Cibola is a Diamond in the Rough
Gems are hard to come by. They are covered in dirt and rock, buried deep under the surface and take much work to extract and clean. But, when the gem is polished and clean, it is gorgeous – it is priceless. Cibola County is just like that gem, a diamond, hidden away in the rough and dirty rock. But with a little bit of work – work that is being done now – this diamond will shine bright.
Cibola is a diamond in the rough. For a long time, this gem was being neglected. Cibola is fortunate to have the elected officials it has in place, because even when there is turmoil in the governments, each of these officials is continually working for the success of the community.
I need to thank Councilor Beverly Michael for calling on the city to rewrite the charter. This is a very important first step in modernizing the city and strengthening the rule of people here. A strong charter focuses on restricting the rule of leadership while strengthening the powers of the people, and I have faith that the new charter advisory committee will be dedicated to making the charter more beneficial for the people of Grants. The work this committee does will impact the City of Grants and its residents for potentially decades to come, while this is a large responsibility to bear, I am grateful to those residents stepping up to help the city. Only city residents are allowed to be on this committee, disqualifying myself, but I know this committee will work for the benefit of Grants. When Grants succeeds, the village succeeds and the county succeeds. This committee will work with City Manager Donald Jaramillo for the success of the city.
Kate Fletcher is a champion of Cibola, her work as County Manager has been instrumental in helping the county commissioners make their decisions. Under the commission’s direction and Fletcher’s management, the county has flourished in ways I would wager haven’t been seen since the uranium boom.
The Village of Milan, too, has a slate of amazing elected officials who are mostly working in favor of the community. Village Manager Linda Cooke is working hard with her slate of elected officials to fix roads, improve lighting, and moving the village hall to a more modern location that will improve public accessibility to their government.
Together, our three managers are working to accomplish feats which were impossible to even conceive under previous leadership. Elkins Road is getting the facelift it has long needed and that is thanks to these three managers, and elected officials who are tired of the donothing work day of previous governments. Together, the current slate of elected officials and managers are making a positive difference to Cibola County by improving roads everywhere – including Elkins Road, which spans all three government jurisdictions.
The pieces are in place right now for Cibola County to flourish, and it already is. The hard work being done by our leaders, especially the managers, is already paying off. New business are opening regularly – if you don’t think so, take a stroll down Santa Fe Avenue and see how MainStreet has bloomed into a hub for commerce, and spend some of your money locally on holiday gifts if you haven’t already finished your shopping.
Think of what this community will look like in 30 years. If we keep polishing this gem, the diamond that is Cibola will be shining bright in just a few years. Grants can be a major hub for commerce, and I have faith that it will.
Mount Taylor is a beautiful place. The Zuni Mountains are just a marvel of geology and hold so many secrets. The outdoor recreation in Cibola is unlike anything you can get across the country. Cibola offers unique views, challenging hikes, and great photo opportunities. Cibola is a land of adventure. Cibola is a diamond in the rough, but it is being polished. Thank you, to our elected officials and especially to our managers. This county is shaping up into something beautiful.
Cibola is my home. I have left at times but I come back. There is a majestic beauty in this land we call home. As our leaders continue to work for the betterment of the community, we must all do our part. Let’s keep our yards tidy and shop at local businesses – I’m not talking about Walmart; I mean mom and pop shops here locally. We all have a role to play in the community’s success, it can’t all fall on the elected officials.
Cibola is a gem in the rough. Let’s keep polishing it! God bless and Happy Holidays, Cibola!