CIBOLA COUNTY — In a productive 'Coffee with the Managers' meeting on August 1, Cibola County's leading officials shared updates on various infrastructure projects affecting the region. The meeting, attended by Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher, Village of Milan Manager Candi Williams, and City of Grants Manager Andrew Valencia, provided insights into the progress, challenges, and future plans for the county's development initiatives.
City of Grants
Nadine Jiron, the Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Grants, addressed the ongoing construction work throughout the city.
“It seems like a lot of barrels with nothing happening, but it is happening,” Jiron said, encouraging residents to reach out with questions or concerns.
Jiron expressed appreciation for the community's patience, emphasizing that substantial infrastructure needs are being addressed, particularly on Santa Fe Avenue. She reported the water and sewer infrastructure that runs underneath Santa Fe Avenue is nearing completion, with the eastbound side already finished and work progressing on the westbound lanes.
“We’re almost to the end of this project, which is huge,” Jiron said. “We’re looking forward to resolving water main breaks and leaks.”
Prior to this construction project, Santa Fe Avenue was notorious for constant and consistent water main breaks that plague the City of Grants. Past administration tried but were unable to stop the breaks. Ongoing construction is the culmination of years of work from Grants City Hall to plan and fund the changes.
Jiron also discussed the Second Street Loop by Grants High School, which will feature a walking trail connecting to Second Street and the backside of the school near Mountain Road.
The Washington Avenue project, near Mesa View Elementary School, will focus on sewer and water upgrades. Though traffic plans for school activities are underway, Jiron urged extra caution in these zones, highlighting the safety of “small students” as the school year has started again.
County Commissioner Ralph Lucero raised concerns about heavy equipment traffic affecting roads near Mesa View Elementary.
Valencia responded that the city has advised alternative routes to minimize road damage, citing Nimitz Avenue's robust design for heavy traffic.
With the school year approaching, access remains a concern. Jiron assured that alternative access points are being coordinated with school authorities to ensure safe pickup and drop-off zones away from construction areas.
Rain Delays
Grants has been grappling with drainage problems following a significant storm event, described as a '500-year storm,' which caused substantial damage. Neither the Village of Milan or Cibola County governments reported any rain damage, the storm appeared on Doppler radar as isolated to the Grants area.
Those rainstorms through the month of July have delayed progress on these projects by approximately three weeks. Jiron said the city is working hard to get its projects all back on track.
Jiron emphasized caution in construction and school zones, urging residents to be mindful of newly implemented stop signs throughout the city.
Village of Milan
This year, the village is managing $12 million in projects, with federal funding covering only seven percent.
Major projects include Airport Road phases two and three, sewer and water improvements, and the redesign of the Stanley Road bridge and pedestrian walkways. The village also secured $2 million for safety improvements at the local swimming pool, which remains closed pending construction to make the building safe.
County Projects and Challenges
Judy Horacek, County Projects Coordinator, and Wendy Self, Procurement Manager, provided an update on the Moquino Bridge collapse, a critical issue since the bridge's failure in June 2022.
Thanks to early warning signs and quick response, a bypass was established before the bridge collapsed. Ongoing efforts are underway to secure additional funding for repairs, and the project has finally moved forward with multiple bids received.
As of July 22, construction on the Moquino Bridge is finally underway, with efforts focused on ensuring that the bridge is rebuilt to withstand future challenges. The project is being worked in a way that shows the county's commitment to using taxpayer dollars wisely, as noted by County Manager Kate Fletcher: “Our job is to be the good stewards of the tax money.”
Procurement Challenges
Procurement remains a significant challenge across the county. Procurement is the process a government must go through to purchase items, whether that’s pens and paper, police vehicles, or construction materials. State law is particular, demanding that the purchase of items be done in a very specific way to prevent any fraud or corruption.
Brandon Howen from the Council of Governments explained the complexities of funding projects in New Mexico. He emphasized the need for projects to be 'shovelready' before accessing or even requesting funding for projects. Rising costs have also made design estimates challenging, with inflation doubling expenses for projects previously budgeted.
Howden explained that for all the projects each of the local governments may be working on, the government must have a matching fund for the money they get. Just because they apply and may get approved for, the funding a government gets is not enough to pay the full cost and almost always requires the local government to put up its own money first.
Fletcher emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “It’s very important that we all work together.” The complexity of procurement laws and funding requirements requires careful navigation, particularly in rural areas where mobilization costs are higher.
Working together is not to the three governments of Cibola County.
Fletcher discussed the county's strategic approach to infrastructure planning, emphasizing a proactive approach with a drainage master plan that incorporates the city and village.
Cibola County Commission Chairwoman Christine Lowery praised the dedication of all involved, recognizing the intricate work required to manage these projects effectively. “This work is very complicated, and I appreciate how much commitment is demonstrated by the people who work for us,” Lowery said. Manager Valencia echoed her sentiments, thanking his team for their efforts.