[0:00] Let's call this Lincoln County Commission meeting to order. It's Tuesday, September 15th, 20260830.
[0:06] Madam Clerk, roll call, please.
[0:08] Commissioner Sermis.
[0:10] Here, Commissioner Appraiser. Commissioner Chavez.
[0:14] Commissioner Wilson.
[0:15] Chair Fischer.
[0:17] Invocation, please, for Commissioner Wilson.
[0:23] What does we gather here today? I've been just reaching.
[0:26] Well, it's it's present in.
[0:28] That they have a willingness and a desire to work for the betterment of.
[0:32] Of all people here.
[0:33] Lord, as we begin this.
[0:35] Meeting We ask for your wisdom.
[0:37] We acknowledge that we need your wisdom and insights.
[0:40] We welcome your presence here among us.
[0:42] Guide us in our discussions and decisions and help us.
[0:46] Do and seek.
[0:47] The best for all involved.
[0:48] Amen. Amen.
[0:50] Pledge of Allegiance.
[0:53] Pledge allegiance to the flag.
[0:55] The United States of America.
[0:57] And to the Republic for which it stands.
[1:00] One Nation.
[1:01] Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[1:06] I suppose I can stay there in.
[1:09] Reasonable, perfect friendships among united cultures.
[1:13] Thank you very much.
[1:17] So I'm going to request a motion to approve the agenda and allow the chair to move items.
[1:24] Sure, I move. We approve the agenda with Chair making necessary changes.
[1:27] 2nd.
[1:29] Madam Clerk, roll call, please.
[1:33] Commissioner Prather. Commissioner Sarah.
[1:35] Commissioner Chavez, Yes.
[1:37] Commissioner Wilson. Yes. Chair Fisher, Aye. Motion pass.
[1:40] Thank you.
[1:41] This is probably the best part of the whole meeting. We're going to have some.
[1:44] Service recognition.
[1:46] This morning.
[1:50] And.
[1:53] We do this basically every time we have the opportunity.
[1:57] Because it's important.
[1:59] That we recognize our employees.
[2:02] Who really make this county work?
[2:04] So the first one.
[2:06] It's Kelsey Guevara.
[2:08] See here.
[2:15] Very good.
[2:16] So Lincoln County service excellent award, one year of service.
[2:20] The following award is presented to Kelsey Guevara in recognition of your outstanding commitment.
[2:25] Service and invaluable contributions to the people of Lincoln County.
[2:29] New Mexico.
[2:30] Your dedication reflects the spirit and resilience.
[2:33] That define our community. Awarded this 15th day of September.
[2:36] 2026.
[2:37] Congratulations and thank you very much for being.
[2:48] The next one.
[2:50] Is for Miss Stephanie Warren.
[3:00] Lincoln County Service Excellence Award one year of service.
[3:03] The following award is presented to Stephanie Warren.
[3:07] In recognition of your outstanding commitment service.
[3:10] An invaluable contributions to the people of Lincoln County, New Mexico.
[3:14] Your dedication reflects the Spirit.
[3:16] In resilience that defined our community.
[3:18] Ordered this 15th day of September 2026. Congratulations.
[3:30] The next one's for.
[3:32] Miss Bethany Mark.
[3:40] We know there's always somebody in the background that keeps everything working if there is any one person you want to point out.
[3:48] Destiny.
[3:49] So Lincoln County Service Excellence Award, one year of service.
[3:52] The following award is presented to Miss Bethany Martin.
[3:56] In recognition of your outstanding commitment, service and invaluable contributions.
[4:00] To the people of Lincoln County, New Mexico.
[4:03] Your dedication reflects the Spirit.
[4:05] And resilience that define our community.
[4:07] Awarded the 15th day of September.
[4:09] 2026 Congratulations.
[4:17] Thank you.
[4:19] Now this is.
[4:21] Pretty amazing.
[4:24] So miss Amanda Vega through heel.
[4:28] Yeah.
[4:33] Now, as we all know, commissioners come and go.
[4:37] But the county still has to perform.
[4:40] And perform in an excellent way.
[4:42] And we depend on our.
[4:43] Our long standing.
[4:45] Talented.
[4:46] And dedicated workforce to do that.
[4:48] So Lincoln County Service Excellence Award, 20 years of service.
[4:53] The following award is presented to Miss Amanda Vega through Hero.
[4:57] In recognition of your outstanding commitment.
[5:00] Service and invaluable contributions to the people of Lincoln County.
[5:04] New Mexico, Uh.
[5:05] Your dedication reflects the spirit and resilience that define our community.
[5:09] I ordered this 15th day of September.
[5:11] 2026.
[5:23] I have to be undone.
[5:25] Miss Diane Shoemaker.
[5:30] Don't mind at all.
[5:36] Oh yes.
[5:38] For a minute there I didn't know.
[5:44] Again with.
[5:45] Diane Shoemaker.
[5:47] Has been with us for 20 years.
[5:49] And, umm.
[5:50] In those 20 years.
[5:52] Of course, there's been a lot of commissions.
[5:54] There's been a lot of county clerks. She has spent all 20 years of those years.
[5:57] In the county clerk's office.
[5:59] And that is a big accomplishment. She has been through at least 40.
[6:03] Plus elections, hundreds of thousands of recordings.
[6:07] She has been.
[6:09] Instrumental in.
[6:11] The books, the.
[6:12] Past books, getting them.
[6:14] Scanned and imaged into the system.
[6:16] Historical documents are becoming available.
[6:19] On our website for people to look at.
[6:21] And she has been.
[6:22] Tremendous in taking care of all that. So we have her certificate. We also have a.
[6:26] A little plaque that was made by.
[6:28] One of our employees.
[6:30] For her.
[6:31] So thank you for your service.
[6:43] OK. Thank you. Congratulations.
[6:52] Thank you again.
[6:53] From the Commission.
[6:56] And all the citizens of the county.
[7:02] So the next.
[7:04] Next event are public comments and announcements. This is going to be.
[7:09] A three minute, 3 minute time period.
[7:12] A limit for each person.
[7:14] And we ask that you.
[7:16] To the table state your name.
[7:18] And then?
[7:20] Tell us what you think, what your issues are.
[7:22] Anybody. Yeah.
[7:25] I've always got something.
[7:33] 3 minutes.
[7:40] Good morning, Chairman.
[7:41] Commissioners, David Vandenberg, Lincoln County Citizens.
[7:44] Continuing from last month's meeting, I want to speak about our civic duties and what our shared priorities should be. We are
[7:48] being watched by our citizens.
[7:51] Our peers, our families, and the world.
[7:53] What are they seeing?
[7:55] And these are the real value. Just because we are busy here today does not mean our work aligns with our foreign duties, as a
[7:58] reminder.
[8:02] Our duty is to the Constitution of the United States, the state of New Mexico. Those documents make clear that our
[8:05] responsibilities are to the people.
[8:09] So I ask is the work leading up to today focused on what is truly affecting all of us and is it focused on protecting the people?
[8:15] Are we discussing the national crisis that is undermining our government and the political failures that we see impact everyone of
[8:18] us?
[8:22] If we're not seeing these issues, taking them seriously and discussing plans with our citizens, then.
[8:26] What people will see is a group of leaders who failed at the number one job.
[8:31] As a body of leadership.
[8:32] Up for Lincoln County.
[8:34] I'd like to know your thoughts on the corruption in lawlessness our government has shown over the last 2010 or even the last five
[8:37] years.
[8:40] And while we have not addressed these matters directly with our county citizens, does anyone here share concern about the risk?
[8:46] Of a government drifting toward more communist, socialist and Islamic influences.
[8:51] Are we so absorbed in the work that the system expects us that we forget to stand up and do our true job for the people?
[8:57] The same device of tactics tearing the country apart have reached us here at home.
[9:01] Well, you're not free from that national angst.
[9:04] Elections alone will not fix this. We've allowed the system to drift far from the foundational rules that once set our country
[9:07] apart.
[9:10] You can see it.
[9:11] Do you talk about it with your friends and family? Do you hear the same concerns? And the question, why isn't someone doing
[9:14] something?
[9:17] I cannot cover every failure of government and its agencies today.
[9:21] Nor can I do a full historical review of how our government has forgotten to point.
[9:24] But that has gotten to this point by decades of misrepresentation.
[9:28] By corrupt actors and politicians on both sides.
[9:32] Failing to stand up for the Constitution, the people and the truth.
[9:36] But I ask each of you, do you also see them happening?
[9:40] Do you wonder why elected representatives are allowed to continue in a position when we all see.
[9:44] That the job they're doing and have done and how it does not meet the standards.
[9:48] Of our constitutional laws that protect the people.
[9:51] Let us agree on this. We expect our elected representatives at every level to be accountable. Their actions should benefit and
[9:55] protect the people from the very government we put in place.
[9:59] We're here for a purpose together at this time, to do something. Something our peers, family and friends, as well as our neighbors
[10:04] in every community are counting on. I'm here telling you what I expect of you and what you should be telling your elected
[10:08] representatives what you expect of them.
[10:12] That as sex, as in Sections 2, three and four of our State Constitution, all political power is vested in and derived from the
[10:16] people.
[10:19] The people have the soul and exclusive right to govern themselves, and we have the right.
[10:23] Natural, inherent, and the negligible rights of which we are supposed to enjoy, of defending life, liberty, property, and seeking
[10:27] and obtaining safety and happiness.
[10:32] That is our duty and that is our priority.
[10:34] Thank you.
[10:36] Thank you, Sir.
[10:40] Anyone else?
[10:42] Yes, ma'am.
[10:43] Please come forward.
[10:45] Counselor, they're not as organized as him, but I agree with organized.
[10:51] Thank you. I guess on the lively portion of the group you were speaking about.
[10:57] I wanted to talk about the.
[11:00] Cameras.
[11:01] Kenya Eckert.
[11:03] I don't know. I'm talking to you guys because you guys are doing the vote.
[11:06] I wanted to talk about the cameras that are on the.
[11:10] Agenda today that you guys are going to be I don't know if you voted for it or if it's already something that's going to be
[11:13] happening, but.
[11:17] I think that having like.
[11:18] All of our data and our daily lives.
[11:21] Catalogued and tracked by these flock cameras that needs to be addressed. I don't think that that giving up.
[11:27] Our liberty for a little bit of safety is a very good idea. I think that that's leading us towards the Communist China or the
[11:32] fascist state that that man was talking about.
[11:37] In Bernalillo County, they are dealing with.
[11:41] Audit trials and all kinds they've taken down their flock cameras and severed ties with the block safety because.
[11:48] Of all the data.
[11:50] Discrepancies and things that they've been dealing with so.
[11:53] And then on top of all the data collection that's happening from the cameras and all the storage that's happening, that goes into
[11:58] the whole data center stuff with.
[12:02] That's why there's data centers cropping up all over New Mexico to store our movements who are seeing what we're doing in 99% of
[12:07] that information has nothing to do with solving crimes, finding missing children or women or any of that type of stuff. It's
[12:11] actually just.
[12:16] Finding out what we're doing, our purchasing habits.
[12:19] And spying on us so.
[12:21] If we want to protect our water, which I always complain about and I want you guys to always be looking into, we need to not be
[12:27] spying on ourselves and keeping all that data in this information, you know, and it just seems very careless, so.
[12:36] That's basically all I really came to say. Also I don't know if the license plate readers is that.
[12:41] Part of the flock thing, but the ones that are in Ruidoso.
[12:44] The company that's connected to the.
[12:48] The machines.
[12:49] They don't even coincide with the citations that they're giving out to people. And the money is not even going anywhere to
[12:53] Ruidoso, it's going to Dallas, TX OR.
[12:58] Atlanta or other places. So I don't understand why those.
[13:02] Cameras really are like why we're utilizing that instead of just paying.
[13:06] Police or.
[13:35] So thank you guys. And I know you guys are all great people, so I'm sure you'll do the right thing. Anyways. Thank you.
[13:45] Anyone else?
[13:50] I'm Linda Waterbury.
[13:51] I'm from Kent.
[13:53] And I.
[13:55] Have a concern about a safety issue at the fairgrounds?
[13:58] They repaved it.
[14:00] Yay they.
[14:03] Fenced in.
[14:05] They made no accommodation.
[14:07] For all the pedestrian traffic.
[14:09] As you know, there's not enough parking in there.
[14:13] And most of the local Capitan residents walk.
[14:17] So between the residents.
[14:19] And all the outside parking that happens at the church, on the easements in the neighborhood, all those people are walking in.
[14:26] They are forced to walk down.
[14:28] Fairgrounds Rd.
[14:31] With trucks, With trailers.
[14:33] Horses.
[14:35] People coming and going.
[14:36] There is no sidewalk.
[14:38] There is no shoulder.
[14:39] There is a break.
[14:41] Ditch which someone fell in.
[14:44] A mother.
[14:45] Going over to.
[14:48] Take care of some stuff.
[14:51] Was pretty banged up.
[14:52] From falling in the ditch.
[14:54] Concerned about the truck going by?
[14:58] I know that Mayor Davalos brought this issue to the fair board.
[15:02] Before the 4th of July.
[15:04] Nothing happened.
[15:06] So I am asking.
[15:09] This Commission to please.
[15:11] Assign someone to at least look into.
[15:14] The situation.
[15:15] And actually it would be very easy to fix.
[15:18] In my opinion.
[15:20] If anyone's interested.
[15:21] I live across the street.
[15:23] This is why it's an issue.
[15:25] To me, I watch it when there's big events.
[15:29] I worry.
[15:30] With a little kid that's going to escape Mom's hand.
[15:34] And be under that truck tryer.
[15:36] Like that?
[15:38] Thank you.
[15:38] Thank you very much.
[15:45] Anyone else?
[15:52] OK.
[15:54] We'll move on then.
[15:55] The next.
[15:56] Event is a public combat.
[15:58] Comment by.
[16:00] Doctor Ray Sydell.
[16:03] Just come up, Sir.
[16:15] I'm Ray Seidel.
[16:20] And I want to thank.
[16:21] Everybody here.
[16:22] For allowing me to speak.
[16:24] I understand this is quite controversial.
[16:26] I understand that.
[16:28] And it seems today that.
[16:31] Everybody. Uh.
[16:32] Is concerned about our rights.
[16:34] So let's define the law.
[16:37] We're looking at the law that you, Sir.
[16:40] Got finally put up here on the wall.
[16:43] And you fought hard against the bureaucrats that didn't want that.
[16:46] So I thank you and I applaud you.
[16:50] The 10 commandments.
[16:52] By God.
[16:53] Is the first thing that we have to.
[16:55] Govern ourselves by.
[16:57] Then we need to follow.
[17:00] Declaration of Independence.
[17:02] What's the Declaration independence do for us?
[17:06] That gives us.
[17:08] The rights that God.
[17:10] Gave us.
[17:12] To operate.
[17:13] In this world with each other.
[17:17] So this is where we get our rights from.
[17:20] From God and it was redefined here.
[17:24] Then we go to the Constitution. What does the Constitution do?
[17:28] Our rights don't come from the Constitution.
[17:31] The Constitution gives us the ability to defend ourselves against tyrants, which we're addressing today.
[17:39] OK if you're not.
[17:42] Following these rules and there's one document missing.
[17:46] We should have the New Mexico Constitution up here.
[17:49] And it's not here.
[17:50] So I would expect we have that up there by the next round. Is that a good thing?
[17:56] I think so.
[17:57] OK, that.
[17:59] Now is.
[18:00] The law.
[18:02] That's what's defined as a law.
[18:05] That's what's to govern us.
[18:07] That's what's to make us all get along and be able to have a happy.
[18:12] Normal, uh.
[18:13] Good life.
[18:15] With everybody.
[18:16] Now when we get into statutes.
[18:20] We get into rules, we get into regulations.
[18:23] You guys.
[18:25] And I know three of you very well.
[18:27] You guys have become creatures.
[18:30] Of statutes.
[18:32] Statutes are not for.
[18:34] The general public.
[18:36] Not for citizens.
[18:37] And that for people.
[18:39] That control the government now.
[18:42] If we apply the New Mexico Constitution, which was eloquently done.
[18:46] By my buddy here.
[18:49] I'm going to go over those again.
[18:52] We are a popular sovereign.
[18:55] State umm.
[18:56] And people do not believe in sovereignty within the government.
[19:01] Why is that?
[19:03] Because you can't govern us, you can't change my behavior, you can't tell me what to do or not to do.
