News Highlights from the County Complex
Breaking News: Last night, Tuesday, Jan. 8, after returning from executive session, the commissioners voted to recall Richard Bellis. Earlier, during the regular meeting, they voted to reinstate the position of Deputy County Manager. As well Commissioners voted to dismiss the appeal of Alcohol and Gaming’s decision to permit La Martina’s beer and wine license. You might say the Commission is intent on dismissing chaos and restoring order to the County in 2013.
Elections & Appointments
At their regular meeting, Tuesday, January 8, 2013, the commissioners elected Commissioner Dan Barrone, Chair; and Gabe Romero, Vice Chair. Commissioner Romero will also represent the county on the Intergovernmental Council (IGC) and Landfill Board. Commissioner Blankenhorn will represent the county at the multi-line pool board for the New Mexico County Insurance Association. Commissioner Barrone will continue representing the county at TCEDC.
The Commissioners re-appointed the current Planning and Zoning Commission, including Eugene Sanchez, Jeannie Masters, John Durham, Bill Thomas, Mary Mascarenas, Rudy Pacheco, and Peter Adang.
Fiscal Agency and Capital Outlay
The County consented to act as fiscal agent for fire departments and community centers, expected to lobby the state legislature: Talpa CC, $25,000; Cerro CC, $150,000; Latir Fire Department, $1.5 million, mas y menos.
Under capital outlay requests, the county will probably lobby the state for a minimum of $200,000 in order to finish the 6,000 square foot Amalia Community Center (not to be confused with the Amalia Senior Center, a fine building, up and running). As well, the County will lobby the state for assistance in the purchase of a new solid waste truck, $200,000 and $250,000 for improvements at Filemon Sanchez Park.
Commissioners also threw their support behind a $500,000 CDBG (federal) grant for the old County Courthouse on the Plaza and hopes to find a cooperative partner in the Town of Taos.
The TCSO was given permission to spend $18,000 for a lobbyist in hopes of securing four to six new vehicles for the department.
Commissioners approved a letter of support for the Hondo Mutual Domestic Water system, which is experiencing high levels of uranium and seeks funding to correct the problem. They also approved some travel aid for a Latir assistant fire chief to attend a training session. Latir’s fire chief, Jona Olsson, won an award as volunteer fire chief of the year.
Elected Officials
County Appraiser Darlene Vigil and her staff announced that they have visited numerous properties in an effort to identify improvements, account for the manufactured home population (mobile homes, trailers), and have re-appraised property that no longer qualifies for ag exemptions. The Assessor will be sending out notices that tax personal property, especially livestock and so forth that have been neglected for years by the department. Appraiser Vigil urged the public to notify her office of changes to property, or if you qualify for special tax rates as a veteran or senior citizen by Feb. 28th.
(Sheriff Miguel Romero and Treasurer Susan Trujillo gave detailed reports but I didn’t pick up copies of the paper work and will delay a report until later. Clerk Anna Martinez noted that Penasco, Questa, and Taos school board elections, including a bond election in Taos, are coming up in February.)
Morrison Memorial Tower
The above-mentioned tower, erected over a weekend without commission knowledge, according to Commissioner Gabe Romero, about twelve years ago, was discussed. Commissioner Blankenhorn noted that the tower was never approved by the FCC, Taos Pueblo, or, in fact, powered up for service and used. The Lt. WarChief, Matthew Montoya and tribal government secretary, Clyde Romero, stated that the tower was placed in the cultural viewshed, contrary to the wishes of Taos Pueblo and urged the commissioners to ask the owners to take it down and/or relocate it. The Commissioners urged County Attorney Barbara Martinez to contact Vertical Real Estate, the owner and begin negotiations.
Currently, Vertical Real estate is paying $130 a month for renting a quarter acre of land for the unsightly edifice that his produced much babel but little communication.
TCHA
On January 14, the county will meet in a work-study session with HUD, the new (and experienced) director of the Taos County Housing Authority, and the TCHA advisory board. County Manager Steve Archuleta mentioned that more federal indictments could be in the offing, due to the history of the troubled facility. Apparently, the county needs a second inspector at TCHA to check inventory at the low-income facility as well as houses requesting Section 8 status.
The new executive director, Mark Carey, has experience with troubled facilities but in much larger cities, Houston, El Paso, and Kansas. Manager Archuleta was very encouraged by the new director’s expertise. We don’t know if he drives a hummer.
Animal Control
The Commission appointed four members to the Animal Advisory Board or County Animal Task Force, including the director of Stray Hearts. At the beginning of the meeting, Activist Jeff Northrup made a brief plea on behalf of protecting animals (but he was less generous toward the Mayor and urged commissioners not to donate the Filemon Sanchez Park for the use of the DMC Mother’s Day event). Commissioner Romero also mentioned moving the town’s annual fireworks display in order to avoid causing pain to animals at the Stray Hearts facility.
Road Department
Commissioners Romero and Blankenhorn urged Manager Archuleta to streamline requests for road maintenance and repairs, while prioritizing the county road inventory.
Jail
Commissioners Romero and Blankenhorn visited the jail and suggested the need to employ more jailers, etc. Though impressed by the experience of the new jail director, the commissioners alternately commented on security that needed improvement and/or “a year old facility that looks like its 25-years old.” Gabe commented on broken concrete, maintenance, the need for painting walls, holes under windows for contraband storage, etc. Blankenhorn noted that the classroom was little used and how the director needed to create a classification system that would allow prisoners to work. Manager Archuleta said a new manual of policies and procedures for the jail would be ready for the legal department in a few weeks.
Deputy County Manager
The Commissioners voted to rescind last year’s vote that removed the position of Deputy County Manager. During executive session Commissioners were expected to discuss the fate of Rick Bellis, former Rick of All Trades (Planning, TCHA, PI, Assistant Manager).
Atmosphere
As befits the New Year and the new-old faces on the dais, the atmosphere was cordial and hospitable among the commissioners, staff, and visitors at the Complex. From the town, Mayor Cordova, Vice Mayor Andrew Gonzales and Town Manager Oscar Rodriguez showed up to wish the commissioners their best and promised to cooperate with the county. For me, it was like old home week, lots of familiar faces in new and old jobs.
Experience is the watchword. As Susan Trujillo said, referring to 99-2000, “We’ve come a long way at the County.”
Despite the County’s reputation for ad hoc attacks or mercurial mood changes, the staff and commissioners, currently ensconced at the Complex represent years and years of practical experience. There was an air of sanity and shocking appeals to reason and common sense at yesterday’s meeting.
The County Manager, Steve Archuleta, has a business-like buzz cut; Barbara Martinez, the County Attorney, sports stylish streaks in her hair. Gabe looked rested and ready—coming back now for his third shot at county government. Blankenhorn reminds me of a patient but sinewy wizard.
Dan’s hair was not so gray a few years ago. Remember when white-haired Larry Sanchez, Mr. Gladhand, was running round the Roundhouse, doing errands for Senator Cisneros and winking at the passers-by? If the County is short-handed in the road department, there’s at least one commissioner who can turn a truck on a dime or do figure eights on a road grader, the omnipresent Joe Mike Duran of Penasco. He still leans back and laughs and laughs at the follies.