GRANTS, N.M. – On October 2, residents gathered for an hour-long coffee meeting with city managers and key community leaders. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss various projects and upcoming events impacting Grants and its surrounding area.
A significant announcement was the City of Grants Animal Shelter’s temporary pause on live animal intakes from September 30 through October 14, 2025.
This decision was made due to the need for facility cleaning and remediation to ensure a safe and healthy environment for both animals and staff. During this period, the shelter will only accept deceased animals for proper disposal and will review any transfers on a case-bycase basis.
Residents were encouraged to report dangerous or seriously injured animals to the non-emergency dispatch number at 505-287-9476 to ensure swift action.
In another discussion, Jeff Egbert, the interim CEO of Cibola General Hospital, shared insights on the upcoming mill levy vote scheduled for November 4. He emphasized the importance of the proposed mill levy, which could secure approximately $1.5 to $1.6 million annually to support essential services, including the hospital’s OB program.
Egbert shed light on the challenges faced by rural hospitals, particularly the financial difficulties that often lead to the elimination of essential programs like obstetrics. For instance, Cibola General Hospital must prioritize maintaining an operating cash reserve and actively recruiting specialists, especially considering the anticipated surge in demand for services due to upcoming uranium and nuclear developments in the community. “You’re going to need a stronger, perhaps bigger hospital, with better ER capacity.”
The financial health of the hospital is a pressing concern for residents, especially since it serves as a vital economic driver in the area. To address these challenges, efforts are being made to recruit and retain healthcare providers, along with a focus on improving financial forecasting, to ensure the hospital’s continued ability to meet the community’s needs.
Jeff Egbert stated “All of those things are things that we’ve really been working on the last six or seven months that I have been here… They’re going to strengthen our balance sheet to make sure that in the future, should we need to borrow money, we’re more credit worthy and… able to do that.”
During the event, residents received updates on various community initiatives.
A community cleanup is scheduled for October 10 to prevent the overdumping issues that plagued Grants in previous years. Additionally, the annual Milan Pumpkin Patch event is slated for October 25, it will showcase local vendors and offer familyfriendly activities.
As the conversation shifted to local governance, issues related to property maintenance and homelessness were raised. A newly formed task force is collaborating to address these challenges, aiming to develop effective strategies that will lead to a cleaner and safer community. This task force comprises the city manager, police chief, code enforcement, and public works, demonstrating a coordinated approach to enhancing the quality of life in Grants.