[19:11] OK, that's not allowed.
[19:13] And how do I know that?
[19:15] Article 2.
[19:17] Section 2.
[19:18] Popular sovereignty.
[19:20] New Mexico Constitution.
[19:22] All political power is invested in and derived from the people.
[19:27] That's us.
[19:28] OK, that means.
[19:32] Your ability to rule or govern.
[19:35] Or take care of us.
[19:36] Comes from.
[19:38] If we don't agree.
[19:40] You don't have any power to do such.
[19:43] Now all government.
[19:45] Of right.
[19:47] Originates from the people.
[19:51] Originates from the people.
[19:54] And is founded upon their will.
[19:57] And is instituted solely.
[20:00] For their good, that means us.
[20:04] That now makes you servants.
[20:06] That means you have to serve us.
[20:09] You can't talk down to us.
[20:11] You cannot give us.
[20:14] A bunch of crap.
[20:15] OK, we don't come in here looking for anything other than.
[20:21] Getting along.
[20:24] That's your job.
[20:26] That's what we elected you for.
[20:28] Anything that exceeds that.
[20:31] Is not allowed.
[20:34] Now how do I know that I'm a sovereign?
[20:37] And sovereignty is real.
[20:39] Again, the New Mexico Constitution makes it very clear under Article 2.
[20:44] Section 3.
[20:47] The right of self government.
[20:50] The people of the state have the soul and exclusive right to govern themselves as a free.
[20:56] Sovereign and independent state.
[20:59] Now does that mean?
[21:01] Rules, regulations and statutes govern me.
[21:05] Absolutely not.
[21:07] Doesn't govern anybody.
[21:10] Now we can go to the US.
[21:15] Constitution.
[21:17] And we can define that even further. All you have to do is go to the 7th Amendment.
[21:22] The 7th Amendment guarantees.
[21:24] Common law.
[21:27] Now.
[21:29] Our law officials.
[21:31] And government officials.
[21:33] Don't like hearing that?
[21:35] And the reason why is.
[21:37] Because, uh.
[21:39] One maxim within the.
[21:43] Realm of common law is.
[21:45] You can't have a crime.
[21:47] Without.
[21:48] An individual that has been harmed.
[21:54] Now I I hate to take up speeding tickets, but it's an easy way to look at this.
[22:00] If I'm over.
[22:02] The speed limit by 5 miles an hour. There's a statute that says.
[22:08] OK, now under common law we have to have an injured party in order.
[22:14] For anything to be illegal.
[22:16] Was anybody injured by a speeding ticket?
[22:22] There cannot be any enforcement.
[22:25] Under the law.
[22:26] And the missing 1 which is the New Mexico.
[22:29] Constitution.
[22:34] Now, given all of this.
[22:36] And what we've been talking about here.
[22:39] If we're not following the law and.
[22:42] Forcing statutory law etc.
[22:46] To the harm of a citizen.
[22:49] That's treason.
[22:51] That's treason under the US.
[22:53] And the New Mexico Constitution.
[22:56] And treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against it.
[23:02] Now that.
[23:04] Does not mean kinetic.
[23:07] OK, so if we're warring against the Constitution.
[23:12] That's treason.
[23:13] Adhering to its enemies.
[23:16] Or given them.
[23:18] Aid and comfort.
[23:19] No person shall be convicted of treason unless of.
[23:24] Less on testimony of two witnesses.
[23:27] To the same overt act.
[23:29] Or on confession in open court.
[23:33] Now.
[23:34] Given all that.
[23:36] That we understand.
[23:37] And I hopefully I was able to do that, that everybody understands that.
[23:41] We now have statutes.
[23:44] Statutes that govern.
[23:46] The people.
[23:48] That are in power.
[23:50] To govern.
[23:51] You get to govern yourselves.
[23:54] OK, the rest of the laws.
[23:56] We comply with.
[23:58] How do we control these individuals? Well, I'm going to first start off with the county Commission.
[24:04] And what your responsibilities are.
[24:06] And this is per New Mexico statutes.
[24:10] And I asked you guys to read this and know.
[24:13] What I'm talking about last time I was here.
[24:16] Did anybody look at chapter 10?
[24:18] Yes, you did.
[24:21] Great. Now let's talk about what your responsibilities are as commissioners.
[24:27] This is under New Mexico statute 10-2-12.
[24:32] Insufficient bonds of the county or precinct officers.
[24:36] New bond requirements in federal to provide.
[24:39] Procedure and decree of vacancy by.
[24:43] The courts.
[24:45] OK, you have a much.
[24:47] Bigger job.
[24:49] To oversee.
[24:51] Everybody.
[24:52] That affect me.
[24:54] And every citizen in this county.
[24:57] And we're talking about bonds, and I'm going to come back here in a minute here and talk about bonds.
[25:05] OK. And the requirements for the bonds?
[25:08] Your job as county commissioner.
[25:10] And it doesn't say May, and it doesn't say.
[25:13] If you like it says, you shall.
[25:16] OK, it is.
[25:17] It shall.
[25:19] Be the duty the county Commission of each county.
[25:22] At every regular meeting thereof.
[25:25] On the first day of each meeting to examine.
[25:28] And to inquire into the insufficient or the sufficiency of all.
[25:33] Official bonds given.
[25:35] Or to be given by any county or precinct officers as required by law.
[25:42] And it.
[25:43] It shall appear that anyone.
[25:46] Or more of these securities?
[25:49] On the official bond of any county officer has.
[25:53] Or have been removed from the county.
[25:55] Died or become insolvent.
[25:57] Or doubtful.
[25:59] Insolvency, he said.
[26:01] Kimani Kiss the said board of county commissioners shall.
[26:06] Caused such county or precinct officers to be summoned to appear.
[26:11] That's huge.
[26:13] That's huge.
[26:15] How many of you have a bond?
[26:18] Anybody here?
[26:22] You've got.
[26:23] OK. Can you present that next meeting?
[26:27] For us.
[26:28] It's required right here in law.
[26:30] OK.
[26:32] Now, umm.
[26:33] Once we see this.
[26:35] Then the county Commission has to act.
[26:38] And if you've read.
[26:41] Chapter 10.
[26:43] It's your responsibility.
[26:45] To we the people.
[26:46] Not use a county.
[26:48] OK.
[26:50] Now, given that.
[26:53] Is this really?
[26:55] A bond, an issue here that we should be talking about today.
[26:59] How do we enforce?
[27:01] What we need to enforce?
[27:03] OK, again, I'm going to.
[27:06] Quote Mexico statute and this one's.
[27:11] 10-2-1.
[27:14] And it's entitled.
[27:16] Recording, uh.
[27:17] As a prerequisite to discharging duties of the office.
[27:23] Each and every person.
[27:25] Who may herein be elected or appointed to an office?
[27:28] In this state, required by law to give a bond.
[27:31] Shall file the same.
[27:34] For record, before entering upon.
[27:38] The discharge of the duty of that office.
[27:42] So if you haven't.
[27:44] File the bond.
[27:46] Guess what?
[27:48] You don't have any.
[27:50] Rights to be here.
[27:52] We also talking about if you've been serving.
[27:56] And have been paid.
[27:58] You're going to owe us.
[28:00] We the.
[28:01] That salary?
[28:03] That you were.
[28:04] Derived from without meeting this.
[28:07] Prerequisite.
[28:11] Now within the county.
[28:13] The county.
[28:15] Precinct officers.
[28:16] Have to record.
[28:18] And file their.
[28:20] Bonds.
[28:23] The county clerk's office.
[28:25] And it's to be recorded.
[28:28] Of official bonds.
[28:30] And the bond shall be filed and kept in the office of the county clerk's office.
[28:36] And I've been assured that's been done. Is that correct?
[28:41] OK.
[28:44] Let's talk about bonds.
[28:47] We know that it's required.
[28:49] And if it hasn't been done, it hasn't been filed.
[28:53] We have people here that are.
[28:55] Can be charged with malfeasance.
[28:57] Do we want to do that?
[28:59] No, we want it corrected.
[29:01] But you have to understand.
[29:04] That this is we the People.
[29:06] Not you, the government.
[29:08] One of the things that the government likes to do.
[29:12] Is put out rules and regulations.
[29:15] For us, but not them.
[29:18] Chapter 10.
[29:20] In the New Mexico statutes is huge.
[29:24] This is how we enforce.
[29:26] You guys to do your job?
[29:29] And that means?
[29:30] Taking care of the citizen.
[29:33] Not the government.
[29:37] Now.
[29:38] Under uh.
[29:39] Chapter 10.
[29:41] 4.
[29:43] Cause for removal of local officials.
[29:46] It goes into everything that.
[29:49] Anybody can be removed by.
[29:52] Under this statute.
[29:56] First thing, conviction of a felony.
[29:58] Or of any misdemeanor involving moral.
[30:03] Now as an attorney.
[30:05] Representing our.
[30:08] People here.
[30:10] You understand what turpitude is? Is that not right, ma'am?
[30:13] Interpreted, you can charge anything.
[30:16] If I don't like the way you comb your hair.
[30:18] That can fall under turpitude.
[30:19] So that's.
[30:20] Huge.
[30:23] B Failure or neglect to refuse or.
[30:28] Failure or neglect.
[30:30] Or refusal to discharge the duties of the office.
[30:33] Or failure or neglect.
[30:35] Or refusal to discharge any duty.
[30:38] That you have to do for your job.
[30:42] Knowingly.
[30:43] And demanding or receiving illegal fees.
[30:47] As an officer.
[30:50] Fees would be a tax.
[30:51] Am I right?
[30:54] Now, we can get into taxation right now, but I can tell you property tax is illegal.
[31:00] And it was made illegal.
[31:03] Two years ago when we passed.
[31:05] The veterans.
[31:08] Appropriate Bill.
[31:10] For no.
[31:11] Property tax or based on their percentage.
[31:14] If there's one veteran not paying 100% of his taxes.
[31:19] Guess what? Under the 14th Amendment.
[31:21] Of the United States.
[31:23] All laws are to be enforced.
[31:25] Equally, umm.
[31:27] Nobody owes property tax.
[31:29] That means.
[31:32] You have created yourself an issue here.
[31:36] That you can be charged.
[31:38] You are now duly noted.
[31:41] And you are now willful.
[31:43] Going forward.
[31:46] OK. Gross and competency.
[31:48] Or negligence and discharge in the duties of your office.
[31:54] I can go on.
[31:55] The rest of this?
[31:57] Section between.
[32:00] 4-24 dash.
[32:03] 12 talks about.
[32:05] How we prosecute.
[32:08] Elected officials.
[32:09] And government employees.
[32:18] OK, security.
[32:20] Why do we have security bonds?
[32:24] Do you know?
[32:25] I think you're going to tell us.
[32:27] I am but you should know OK security bond is if.
[32:32] The citizen has an issue.
[32:36] With an elected official or a public servant.
[32:39] That is not doing their job.
[32:41] And I just named a few of them.
[32:45] We can take him to court.
[32:46] Or we can call their bond in.
[32:49] Now, this is much like a bond that you're going to have on somebody that's doing construction at your property.
[32:56] If he does not do a good job.
[32:58] Do I take them to court?
[33:00] Burdoy call his bond.
[33:02] You have either option.
[33:04] Now security bond is not the same as.
[33:09] It's not what you think it is.
[33:12] A surety bond.
[33:14] Is really a surety?
[33:16] And.
[33:17] They like to try to put them together to confuse us.
[33:20] Is surety.
[33:23] As insurance.
[33:24] OK. It's an insurance that is typically taken care of.
[33:29] By a company you know.
[33:31] That will.
[33:33] Take a fee.
[33:34] In order to cover.
[33:36] Any bad?
[33:37] Outcomes, uh.
[33:38] OK, a bond.
[33:40] Is the cover that individual?
[33:43] That might have.
[33:46] An issue and that company, the 30, will pay that bond out.
[33:52] Based on.
[33:53] Filing by an individual that was harmed.
[33:58] Or I'll have a First Amendment right violation, so that's fine.
[34:04] That's fine.
[34:05] You're good, you're good.
[34:08] So this now.
[34:10] You can see.
[34:11] Government not serving the people.
[34:14] Thank you.
[34:15] You, you, you chimed in just right.
[34:18] So.
[34:19] Right now.
[34:21] I'm not going to violate.
[34:23] This gentleman's.
[34:25] Supposed power.
[34:28] I'm going to say thank you.
[34:30] I hope everybody understands what we're trying to do here.
[34:34] I love the fact that somebody understands what's going on with the Flock cameras.
[34:39] I hope.
[34:41] Sheriff, you listen to us.
[34:43] I hope that you understand.
[34:45] I believe you're a Goodman.
[34:47] And I know you'll do the right thing.
[34:50] I thank you all.
[34:52] And you guys have a blessed day.
[35:00] All right. Thank you, Sir.
[35:03] For me, did I stand or my 20 minutes OK?
[35:07] By two minutes.
[35:10] Thank you very much.
[35:13] There's much to say here.
[35:16] I will only say this.
[35:21] I guarantee you that the people that sit up here.
[35:24] Honestly.
[35:26] Feel like they are doing the work of the people.
[35:31] That's how we feel.
[35:34] Some of these issues, most of the issues that were discussed, are outside of our purview.
[35:39] We would like for it to be.
[35:40] Different, uh.
[35:42] But we're busy.
[35:43] Taking care of the day-to-day issues.
[35:46] The problem, the problem that I see, if you look at the amount of people who vote.
[35:51] Every year at our elections, whether it's.
[35:53] Primaries or whether it's midterms?
[35:57] Or regular elections.
[35:58] It's a very small part of the eligible voters.
[36:02] We have the power as voters.
[36:05] To put people in there.
[36:06] That are.
[36:07] That believe the things that.
[36:09] That were just spoken about.
[36:11] Either at the federal level or the state level.
[36:14] Even at the county level.
[36:17] But I believe the people that you have here at the county level.
[36:19] They're doing the best they can.
[36:21] So that being said, I took took.
[36:24] Chairman's privilege for that.
[36:27] And I think it only took about a minute and 1/2.
[36:30] The next.
[36:32] Issue with public input or discussion.
[36:35] And Sheriff Michael Wood is going to talk about.
[36:39] And perhaps you can talk about.
[36:41] Block and what your decision's already been on that.
[36:44] Sheriff, you'll come up. We appreciate it.
[36:50] Thank you, Chairman Fisher Commission, Michael Wood, your Lincoln County Sheriff.
[36:54] I can't talk much about flock.
[36:56] I can't because I've decided.
[36:58] Some time ago. We're just not going to use that system.
[37:01] I know it's readily available and I know that there are peace officers and agencies all over this country that are using them with
[37:04] great success.
[37:10] But we're not using.
[37:11] For several reasons, I'm not.
[37:13] I'm not 100% comfortable yet and I don't, I guess I'm a little bit ignorant on it. It's technology, right? I mean, I can.
[37:19] Figure out to some degree with the help of my granddaughter, how my cell phone works, but I'm not a real technical.
[37:25] Person. And so I'm not I'm not.
[37:27] I'm not real comfortable with when I hear about the flight system itself and its storage.
[37:32] Abilities.
[37:33] To Doctor Seidel's point, we we are a nation of laws. We decided we would be that many, many, many years ago. We came together as
[37:37] a society and decided.
[37:42] We would be a nation of laws and.
[37:44] I think to some degree they're some of the statutes you refer to, the speeding, that kind of thing. Those things are simply
[37:49] necessary so that everybody stays safe in the story. It's not.
[37:55] A county such an agency such as my own, we were. We are not a revenue generating agency.
[38:00] Whatsoever.
[38:01] My office brings in no money.
[38:03] On traffic citations, we get no money for court costs and fines. Your municipalities, that's a different story.
[38:10] But instead of New Mexico counties do not receive.
[38:13] We do not generate any money. The only money that comes into my office is if.
[38:18] Joe wants to sue.
[38:19] Jill and initiation of an action in court is presented one of the first steps in that proceeding is the service of process right
[38:23] so.
[38:28] If Jill wants to serve Bob or whatever the names were, I'm just missing a while ago.
[38:31] They'll bring those documents into me and I get a $42.00 service fee.
[38:35] You know it's supposed to pay for fuel because it's a civil action.
[38:38] Right. It's not a criminal action. It's not.
[38:41] It doesn't necessarily fall under the half tooth.
[38:44] I can choose to sue to serve those. I can choose not to. But for 42 bucks?
