Officials discuss privacy, access concerns

The Roosevelt County Commission expressed some concerns to a representative from the Human Services Department regarding easier access, privacy and technology at their regular meeting Tuesday morning.

Karmela Martinez, the Income Support Division Director, was at the meeting to give a presentation on what the department does. However, she said early on that she was there to listen to what the people had to say and how they can make improvements for those in the area.

After her presentation, Commissioner Dennis Lopez started off by saying the department’s hours and transportation have become some of the bigger issues for those in Roosevelt County.

“A lot of the elderly or individuals with disabilities cannot make it to Clovis to receive these services,” Lopez said. He then explained more on an experience he had in which he thought the privacy of the patient was a problem. “It really concerned me that things are being done in front of other individuals that really don’t have any business knowing.”

Commissioner Tina Dixon then expressed the difficulties she had faced in the past trying to navigate the technological part of reaching the department for help and how this could be extremely difficult for the elderly.

“It was horrible trying to get ahold of anybody,” Dixon said. “There needs to be a way for easier access for your elderly.”

Martinez took the concerns she heard and said she would follow up with County Manager Amber Hamilton.

Hamilton then presented an update on the MAT (Medicated Assisted Treatment) program. Hamilton showed a video that told the stories of two individuals involved in the MAT program and how it has helped them with their addiction.

Hamilton said the program comes from grant funding that was awarded to the county in the spring of 2021 and direct services were launched that fall.

Road Superintendent Ricky Lovato provided updates on the roads after the recent storms.

“We’ve been blessed with a lot of rain the last couple of weeks, and it has been amazing. With that rain comes mud,” Lovato said.

In about a week and a half, Lovato said all of the roads should be “put back together.”

In other items of business at Tuesday’s meeting:

• The commission appointed commissioners Roy Lee Criswell and Rodney Savage to participate in the FY23 Audit meetings.

• The commission directed staff to move forward with initiating speed limit reduction on South Roosevelt Road 8 from NM 88 East