Flood Damage Repair, Historical Document Display, and Sheriff’s Department Policies
GRANTS, N.M. — At the Cibola County Commission Meeting on August 27, projects to repair flood damage were approved. The meeting also covered the placement of replicas of the Charters of Freedom and Civil Rights documents. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Department is implementing new polices.
Systemic Solution for Cibola County’s Floods
The Cibola County Commission has approved an engineering project to address with the flooding that has been ruining infrastructure for over a decade.
In unanimous vote, the commission awarded $484,000 design contract to WSP Engineering to stabilize and rehabilitate the crumbling corridors of County Road 7 and 8. Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher explained that for years the critical infrastructure project is that county officials have scrambled in the middle of the night to clear debris from failing culverts. Rather than applying another temporary patch, a WSP Engineer presented a plan targeting the root cause: a 40-square-mile upstream watershed that drains from Mount Taylor down toward Interstate 40.
Instead of dumping tons of expensive concrete, the project will pioneer a “composite channel” design. It will leverage a steady natural spring located upstream of the culverts to cultivate deep, soil-stabilizing vegetation. The approach will soften the vertical, eroding dirt banks into stable slopes, utilizing nature to protect nearby homes from being washed away. The systemic study will extend downstream to protect neighboring communities, with data being openly shared with the Village of San Mateo.
The commission also approved a separate $638,100 budget allocation for WSP to repair the storm-damaged Bridge 19A and deliver a preliminary engineering report for the lower Cantina Acres bridge. By engineering both bridge sites under a single initiative, the county expects to significantly reduce overall design costs.
To ensure immediate emergency readiness, the county is purchasing a new excavator using federal Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) money. The new excavator will allow the Road Department to clear blocked culverts.
250 Plaque Program
The county replicas of the Charters of Freedom and Civil Rights documents. According to Fletcher, “Every single County in the nation was given these.”
This will provide the community with access to foundational American documents without the need to travel to the National Archives. The display includes the Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and related Civil Rights documents.
In a video presentation, it was revealed that these replicas are designed to last 300-500 years, with reinforced foundations and protective displays weighing over 19 tons. Their placement will allow generations to learn about the nation’s founding principles and civic responsibilities.
The commissioners discussed potential locations for the Charters of Freedom monument, weighing visibility, safety, and accessibility. The Veterans Memorial on Santa Fe Avenue was suggested, but concerns were raised about parking, access for school groups, and overall community visibility. Additional ideas included area with higher tourist traffic or more open space to accommodate bus visits and ensure safe viewing.
Commissioner and former Chairwoman Christine Lowery said, “I would recommend a community participation in this… a go fund me page or something that would be more involved.”
Cibola County Sheriff’s
Department
Vehicle accident prevention policy concerning take-home vehicles. The existing policy, which prohibited county-owned vehicles from leaving Cibola County, posed a challenge to recruitment due to the limited local pool of certified law enforcement applicants. To address this, the Sheriff Larry Diaz proposed a revision to allow sworn deputies residing within 80 miles of the Sheriff’s office to be eligible for a take-home vehicle. However, Sheriff Diaz clarified that living within this radius does not automatically entitle a deputy to a vehicle, as the final decision rests with the elected Sheriff, considering factors such as performance, qualifications, and operational needs.
Additionally, the approved policy mandates that any deputy assigned a take home vehicle who lives outside the county must reimburse the county at the standard IRS rate for any mileage exceeding 80 miles each way.
Commission Chair Ralph Lucero suggested to measure the 80-mile radius from the county line rather than the Sheriff’s office, which expands the geographic area for recruitment.
Sheriff Diaz agreed, and after the commission discussed it further, it was approved.
In terms of operational strategy and technology, the department was said to have implemented several measures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Deputies residing in outer areas, such as Zuni, are deployed directly from their homes into their assigned regional districts, which reduces travel times and vehicle wear-and-tear. To further streamline operations, the department has installed body cam download stations in outer areas, including the Laguna Police Department, eliminating the need for deputies to drive to the main office to download footage. Sheriff Diaz said that the department also utilized virtual Zoom meetings and in-car computers, allowing deputies to complete reports and attend training directly from their vehicles, which saves millions of miles of travel. Looking ahead, Sheriff Diaz mentioned that the department is exploring the acquisition of drones to assist with search and rescue operations.
Editor's Note: This article was corrected September 2 to fix a mis-attribution. The quote “I would recommend a community participation in this… a go fund me page or something that would be more involved.” was previously mis-attributed to 2nd Vice Chair of the Cibola County Commissioner Georgia Routzen Sanchez. The quote was said by Commissioner Christine Lowery.