[38:48] That's the only revenue that comes into my office. So, so speed cameras, we don't have them. Not going to have them. They're not.
[38:54] That's the villages deal, their prerogative, so I'll speak to that part. But in terms of flock?
[38:59] Cameras and that specific program and that software and that that technology, I don't know enough about it.
[39:06] To be comfortable with it, because while we are a nation of laws and we all agree on that, everybody does.
[39:11] Most everybody here, most everybody here followed the speed limit when they came down here today.
[39:16] Most everybody didn't roll the stop sign at Eight Mile. Most everybody.
[39:21] Stood by that I also have to weigh.
[39:24] The constitutionality of some of those laws as your County Sheriff.
[39:28] Your very first and last line of defense.
[39:32] It isn't just my job to pluck the bad guy off of the street.
[39:35] Or go take a report when you hit a deer. It's also my job to make sure.
[39:40] That there isn't an infringement.
[39:42] Upon you by a government.
[39:44] Whether it be local?
[39:45] Municipal, federal, whatever that is the shirt, that is the sheriff's job.
[39:50] Is to make sure that there isn't an overview.
[39:53] And so in terms of the flux system, I don't know enough about it to be comfortable with it. And I asked myself sometimes when I
[39:56] look at these.
[40:00] Miss Eckert mentioned data centers. I have not personally been to a data center.
[40:05] I've seen pictures of them. I've seen them on the news. I know some folks who.
[40:08] Who helped construct some of these things? And they're massive.
[40:12] I mean, these things take up.
[40:14] The footprint on them is incredible. Acres and acres is what I'm being told.
[40:19] Well, if that's what's already necessary.
[40:21] Just to store the data that we are.
[40:23] Gathering now I know. How's the difference going to sustain itself? You're gonna have to continue to build these things, if that.
[40:29] If just one of those things is what's necessary.
[40:32] To store the data that's being collected And how is it ever going to sustain itself?
[40:36] But the question for me is and I lose, trust me, I lose sleep over this is.
[40:41] What is the need?
[40:42] To store long term.
[40:45] M's Eckert's license plate.
[40:47] Why? I don't understand that?
[40:49] Why are you going? What? What is the purpose of that?
[40:52] Historical for a limited amount of time, historical data is in my business, which is taking the bad guy off the street. You have
[40:56] to admit that.
[41:00] When your home is broken into and Grandma's wedding ring is stolen.
[41:04] Or your kiddos kidnapped or whatever the offense is. It's my job to come in and help mitigate that.
[41:09] It's my job to come in and try to recover your stuff and make sure you.
[41:13] You are.
[41:14] Afforded an opportunity at justice.
[41:16] That's my job.
[41:18] All right, so.
[41:20] When I think about these data centers, I just really wonder how. How is it ever going to sustain itself?
[41:25] But as a lawman, as someone who's.
[41:27] In charge and responsible for taking and making cases so that.
[41:31] Bills wife was killed by a drunk driver.
[41:35] And he needs closure and justice. That's just.
[41:38] That's my job.
[41:40] So a short.
[41:41] Storage of some of this information and.
[41:44] In the system that is already approved and I'll just be.
[41:47] I think in the last 5 1/2 years as your County Sheriff up.
[41:50] Got a reputation of.
[41:52] A couple of things. One, I have trouble sometimes keeping my mouth shut.
[41:56] #2 I don't have a problem telling you how I think, how it is and how I feel.
[42:00] I also don't have a problem telling you some of the things I don't want to have to tell you.
[42:05] Trust me, I've had to make Facebook posts and come out publicly.
[42:08] On some things that were detrimental to.
[42:11] The the reputation and.
[42:15] And efficiency of my agency.
[42:18] But I tell these guys, this is 32 years I've been doing this, and I was blessed to have had some very good mentors and teachers.
[42:25] Individuals who looked up from my success, they said, Mike, always remember and I tell these guys.
[42:29] That worked for me, my support staff and all of my subordinates.
[42:34] Before we can effectively.
[42:35] Police you. We must police ourselves.
[42:39] Period. And I think there's an.
[42:41] There's an assumption.
[42:43] Or even a premise sometimes that well.
[42:45] I'm I wear this so I'm above the law.
[42:48] I don't have to abide by its speed, so I don't have to.
[42:52] I'm above that. That is not how I feel. That's not how I operate.
[42:56] In the story, I think I've set a reputation for that. I hold mine accountable first.
[43:04] Well, he comes down to it.
[43:07] It's not an easy job balancing the laws that we've all agreed to live under.
[43:11] And what's constitutional?
[43:13] So in terms of flock, I have some questions about the constitutionality of it.
[43:18] I will tell you that those can't that system, the roadside cameras that you see.
[43:22] Have been in this county for years.
[43:25] They've been here for years and.
[43:26] Years. There's 2 now.
[43:29] In the village.
[43:30] Outside of the reservation on US 70, those are not ours.
[43:34] We not all those.
[43:35] We don't have any.
[43:37] For years there were two of them in Capitan.
[43:40] Then folks were going past them and never even noticed.
[43:42] I was guilty of that. I lived down there and didn't even know they were there.
[43:46] And not one time.
[43:48] Not once did I ever receive any reports.
[43:51] Of anyone being victimized.
[43:53] Or any sort of weaponization of that.
[43:56] Nonetheless, it doesn't take away from the fact that I'm a little uncomfortable with the storage part of it.
[44:02] I can't speak the plot because I'm not using it. Not going to.
[44:05] We do have a license plate reader.
[44:08] System that has been approved by this Commission, based upon the information I brought to them, I will, I will be accountable for
[44:11] my very own actions.
[44:16] They did approve it.
[44:18] They are not in use.
[44:20] They're not even equipped. They're not even a.
[44:23] Installed.
[44:24] But the ones I've chosen.
[44:26] Came as part of a package of the body Cam.
[44:29] Requirement the state statute.
[44:32] And when it comes to body cams, I've been in this business over 3 decades.
[44:35] In the beginning there was no such thing. We didn't even have cell phones.
[44:39] But then is is technology above some of the agencies were going to the body cams and now I swear by them I will not.
[44:45] Ever not have those?
[44:47] They make you a better peace officer.
[44:49] They dispute false claims.
[44:52] Allegations.
[44:53] What better evidence than to put you be able to put yourself at the scene?
[44:58] Yeah, yeah, you're devoid of some of the emotion and the smells and I have.
[45:01] Some of those things that society is generally largely guarded from.
[45:05] But it gives you an idea what actually happened, so I'll never get away from that.
[45:08] But the system we have is a license plate reader.
[45:12] Again, it has not been implemented.
[45:14] I'm not comfortable yet pulling the trigger on it. We're not using it.
[45:18] But I have it available.
[45:20] It wasn't.
[45:21] An additional cost, the system we have is actually a vehicle mounted system where if I get behind Miss Eckert's vehicle, it looks
[45:24] at her plate.
[45:28] In the vehicle only.
[45:30] All right, this thing does not track dog.
[45:33] What are those chips?
[45:35] Doesn't practice chip, it doesn't track the cell phone you.
[45:38] It looks at the car.
[45:40] All right, that's it in the plate.
[45:42] Now, if a law enforcement agency has entered.
[45:45] ABC123 out of the state of Virginia as.
[45:48] Possibly being operated by a homicidal subject or a kidnapped suspect or.
[45:53] Was seen leaving the the scene of a burglary or robbery.
[45:57] You need a lock in on that. It'll take its photograph, it'll store that information and immediately alert the agency that entered
[46:00] it.
[46:04] And then that information is passed on.
[46:07] But in short.
[46:08] The system we have is my Axon.
[46:11] And it just again, it simply looks at the vehicle and the plate.
[46:15] We can set parameters on that. Every bit of that information we would own, have care, custody, and control of it is not sent to a
[46:19] data center.
[46:23] It is not sent to the federal government. It is not. We own every bit of that.
[46:27] None of it goes anywhere.
[46:30] There's still an awful lot about it.
[46:32] That I don't understand because this technology.
[46:35] But in talking to some of my colleagues all over this country.
[46:39] They're swearing by it.
[46:40] I was able to actually get this kiddo back. I was able to actually solve this crime, get this guy up the street.
[46:45] Forget it.
[46:47] And that's all good stuff.
[46:48] When your job is done down the lawn the the lawn.
[46:51] Breaker.
[46:52] With the constitutionality is the part I'm getting hung up on.
[46:56] So I want this.
[46:58] Entire county and every time, I've said it before, when I address this Commission, this council of commissioners.
[47:03] In these chambers, I address everybody in this county.
[47:06] This is the venue for it.
[47:08] Social media is not.
[47:10] I will not make a decision.
[47:11] On this or anything else based on social media will not do that.
[47:15] I refuse to do it.
[47:16] I will not be pressured, influenced, threatened.
[47:18] Intimidate. I simply won't do it.
[47:21] So I fought for two months to get this on the agenda.
[47:24] In hopes that I would hear some things and thank you.
[47:27] The secret for coming out and saying something about this, I appreciate. I need that.
[47:31] That will be used to.
[47:33] By me to make my decision ultimately whether or not to implement this technology or not do.
[47:38] And how to set the parameters so that I can guarantee?
[47:42] You're nobody's rights are being infringed upon.
[47:45] So with that all being said.
[47:48] Some of the rumors are again.
[47:50] This the more you pass by these things.
[47:53] A lot of color changes and alerts somebody that frequently, yeah.
[47:57] None of that's true.
[47:58] That is not what.
[48:01] I would allow who to discount.
[48:02] I wouldn't.
[48:04] I don't feel any for that so.
[48:05] That being said, Mr. Chairman, I.
[48:08] Pretend to try and run your your Commission meeting.
[48:12] But if you were inclined to allow folks to ask questions, I'd be glad to address them.
[48:17] Yes, Sir, I think, I think it's appropriate. We have that on the agenda anyway. Very good.
[48:20] So if someone does have a question, we ask that you come up.
[48:23] To the table.
[48:24] Identify who you are and then state your question.
[48:27] And the reason for that is to make sure that people that are.
[48:30] Online can hear and know.
[48:33] And we also have it on record, so.
[48:35] Please doc, come on up.
[48:41] Looking at our Constitution.
[48:44] Ray Sydell, you're welcome.
[48:48] What don't we understand about You need a warrant?
[48:51] For a search.
[48:53] Well, here's something everybody keeps losing.
[48:55] Perspective on it.
[48:57] And again.
[48:58] The agenda item, and this is exactly what they are called.
[49:01] Automated automatic license plate readers.
[49:04] Let me tell you something the moment you occupy a motor vehicle.
[49:08] And you enter that motor vehicle upon public access roads that is funded.
[49:14] By you, By every single one of us in here.
[49:16] The rules change.
[49:18] Right. No. Now listen, you're good. You've asked a question if you're going to get an answer.
[49:24] We're going to handle this in an answer. We're not having a debate.
[49:28] Thank you.
[49:30] The interior of that vehicle.
[49:32] Is an extension of ones home.
[49:34] We all agreed on that, right?
[49:36] I'm not going to be pulled over by nobody.
[49:38] And told because you're driving a vehicle, I get to search it.
[49:41] Not gonna happen.
[49:42] It requires reasonable suspicion.
[49:45] Probable cause.
[49:46] A search warrant in this state and in this county, in this district.
[49:50] We do not search vehicles.
[49:52] Based on consent.
[49:55] It's a search warrant.
[49:57] In store.
[49:58] The moment you enter that vehicle onto a public access roadway and you travel down that roadway and you share that roadway.
[50:05] With my aging parents.
[50:07] My 18 year old granddaughter who's now driving.
[50:10] Everybody else's aunts, uncles, friends and loved ones.
[50:15] That the rules are different.
[50:17] Anything that goes on in public view that anybody can see is pretty much fair game for recording.
[50:23] Monitoring.
[50:24] Story of data.
[50:26] It's different.
[50:28] You don't have a reasonable expectation.
[50:30] To the our privacy to the outside of that vehicle.
[50:33] Only the interior of that vehicle.
[50:36] So.
[50:37] When you're driving down the road and your license plate.
[50:39] There's something else you need to remember.
[50:41] And keep in mind you don't own your license plate.
[50:45] That license plate is rented.
[50:47] To you.
[50:48] By the state of New Mexico, which is US.
[50:50] All of us come together at some point in time and agreed.
[50:53] You will have your vehicle registered.
[50:55] OK, you will have it insured.
[50:57] You it will be operated only by someone with a valid driver's license.
[51:02] This whole and I've seen a bunch of these videos on.
[51:04] On social media.
[51:05] This garbage where so and so gets pulled over because there's no plate. Well, I don't have to have one.
[51:10] I'm traveling.
[51:12] No, you're driving a motor vehicle.
[51:14] And you're sharing the roadway with my folks, my loved ones.
[51:18] Everybody else's.
[51:19] They're following the rules.
[51:22] If they hit somebody.
[51:23] And it's their fault.
[51:25] Their insurance premiums are going to go up because they're going to take care of it, but here I am. I'm a sovereign citizen or
[51:28] whatever they call themselves.
[51:31] I don't have to have any of that stuff.
[51:33] I've seen it.
[51:34] Over and over and over again.
[51:37] The minute you enter onto a public access roadway that we allow you to drive on.
[51:42] The things things gotta change, so the capturing of an image.
[51:46] Of Doctor Seidel's vehicle going down the road.
[51:49] There's no reason.
[51:51] There's nothing unconstitutional about that, and there's also.
[51:55] Nothing that requires search work.
[51:57] It's what you do with that information.
[52:00] That counts and so capturing the image.
[52:02] Looking at that license plate.
[52:04] That's something we do every single day. We run plates every single day.
[52:08] That's all this system does.
[52:10] It does the very same thing.
[52:11] And only captures that.
[52:13] And notifies us of that.
[52:15] If a bona fide reason has been.
[52:18] Provided and that information is entered into the computer. So I'm glad you asked that question. That clears all that up.
[52:24] I understand the misconceptions.
[52:26] You don't have a right to drive down the road.
[52:29] In the story.
[52:31] You have a privilege.
[52:32] You were allowed to do that.
[52:34] By everybody here.
[52:35] Not by this governing body.
[52:37] Not by the sheriff.
[52:40] Not by the governor.
[52:41] But by everybody sitting here.
[52:43] Through the laws passed.
[52:45] By folks that we put in office to do.
[52:48] I'll give you very, very brief.
[52:52] Have to move on, let anybody else.
[52:54] I should have the same amount of time.
[52:56] I don't need it.
[52:58] But don't restrict me.
[52:59] OK.
[53:00] You do not have that privilege.
[53:02] To the Chairman's point.
[53:04] The First Amendment.
[53:05] Is sacred. I mean that does it protects.
[53:07] That us from the government overreach allows us to speak.
[53:11] But it doesn't mean that government is not a permitted to say.
[53:14] Some rules when they're conducting business on behalf of everybody here.
[53:19] So yeah, you have a first minute, right? Absolutely.
[53:21] But you got to also.
[53:23] Have some exercise, a little decorum.
[53:25] And follow the rules set here because.
[53:27] What these good folks right here are doing today.
[53:29] Isn't in the interest of.
[53:31] Stunning interest of Dockside L.
[53:33] Or tell me a better.
[53:35] It's in the interest of everybody sitting.
[53:37] So yeah, you got a First Amendment.
[53:38] But do his point.
[53:40] As chairman.
[53:41] We follow a set of rules.
[53:43] That keeps things orderly, so.
[53:45] I don't believe for a second you're right to be violated.
[53:49] Is it my turn? Absolutely. OK, thank you. Let's talk about.
[53:53] Your oath, it's too.
[53:55] The Constitution.
[53:56] The laws that we talk about, everything else.
[54:00] Is not the law.
[54:01] That includes statutes.
[54:03] Now this is made very clear in the Constitution.
[54:06] Of New Mexico and I will read this to you again.
[54:10] The right of self governance.
[54:12] The people of the state have the soul and exclusive right to govern themselves as free.
[54:19] Sovereign.
[54:20] And independent state.
[54:23] Now what don't you understand about that?
[54:26] In context with that you just pulled.
[54:29] All of us.
[54:30] Thank you. Thank you, Doctor Seidel. Yeah, yeah, of course. You have a good day, Sir.
[54:35] You're a tyrant.
[54:37] Thank you.
[54:40] Yes, ma'am.
[54:46] Eckert.
[54:47] OK. So my questions about how advanced are the cameras, I know they're just looking at the license plates.
