Officials outline improvement needs for 2017

MANAGING EDITOR

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County officials laid out their priorities for the fiscal year 2017 Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) at a public meeting held Tuesday in the county courthouse.

Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Darren Hooker told commissioners and County Manager Amber Hamilton that his office’s main priorities for capital funds from the state are for five new sheriff vehicles, which would be $30,000 per vehicle with the vehicles completely outfitted as law enforcement vehicles. This would mean a total of roughly $100,000, he said.

County Maintenance Manager Gary Spinks pointed out that the HVAC air system is becoming outdated at the sheriff’s department, as well.

He said the office has five units, which would cost around $10,000 per unit to replace.

Spinks said a five-ton HVAC unit costs roughly $6,000 to $7,000 but estimating at $10,000 allows for other costs for the units.

Spinks and Roosevelt County Detention Center Administrator Mark Gallegos said HVAC units are the main priority for the detention center due to many of the facility’s units being obsolete.

Although electronic storage and a facility kitchen were listed previously as capital funding needs, Gallegos said he would rather focus on the facility’s air conditioning first.

Spinks said he anticipates eight units needing to be replaced at the facility, which would cost roughly $80,000.

The following were other priorities listed by county officials:

• Spinks said the pavilion building at the fairgrounds needs about $90,000 to $100,000 in upgrades and repairs, which is down from the original estimate of $190,000 to $200,000.

• Acting Road Superintendent Juan Dominguez said 17 miles of county roads need an overlay, which would cost $23,000 per mile.

He said eight-and-a-half miles of roads need reconstruction, which would cost $61,000 per mile.

Dominguez said his department also needs a tractor and shredder at $950 and a cat loader at $150 as well as a small fork lift, which he has not priced yet.

• Rural Addressing Manager Johnny Montiel said there are regulatory signs that must be replaced again, which will cost an estimated $80,000.

He said he would notify the county manager’s office of the exact dates they have to be updated by according to law.

• Hamilton said the county should also emphasize railroad crossing needs along with the city of Portales.

“It would help if we had it in our top five too, so it’s level of priority is emphasized,” Hamilton told commissioners.

“Everybody has to be on them (railroad officials), saying this is a problem; this is a hazard,” said former capital projects administrator Mandi Park, who sat in on the meeting.

Park suggested county officials also check with Eastern New Mexico University to see if they have any needs the county could help show support for.

• Commissioners Jake Lopez, Shane Lee and Gene Creighton also mentioned other county roads that need attention, such as Roosevelt Roads AP, AN and AK, North Main and roads going through Rogers and Elida.

No county residents showed to the meeting to give suggestions or requests.

Hamilton said the final ICIP order of priorities will be finalized at the Sept. 1 county commission meeting.