuesday.

• Hamilton honored Acosta-Flores with a certificate “for being Roosevelt County’s best” for Acosta-Flores “going above and beyond,” not only in her work but with community efforts.

• Hamilton also honored commissioners Rick Leal and Jake Lopez for their service to the county, saying that Tuesday was the last meeting for the two commissioners.

Lopez was ineligible to run again, and Leal lost his seat to Matthew Hunton in the June primary election.

“We cannot express our deep gratitude to you two gentleman,” Hamilton told the two men. “Ya’ll have served in such a tough leadership role over the past few years, but I really hope that ya’ll are really proud walking out of here today. It is phenomenal what you all have done as a governing body, and you two have been instrumental in making those decisions.”

Hamilton also honored Probate Judge Barbara George, whose term had also expired, telling George, “We are so grateful for the service you’ve provided to this county.”

“I’ve really been blessed to serve in this capacity for the last eight years, and I appreciate all the support I’ve had,” George responded.

• Hamilton reported to commissioners that the county has joined an energy efficiency rebates program with Xcel Energy to replace lights and fixtures at the fairgrounds to save on utility costs.

• Commissioner Shane Lee shared with everyone that he attended a 4-H awards ceremony where the county received an award for their support of 4-H programs.

• Commissioners approved a 100 Days and Nights grant for the sheriff’s office for DWI patrols and equipment.

• Commissioners approved $7,000 EMS Fund Act grants for the Arch and Milnesand fire departments for fiscal year 2018-19.

• Commissioners approved a resolution for a new policy regarding electronic easvesdropping/unlawful recording.

Hamilton told commissioners that there have been circumstances in the past where county employees used recording devices and it was not clear if they were allowed to or not, so there needed to be a policy in place regarding this.

“It shall be a violation of the Roosevelt County Policy for employees to engage in electronic surveillance, eavesdropping, unauthorized or secret tape recording by use of an electronic recording device of any communications between or among employees or elected representatives of the County of Roosevelt,” the policy states, stating that recordings are only to be taken when serving in an official capacity as a county employee.

• Commissioners approved a resolution listing priorities for state roads needing repairs within Roosevelt County for the state highway department.

The roads listed were:

— New Mexico 88 from city of Portales to Texas border

— New Mexico 114 from town of Elida to Texas border

— New Mexico 202 from U.S. 70 to Texas border

— New Mexico 267 from city of Portales to Melrose

— New Mexico 330 from town of Elida to the merge with New Mexico 267

— New Mexico 235 from New Mexico 206 to Texas border

— New Mexico 236 from city of Portales to New Mexico 267

• Commissioners approved a new internal control policy for the county.

• Commissioners approved the county participating in a capital outlay program with the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

Lovato said the funding the county will receive from the program will be $50,000 and will be used to fix a four-mile section of New Mexico 88, the Arch highway.

Lovato said he plans to chipseal the road, which will cost $69,000.

• Commissioners approved a contract with Pest Pro for pest control services at the detention center.

Hamilton said the company provides pest control services to the rest of the county as well.

• Commissioners went into executive session to discuss threatened or pending litigation.

No action was taken.

— Compiled by Managing Editor Alisa Boswell