[54:54] But you know how, like, hackers can get into our computers and spy on us through our this or that? You know, certain people have
[54:58] like, better technology.
[55:02] Skills than we do.
[55:04] Can this technology be utilized to like look in the car or look at other places and you, you know, like how advanced are the
[55:09] order?
[55:15] How advanced are the cameras? And then like, say, if you have a contract with these people?
[55:21] What if there's upgrades like in the future, like say we agree to this now for just the license plate in the future we have this
[55:27] contract and it's like now expanding it to here or expanding it into the windows or to look.
[55:33] Other different ways, like how advanced are the cameras basically is what and what they're looking at.
[55:38] And can they be hacked by hackers and other people with better skills? China, people with nefarious ideas like, you know, just.
[55:46] Your own agents that want to do bad stuff or stalk or do things like that? Like can they be utilized for other purposes, not just
[55:50] looking straight?
[55:56] That's part of the question I have. That's why I haven't pulled the trigger on any of this. That's why I backed away from Flock is
[56:00] because I don't know.
[56:03] I mean I.
[56:04] Here's what I can equate it to.
[56:06] The body Cam system that we use.
[56:08] All right that we just purchased and have been you even the system we had before that it stores when I walk into efforts for
[56:13] living room because her gate got hit.
[56:18] And you and I are talking. Everything you tell me is on.
[56:21] Look up camera right?
[56:22] That includes your date of birth.
[56:24] Your Social Security all of the required fields necessary.
[56:27] For your insurance company to recognize you need.
[56:31] Right, all that stuff is stored on that.
[56:33] And then the deputies bring their camera and they dock it.
[56:36] And it is sent into a storage system that's hackable by all means. I I mean I think you can.
[56:41] Put up firewalls all day long but I I'm not the guy that would want to try to do it. I don't know anything about it but.
[56:47] I get what you're saying, so that's another question I have, but I don't think it's any different than that.
[56:51] I'm actually going into your living room when you call for service and getting your personal information. We're taking images of
[56:55] the kiddos.
[56:58] Sitting in your living room.
[56:59] And that is?
[57:01] That's a law.
[57:02] We don't have a choice, but do that the law you.
[57:06] Enacted the law that says we will do.
[57:09] What we do is we we have redaction software.
[57:13] So that none of that information is.
[57:15] Being disseminated to those who have nefarious intention.
[57:19] Your date of birth, your Social Security number, the image of your 13 year old son sitting on the couch while you're.
[57:25] Telling me that your gig got hit last night.
[57:27] We have redactions, we have the ability to redact that.
[57:29] If we can't redact that.
[57:32] Then there's an exemption under IPPRA that says we don't have to release it at all.
[57:36] So what we intend to do, and I intend.
[57:38] If we do this and I'm comfortable with it.
[57:42] Is set the very same?
[57:43] Limits and parameters. There's a potential for abuse in just about anything.
[57:47] I mean the common things we issue everyone of our deputies.
[57:51] 3 firearms.
[57:52] We all know there's an abuse.
[57:54] Element. It could be its potential there, we all understand that.
[57:59] I don't think this is any any different.
[58:01] Anybody caught?
[58:02] In my office doing something.
[58:04] That is not in the best interest of this entire county or.
[58:07] Personal reasons.
[58:08] Is going to face me.
[58:10] Period. I've proven that.
[58:13] Over 5 1/2 years, don't think for a second because you stand behind a badge.
[58:17] I'm going to let you get away from stuff.
[58:19] Nobody hates a bad cop worse than a good one.
[58:22] So to answer your question, yes, I assume it's potentially high.
[58:26] Hackable, but the Axon system that we've got.
[58:31] We retain all the information. Nothing is disseminated anywhere else. Nothing goes anywhere else unless.
[58:37] I say it goes there.
[58:39] And so that's another question I have is just how vulnerable is it?
[58:42] That's why I haven't pulled the trigger on it.
[58:45] Trust me when I tell you this and I think everybody says, oh.
[58:48] When the government says trust them.
[58:49] No, but I'm telling you right now.
[58:51] You can trust me to know that I'm not.
[58:53] Going to let you be victimized.
[58:55] Not by the government.
[58:57] Or not by anyone else that's it's not going to happen.
[59:00] I appreciate your openness and listening and I do really appreciate everything you've been doing for a sheriff. My other question
[59:05] like which I haven't looked into.
[59:09] Like the companies?
[59:12] Backgrounds like who they own, are they any parts like, you know, owned or.
[59:16] You know, funded by like foreign governments coming, you know, money into the.
[59:21] This one.
[59:22] No, and we there was a.
[59:25] I forget now, there was a software company that was helpful that wouldn't.
[59:29] We I get calls from vendors all the time.
[59:32] Well, you know, here's the latest grades.
[59:34] And I can't remember who it was we were talking to said that for staff specific reason, there is absolutely no way that they would
[59:38] ever.
[59:43] Joined forces with Flock.
[59:45] Parabolic, apparently.
[59:47] Clock has here you go. If I capture the data, anybody can get to it.
[59:52] I'm not sure that's where a slope we want to slide down.
[59:56] So.
[1:00:00] That being said, any any other questions, I'm glad to entertain them.
[1:00:04] Mr. Vandenberg.
[1:00:06] Ain't no way I'll ever be as articulate as this man David Vandenberg.
[1:00:11] God bless you brother, I respect everything that you do.
[1:00:15] Let's step back to the episode that we're all aware of.
[1:00:19] Our Constitution.
[1:00:21] Is for us.
[1:00:22] We're the ones that get to decide when government is no longer.
[1:00:27] Abiding by.
[1:00:28] The rights of what the people should be doing.
[1:00:31] Back in 2020 COVID.
[1:00:35] You had a meeting out here in this community.
[1:00:37] Where we all stood together and you told everyone.
[1:00:41] That you are not going to be that person who is going to let any outside entity come into this community.
[1:00:47] And dictate. So my concerns have always been.
[1:00:51] The overreach.
[1:00:52] The fact that there are government and.
[1:00:54] Players, uh.
[1:00:55] That are taking whatever advantages.
[1:00:57] They can.
[1:00:58] We know that COVID.
[1:01:00] Was.
[1:01:01] Concocted.
[1:01:02] We know that there were things that were done that should not have been done.
[1:01:06] That put us all on.
[1:01:08] In harm's way?
[1:01:09] And as a free citizen who understands that my government is now taking steps to infringe upon.
[1:01:16] What I know they have to stop doing and when we get to say.
[1:01:20] Stop.
[1:01:21] Enough is enough.
[1:01:22] I want us all to be able to look at the things that are taking place and recognize we have got to stand together because what
[1:01:27] we're seeing happen is a divisional tactic.
[1:01:32] It is a.
[1:01:33] We are losing the battle because we're we have stood by and let it grow.
[1:01:38] Exponentially, uh.
[1:01:39] And we have not stood together to stop it.
[1:01:42] And if we're not going to do those things?
[1:01:45] As the Constitution says.
[1:01:48] I at any point in time.
[1:01:50] Have that right to say.
[1:01:51] No. And any of the laws that we say that have been in place, again, the laws are.
[1:01:58] What we?
[1:01:59] Agreed upon.
[1:02:00] And that if there's something that goes beyond and it's not doing like it should be for the well-being, safety and positivity for
[1:02:04] what we all should expect.
[1:02:09] We have to agree. We stop and revamp.
[1:02:12] Take another look and ensure that those constitutional rights that we have are not being infringed upon.
[1:02:18] And what we're seeing that are taking place is these are always going to be steps.
[1:02:22] That a government where these entities will take.
[1:02:26] To benefit themselves and they keep making improvements.
[1:02:30] For what they say they have control over.
[1:02:32] When that's not right, it's us. We're the ones and I'm with you and want to make sure that we stand together to prevent any of
[1:02:37] these other entities wanting to try to use something.
[1:02:42] Against us, it should never have been like that, but that's where we stand today.
[1:02:46] Again, God bless you for what you're doing.
[1:02:50] So if there's nobody else, then we'll we'll ask.
[1:02:53] One more.
[1:02:55] Please come on up man.
[1:02:56] State your name. Thank you. My name is Valerie Espinosa.
[1:03:01] I have a few questions. Umm.
[1:03:04] When talking about the security and the knowledge of these cameras, you, you said you really didn't know, you didn't understand.
[1:03:11] You talked about keeping us safe and that you.
[1:03:14] Bring anything to us that is the industry you don't know anything about.
[1:03:21] What is controlling them? Who can access them?
[1:03:23] There's a question, that's why I haven't implemented it.
[1:03:26] That's why we're not doing to know why.
[1:03:28] It's even considered if you haven't really looked into it because it is a super beneficial tool. I mean, this thing works. We
[1:03:33] have, we serve a triple homicide based on these things.
[1:03:40] But again.
[1:03:40] Is it constitutional? I have not pulled the trigger. We are not using this.
[1:03:45] But don't think for a minute that I'm going to close my mind to it and say Nope.
[1:03:49] Oh no, no, I'm not finished, not by a long shot. I want a little bit more information.
[1:03:58] How are these cameras constitutional and if you use them, do they affect any of our water supply? That's just a.
[1:04:07] Worried that we all have.
[1:04:10] And what is this costing us as tax taxpayers?
[1:04:14] And if these block.
[1:04:16] Cameras are implemented. Do you all and your officers get a pay decrease? Now say that you got to start from the beginning. You
[1:04:20] got four or five questions there. Let's get #1.
[1:04:25] How are they constitutional?
[1:04:28] You get onto a roadway, these things are not looking at your face.
[1:04:32] All right. I will not do facial recognition. I will not have anything looking at your face.
[1:04:37] Right. These things are simply a license. But let me answer your question. You asked it, so I'm gonna take my time.
[1:04:42] The minute you get on a roadway.
[1:04:44] And you share that roadway.
[1:04:45] With other people.
[1:04:47] Everything around that vehicle.
[1:04:49] Is absolute fair game.
[1:04:51] And everything in there. No, no, that's different. That is an extension your home. I'm not talking about the interior. Let's be
[1:04:57] specific. You asked a question. Let me answer that question.
[1:05:03] The minute you get in that vehicle and drive down the street.
[1:05:06] That license plate is visible to anybody.
[1:05:10] Everybody tracking me.
[1:05:12] There is no tracking.
[1:05:13] I don't see that. So I'm glad you asked that question because nobody's tracking. Let let's let the sheriff nobody's tracking and
[1:05:18] then you can ask another nobody's tracking anything. I think you've come in here today.
[1:05:23] And I think other people out there have come in with this preconceived notion that this is how it is, but you don't want to listen
[1:05:26] to the fact.
[1:05:29] This system is not tracking nobody.
[1:05:33] Why?
[1:05:34] Why would I track it?
[1:05:36] If you are not a murderer.
[1:05:38] Why am I going to track it?
[1:05:39] What is the system called?
[1:05:42] So we could study it. Because you do. Please do. Please get your facts, because here's one thing I've learned over years.
[1:05:48] Is if you're going to take a stand and you're going to come out.
[1:05:50] And I mean brilliantly about things. Always make sure you check your facts because you kind of lose credibility when you don't so.
[1:05:58] So make sure you get your back 'cause I'm working on it on my end you do the same question #2.
[1:06:04] Do these cameras use any of our?
[1:06:07] No.
[1:06:10] If these cameras are implemented.
[1:06:13] Do your deputies, any of the officers yourself, any of you get a paid deduction? Absolutely not.
[1:06:18] Why wouldn't you if they're doing your work a played pay deduction?
[1:06:23] What is the process?
[1:06:26] Nothing. These cost you nothing.
[1:06:29] These came as part of a package.
[1:06:31] Of the body cams, I thought it was well, state law says we will wear a lapel Cam.
[1:06:36] In the story.
[1:06:37] Period. So what I wanted to do is enhance that.
[1:06:40] And I've done that.
[1:06:42] And this Commission given me the funding to not only do the lapel cams, which is statutory required, but we're also doing dash
[1:06:45] cams.
[1:06:50] That dash Cam is going to be on most of the time, or triggered by three specific events.
[1:06:54] Turn the red lights on, it comes on. We get in the front end, crash, it comes on. A certain speed is met, it comes on.
[1:07:00] And prisoner cans.
[1:07:02] Cameras that point and face and record what's going on in the backseat of a police car whenever prison.
[1:07:06] So I've enhanced that.
[1:07:09] And made it even more than what the state statute is said to do.
[1:07:13] All right, but.
[1:07:14] System with the help.
[1:07:16] Last Readers. Readers.
[1:07:17] Was not something we had to pay a cent.
[1:07:20] It came with the package.
[1:07:21] That means I can decide.
[1:07:24] Axon, sure. Could you just tell them how much this package cost? I think what was the final number?
[1:07:32] Is it $168,000 a year for a five year?
[1:07:37] Then you're in yours.
[1:07:40] It was packaged. We don't. We're not paying for the LPR.
[1:07:43] Feature alone.
[1:07:44] How does these cameras assist you all?
[1:07:47] OK, so envision this.
[1:07:50] So envision this and I'll give you a hypothetical.
[1:07:52] Is Miss Espinosa correct?
[1:07:54] Right. You're a sheriff's deputy.
[1:07:56] You're driving down the road. The car in front of you, the license plate reader, is looking at that.
[1:08:00] You don't know that the person sitting in that.
[1:08:03] Has just killed somebody in another county and they're driving through.
[1:08:06] The person who has done that knows it.
[1:08:08] And all they know is now I got a cop behind me.
[1:08:12] All right, so.
[1:08:13] Their expectation.
[1:08:15] Of apprehension or.
[1:08:17] Being killed or whatever, it immediately comes up.
[1:08:20] That sends an alert to the sheriff's deputy, who's looking at it right there.
[1:08:24] It says handle this one with caution. Be careful.
[1:08:26] Don't just walk up there.
[1:08:28] Because these people will shoot you in the face.
[1:08:31] We have triple homicide and Bent.
[1:08:33] As part of the Major Crimes Unit.
[1:08:35] The suspect to kill these three people traveled all the way across this country, ended up on the East Coast.
[1:08:41] We use those cameras to say it's just in such a.
[1:08:44] Time that vehicle the vehicle.
[1:08:46] Not the driver.
[1:08:48] Went through and passed the camera in Texas.
[1:08:51] Louisiana, we tracked that person's movements by those, so it's extremely useful tool.
[1:08:55] I mean, when you're in the business of taking bad guys off the street, this is.
[1:08:59] The bomb right here.
[1:09:01] Because most everybody flees in a motor eagle.
[1:09:04] So she meant.
[1:09:05] Tremendous help to us.
[1:09:07] Next question.
[1:09:08] What helps us when the bad guy is the one that has the act?
[1:09:12] This too.
[1:09:13] Now say that one more time.
[1:09:15] Who and what protects us?
[1:09:17] When the bad guy is the one with the access to our license division there again.
[1:09:23] That is going to come down to your to me.
[1:09:27] None of this information is going anywhere.
[1:09:30] And if I can't be satisfied with that, then I'm not going to do it.
[1:09:33] You can't see that? Not yet. No, that's correct.
[1:09:37] And that's why I have not initiated this program.
[1:09:47] Good morning.
[1:09:55] My name is Deena Turner. I'm not here representing my organization. This is just something.
[1:09:59] I wanted to say.
[1:10:02] So, Sheriff, you have repeatedly explained the ways that you would not use this technology, and I appreciate these assurances.
[1:10:09] But I don't think public policy should depend on the assurances of any individual elected official.
[1:10:15] You will not always be sheriff.
[1:10:17] He's commissioner will not always sit up here.
[1:10:20] Technology will change in the capabilities of these systems will change as well.
[1:10:24] What remains is the infrastructure.
[1:10:26] My concern is it's simply that the camera can read a license plate.
[1:10:29] My concern is what happens to that information afterward? How long is it retained? These are not questions you need to answer. Who
[1:10:33] can search for it?
[1:10:36] For what purpose?
[1:10:37] Can someone's movements be searched historically?
[1:10:40] Can the information be shared with other agencies?
[1:10:43] What safeguards prevent the technology from being used in ways the current sheriff says he has no intention of using it?
[1:10:50] If it is the sheriff's position that these cameras will not be used for certain purposes.
[1:10:55] That needs to be put into policy.
[1:10:58] Yeah, in fact, doing a policy would.
[1:11:00] Protect him, the deputies, the county, the public, everybody by establishing rules before any kind of controversy occurs.
