aCIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. - First Vice Chairman Martha Garcia facilitated the Cibola County Board of Commissioners last Thursday. Chairman Daniel Torrez was absent. The March 25 meeting agenda is available at www.cibolacountynm.com
The current Cibola County color level, yellow, means that government meetings are limited to an attendance of 10 members of the public, on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Members of the Cibola County COVID-19 Task Force were commended for their efforts in combatting the coronavirus during the past year. Recognitions included Vanessa Marez, Keith Austin, Daniel Urioste, Tomasita DeSoto, David Habiger, Kolten Wilson, and Cheryl Nelson. County Emergency Manager Dustin Middleton reported that so far 16,838 vaccines have been distributed in the county, achieving about 79.4 percent of doses per 100 population.
Most of the meeting was spent discussing economic development. The board heard a presentation by Executive Director Evan Williams, Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments. The director explained who NWNMCOG is, what they do, and how they aim to help communities through assistance with economic development and matters relating to quality of life. He also discussed some of the ongoing projects in Cibola County, NWNMCOG’s involvement, and how they are spending staff time working for this area.
“This is our belief: we believe that what makes Milan better will help San Juan County, will help the city of Farmington, will help the city of Grants. We believe that as a region we can make the water rise and lift all the boats. So again, these are some of our kind of projects and we don’t take any credit. We didn’t do it all; we’re just a part of the team. We’re a part of your team.... I’m really proud. I’ve seen where Cibola County’s been. I see where you are now. You should all be commended, and I think the future is very, very bright,” said Williams.
County Financial Director Paul Ludi presented a brief budget and finance report. He pointed out, “Where COVID hit, we had a drop [in revenue], but then it bounced back up to stable levels. So hopefully this trend continues.”
Anna Larson, county planning department, highlighted the opportunities for economic development, as well as ways to capitalize on ongoing economic development. The main topics that Larson covered were economic base jobs, service sector jobs, housing, and amenities. Key points for the base and service sector jobs include local business growth, recruiting and attracting new businesses, developing a system of remote base workers through the local college campus, and aiding businesses with marketing needs. Larson gave an overview of some of the job openings currently available across the community, adding, “We have jobs here, we really do.... Our potential increases daily.”
Larson explained that the county’s tourism activities and attractions each successfully bring in hundreds of visitors yearly, and that sales in the area’s housing market were active in 2020, although there is a housing shortage. Commissioner Robert Windhorst commented that a community is what its members make of it.
“There’s a lot to say about positive speech in our community, as leaders, residents — that we speak positively about our community. There’s many great things that are happening, and we can be very proud of those things,” said the commissioner.
The commissioners tabled agenda items 10.a and 10.b, a. Consideration of Plat Vacation of Private Road Easement and Relocation of this easement For NextEra Solar Facility located near San Fidel in Cibola County and b. Consideration of RFP 2021-004 Selection of Trail Construction Firm for Quartz Hill in Zuni Mountain Trails Project. These were reserved for a special April 1 meeting, 5 p.m.
The commission approved Consideration of Resolution 21-23 FY21 Budget Adjustment No. 7; Consideration of Formal Request to Governor Lujan Grisham to Veto HB 4; Consideration to approve requisitions over $20,000 a.) Laguna Fire Protection Program-Utility Pickup Truck-Melloy Dodge-$44,012; b.) Road Dept.-Tools and Supplies-Grants Auto and Truck Parts-$23,312.40; Consideration of Resolution 21-24 Transfer of Dump Truck to the Village of Milan; and Consideration of Resolution 21-25 Transfer of Dump Truck to the Blue Water Village Water and Sanitation District.
The presenter for Item 10.d cited increased liability issues and said that the bill was poorly written as the reasons for approval of the letter request to be sent to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
The commission entered executive session, and upon return to regular session, voted to direct staff to amend County Manager Kate Fletcher’s contract.
Upcoming meetings
April 1 special meeting, 5 p.m.
The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for April 22, 5 p.m.
Visit www.cibolacountynm.com for more information.