Meetings watch: Curry County Commission

The Curry County Commission changed the usual date and time of their regular meeting this week for one reason: To canvass the votes of Tuesday’s primary elections.

However, the commission, which met Friday afternoon at the county courthouse, decided it was best to delay the canvassing of the votes for one more week to ensure the vote tally accuracy.

The commissioners expressed their displeasure over an ordinance dedicating, in quarterly installments, 1/12 percent of the county’s gross receipts tax to the state, to be placed in the state’s Safety Net Care Pool Fund.

However, because the ordinance makes the county compliant with state law, the commissioners had no choice but to pass it. Commissioners Frank Blackburn, Wendell Bostwick and Ben McDaniel were present; commissioner Tim Ashley participated via telephone.

“As county manager, I am strongly against it,” said Lance Pyle. “It’s a state mandate; the county won’t have the funds to continue to provide the Indigent Healthcare Services that the county has provided in the past.”

Pyle said the 1/12 of the percent of gross receipts tax adds up to nearly $1 million a year.

The ordinance will go into effect July 1.

Action items on Friday’s agenda were passed unanimously by the four commissioners:

• Approval of voting delegate and alternate at the National Association of Counties conference in July. Bostwick was selected to attend, with Commissioner Robert Sandoval selected as an alternate;

• Action on notice of intent to sue regarding the lesser prairie chicken listing decision;

• Approval of resolution transferring funds received by Curry County in the amount of $44,897.26 from NMAC Multi Line Insurance Pool for reimbursement of hail damage repairs on Curry County buildings. Curry County wishes to increase revenue and expenses by $894.61 in the Curry County Road Department and to increase revenue and expenses by $44,002.65 in the Fairgrounds/Events Center Fund to make repairs to Curry County buildings;

• Approval of resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to account for funds received by Curry County in the amount of $96,194.18 from NMAC Multi Line Insurance Pool. Curry County wishes to increase revenue and expenses by $82,056.09 in the Fairgrounds/Events Center Fund, and to increase revenue and expenses by $14,138.09 in the General Fund Commission budget for the reimbursement of hail damage to roofs at the Commercial Building, Indoor Pavilion and Food Building at the Fairgrounds and to Field Fire Station;

• Approval of resolution accounting for funds received by Curry County in the amount of $225,428.99 from NMAC Multi Line Insurance Pool. Curry County wishes to increase revenue and expenses by $17,223.04 in the Curry County Road Department to increase revenue and expenses by $194,865.7 in the Fairgrounds/Events Center Fund, and to increase revenue and expenses by $13,340.25 in the General Fund for the reimbursement and repairs to roofs from the hail damage sustained in the summer of 2013;

• Action on proclamation to restrict fireworks sale and usage.

All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously, with commissioners Blackburn, Bostwick and McDaniel the only ones voting:

• Approval of payroll deposit checks totaling $1,186,666.96;

• Approval of contract renewal for professional services with First American Financial Advisors, Inc., for a term from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015;

• Approval of renewal of the Employee Assistance Program Service Agreement with Deer Oaks EAP Services, LLC, for the period of July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015 at $1.04 per employee, per month that is eligible for service;

• Approval of renewal of service agreements with Trane for the chiller located at the Curry County Courthouse in the amount of $3,884 and 417 Gidding St. in the amount of $3,356 for the term of June 25, 2014-June 24, 2015;

• Approval of 2014 Fair Agreement with the Curry County Fair Board for a term of June 6, 2014-Dec. 31, 2014, for the Fair Board providing advice and assistance to the county and Global Spectrum with the county paying $1,500 to the Fair Board;

• Approval to apply for the Con Alma Foundation Grant in the amount of $15,000 for fiscal year 2015 to fund the Curry County Health Council initiates;

• Approval of memorandum of agreement between Curry County Sheriff’s Office and Curry County DWI Program in the amount of $9,311 for DWI over time activities including check point and saturation patrol (not including trial appearance or training) for the term of July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015;

• Approval of professional services contract between Matt 25 Inc., dba Life Skills Learning Center and Curry County DWI Program for $125 for each initial evaluation, $95 for each family counseling session and $30 per person per group for group counseling session and the amount of contract not to exceed $17,000 for the term of July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015;

• Approval of professional services contract between Mental Health Resources and Curry County DWI Program for $125 for each initial evaluation, $95 for each family counseling session and $30 per person per group for group counseling session and the amount of contract not to exceed $17,000 for the term of July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015;

• Approval of line item transfer in the amount of $12,224 from the Commission Construction Line no. 401-12-5611 to the Adult Detention line item no. 401-93-5600 for KeyTrak Control System purchase.

— Compiled by staff writer Vanessa Kahin