[1:11:07] We shouldn't write a policy based on what we believe today's officials will do. We should write it based on what we would be
[1:11:11] comfortable allowing in the future.
[1:11:15] Future share of future administration.
[1:11:17] Or any other outside agency with access to it.
[1:11:21] These cameras may be a valuable law enforcement tool, but powerful tools deserve equally strong safeguards.
[1:11:27] I'm asking the Commission to make sure those safeguards are adopted in writing.
[1:11:31] Before Lincoln County begins collecting this data.
[1:11:34] Thank you. Well, and I appreciate that. I'll respond to it. That's exactly. I couldn't have said it any better.
[1:11:39] That's why I'm struggling with.
[1:11:41] That's exactly why. Because you're right, in 2 1/2 years I won't be your chief.
[1:11:46] I got to make sure that I'm leaving something that I am.
[1:11:49] I'm comfortable with leaving my kids with my grandparents, my folks. I you're absolutely right.
[1:11:54] That's why I haven't done it yet.
[1:11:56] And that's why I wanted it on today's agenda.
[1:11:59] Again, social media, I'm not responding to none of that.
[1:12:02] When you come here, you speak to everybody and that's why I appreciate that and you just illustrated my point.
[1:12:08] That's why I have not pulled the trigger on you.
[1:12:10] That's why I have not done it. I got questions.
[1:12:13] I don't have one. I have a crystal ball.
[1:12:15] Commissioner Fisher doesn't have the answers. You don't have the answers. You don't have the answers.
[1:12:19] Somebody's got to and if I can't find the answers, this.
[1:12:22] Satisfy me and making sure that I am protecting you.
[1:12:26] Constitutionally and and making sure that you.
[1:12:29] You're right to not be invited, I'm just not going to use it.
[1:12:32] In the story, I don't have to.
[1:12:33] I have the luxury of that. I also have the luxury of this. It doesn't make any difference what the governor, the president,
[1:12:38] legislators, anybody in the world says when it comes down to it.
[1:12:43] I will put myself directly between you and anybody.
[1:12:47] Who or any entity that sets out the harm or infringe? End of story.
[1:12:51] And people aren't getting in this country behind.
[1:12:54] County Sheriff, you better understand.
[1:12:56] If you do away with your County Sheriff.
[1:12:59] And you don't have a good one.
[1:13:00] You are screwed.
[1:13:02] Period. You had better never.
[1:13:06] That institution go.
[1:13:07] To the wayside.
[1:13:08] That is your only voice.
[1:13:10] I am the the sheriff is actually.
[1:13:13] The highest ranking elected official within his or her respective county.
[1:13:18] Nothing goes anywhere.
[1:13:19] Nothing happens in this county.
[1:13:22] On a federal or state level, that one the sheriff doesn't know about.
[1:13:25] #2 the sheriff better.
[1:13:27] Find it constitutional or not, or it's not going to happen, I thought.
[1:13:31] I've already done all that stuff.
[1:13:32] I've stood up against the governor. No, you're not doing this.
[1:13:35] It's not going to happen. I had to stand up against the federal government.
[1:13:37] No, you're not gonna do this.
[1:13:40] Which you better understand. You better get behind your County Sheriff.
[1:13:44] They don't work for anybody else. This Commission has absolutely zero authority.
[1:13:48] To reprimand me. They have zero authority to dismiss me.
[1:13:53] They have zero authority to repro.
[1:13:56] Direct.
[1:13:58] Now you may OfferUp operational suggestions.
[1:14:02] Criticism etc etc etc. But.
[1:14:04] The sheriff answers to nobody.
[1:14:06] The sheriff answers to everybody.
[1:14:09] OK.
[1:14:10] You don't answer to 1 or a group.
[1:14:12] Like your local police chiefs or even the US Marshals? Their point?
[1:14:15] By a body of individuals.
[1:14:18] Your sheriff is elected by you.
[1:14:20] And what an absolute honor.
[1:14:24] I don't understand any sheriff who would not take it serious.
[1:14:28] The people in a larger.
[1:14:29] Municipality or county?
[1:14:31] Have said.
[1:14:32] We trust you.
[1:14:34] Take care of us, keep us safe and keep us free.
[1:14:37] I lose sleep overnight. I had a good night's sleep. In 5 1/2 years it all stops.
[1:14:41] When you get right there, I can't sue anybody.
[1:14:44] I can't levy a complaint against anybody and.
[1:14:48] Hope that it goes anywhere on the IT.
[1:14:49] On the top of the freaking food chain, man. And why I get $83,000 a year.
[1:14:55] Maybe you don't understand this too.
[1:14:57] You asked about compensation and paying all that stuff.
[1:14:59] Here's what the County Sheriff.
[1:15:01] $83,000 a year.
[1:15:03] That's it. I get no overtime.
[1:15:05] I get no vacation time.
[1:15:07] No sick leave, I don't get holiday pay.
[1:15:09] I don't get clothing allowance.
[1:15:12] I get a salary.
[1:15:13] That's it.
[1:15:14] To put in over 100 something hours, I guarantee you every two weeks. You trust me. Don't think for a second it don't.
[1:15:20] That's what I get so.
[1:15:23] I don't understand if there's a sheriff out there that wouldn't take this seriously.
[1:15:27] And be able to stand in front of a body of people and take responsibility for his or her actions.
[1:15:32] All along.
[1:15:34] Relaying to this body of individuals that you can honestly trust me.
[1:15:39] I know, I get it.
[1:15:42] 58 years old.
[1:15:44] There have been.
[1:15:45] Politicians and elected officials you couldn't trust.
[1:15:49] I'm telling you.
[1:15:49] You can trust me.
[1:15:51] I think you know that.
[1:15:53] Anyone else?
[1:15:57] I just have one more, one more come on up, man. And and we we need to close on this one unless there's.
[1:16:03] Kenya Eckert So like, I was worried about, you know, the hacking.
[1:16:07] Portion of it and stuff. So like, you know, this is just the Internet. She's just as like a quick like search about like Axon and
[1:16:10] stuff. But it definitely says that.
[1:16:15] Their hardware components.
[1:16:17] Rely from an international supply chain.
[1:16:20] Engineering elements and hardware components technology from Israel.
[1:16:24] And they're domestic. And so like there's already that connection. And then it has, like it says, China.
[1:16:31] They don't use it because it's an unreliable entity list, so they obviously create their own to spy on their people. So like they
[1:16:36] we may want to just kind of look into like what exactly?
[1:16:42] It may not be hackers, it may be actually from the company themselves that like maybe you guys aren't storing or saving that data
[1:16:46] or whatever, but it could be going back to a source.
[1:16:51] From where that?
[1:16:52] Technology comes from just as another like thing to think about.
[1:16:56] Absolutely. Thank you.
[1:16:59] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commission, thank you very much. I believe this was important.
[1:17:09] I don't know if.
[1:17:10] You can sit down, but we do have something else I want to give the opportunity for the Commission.
[1:17:15] To comment or ask a question, by all means.
[1:17:20] Is there any commissioners that would like to make a comment?
[1:17:23] I think from.
[1:17:24] Just what? What?
[1:17:26] Does it step on your right to?
[1:17:29] Fisher accuser.
[1:17:31] Now I'm sorry again, Mr. Commissioner, say, you know, one of our rights is to to.
[1:17:35] If we do something wrong or anything like that is to face your accuser.
[1:17:40] You know where does that?
[1:17:41] Get trumped at with the.
[1:17:44] With the videos with the.
[1:17:46] Readers and all that stuff.
[1:17:49] Again, it's it's it's.
[1:17:51] The system we've.
[1:17:52] Got and may implement, may not, I don't know yet. Is strictly for the license plate.
[1:17:58] And the vehicle maybe have a bumper sticker or there's a bullet hole in the side or whatever.
[1:18:02] It looks at the car.
[1:18:04] It's an investigative tool.
[1:18:06] Just like a.
[1:18:07] Oh, there's some software that we use one of us called TLO and it's.
[1:18:10] It's an investigative tool. It's not admissible in court.
[1:18:14] But it gives you a step to.
[1:18:16] Follow or gives you a jump off point.
[1:18:19] To follow and build the case and gather the evidence necessary to go trial.
[1:18:23] And so this isn't.
[1:18:25] Because that plates not going to tell me the manager Burns is driving the car.
[1:18:28] It's not going to do that.
[1:18:30] It's going to say this car and this plate was involved in something.
[1:18:34] And law enforcement put in place by the people.
[1:18:37] Doc put in place by the people as a nation of laws.
[1:18:41] Entered that because they want to talk to this guy.
[1:18:45] So it doesn't have anything to.
[1:18:47] It's a. It's a tool. It's a jump off point. It's a.
[1:18:50] Because until we light the candles on that car and get them pulled over on Side Rd.
[1:18:53] We don't know who's in it.
[1:18:55] We'll never know that.
[1:18:57] These things don't capture images of the interior. They don't capture images of face or a driver.
[1:19:02] They don't even capture the color of the seat belt, it just looks at the plate.
[1:19:06] In the car so.
[1:19:08] That really the facing your accuser doesn't really play in on on this.
[1:19:13] Incident until we were able to use this as an investigative tool and determine, yes, manager Burns was involved in a bad, bad
[1:19:17] crime he gets to go with a.
[1:19:21] And then we build the case.
[1:19:23] And someone who was victimized by, you know, now gets the face.
[1:19:27] Now he gets to face his accuser.
[1:19:29] Does that make sense?
[1:19:31] There really isn't.
[1:19:33] An element in existence that has anything to do with facing your accusers.
[1:19:38] Is this the tool Mrs. You better watch.
[1:19:40] This vehicle has been injured. There's a problem here.
[1:19:44] But again, we're not going to use this if we do.
[1:19:48] Manager Burns calls me and his cat got out. I mean, I, there's, I think we're not going to use it for those things. This is for
[1:19:51] those kind of things that we're going to get somebody off the street.
[1:19:55] Now.
[1:19:56] This person has killed somebody or is about to that's we're not going to be using it for.
[1:20:01] Petty misdemeanors and those kinds of things.
[1:20:04] I hope I answered your question, because it really isn't one other than to say that.
[1:20:07] There is no element of paging your accusers.
[1:20:10] Well, I mean, if you're if you're accused of a crime, right, so.
[1:20:14] That's the part I was getting at.
[1:20:16] Well, in our instance I can only speak to us.
[1:20:19] If I implement this system and it's on the police car.
[1:20:21] Before any of my deputy sheriff's, any of them.
[1:20:24] Anybody working for the shirt?
[1:20:25] In this county.
[1:20:27] Enters Tamiya Eckert's license plate into the system. Maybe you better come to me with a good reason for it.
[1:20:32] Don't come to me because, well, I've been seeing her going up and down Main Street several times. Don't come to me with that kind
[1:20:35] of garbage.
[1:20:38] You need to come to me to say her vehicle that she's driving or the vehicle that has this plate on is involved in a crime.
[1:20:45] And we need either sought and obtained search warrants, arrest warrants.
[1:20:49] Well, there's a reason why we need to pull this vehicle.
[1:20:54] OK, so the plate will not read it until they've received permission from you? No, no, it will not be entered in as a targeted
[1:20:59] plate until I give the permission to do so.
[1:21:05] These things aren't scanning everybody's plates and coming up with some reason to get it pulled over and guns pointed at you.
[1:21:09] That's not happening.
[1:21:14] Before Commissioner Cerner's license plate, you ever going to see the red lights come on behind you?
[1:21:18] If it has to do with your license plate in this particular on this particular topic.
[1:21:23] It has to have been entered by a law enforcement agency.
[1:21:27] And there has to be justification for that.
[1:21:30] Because entering that license plate or bumper stickers that you may have on the outside of that vehicle.
[1:21:34] Depending upon the narrative that is entered in there by the law enforcement agency seeking this vehicle.
[1:21:39] Depending on what that reason is, could result in you being prone out on the asphalt with guns pointed at you.
[1:21:46] We're not picking that lightly.
[1:21:49] We're not about to let somebody say, well, she ****** me off.
[1:21:52] Here's her plate. Put it in there. We'll get her pulled over for some. No, we're not doing that.
[1:21:57] And if that's going on anywhere else in this country, that's shame.
[1:22:01] That is ********.
[1:22:02] Don't be doing it. It's not happening here.
[1:22:05] So it's not just going to it has to have a bona fide reason.
[1:22:10] To flag your plate.
[1:22:13] So you keep referring law enforcement, you know it's been entered into a law enforcement database.
[1:22:20] OK. So you're not being specific to Lincoln County?
[1:22:24] Our plates that are read by this automatic license plate reader.
[1:22:28] Will be accessible to other law enforcement well upon request.
[1:22:33] And you'll see the contract that we have with Axon is that I nothing goes nowhere that I don't approve.
[1:22:39] So if Otero County calls me and says hey.
[1:22:41] And this is one of the reasons I don't have the stationary roadside cameras, because I don't really need them.
[1:22:45] You're not going to come into Lincoln County or leave Lincoln County right now.
[1:22:48] And not go past one unless you're.
[1:22:50] A dirt Rd. It cuts through, you know, cow trail.
[1:22:53] Every county surrounding Lincoln.
[1:22:55] So that's one of the reasons I did. Why am I going to spend $18,000 on something when I don't need it, right?
[1:23:02] Specific to this county.
[1:23:04] Rephrase or repeat the last part of your question, Commissioner.
[1:23:08] The database it stays in house.
[1:23:11] With this office, my agency.
[1:23:13] He goes nowhere else.
[1:23:14] If you if Otero County calls and says we just had an armed robbery at the Circle K.
[1:23:18] And we put this license where we would like to put this license plate in there.
[1:23:22] They get one, have the ability to do it themselves.
[1:23:26] And we think it's headed into your county, then we might consult it, but we will really have to even do that because it'll flag
[1:23:29] automatically and send off sirens.
[1:23:33] It says that plate that they want tonight. Ron robbery just came through US. 54 and 3.
[1:23:39] OK, so maybe I'm not understanding the.
[1:23:42] Software when a deputies unit pulls up behind a vehicle.
[1:23:47] Their license plate is read and stored and retained for how long?
[1:23:50] That's going to be the parameter that we get to set.
[1:23:53] And I intend to do, and I think I may have touched on this a moment ago with the lapel cameras, Here's how we do the lapel camera
[1:23:56] video.
[1:23:59] We can generate hours and hours.
[1:24:03] Of lapel video during one shift.
[1:24:06] One day shift.
[1:24:07] Right with 3/4 deputies on the road.
[1:24:09] That's a lot of storage. If we don't, it's never going to. Nothing is, ever.
[1:24:13] Come of it. So what we do, we set the parameter.
[1:24:16] Of after 120 days all of that data goes away.
[1:24:19] It is deleted and is not retrievable.
[1:24:22] All right, because if I don't.
[1:24:24] And we run into this several years ago with the.
[1:24:27] Watch guard system that we had.
[1:24:28] We didn't know it but they were charging us for every moment to store. We got to build the end of the year for like 30 something
[1:24:31] 1000 bucks.
[1:24:34] So we they didn't explain to us that we can set the parameters.
[1:24:38] I set it at 120 days.
[1:24:40] At 120 days.
[1:24:42] If it's.
[1:24:43] Tammy's license plate and she's not flagged as neat as being wanted from somewhere. He goes away, it just deleted and it's not
[1:24:46] retrievable.
[1:24:49] I do that for two reasons. One.
[1:24:51] By that amount of time, we should know.
[1:24:53] If there's any chance we would ever need to use that information in a court of law to prosecute and bring justice to a victim.
[1:24:59] #2.
[1:25:00] It satisfies the torque.
[1:25:01] Claim notice timeline in the state of New Mexico I believe is 90 days.
[1:25:05] Right, if you're going to sue me or my agents.
[1:25:08] For something you got 90 days to notify us, you're going to do that if you don't.
[1:25:11] You don't get to sue.
[1:25:12] So I want that footage retain.
[1:25:14] After 120 days it.
[1:25:17] Self purges goes away and it is unfortunately lost. RIP.
[1:25:22] That's the same. That's the way we're going to set up these Axon cameras.
[1:25:26] What's the point of?
[1:25:27] I don't understand the point.
[1:25:29] Of saving anytime beyond that.
[1:25:31] I don't understand saving it. If they're innocent and haven't been connected with a crime, why would you even save it?
[1:25:37] 24 the system.
[1:25:40] That's the system. We don't know that something hasn't happened in another state.
