CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. - Representatives from education, local governments and area non-profit entities described their 2021 funding requests.
The two-hour Cibola Legislative Forum allowed each spokesperson five minutes to outline their proposals. Four members of the state legislature, who represent Cibola County, participated along with the ten applicants. Representatives Elisco Alcon and Harry Garcia joined Senator George Munoz and 30th district Senator-elect Joshua Sanchez. (Sanchez will assume office on Jan. 19.)
Evan Williams, Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments executive director, served as moderator. His introduction ac knowledged that COG assists governmental entities with services in four areas: economic development, transportation, environrnental concerns, and technical assistance in project development.
NWNMCOG has hosted this forum for more than 15 years; the goal is to facilitate communication between legislators and their constituents. The Dec. 21 event was held via ZOOM.
Capital outlay requests
Cibola County - armory/hospital upgrades
Judy Horacek, special projects coordinator, said Cibola County's number one priority was renovation of the old armory, which is located on the east side of the city of Grants. The request was for $500,000. The National Guard had gifted the site to the county in September. County officials estimated a total project cost of $1.5 million for the Cibola Public Safety Building. Repairs on the Marcus Road bridge was second on the county's list. The bridge is the only access in and out of the area for 250 residents. Horacek noted that this project had been one of the county's 2020 capital outlay requests. Third was the Cibola General Hospital parking lot upgrades. The county and Cibola General Hospital Foundation recently signed an operating agreement, according to hospital CEO Thomas Whelan who added that some repairs had been made in the past 12 months, but the parking lot remains in poor condition.
City of Grants - water/sewer infrastructure
Laura Jaramillo, city manager, acknowledged the city owns Roberta's Place, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. The facility, which is within the city limits, requires sewer and water line repairs. Grants is seeking $150,000 for the $175,000 upgrade. The Coyote del Malpais Golf Course, which irrigates 212 acres of grass with water reclaimed from the wastewater treatment plant, was the second priority. The facility needs a new pump station. The current system is 30 years old and suffers from equipment malfunctions. The city has budgeted $25,000 in matching funds for the $200,000 upgrade. The third request was for additional dollars for the Washington Avenue drainage project. The city is also seeking Commtmity Development Block Grant funding for that project, according to Jaramillo. The final item was $200,000 for design planning to repair Sakelares Boulevard, which was constructed 25 years ago. The three-mile arterial road connects state Highway 66 and Lobo Canyon Road, which is part of State Road 549, according to Representative Garcia. City officials commented previous estimates for paving costs were estimated at$ t million per mile.
Village of Milan - sewer infrastructure; water meters
Officials requested $150,000 for planning design improvements for a lift station; total project costs equal $1 million. Next on the list was $200,000 toward the estimated costs, $1,550,000, of the Berryhill sewer and water project. The third priority was water meter upgrades, $800,000, for 3,600 residents. The project would reduce water loss and improve infrastruc-ture.
Economic development request - industrial parks and broadband
Eileen Chavez Yarborough, Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation executive director, emphasized that Milan Industrial Park is the top priority. The site is designed to serve customers within a 1 00-mile radius and promotes countywide economic development. The CCEDF also asked for $50,000 for planning and designing the Grants Industrial Park on the city's east side. Developing broadband infrastructure was third; the expansion would serve 100,000 county residents.
Ramah Navajo-chapter house, road grader, cemetery, and solar farm
Debbie Islam, Ramah Navajo Chapter communication development specialist, requested more than $683,000 for chapter house renovations. Islam also requested $325,000 for the proposed cemetery, which would serve 2,000 community members. The Ramah Navajo Chapter is in dire need of a road grader; Islam requested $385,170 to purchase the new equipment. She started to describe the $4 million solar farm project but lost internet cmmection and was unable to complete her presentation.
Acequia request - irrigation needs
San Mateo Acequia As-sociation requested $419,000 to design and installl2-inch PVC irrigation piping. The SMAA previously received $200,000 for the first phase of the project.
Bluewater Village - wastewater, lift station, fire hydrants
The village identified three priorities: planning and designing a wastewater treatment plant for the 628 residents. Officials requested $400,00 for the $1 .9 million project, which may also serve the new elementary school. Second was $200,000 for replacing water valves and fire hydrants to improve the infrastructure. Last was $200,000 for planning and designing lift station enhancements.
School district - security systems and buses
Superintendent Max Perez, Grants/Cibola County School District, requested $500,000 for Grants High School and Laguna-Acoma High School security access systems. The district is also seeking $500,000 to purchase two activity buses to serve GHS and LAHS.
NMSU-Grants - supporting funding sources
Grants Branch Vice President of Academic Affairs and Associate Campus Director, Dr. Marlene Chavez-Toivanen, asked the four legislators to protect the Federal Funds Swap, which is part of the original CARES Act; she urged the state to maintain the current Higher Education Funding Formula; and she emphasized the value of the Dual Credit funding. The program is an important financial benefit to 8,000 students statewide. Dual Credit al lows students to earn a high school diploma while completing a college associate degree.
Legislators' comments
Representative Alcon urged the school district to be cautious as it replaces older school buildings such as Bluewater. Mesa View El ementary, Grants, is scheduled for replacement following completion of the Bluewater project. Rep. Alcon pointed out that Cubero and Milan Elemen tary Schools were designed to meet existing enrollment but are now inadequate be cause more parents opted to send their children to the new schools.
Representative Garcia asked about programs to as sist veterans at NMSU Grants. He noted that a veterans' service representa tive has an office in the old county complex on High Street in Grants. The state VA staff member is available to work with Grants Branch to meet veterans' needs.
Senator Munoz and the two representatives stressed that applicants need to com plete projects that had been awarded previous funding.
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