Coffee with the Managers Discussion on Projects and New Mexico Legislative Session

GRANTS, NM – Community members gathered at Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course to hear updates about their community from the managers of the three governments in Cibola.

Coffee with the Managers was held on February 1. There were discussions regarding the legislative session that was being held in Santa Fe, a Senate Bill that would affect the Cibola County area, and projects being worked on for the County, City, and Village.

Cibola County

The County has many major projects, according to Manager Kate Fletcher.

For roads, weather is a big issue that has slowed progress on the projects thanks to rain and mud affecting the road conditions. When the weather is permitting the road crews work all day with some overtime to finish the project.

Fletcher said, “We live in a rural area, and we choose to live on dirt roads because its so nice and quiet but this is the downside of living in a rural area.” The county is also working to try to address all the roads in the county, but there are 343miles of road in the county so according to Fletcher it is very hard.

Currently for this time of year, the county and other entities are looking for funding for various projects. Fletcher said, “It’s all going to come down to timing. You can ask for money, you can go and ask for millions of dollars, but if you don’t have the staff and the ability to use that money within a year or two years then that money goes back.”

City of Grants

City Manager Andrew Valencia said the city has five projects that are off to design, one of which is a major reconstruction project on Old Route 66 and McBride Road.

Valenica said, “[Traffic resulting from construction] seems bad right now, but it’ll get better, it will be a much-needed improvement.”

The city was approved for their pharmaceutical license, they also have their temporary Public Regulatory Commission license for transporting individuals, this will allow the city to have an additional ambulance service, which can be shared with the county and the village if necessary.

Valencia said, “[Getting an ambulance in the community is] much needed. Private agencies are in it to make money. So, we have to weigh the balances. Do we need the ambulances on the prison side? Absolutely. Do we need private agencies on the ambulances? Absolutely. We need to balance that; we don’t want to worry about places like that pulling out and leaving us high to dry.”

Fletcher broke in to say that there is no concern about Superior Ambulance leaving the area, and they don’t see them leaving any time in the near future. Valencia also clarified that the city acquiring a PRC license is to have an additional ambulance service so that the city is prepared when they need to transport individuals.

Valencia also said that the city has recently held discussions on funding for Sakelares Boulevard, the city received $3 million, and they are wanting to work on it shortly. Valencia said, “Right now the scope is intended from Roosevelt to Old Route 66. That’s going to be worked on, but that was the scope two and a half years ago.”

Village of Milan

The Village of Milan has several projects that they are working on or are working to get started.

Interim Village Manager Candi Williams said, “The swimming pool is receiving a full remodel, there’s going to be repairs to the main structure and the roof. The locker rooms are getting a remodel, the pool will be resurfaced, the systems the chlorinator the water pumps will get an upgrade. That is at 95 percent design, so we’re looking to kick off construction in the fall… We’re waiting on final details.”

For Airport Road, the bridge to Motel Drive should be breaking ground quickly, all agreements are signed, and plans have been made; the bid for construction was awarded to Compass Engineering. The Village also received a $200,000 recreation grant for playground equipment, and they are currently procuring equipment.

Williams said, “The other major project that the Village has is the EDA. The village received $2.7 million in federal funds, with a $1 million match from the state, and a $600,000 match allowance from the state. The total project is around $3.7 million.” Overall, the Village has 23 projects with $25 million.

Effecting all of Cibola

New Mexico Senate Bill 145 was a major discussion.

The bill states, “An Act relating to public safety; prohibiting public bodies from entering into agreements to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations and requiring the termination of any such existing agreements; prohibiting public bodies from otherwise using public resources to facilitate detaining individuals for federal civil immigration violations.”

The bill failed to pass in the Senate but according to the managers, this will be a major issue in the coming years. If this bill had passed, three correctional facilities in New Mexico, including Core-Civic’s Cibola County Correctional Center in the Village of Milan.

Fletcher said, “If [the bill passes] we’re going to have to find 100 beds somewhere in the state and it’s going to cost a fortune.”

There was also some input from County Commissioner Ralph Lucero who said, if this bill had passed the county would go from paying $67 for each inmate to paying $140 or more for each inmate, he also mentioned that this would take officers out of the county to transport individuals to other prisons in the state.

This bill died after passing two committees in the senate but was not able to survive a floor vote in the senate where it died after a vote of 21-18 to kill it.

Coffee with the Managers is held on the first Thursday of every month at 8 a.m. at the Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course.