[1:25:44] So far they don't have that plate enough. I mean, it's just a tool.
[1:25:48] But I'm not going to go for this and limited lifetime storage of this information one I can't afford it too.
[1:25:53] I don't understand why you'd want to do that.
[1:25:56] You have to understand the nuances of law enforcement and building a case.
[1:25:59] In a day where our hands are absolutely tight.
[1:26:02] People are walking Scott free.
[1:26:04] And I will speak to the state of New Mexico.
[1:26:06] Specifically in this state.
[1:26:08] Because we are allowing it.
[1:26:10] Every single one of us are.
[1:26:12] Why would I not take an opportunity to make sure somebody gets a little closure and I one of the biggest responsibilities we have
[1:26:16] is becoming the voice of someone who has lost theirs.
[1:26:21] This is just another tool.
[1:26:23] But again, I gotta wait.
[1:26:25] Legal. Constitutional.
[1:26:27] Benefit. Umm.
[1:26:28] This disadvantage, I got to weigh all these things.
[1:26:30] Don't think I'm taking it lightly.
[1:26:33] I don't have the answer to everybody's questions.
[1:26:35] That's why I haven't pulled the trigger on this. We're going to find out until I'm comfortable with it.
[1:26:40] And you are comfortable with it and know that you can trust me.
[1:26:43] Then we're not going to do it.
[1:26:45] Do you have anything else?
[1:26:47] Have you looked at the security of our network where this data will be stored?
[1:26:51] You know, there again, that's a great point.
[1:26:53] That's a great point because right now.
[1:26:56] We are limited to what?
[1:26:59] Is available to us in terms of software, you know.
[1:27:02] Our RMS.
[1:27:03] I know this. My predecessor, Sheriff Shepherd, was.
[1:27:06] Hesitant. He never wanted to.
[1:27:08] Set up a station with a computer at Copper Ridge or at the Hondo Valley Senior Center.
[1:27:14] Where the deputies could just go in there and sit down and do their reports and I'll have to drive all the way 100 miles to Cures.
[1:27:19] He was fearful of a breach in the firewall. He was fearful.
[1:27:22] That that records management system.
[1:27:24] Could be compromised and hacked.
[1:27:27] So all you can do is put in the best safeguard you can.
[1:27:30] These flock cameras and what these things are picking up in terms of threats.
[1:27:34] To you as an individual.
[1:27:36] It's negligible compared to the data that we're gathering from you. Anyways, by law, we have to.
[1:27:42] We have to.
[1:27:44] We have to gather your information.
[1:27:46] Your date of birth, your Social Security number, things that can be used to victimize you personally and drain your bank accounts.
[1:27:50] We're required to do that.
[1:27:53] Because we agreed that that's what was best.
[1:27:57] So the best we can do is just protect and put in the safeguards and the firewalls.
[1:28:01] But I got to tell you that.
[1:28:03] Your license plate, as it looks that everybody else in the world can see.
[1:28:08] In comparison to the information we must gather and store.
[1:28:11] Some of this information, your date of birth, you call me to your house and it's serious enough it's going to be there for.
[1:28:16] And what is it? Perpetuity.
[1:28:18] Yeah, it's just always going to be there.
[1:28:20] Can't get rid of it, so homicide investigation, Oh my God, never ever goes away.
[1:28:25] So the best we can do is bring to you.
[1:28:28] The best I can do is bring to you.
[1:28:30] The information.
[1:28:31] That I have, and I've asked you to do what your job is, which is to provide me everything I need to do my job.
[1:28:39] That's your job.
[1:28:42] And be critical of that.
[1:28:44] Ask the questions.
[1:28:46] And be critical of that, by all means. These people deserve it.
[1:28:50] I just have serious concern. I recently had a personal issue where I ippered the county.
[1:28:55] And I was going to provide a flash drive that is county property.
[1:29:00] To put the material on and the county told me no they couldn't because the safety concerns with the.
[1:29:07] Network and so I asked for the privacy policy for security reasons.
[1:29:12] That governs that and I've yet to receive a policy, so I'm a little concerned with this amount of data and the safety.
[1:29:19] Of our network and infrastructure being protected because.
[1:29:22] To my understanding.
[1:29:24] Policy. Umm.
[1:29:24] They're real. Trust me. We're not going to do any of this without a pause. There's but we have policy for everything in the world.
[1:29:29] We have policy for everything, which is a guideline, right? It's not cut in stone.
[1:29:34] But it's a it's a guideline for the deputies in the field on how to act, how to approach things.
[1:29:38] What you can and can't do, it's a guideline for that.
[1:29:40] But in terms of you bringing in a thumb drive and putting it in one of my computers, I'm going to allow that either. I don't know.
[1:29:43] You ain't doing that.
[1:29:47] I'm not going to have you put a bug in my.
[1:29:51] I'm just saying there's no policy not doing that.
[1:29:54] Well, you come. I'm hoping it didn't come from my office because I'll take care of that.
[1:29:59] But at the same time, if you want to bring your own hard drive in and download them from us, we're not doing that.
[1:30:04] Here's a new one with it.
[1:30:05] Here you go, I'll pay for it.
[1:30:06] Here's your brand spanking new one. I'm not compromising my system and your dates of birth and your Social Security numbers
[1:30:11] because somebody wants to bring in a hard drive. Yeah, that that that I think that was the answer to your query.
[1:30:17] Do you have anything else?
[1:30:19] Yeah, sure, I have a whole.
[1:30:22] Statement I'd like for the record because there is no policy.
[1:30:25] There will be.
[1:30:27] Right, it's implemented. It is not implemented.
[1:30:30] Please understand that we are not using license plate readers.
[1:30:33] We are not using flop cameras.
[1:30:35] I think we don't have, I think we can bring this up on another agenda and we can actually talk about the policy for for these
[1:30:40] readers. We're getting off top. It's going to go to here first.
[1:30:46] Right here.
[1:30:47] This is where it's going first.
[1:30:49] I don't care what Axon says. I don't care what Flock says. It's coming right here. First county and council.
[1:30:55] That's who's going to review. We can put that on the agenda.
[1:30:57] That's where my concern lies though, because we have approved stuff.
[1:31:01] Pending review by.
[1:31:03] Council and it never came back to an open session.
[1:31:06] I ain't doing it with this.
[1:31:08] That's not my operation. Please keep your remarks to questions.
[1:31:12] The editorial comments are subject to disagreement.
[1:31:15] And also.
[1:31:18] Other interpretations. We're going to keep this meeting.
[1:31:20] On topic, not personal.
[1:31:23] Do you have any other questions for the sheriff?
[1:31:29] How long is your statement?
[1:31:30] It shouldn't matter. If you'd like to limit my First Amendment right too, I guess I'd be glad to go ahead. Go ahead and.
[1:31:37] And give your statement.
[1:31:40] I would just like.
[1:31:42] The constituents that we serve in our local.
[1:31:45] Neighbors in our county to understand that I support giving our deputies the tools they need to keep themselves.
[1:31:52] And the public safe, but placing these automatic license plate readers.
[1:31:56] On every patrol vehicle crosses the line I'm not prepared to cross.
[1:32:00] These systems do not only scan.
[1:32:02] Vehicles. Umm.
[1:32:03] That are suspected of crimes.
[1:32:05] They collect locations and travel patterns of ordinary citizens.
[1:32:09] Who have done nothing wrong for 120 days.
[1:32:12] But assumably.
[1:32:13] If there's a policy that's put in place.
[1:32:16] That information.
[1:32:17] Can be searched and shared with outside agencies.
[1:32:20] Before we expand.
[1:32:22] Surveillance county wide. We need clear evidence that it's necessary and that there are strict limits on data retention.
[1:32:28] Independent oversight.
[1:32:30] Public transparency and protection against misuse.
[1:32:33] We need to understand what the liability is on the county because settlements.
[1:32:38] Come at the cost of taxpayer dollars.
[1:32:41] Public safety matters, but so does privacy.
[1:32:43] Due process and limited government.
[1:32:46] Technology should serve our citizens, not quietly track them.
[1:32:50] We need to use safeguards.
[1:32:51] That will be established and presented before.
[1:32:55] This is put into place.
[1:32:57] I cannot support.
[1:32:59] Automated. Umm.
[1:33:00] Made a license plate readers on every deputy vehicle without a sound policy to protect our citizens.
[1:33:08] Thank you.
[1:33:10] Commissioner Prather.
[1:33:16] Those are the iteration of what I said.
[1:33:17] So thank you.
[1:33:19] So I'll be very brief.
[1:33:23] The Constitution is sacrosanct.
[1:33:25] To all of us.
[1:33:28] If you notice.
[1:33:29] The sheriff indicated that all the counties around us have.
[1:33:33] This capability and are using it.
[1:33:35] I'm very concerned about that.
[1:33:37] Remember COVID?
[1:33:40] Remember all the restrictions we had?
[1:33:43] Wonder if this kind of system could be used.
[1:33:46] To control us even further.
[1:33:49] I would say that.
[1:33:50] I would say that it's quite possible and maybe even probable.
[1:33:56] The solution to this?
[1:33:58] Is is awareness?
[1:34:00] On our part.
[1:34:01] But it's also. I'll get back to.
[1:34:03] I believe.
[1:34:04] Voting for the right people. Educating yourself. Who's running?
[1:34:08] What they believe in.
[1:34:10] What's their past?
[1:34:11] And what what their performance?
[1:34:13] Has been as as you observe it.
[1:34:16] Vote for the right people.
[1:34:18] The state has been under.
[1:34:20] One party control.
[1:34:23] Well, I don't know. Forever.
[1:34:26] And those that are in there have not necessarily served.
[1:34:30] All of us.
[1:34:31] As well as we'd like.
[1:34:33] Now it's not just a party thing.
[1:34:36] But it could be.
[1:34:38] Think about making a change.
[1:34:40] That's my comment.
[1:34:41] We're going to take a recess for 5 minutes.
[1:34:44] Read stretch violets bio breaks I apologize in the long session so far we're.
[1:34:52] So the next.
[1:34:54] The next subject is going to be reports from external agencies, boards and committees.
[1:34:59] We'd like to start off with the Lincoln County Detention Center.
[1:35:04] Castleton, please.
[1:35:15] Good morning.
[1:35:16] Ross Castleton, Warden, Lincoln County Detention Center.
[1:35:22] So I have for you today.
[1:35:24] A quarterly report.
[1:35:31] Chairman. Fisher, Commissioners.
[1:35:33] Pleasure to.
[1:35:34] To present to you today.
[1:35:36] We've had an average bed count of 63 detainees.
[1:35:41] We average about 110.
[1:35:44] Intakes per month.
[1:35:46] And.
[1:35:48] One of the challenges that we face are is our staffing.
[1:35:52] We have seven officer vacancies.
[1:35:55] We have 3 supervisory vacancies.
[1:35:59] And.
[1:36:02] Our RISE programs.
[1:36:04] Fully staffed.
[1:36:06] Currently, our medical staffing is fully staffed.
[1:36:10] We've been recruiting by we have billboards.
[1:36:14] That we've purchased.
[1:36:17] We have radio ads. We have are indeed spots.
[1:36:20] And we advertise on our.
[1:36:22] On the county.
[1:36:24] Website as well.
[1:36:27] I've made two offers.
[1:36:29] For officers.
[1:36:32] Onboarding. Uh.
[1:36:33] And hopefully those.
[1:36:34] Come to fruition.
[1:36:36] Again.
[1:36:37] It's, you know, I, I do.
[1:36:39] Twice a week I do interviews and.
[1:36:42] Sometimes I have upwards of.
[1:36:44] 5.
[1:36:46] Candidates. Umm.
[1:36:47] If I get one to show up.
[1:36:49] I'm excited. Umm.
[1:36:50] Typically they're all no shows.
[1:36:52] But it's just kind of the way things are going right now.
[1:36:58] Since my last.
[1:36:59] Report we've.
[1:37:02] Take in Professional Solutions Group has taken the initiative to have outside agencies come in.
[1:37:09] And do some audits and reviews.
[1:37:12] I shared with you Overland Solutions.
[1:37:16] It's a survey, they come in and they look at overall risk.
[1:37:21] Of they look at our risk control.
[1:37:24] Facility conditions, electrical rooms, fire extinguishers, egress, all of those types of things they're associated with.
[1:37:32] Insurance.
[1:37:36] That report was very favorable.
[1:37:39] Which again I shared with you.
[1:37:42] We also contacted Grant County.
[1:37:46] And requested that they come and do a security audit for us.
[1:37:52] We thought that an outside.
[1:37:54] Third party agency would be a good way to do that.
[1:37:59] Grant County is very similar in.
[1:38:02] Their facility is very similar in size.
[1:38:07] Number of beds, staffing, et cetera.
[1:38:10] They came in and did.
[1:38:13] Warden at a solar.
[1:38:15] Came he's.
[1:38:16] He's actually on the New Mexico.
[1:38:19] Jail standards.
[1:38:20] Board and does the accreditation audits.
[1:38:25] So we thought he would be a good fit.
[1:38:28] They came and spent two days. This was just last week.
[1:38:31] And so we're waiting for the results of that audit.
[1:38:35] As soon as we get those results, I'll share that with you.
[1:38:38] They always do an out brief.
[1:38:40] When they leave.
[1:38:42] They had very positive things to say.
[1:38:45] We anticipate that.
[1:38:46] Being positive.
[1:38:48] We had some very good discussion about the challenges.
[1:38:53] That we face they have similar.
[1:38:57] Staffing issues.
[1:39:00] And have very difficult time hiring staff.
[1:39:04] Currently.
[1:39:06] We also had a.
[1:39:07] Pharmacy inspection, it seemed like.
[1:39:10] Came all at once.
[1:39:12] And so our pharmacy inspection.
[1:39:15] Turned out very well, only a couple of minor issues.
[1:39:19] One was the temperature reading.
[1:39:21] On a refrigerator and then in a medical.
[1:39:26] Medication storage.
[1:39:27] Area. So we're addressing that.
[1:39:31] And then we also had.
[1:39:33] The county had an OSHA.
[1:39:35] Audits and I think every building in the county was audited and.
[1:39:39] They came through.
[1:39:40] And audited Lincoln County Detention Center.
[1:39:43] And we had a minor.
[1:39:47] Item that we needed to address, and we're addressing that.
[1:39:52] Let's go in the last six weeks.
[1:39:57] We've completed.
[1:39:59] Targeted security improvements on our recreation cages.
[1:40:04] For 2/2 of the recreation cages, we.
[1:40:08] Beefed up the security in those areas.
[1:40:10] We've expanded for Echo Unit. We've expanded our camera coverage.
[1:40:17] And designated areas for that unit.
[1:40:21] There's more camera coverage coverage there for the officer to.
[1:40:24] Immediately be watching some areas.
[1:40:28] We started a comprehensive.
[1:40:30] Revision of our tool control program.
[1:40:33] Including our.
[1:40:35] Classification and storage of.
[1:40:37] Of certain tools and.
[1:40:39] Implemented stricter.
[1:40:41] Checkout procedures for those.
[1:40:45] And then we continue to use independent reviews to evaluate our operation.
[1:40:50] We're going to guide our.
[1:40:53] Improvements.
[1:40:54] The last time.
[1:40:56] That we've talked.
[1:40:59] There was a request that I present some numbers.
[1:41:02] Nationally. Uh.
[1:41:05] The worst statistics and so.
[1:41:07] I gathered from the Bureau of Justice.
[1:41:11] Statistics.
[1:41:13] Local gels.
[1:41:14] And this is these are national numbers.
[1:41:17] Have an average daily population of 664,800.
[1:41:22] Detainees, yeah.
[1:41:24] During the months ending in June.
[1:41:27] Of 2023.
[1:41:29] And when you look for.
[1:41:30] Statistics, I'm sure you all know.
[1:41:33] You have to go back a couple of years because.
[1:41:36] They're very slow in coming forward.
[1:41:38] The reason why is there's.
[1:41:40] Litigation and there's processes that have to take place so that those stats fall in the right numbers.
[1:41:46] And so.
[1:41:47] Really. I was surprised I was able to get numbers from 2023.
[1:41:53] FBI so in the last.
[1:41:55] In that last year.
[1:41:57] It's estimated that there were.
[1:42:00] 4296 Allegations of.
[1:42:03] Staff on detainee sexual.
[1:42:06] Misconduct or harassment.
[1:42:08] Approximately 143 of those were substantiated.
