GRANTS, N.M. – A packed crowd of community members gathered on September 5 for the monthly Coffee with the Managers, where local government officials provided updates on upcoming events, infrastructure developments, and pressing challenges facing the area. The event, featuring City of Grants Manager Andrew Valencia, Village of Milan Manager Candy Williams, and Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher, covered a wide range of topics, from fall festivities to essential public services and long-term economic planning.
Focus on Community Events
Kicking off the discussion, Milan Manager Candy Williams highlighted several upcoming events in the Village, including the annual 'Clean the Scene' cleanup event and a popular pumpkin patch and car show scheduled for October 26. “Last year we had issues with tires being left outside the designated tire dumpster,” Williams said, reminding residents that the Village can only accept tires during specified hours.
Williams also announced the return of the after-school program for grades K-8, which began on September 3. “This is something we haven’t done since before COVID, and we’re excited to bring it back,” she said. Basketball season registrations for local youth also start soon, with the program open to middle school students.
Grants Manager Andrew Valencia emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses and highlighted the just-passed Rugged West Adventure Rally, which included a pancake breakfast, vendors, and family-friendly activities over the weekend.
“The community support for this event has been incredible,” Valencia noted. “This weekend is all about celebrating what makes Cibola County unique while giving local vendors and artisans a platform to showcase their work.”
Infrastructure Updates and Public Safety
The conversation shifted to infrastructure when Williams provided an update on the long-awaited repairs to the Milan public pool. After a structural engineer’s inspection, the main pool structure will be retained, but significant renovations are still necessary, with construction expected to take nearly a year. Valencia also mentioned ongoing municipal water system upgrades and the Safe Haven Baby Box recently installed at the Grants Fire Department.
Fletcher elaborated on the significance of the baby box, a safe location for parents in distress to surrender their newborns anonymously. 'It's a service we hope never gets used, but we're prepared if it does,' she said. The blessing of the baby box is scheduled for later in September, pending the availability of Safe Haven founder Monica Kelsey.
The managers also discussed upcoming training and compliance requirements for public safety workers. Valencia shared updates on mandatory fire department equipment testing, paramedic certifications, and EMS coverage for local events, ensuring that the fire department is prepared for a busy September.
Election Preparations Underway
With the general election approaching, election officials from Cibola County provided detailed information about voter registration deadlines, early voting options, and efforts to streamline the voting process.
Voter registration will close on October 8, the first day that absentee ballots will also be mailed. Early voting will begin at the Cibola County Clerk’s Office, with additional polling sites in Laguna and Acoma opening later in October.
A key challenge discussed was ensuring accurate voter records in rural areas like Ramah, where outdated address information caused delays in the recent primary election. To address this, county officials are working closely with local communities to update 911 address databases and minimize wait times for same-day voter registration.
“We’re making every effort to ensure a smooth election process, but we need residents to check and update their voter information as soon as possible,” the clerk’s office informed. Despite the challenges, election staff emphasized that safeguards are in place to protect the integrity of the process, including the use of secure machines that are not connected to the internet, preventing any possibility of hacking.
Poll workers are still needed for Election Day, with positions open for those willing to undergo a background check and short training period. Officials encourage community members to get involved to help ensure a successful election.
Economic Development
On a broader note, managers addressed concerns about the future of the Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation (CCEDF), which is currently without an executive director.
Both the city and village have reduced their financial contributions to the foundation in recent years due to concerns over inadequate reporting and a lack of “deliverables.” The county has pulled out of funding the foundation altogether as commissioners felt they were seeing no results from the agency.
Not only was CCEDF failing to provide economic development to the governments, but managers said the entity was expensing all three governments for the same one charge, and would at times expense the city for travel, dinners, and even alcohol. For years, the governments paid these expenses without raising alarms, until the office of the New Mexico State Auditor started to investigate, and directly addressed the expenses with the governments. This negatively impacted all three governments’ audits, making it even harder to expand local economic development.
“We’re committed to supporting economic development, but we need accountability,” Valencia said. “Moving forward, we will be working on clearer contracts that outline specific goals and expectations.”
Williams echoed those sentiments, adding that the foundation’s restructuring offers an opportunity for strategic planning and renewed focus on local growth.
“We need to see tangible results that benefit our community, not just vague reports and expenses,” she said.
Fletcher said she would work with county commissioners to see what priorities they have for the future of CCEDF. Commission Chairwoman Christine Lowery was present at this commission and said this meeting was the first she had heard CCEDF was without a director.
Community Input and Engagement
The meeting closed with an open floor where community members asked questions, during which concerns were raised about road improvements, waste management, and the availability of resources for local water associations. Fletcher explained that some road projects, like the Zuni Canyon Road repairs, had to be postponed due to dropping temperatures, but assured residents that the work would resume in April.
As the region continues to grapple with complex issues like public safety, economic development, and infrastructure upgrades, the managers stressed the importance of community involvement and inter-government collaboration.
“This is about more than just government services,” Fletcher said. “It’s about building a future for Cibola County that supports everyone.”