State of Emergency

CITY OF GRANTS, N.M. – During the most recent Grants City Council meeting which took place July 15, Grants Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks said he will declare a state of emergency for the City of Grants due to the ongoing drought in the area. The councilors argued over the current city attorneys and heard a presentation from Wilson and Company about the feasibility study they have been conducting on a potential bio park in the city. Representatives for Wilson and Co. said that a bio park is feasible and that the planning phase will begin soon.

State of emergency

“Ramah’s well is dry. Bluewater Creek is dry, there is no water flowing into the lake,” Hicks said. “Our well Number three is down to 60 percent. I am directing you [City Manager Vanessa Chavez] to cut watering in our parks. I am asking the public to help us with this and cut their watering down as well.”

In a press release by the City of Grants, watering restrictions began on July 16, 2021, which limits residents to watering only three days per week and to not water during the heat of the day. The entire press release can be read on page A2 of this edition of the Cibola Citizen.

The council agreed to terminate the contract with Jacobs which was contracted to work for the City of Grants concerning water, wastewater, landscaping operations and maintenance and management for the City of Grants.

“We don’t have the money to pay Jacobs anymore, therefore we are getting out of this contract,” Hicks said.

In a letter responding to the City of Grants from Jacobs, Vice President of Jacobs, Andrew Appleton stated that they were very disappointed with this development but concur with a mutual expiration of the contract with some conditions.

Those conditions include a non-disparagement agreement for both the city and OMI (Jacobs), a release and discharge one another from any and all claims, counterclaims, debts, liabilities, demands, obligations, losses, causes of action, costs, expenses or attorney fees. Jacobs requires a payment of $184,839.68 for invoices due.

The contract with Jacobs will come to an end on August 2, 2021. The council voted 4-0 to accept the letter from Jacobs to end the contract.

Attorney row

The council was split on the agenda item to end its contract with the current city attorneys, Sutin, Thayer and Brown.

Hicks said the current city attorneys are not representing the city like they should be.

“I want out of this contract with these attorneys,” Hicks said. “Since I have been mayor, they have been totally irresponsible.”

Councilman Fred Rodarte and Mayor Hicks had a brief argument over this agenda item. You can view the discussion at the City’s Facebook page under the tab videos. The argument included discussion about the city council’s use of the attorneys to file an injunction against Mayor Hicks who is a member of the city council, and the attorney’s failures to notice violations of the city charter. Councilor Fred Rodarte commented that he has been in contact with the attorneys, and they respond to him, to which Mayor Hicks remarked that City Manager Vanessa Chavez has not had her questions or calls answered by those same attorneys.

Councilmen Fred Rodarte and Fred Padilla voted against ending the contract with the city’s current attorneys, while councilmen Erik Garcia and Rick Lucero voted in favor of ending the contract. Mayor Hicks broke the tie vote with a yes vote to end the contract.

The next Grants City Council meeting will be August 19 at 6 p.m.