[1:42:12] After investigation and went to litigation.
[1:42:19] In that last year.
[1:42:20] Local jails reported 1200.
[1:42:23] Deaths in custody.
[1:42:26] Of all of those causes, 355.
[1:42:30] Deaths were classified as.
[1:42:32] Completed suicides.
[1:42:35] So and.
[1:42:37] The total employment.
[1:42:39] In local jails.
[1:42:42] I've got a bunch of numbers there, but essentially.
[1:42:45] Jails nationwide.
[1:42:47] Our short 72,700 officers.
[1:42:51] That's how many vacancies there are and.
[1:42:55] Nationwide so.
[1:42:56] Is really something that's.
[1:42:59] You know, we we're feeling the pain, but I think.
[1:43:01] They're filling the pain everywhere. This first staff shortages.
[1:43:05] And those types of things so.
[1:43:07] That's all the information that I had and I.
[1:43:10] Happy to answer any questions.
[1:43:12] Commissioners.
[1:43:17] I have a question. Yes, ma'am. The last time we had spoke about maybe increasing your technology capacity. Have you?
[1:43:24] Identified anything that would help your staff.
[1:43:28] Utilizing technology in the jail.
[1:43:31] Yes, it was. It was mentioned possibly looking at.
[1:43:35] To view cameras.
[1:43:37] That technology does exist.
[1:43:40] It's incredibly expensive.
[1:43:43] We're talking.
[1:43:44] Hundreds of thousands of dollars.
[1:43:47] I'm happy to.
[1:43:48] To put something together and present to you.
[1:43:52] Specifics on on what the numbers are and what that.
[1:43:55] Would possibly cost.
[1:43:58] They're able to utilize either new cameras or they can utilize existing cameras if they're sophisticated enough. We do have quite
[1:44:03] a few newer cameras.
[1:44:08] That may be able to.
[1:44:10] Tied again to that.
[1:44:12] But I'm happy to get those numbers.
[1:44:14] For you.
[1:44:16] I think more importantly would be the capabilities.
[1:44:19] If we could.
[1:44:21] Something like that, what they would enhance public safety and even the safety of the inmates.
[1:44:26] Yes, the important.
[1:44:28] Happy to do that.
[1:44:31] Anything else? Commission?
[1:44:35] Thank you, Sir.
[1:44:36] All right. Thank you.
[1:44:39] Lincoln County.
[1:44:40] Medical Center.
[1:44:45] A long time since you've been here, it seems like the chairman, Fisher County Commissioners taught Overheugh Hospital chief
[1:44:49] executive, Lincoln County Medical Center. Thank. Thank you for having me today.
[1:44:55] Glad to be here and visit with you and just update you on the hospital.
[1:44:59] First off, we'll start off with patient satisfaction for the hospital currently is sitting in the top 30% of all hospitals
[1:45:03] nationwide on patient satisfaction. That will be our inpatient.
[1:45:07] Called H Caps.
[1:45:09] That's the Medicare terminology is H caps and stuff so.
[1:45:14] And the ER, we're sending 25% nationwide on patient satisfaction in the emergency room. That is still, I believe, I know it's the
[1:45:19] highest in the Presbyterian system. I believe it's highest in the state.
[1:45:25] And it continues to be so from that stand.
[1:45:29] We're sitting at our surveys, still are sitting out. Would you recommend your provider at 97.4%?
[1:45:36] And do you have adequate access to your provider and that's 96.8. We're very sensitive to that one. I'm watching that very
[1:45:43] closely. I do think we've got some some challenges around primary care access in the community. So currently we have open.
[1:45:50] Two APC's which it would be a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, we also have a family medicine position position and a
[1:45:57] pediatrician position open trying to recruit for. So, so we're looking at that very closely.
[1:46:03] Other recruitment efforts we're doing this is we're in the process of recruiting an OBGYN. I think that's going to be a positive.
[1:46:07] I'm hoping I can tell you.
[1:46:12] Maybe even by the end of next week that we've signed an OBGYN so.
[1:46:17] So very excited about that so.
[1:46:20] Other things going on, we did start in July doing our in-house sleep study, so we built a.
[1:46:27] Converted in the area and so that we can do in-house sleep studies, so.
[1:46:31] Previously patients, the wait times have been pretty astronomic for those around the area and stuff up to three months before
[1:46:38] people ordered a sleep study. So we're doing those at the facility now and we can do that for the community as well.
[1:46:45] Last night we hosted A substance abuse symposium. We had individuals. The warden was there. Renew Health was there. We we had.
[1:46:55] The individuals from Mescalero there at the out at the end of Mount Gods and they had a really good discussion, robust discussion
[1:47:00] around substance abuse challenges and.
[1:47:05] As well and so LCMC hosted that for the community last night so.
[1:47:10] Successful recruitment, that's on board. I do want to confirm that Doctor Mary Nord Cook is now practicing and open. She is a
[1:47:16] child psychiatrist. She's located at the physician office building at the hospital. She is also seeing adults too. So she is
[1:47:22] double boarded in adult and in child psychiatry. So she's seen both.
[1:47:28] But we're actively recruiting for an adult psychiatrist to be alongside.
[1:47:34] So hopefully we'll see some movement on that.
[1:47:36] Doctor Seth Macbeth is currently practicing that. He is a urologist. He's he's one of our military physicians. So we want to get
[1:47:41] him one day. A really.
[1:47:45] 2 days.
[1:47:47] A month.
[1:47:48] But we do have some urology availability at the facility right now. Doctor Mecca, who is going to be retiring here at the end of
[1:47:52] the year.
[1:47:57] Macbeth and that goes in the transition between the two and so.
[1:48:03] On a turnover, turnover for the facility, employee turnover sits at 11 percent, our targets to be below 15%. So I'm very pleased
[1:48:08] with that. We're not seeing very high turnover at the facility right now.
[1:48:13] We're waiting on our provider engagement, employee engagement. So I don't have anything to put on those survey. The employee
[1:48:18] engagements going on now and the provider won't be until October, I believe.
[1:48:24] From that standpoint.
[1:48:25] Financially, facilities doing pretty well. We're right at budget overall our target. I will tell you I've seen a little bit of
[1:48:32] erosion in some of the volumes or at least just a little bit unsteadiness. I think it's a better way of saying it.
[1:48:38] However, we've been fortunate. We are on target financially from what we predicted for the budget to be for the facility. The
[1:48:44] women's clinic is open. We did a ribbon cutting last month on that. The greeters came out and did ribbon cutting on the women's
[1:48:49] clinic. And so Doctor Rath and Dr. Combs are now in that new clinic space.
[1:48:56] We did complete construction on a maintenance shed on.
[1:48:59] The lot that this plots owned by Presbyterian, not by the county and stuff, it's a lot behind the physician office building and
[1:49:03] so.
[1:49:06] Both that will impact is if you're up at the hospital in the dock area, there's several temporary kind of storage sheds there.
[1:49:11] We're going to be removing those before too much longer.
[1:49:16] And I'll be opened up from that standpoint.
[1:49:19] And the last thing, which is kind of big news, I, my director of nurses, Chief Nurse Wendy, put together a grant request to the
[1:49:25] New Mexico Healthcare Delivery Fund.
[1:49:31] To offset the losses that we see with obstetrical care, I think I've told this body before, we typically lose about $9000 every
[1:49:37] time we deliver a baby at the hospital. That's about what it costs us versus what we get reimbursed.
[1:49:43] So we submitted a grant to the state, it's called a stability fund is what they did with this, this grant program and stuff. And
[1:49:48] and so the states going to fund us $2.8 million over the next three years.
[1:49:54] To offset those obstetrical losses that we see at the facility. So very excited about that. We're working on the budget.
[1:49:59] That we have sent to the state yet and but we do expect to start seeing those states fund.
[1:50:03] You know, come in to offset that and I think that's going to be part of our reason that we can recruit this additional OB care
[1:50:06] force as well.
[1:50:10] So I think that's what I've got for you all.
[1:50:15] Commissioners.
[1:50:17] Another question, can you elaborate on the $9000 lost?
[1:50:21] For the delivery of a baby is out of Medicaid cap. Well you are so you Medicaid pays a a fixed amount that they will for a certain
[1:50:26] period of time.
[1:50:31] And of course, the majority of our babies are Medicaid. I'd say probably, you know.
[1:50:35] At least.
[1:50:35] 7075% of the deliveries at the facility are Medicaid to Medicaid and others and children so.
[1:50:42] So there is a limit to what Medicaid reimburses us.
[1:50:46] Along with that though, you know things get, there's a lot of costs that go in that that you don't necessarily are directly
[1:50:50] related to the delivery of the baby.
[1:50:55] We have to pay for anesthesia to be on call 24 hours a day. We have to pay for the obstetricians to be on call. We have.
[1:51:01] So you've got all these additional fixed costs that based on whatever you deliver you see that and so.
[1:51:07] The less deliveries you have, which I might add, we're actually seeing about a 20 to 25% increase in deliveries at the facility
[1:51:11] over what we've seen and so.
[1:51:16] What Doctor Rapp told me just last week was we typically have about 100 pregnancies on the list of the, you know, upcoming
[1:51:21] deliveries that we're anticipating. We're up to almost 130 right now.
[1:51:27] And so we're not sure why that is and, but but anyway, there's a lot of babies being delivered And so if you go up to be on any
[1:51:32] given day, you're going to see it full.
[1:51:38] Right now so.
[1:51:41] Anyway, I love them comment on any of that so so but.
[1:51:44] The but yes, so we've been really busy on that. But so that 9000 is taking the entire fixed cost that we have relative to being
[1:51:50] prepared to deliver a baby because the OR crew has to be on call like I said too. So all those things.
[1:51:57] Our costs that we might, we wouldn't occur if we didn't do we didn't do obstetrics at the facility.
[1:52:02] I will share with you though, when we did this analysis for Socorro.
[1:52:07] So so coral does not deliver the same amount babies we do. Their cost per baby is about $15,000 that they use.
[1:52:13] So it's not much more as you see the.
[1:52:16] The lower volumes, you see those dollars.
[1:52:21] So.
[1:52:22] I have one last question. On your campus, do you have any?
[1:52:27] Real estate available for development of like.
[1:52:31] Another type of clinic.
[1:52:32] Yes.
[1:52:33] So when we purchased the Nob Hill property, we've got the whole kind of the southwest end of that property is completely available
[1:52:37] for development.
[1:52:42] And so.
[1:52:43] We're watching to kind of decide, you know, what we want to do if we would. That's the reason why we bought that is for future
[1:52:46] development, so.
[1:52:50] Yeah. Is that it, Commission?
[1:52:55] Thank you, Sir. We look forward to seeing you again very soon, OK.
[1:52:58] Thank you.
[1:53:03] MSU Extension office, I don't think there's anybody here, Mr. Chairman. We reached out to him, but we do not have anyone in
[1:53:06] attendance today from MSU.
[1:53:11] But we do have upper Honda soil and water conservation.
[1:53:19] Good morning, Commissioners Tony Griffin, Upper Hondo Soil and water.
[1:53:23] I provided your report.
[1:53:25] For the year end, honor noxious weed treatment.
[1:53:30] So from July of.
[1:53:32] 25 to.
[1:53:33] Through June 30th of 26.
[1:53:37] The areas that were treated.
[1:53:39] We're Honda Senior Center.
[1:53:42] Burlington County fire stations.
[1:53:45] Rita so Parks and Recreation areas.
[1:53:48] Grindstone.
[1:53:51] Many places are Hwy. 4837 two 20.
[1:53:55] Lincoln County Fairgrounds.
[1:53:57] Benito Lake Rd.
[1:53:59] And, umm.
[1:54:00] Nogal Canyon Rd. Arrangements Camp Patos, White Oaks Highway, Anchor Rd. Bogle Road and Ranger Rd.
[1:54:08] We've already treated.
[1:54:09] Two other places.
[1:54:11] Since then this fiscal year.
[1:54:13] Some of the places get treated twice, like the fire stations and the.
[1:54:17] Hondo Senior Center likes to really grow the weeds.
[1:54:23] And we've treated.
[1:54:24] Ritoso Parks and Rec areas, 41 acres of that again this fiscal year and then the Lincoln County right away as we treated another
[1:54:28] 44 miles.
[1:54:35] A couple of things that we have going on.
[1:54:39] We have a grant that we applied for. It's through.
[1:54:43] Land of Enchantment grants.
[1:54:45] We applied for that. I believe in.
[1:54:47] March.
[1:54:48] We were granted that grant in July, so we've started the process.
[1:54:53] That grant was for a noxious tree invasive tree project in El Valley Loop area in the Hondo Valley.
[1:55:02] It's going to treat approximately 90 acres. It's a $250,000 grant. And so we've already.
[1:55:10] Got the RFP secured. We started the letters. Those will be going out to certified mail to land owners in that area that qualify.
[1:55:17] Basically just kind of getting rid of those.
[1:55:19] Straws along the river there to help, maybe with their water table.
[1:55:25] And get it cleaned up for them. So it's it's 100% paid for.
[1:55:29] And it'll be that 90 acres. So there I believe there's about 30.
[1:55:34] 35 land owners that will qualify for that grant. So we're pretty excited about that. We hope to start the project in December.
[1:55:42] How are we communicating with those land owners? We're going to send a certified letter first. We've kind of prepped some of the
[1:55:47] land owners when we've seen during cost share visits and things like that.
[1:55:52] Let him know it was kind of in the works, but you know, we didn't want to count our chickens before they hatched.
[1:55:57] So a lot of them are waiting, they're ready. But I would say.
[1:56:02] That's probably a close to 10 land owners maybe as all of that. So we have.
[1:56:07] We're going to send out these certified letters and then hope we get response back. If not, we've got three members on our board.
[1:56:15] That are that are part of the assay Kias so they can assist with that as well getting in touch with them and.
[1:56:22] And then if we have to, we'll start seeing if we can get phone numbers and information like that. I'd like to talk to him in
[1:56:26] person as well so they're well aware we're sending with the letter.
[1:56:30] A map of the area and also kind of a fact sheet on just what these invasive trees can take from them so.
[1:56:37] Kind of educate them a little bit.
[1:56:39] So the other thing.
[1:56:41] I wanted to bring to your attention is I know that there was.
[1:56:44] You know, uh.
[1:56:46] A meeting.
[1:56:47] Concerning fencing off Benito Lake.
[1:56:50] We do treat.
[1:56:52] Alamogordo area.
[1:56:53] With four weeds.
[1:56:55] We had an agreement with them years ago.
[1:56:57] It's kind of a standing agreement. We've tried to get in touch with them, but I guess things have changed hands and whatnot, so we
[1:57:00] just continue to treat the area.
[1:57:04] If we don't have funding from Lincoln County.
[1:57:06] Then we use our own funding and we treat the area so that gets treated every year for Thistle and.
[1:57:14] Diesel and the boys poison hemlock and things like that, so we do assist.
[1:57:20] With that.
[1:57:21] Area on their property.
[1:57:24] For the value of, you know, people that come to Lincoln County, so we keep it under control, so.
[1:57:29] Just wanted to bring that to your attention.
[1:57:31] Appreciate that very much. Thank you.
[1:57:34] I stand for.
[1:57:35] Commissioner, Yeah.
[1:57:38] Have a comment on the report you mentioned that we had received. There's nothing in the packet. Would you mind emailing that to
[1:57:42] us?
[1:57:46] You bet.
[1:57:48] Thank you for all your work.
[1:57:50] Yeah, yeah.
[1:57:52] Thank you man.
[1:57:55] South Central Mountain RC.
[1:57:58] Good morning, Commissioners.
[1:58:02] I appreciate I was unable to make it last time so.
[1:58:06] Your packets had this last.
[1:58:08] Look this way, you've got.
[1:58:09] The report and point of view.
[1:58:11] Well.
[1:58:14] Thank you. Great deal.
[1:58:18] It's been a bit busy.
[1:58:24] We'll start with the community Wildfire protection plan.
[1:58:28] This is a requirement.
[1:58:30] For the state of New Mexico and is one of our integral.
[1:58:34] Parts of applying for grant funding is our CWPP.
[1:58:40] The requirement is that we update that every five years, so we are in the process of doing that.
[1:58:46] We have an outside firm. Cadence LLC is working on that for us. We've had a lot of really good meetings.
[1:58:52] With our Land Management agencies, with our emergency.
[1:58:57] Personnel in preparing that. So we are now moving on to the.
