Removing Committee Members, Moving GPD to the Public Library
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Grants City Council Debates Contentious Issus
The Grants City Council met on August 31 to debate a number of issues in the city, including an idea to move the Grants Police Department, Grants Municipal Court, and the Cibola Magistrate Court into the Grants Public Library. After hearing concerns about the potential move from Grants Police Chief Jeff Marez, who was not in favor of the move, the proposal received a motion from Councilor Fred Rodarte, and a second from Councilor George Garcia. The vote came to a tie with Councilors Beverly Michael and Zach Gutirrez voting no, Mayor Erik Garcia broke the tie by voting against moving law enforcement to the library. Courtesy Photo
Diego Lopez, Reporter
GRANTS, N.M. – The Grants City Council debated a number of contentious issues, working to best benefit the people of Grants. From removing a member from the Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course Advisory Board, to a debate about moving the Grants Police Department in the same building as the Grants Public Library. The council is preparing to adopt a new map for the Grants City Council Districts, and is considering the establishment of a committee to rewrite the city’s bylaws.
The meeting took place on August 31 in the Grants City Council Chambers, each regular meeting of the council takes place on the last Wednesday of the month. September’s meeting, where the council will formally adopt a new city council district map, will be on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Golf Course Advisory Board The Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course in Grants is owned and operated by the city government. To help keep the golf course moving smoothly, the city has an advisory committee that works to make sure the golf course has every- thing it needs. The board has five members on it, but for reasons discussed in an executive session at the beginning of the meeting, the city council decided to cut one of its members.
Seth Ward, former Grants High School Golf coach and a passionate member of the community about Coyote Del Malpais. Golf Course, was the topic of debate. Personnel matters can legally be discussed in a closed session of a city meeting.
The council went into an executive session, and when they returned to do business in public, they voted unanimously to remove Ward from the advisory body for two years. There was no further discussion on this action.
Grants Police Department Splitting the opinion of the Grants City Council, a proposal to house Grants Police Department in the Grants Public Library failed after Mayor Erik Garcia broke the tie vote, killing the idea.
Before councilors began their debate, Grants Police Chief Jeff Marez said that the department has a manpower issue. Moving GPD to the library would cause an undo strain on the already limited resources at the police department, the chief said, claiming that people intentionally try to run over officers in the parking lot. There are other instances where people go the department and try to fight officers and the admin staff. Chief Marez said that the risk to the public will increase if the location is moved. “I was for this move at first, but after speaking with my lieutenants and officers, who reminded me that people try to target us, I don’t think this will be a good idea.”
The council was also considering moving the Cibola County Magistrate Courts, which is currently housed in the county, and the Grants Municipal Court to the library. Chief Marez said that the same risk applies with the courts being moved to the library, and said that the magistrate courts are currently in the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, and that moving them to Grants would be another strain on resources.
Before such a move could happen, the City of Grants would need to amend its existing agreement with Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation. The current agreement says that the Grants Public Library can only be used for educational purposes.
Councilman Fred Rodarte made the motion to begin the process of sending a letter to CCEDF requesting a change to the existing agreement. Councilman George Garcia seconded the motion, bringing it to a vote. Councilwoman Beverly Michael and Councilman Zachary Gutierrez voted against the proposal. This brought the vote to a tie. Mayor Erik Garcia broke the tie, voting against the proposal.
While the motion died, Grants Police Department is still desperately in need of a new facility. The ceiling is falling apart, there are electrical issues in the building, and the garage has a wall which is crumbling.
At the meeting on September 28 the council will vote on accepting a new map which changes the council districts. This means that some residents will be moved into new districts, affecting who their city councilor is. A map of the proposed change which is likely to be adopted can be found on Page B4 in this edition