Roosevelt County delays deal with Portales

Two matters involving cooperative agreements between Roosevelt County and the city of Portales were delayed Tuesday as the Roosevelt County Commission decided to continue negotiations with the city before making decisions.

The county commission decided on Tuesday to arrange to get more information to the city on resurfacing city streets and county roads that converge at 18th Street, Roosevelt Road 6 and Industrial Drive. Heavy truck traffic from two businesses there have left these roadways in need of resurfacing, according to county officials.

County officials are seeking assistance from the city and the trucking companies to resurface the streets. County Manager Amber Hamilton estimated at about $1 million the cost of resurfacing 18th Street in Portales, and Roosevelt Road 6, which 18th Street turns into at the city limits, along with Industrial Drive, which might include concrete on Industrial Drive.

At a Jan. 24 meeting, the Portales City Council delayed an agreement because city officials said they had incomplete information on the project.

On Tuesday, county commissioners decided to seek time to discuss the project with the city council at the next council meeting,

In addition to contributions from the city and the businesses, Hamilton said the county would pursue state funding through capital outlay and state Department of Transportation funds.

The county commission also decided on Tuesday to delay action on a proposed contract with the city under which the county would pay the city $175,000 a year for dispatch services. The commissioners called for the delay to allow County Attorney Michael Garcia to study the proposed contract.

County commissioners on Tuesday discussed proposed changes in an agreement that would have the county pay invoices for individual services rather than pay the fixed annual fee.

District 1 Commissioner Dennis Lopez said he did not want the agreement to change.

“Why fix something that’s not broken?” he asked.

Roosevelt County Sheriff Javier Sanchez told the commission he would like the city and county to consider establishing an independent board of directors and day-to-day manager to operate the dispatch center to bring stability to the operation.

In other matters, the commission on Tuesday:

• Accepted an audit report from Rufino Rodriguez and Bobby Cordova of Cordova CPAs LLC of Albuquerque that showed an “unmodified” rating, the best rating available, for the county’s financial record-keeping in the 2021 to 2022 fiscal year. The report also included no “findings,” or serious faults in the county’s financial records.

• Approved a resolution that lists 12 stretches of state highway in the county as high-priority for repairs and improvements, mostly for basic repairs and widening to allow adequate shoulders. The list includes New Mexico 60/84 in Roosevelt County, which “needs to be assessed as there have been multiple vehicular accidents, numerous fatalities and the design has created a very serious safety concern,” according to the resolution. The list will be submitted to the New Mexico Department or Transportation.

• Approved a resolution authorizing the county to apply for $124,000 in grants for anti-driving while intoxicated programs from the state Department of Finance and Administration.

• Repealed booking fees imposed on inmates in the Roosevelt County Detention Center. Shayla Ramsey, the detention center administrator, said the revenue from the fee was too small to justify the administrative red tape it required.

• Approved a budget increase to reimburse expenses to District IV Commissioner Tina Dixon for attending the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Dixon said she spent around $1,800. Lopez suggested that Dixon’s travel expenses be approved in advance, because Dixon “does a great job in representing us.”

• Approved an agreement with Laurie Collins for $5,000 to the teen court of the DWI programs.

• Approved the purchasing of a utility vehicle for the detention center for $40,240. Ramsey said the vehicle would be used for transport and training.

• Passed adjustments to the budget for the current three-month period that leave expected totals of nearly $22.5 million in revenue and about $23.5 million in expenses, but leaving an adjusted balance of about $17 million in all county funds.