Year in review: Roosevelt works on employee retention in 2021

PORTALES — After discussing matters related to retaining and keeping employees for much of the year, the Roosevelt County Commission took actions that sweeten compensation for detention officers and raise the pay of county employees in general.

On Dec. 21, the commission, by unanimous votes, added a cost of living increase for employees and agreed to pick up additional percentages of Public Employee Retirement Act contributions.

On Dec. 7, the commission approved a hiring and referral incentive program for the detention center. County Manager Amber Hamilton told commissioners the move will help in retaining the employees the detention center does have, along with reducing a 40% vacancy rate.

The incentive program offers a $300 incentive after six months on the job and $1,000 for 12 months on the job for a full-time detention officer hired between Tuesday and June 30 of next year.

County employees who refer a hired officer are provided a $250 incentive if that officer stays on for six months and a $500 incentive if the officer stays on for 12 months.

With nine days to spare to meet a Dec. 30 deadline, the county also approved a redistricting plan to accommodate changes in the county’s population that the U.S. Census revealed in 2020.

The approved plan adds property to District 4 that is north of West University Drive and southwest of Avenue B. That land was taken from Districts 2 and 3. Commission Chair Tina Dixon said she liked the approved plan because it gave every district some county roads, but District 5 Commissioner Paul Grider didn't like the move of many District 5 residents into District 1; “I've served them for years, and I really don't want to give them up,” he said.

On Aug. 10, county commissioners approved an ordinance to regulate the coming cannabis industry in the county’s unincorporated areas.

According to the county’s ordinance:

• No cannabis establishment, cannabis consumption area, or cannabis courier may be located within 300 feet of a school or daycare center in existence at the time it sought a license.

• Cannabis retailers and cannabis consumption areas may not be located within 200 feet of another cannabis retailer or cannabis consumption area.

• Cannabis products may only be served and consumed in cannabis consumption areas, and cannabis retailers may only sell products for off-site consumption, 7 a.m.-midnight Monday through Saturday and noon to midnight Sunday.

• A permit is required, with a cost of $250 for the first year and $100 for annual renewal.

The commission struck sections referencing the odor associated with cannabis production after Commissioner Shane Lee said odor regulation was too much governmental control. He said he does not believe it’s his job to say what is and isn’t a good smell and that people should be able to use their land as they see fit.

Also during 2021 in Roosevelt County:

• The year started with the commission welcoming Rodney Savage to the commission and the commission unanimously declaring Roosevelt a pro-life county, which does not change any laws regarding abortion in the county. Tina Dixon of District IV was appointed chair, and District III Commissioner Shane Lee vice chair. County officials believed Dixon was the first female to serve in the chair position.

• On March 27, enthusiasts purchased 45 windmills from Roosevelt County on Saturday, bringing in $17,500. The money will go to the upkeep of the county's other windmills, which once belonged to area collector Bill Dalley. The county, however, was unable to sell a house built in 1900 by New Mexico's third governor, Washington Ellsworth Lindsey. The building was taken down in June to make room for a new barn in which Roosevelt County can store its road equipment.

• An effort spurred by 12-year-old Kaylee Jo Summers raised nearly $30,000 toward planned changes in the playground at Elida Town Park, including a firetruck-themed play area for young children, monkey bars, refurbished swings and benches.es .

• The Roosevelt County Fair’s Junior Livestock Sale resumed on Aug. 20 after being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaia Quintana of the Baptist Children's Home 4-H club showed her grand champion steer to open the event.

• The county commission delayed tax bills on Oct. 19 in order to accommodate six tax measure on the ballot for the Nov. 2 election. There were tax questions involving four school districts in the county, all of which were approved by voters. New tax bills were scheduled to get to voters around Thanksgiving week, county officials said.