[1:59:02] Public input.
[1:59:03] Side of things.
[1:59:04] We have.
[1:59:05] Three, and I know that Gabe has been working with Bethany on getting it onto the county website.
[1:59:12] But three public meetings to make note of.
[1:59:16] Because this is all of Lincoln County, our first meeting is going to be in Corona.
[1:59:21] On October 24th, and that's going to be at 10 AM at the Corona High School.
[1:59:27] Then we will have another meeting in Ruidoso and that is scheduled for November 7th.
[1:59:33] And that is at 10 AM at the Convention Center and then in Capitan will be.
[1:59:38] There in the afternoon, the same date, November 7th at 2:00 PM at the fairgrounds.
[1:59:43] So we are trying to get as much input from all of the residents of Lincoln County as we are preparing this.
[1:59:50] The goal is once we've had those.
[1:59:54] Public meetings.
[1:59:55] That Gabe will be in the process of drafting the entire Community Wildfire Protection plan.
[2:00:01] And then we will start sending them out for review to this body to.
[2:00:07] The Upper Hondo, all of our different agencies that.
[2:00:10] That deal with Land Management and everybody will approve that and sign it off. Then it goes up to Santa Fe for approval by the
[2:00:17] fire planning task force, the fire planning task force. So hopefully it'll be by the 1st.
[2:00:23] Part of the spring of 27 that we will.
[2:00:27] Have it finalized and ready to go up to them for approval from the state on getting that.
[2:00:33] And the funding for for that plan came out of the Community Wildfire Defense grant that we wrote on that one.
[2:00:41] We are continuing our outreach and education. We've actually hired a new social media person for that.
[2:00:48] She is actually from Albuquerque, so she knows the area and she's very excited. We're just.
[2:00:54] Onboarding her right now.
[2:00:56] Getting her involved with doing some of the outreach we also have been working with.
[2:01:01] Lincoln County's Office of Emergency Management.
[2:01:04] Helping with the funds that we've received and being able to.
[2:01:08] Print Materials.
[2:01:10] Do materials for for when they go do the shows and that kind of stuff. All of the the things that they're doing there.
[2:01:17] With our Community Wildfire Defense Grant, we had another grant.
[2:01:22] That was specifically 4th inning.
[2:01:25] We are probably about 75% through on that one. We are.
[2:01:31] Doing work along Carrizo Canyon.
[2:01:33] Because that is where with our southwest winds and that type of thing.
[2:01:37] We've had some difficulties we had.
[2:01:39] Two large properties.
[2:01:41] And for the life of me I cannot get hold of those property over.
[2:01:44] There's time. I'm going to give it one more effort over in that area.
[2:01:48] And if not, we've identified some additional property owners that are more along Paradise Canyon area and so we'll continue to use
[2:01:52] those funds.
[2:01:57] The person who is in charge of the CWDG grant in the state.
[2:02:02] Is really pleased with the progress that we've been making.
[2:02:06] He has encouraged us to.
[2:02:09] Apply again The next funding cycle will be coming up this fall.
[2:02:13] Last time this project we are right at.
[2:02:17] 750,000.
[2:02:20] He would really like us to go very big in a request and and do anywhere from 5 to 10 million on the request.
[2:02:28] So we will be looking at different areas that we can do. The nice part about Lincoln County is we qualify for.
[2:02:36] An exemption from any kind of match.
[2:02:38] So it is 100% paid for.
[2:02:41] So if we can.
[2:02:43] Identify some areas and we're working with state forestry on that.
[2:02:47] Trying to really look at how we can take.
[2:02:50] The work we're doing on the buffer.
[2:02:52] And integrate these additional funds and really leverage it and do some very large.
[2:02:58] Land development as far as the thinning projects and that kind of thing, so.
[2:03:04] And when you're talking to people you know who own.
[2:03:07] Significant amounts of property, it's a big deal for them because it's.
[2:03:10] Expensive on a per acre basis. So for us to be able to come in and offer to do that at no cost.
[2:03:16] Is a great safety point for the county, but it also really helps them as far as the health of the property in the forest and that
[2:03:20] type of thing.
[2:03:24] The buffer thinning project we are.
[2:03:28] Over 1200 acres on that.
[2:03:30] We met yesterday and we are really right now we have just under out of that $5 million budget we have.
[2:03:38] Just a little over 900,000 left.
[2:03:40] To spend on that one.
[2:03:42] So we are also then working on the fastest I've ever spent money on thinning.
[2:03:47] And it's really great. I encourage you.
[2:03:50] To be able to take a look at River Downs, to be able to see it from the road and see the impact of how much better it looks is
[2:03:54] really nice.
[2:03:59] We are in the process of trying to submit.
[2:04:02] A Phase 2.
[2:04:03] Application to New Mexico Forestry division for that so that we can continue.
[2:04:08] That work and that positive impact.
[2:04:12] For the post South Fork fire EWP.
[2:04:15] The Egypt he regular umm.
[2:04:17] We still do have some funds left in that one, but we are doing.
[2:04:21] Waiting on engineering. We're doing a lot of different projects with that, but it is.
[2:04:26] Winding down out of that much.
[2:04:29] The buyout we have currently over 360 property owners.
[2:04:35] I am really thrilled to say that yes, we have closed on our first house.
[2:04:39] We have offers in the pipeline for people.
[2:04:44] It is, of course.
[2:04:45] Rumor do so we get a whole lot of phone calls from people going.
[2:04:50] We've heard you're out of money.
[2:04:51] Like, no, we're not.
[2:04:53] So we have.
[2:04:54] Really been been doing a lot of interaction with our property owners and.
[2:04:58] Advising them.
[2:04:59] That things are moving very, very well.
[2:05:02] It is umm.
[2:05:04] A great program, and it is.
[2:05:06] You know, for the speed of government, this is lightning.
[2:05:09] To be able to go from signing things in March and closing on the House in August.
[2:05:14] Is pretty phenomenal.
[2:05:15] To be able to do a property owner doesn't necessarily realize that, but looking at it from the outside in, it looks really, really
[2:05:19] good to be able to do that.
[2:05:24] And then lastly, our Smokey Bear Historic Park we did receive funding from.
[2:05:30] The state of New Mexico, we are in the process of doing a whole new design of their back area.
[2:05:36] And so that is almost completed.
[2:05:39] It's really taken a lot into account for being able to do handicap access. New interpretation.
[2:05:47] All of those types of things.
[2:05:49] Our next step with them once the design is done and we have contractor ready documents.
[2:05:55] That will then go look for funding to actually implement that and be able to build.
[2:06:00] The new design back there for the smokes and very historic.
[2:06:04] And that's pretty much.
[2:06:06] Everything I've got right now.
[2:06:08] Stand for any questions.
[2:06:10] Yes, ma'am, I want to thank you so much for.
[2:06:17] Hardening the community through all of these different projects and creating a more resilient Lincoln County.
[2:06:23] And.
[2:06:24] Murals work is so impactful and we're very grateful for you. Well, thank you. We enjoy doing it and like I said, when you can
[2:06:29] actually see the results, it's really exciting.
[2:06:34] To be able to to see the landscape change.
[2:06:38] I'd like to share those comments is this is.
[2:06:40] Tremendous.
[2:06:42] Safety and security of the communities.
[2:06:44] We talked about this in 2024.
[2:06:47] And it's coming to fruition, so it helps out.
[2:06:50] Property owners so that their houses don't burn up.
[2:06:53] People don't die.
[2:06:55] The fires can be contained.
[2:06:57] It also helps out the water.
[2:06:58] Situation A water table.
[2:07:00] In the watershed.
[2:07:02] So it's quite quite enormous and quite.
[2:07:04] Wonderful. And the fact that we're executing.
[2:07:08] I would say in.
[2:07:10] A little bit better than normal government time.
[2:07:13] Is is important? Because that's what.
[2:07:17] Generates interest at the legislature to continue.
[2:07:20] Funding this program.
[2:07:22] So that's very good. I would make one mention on the last.
[2:07:25] The Shared Stewardship Agreement has been has been signed.
[2:07:29] We've not done a good neighbor agreement and this is something.
[2:07:32] That has to be completed very quickly.
[2:07:35] So that we can actually.
[2:07:37] Work with the US Forest Service making sure that where they abut our wooly barriers or thinning projects.
[2:07:44] That we continue that progress there.
[2:07:47] And so, so that's something we're going to be working on. We are working on that. I know that state forestry has that same kind of
[2:07:51] mandate that we are.
[2:07:55] Trying to make.
[2:07:57] That happened, yes, and and utilize.
[2:08:00] Every tool we have.
[2:08:02] To be able to.
[2:08:03] Get more work done.
[2:08:05] For the landscape here in Lincoln County.
[2:08:08] There's nothing else, Commissioners, I would thank you.
[2:08:11] Very much.
[2:08:13] For the work you're doing.
[2:08:15] Thinking this stuff.
[2:08:19] Any other external ways?
[2:08:21] Committee, I don't know that we have.
[2:08:24] Anybody else?
[2:08:27] Fair board, we've got the fair board and I guess we've got.
[2:08:31] You, but we'll get you later. Fair board. Let's come on up and.
[2:08:36] I'm just here for.
[2:08:37] Yeah. I think we'll bring that up when we talk about talk about the program.
[2:08:44] And I, I think I don't see anybody else right at this point.
[2:08:51] Mr. Smokovich, you want to come on up and talk about?
[2:08:57] State Forestry.
[2:08:59] 00.
[2:09:02] Smokovich.
[2:09:03] District Forester, New Mexico State Forestry Division.
[2:09:08] So I I didn't necessarily have a.
[2:09:11] Presentation. This wasn't my normal.
[2:09:13] Rotation, but I would just say.
[2:09:17] I, I wanted to bring up, you know, with the good neighbor agreement.
[2:09:21] I think one of the next steps a very good one.
[2:09:24] Is bringing up all the input that we're getting from the community.
[2:09:28] At the.
[2:09:30] CWPP meetings so that we can identify.
[2:09:32] All the areas around the county that the public would like to see.
[2:09:36] Treated. Umm, uh.
[2:09:38] So that we can provide that to the US Forest Service.
[2:09:41] And and be able to.
[2:09:44] Jointly go forward and and.
[2:09:46] Put that this good work.
[2:09:49] Expand it.
[2:09:50] You see, it's doing that completing.
[2:09:53] Very quick time.
[2:09:56] Is that it?
[2:09:57] That's all I really had.
[2:09:59] For service.
[2:10:02] Good morning, Chairman Commissioner Amanda Ganith and Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Lincoln National Forest.
[2:10:13] We got our mouth done, so we got our data in, so we'll.
[2:10:17] I was just talking to Nick and we will wait with this.
[2:10:19] Or for state forestry to work with the county to get that data and overlay it. But.
[2:10:24] Ours is ready to go, so we're ready to make the next.
[2:10:27] Move forward and then.
[2:10:30] Schedule our meeting, our next meeting to go over the state stewardship Agreement and next.
[2:10:35] Next steps um.
[2:10:37] Let's see.
[2:10:39] Our closure order for Cedar Creek is expiring September 30th, however.
[2:10:44] Mayor Pro Temp.
[2:10:46] Rifle Stylus has asked me and asked me about.
[2:10:49] You know when his beloved Cedar Creek here is going to be open, but we're going to close it again, unfortunately.
[2:10:55] To do hazard tree removal, we're going to start that phase of of the disaster recovery project within that area.
[2:11:02] So hopefully a lot safer place for folks to go recreate on the trails.
[2:11:07] In the future.
[2:11:08] So that'll be happening after XTERRA event in mid-october.
[2:11:14] I keep it open for for.
[2:11:16] The bikers to use and then we'll close after that.
[2:11:22] Yeah, I think those are the biggest updates from the last from last month. We also the sunset fire is 100% contained as of last
[2:11:26] week.
[2:11:31] And that's really all that.
[2:11:32] Oh, he said. Unless there's any other questions from you.
[2:11:37] Any when's CC coming?
[2:11:40] How going back?
[2:11:41] She has been her and Jason will switch back.
[2:11:46] Mid-october.
[2:11:49] Thank you. We have for a little while longer.
[2:11:51] All right. Thank you very much.
[2:11:56] OK, now we'll go to.
[2:11:57] Apartments. First one will be the road department.
[2:12:01] See Jeff.
[2:12:02] That's your Honeycutt.
[2:12:14] Morning Chairman, Commissioners Jeff Honeycutt, Lincoln County Road Superintendent.
[2:12:20] I'll instead of going through all the projects that we have going on, everything is working on time. We're in line with our
[2:12:24] projects. If you have any specific questions about those.
[2:12:30] I'll be happy to answer them.
[2:12:32] Just to let you know, we were recently awarded.
[2:12:36] Through TPF.
[2:12:38] In the state, 2.5 million for Fort Lone Tree to finish that out.
[2:12:43] And also a $500,000 design grant for Devils Canyon.
[2:12:47] So we do not have fully executed agreements, but we do have the award letter.
[2:12:53] So those will be upcoming and.
[2:12:55] I'll bring those to you hopefully here in the next month or two.
[2:13:00] To let you know tomorrow.
[2:13:03] I will be meeting with pattern.
[2:13:06] They have requested to closeout.
[2:13:08] Their road work that they've been doing for the last.
[2:13:13] Couple of years.
[2:13:14] So we have a 9:00 AM meeting with pattern.
[2:13:17] And we'll be driving all of those roads and going through all the.
[2:13:22] Deficiencies that we find.
[2:13:24] And we need to get those roads put back together. We'll see what the initial meeting looks like and.
[2:13:29] Hopefully I'll have some information after that to bring to you guys in October.
[2:13:34] I'd like to see some pictures too.
[2:13:37] We do. We have several pictures. Several.
[2:13:41] Rolls of pictures that we did on stuff that we had reported to them earlier.
[2:13:46] There'll be some discussion about how the roads need to be put back together, but we videotaped every one of those roads before
[2:13:50] they ever use them.
[2:13:54] So we know exactly what they used to be.
[2:13:56] And we fully expect those to be put back.
[2:13:59] With you.
[2:14:01] Like they were before.
[2:14:02] Some cattle guard issues weren't there.
[2:14:04] We have cattle guards, we have culverts.
[2:14:07] And roadway issues.
[2:14:09] So we'll have to see.
[2:14:11] I've had some preliminary discussions with pattern about this and they kind of know what our expectations are.
[2:14:17] And we'll kind of put those in place in tomorrow.
[2:14:20] We'll be driving Bogle trans western de.
[2:14:24] Bonita Canyon Rd.
[2:14:26] We'll take care of all the ones that they've been using.
[2:14:31] And I'll answer any questions. I'll stand for any questions about projects or.
[2:14:35] That meeting?
[2:14:37] Commissioners.
[2:14:40] I know in the past we've had a lot of issues with pattern in their.
[2:14:44] And they're How do I want to say this?
[2:14:47] They're keeping up with the the.
[2:14:52] That how they how they used to be so.
[2:14:56] Are we on track or do you believe there's going to be a lot of work?
[2:15:01] Chairman Fisher. Commissioner Chavez, though.
[2:15:04] There'll be a lot of work entailed at getting these roads back to good.
[2:15:08] A lot of the roads are beat down to bedrock right now.
[2:15:11] And all of those roads started out with caliche.
[2:15:14] So caliche is going to have to be.
[2:15:17] Mind purchase delivered.
[2:15:19] Placed and those roads will have to be built back up.
[2:15:24] Probably 6 to 9 inches in some places.
[2:15:26] So it'll be a huge undertaking.
[2:15:29] But I think initially getting the agreement and we do have some background from 5 or 6 years ago.
[2:15:35] Working with pattern on what the expectations were.
[2:15:38] And they did come through on their part.
[2:15:41] The county actually did the.
[2:15:43] The blade work.
[2:15:44] And they provided the material in the water.
[2:15:46] So we'll look to see what kind of their thought is.
[2:15:50] This is a much larger scale project than what it was 5 or 6 years ago.
[2:15:54] So we'll look and see what their thoughts are on how we're going to approach this kind of moving forward.
[2:15:59] But we have.
[2:16:01] 6070 miles of Rd.
[2:16:03] That we are going to have to redo.
[2:16:05] Not counting the culverts and cattle guards.
[2:16:09] And that'll all fall under the road use agreement that they signed and agreed to.
[2:16:16] Anywhere else?
[2:16:18] I have a question regarding the Gaveling Canyon feasibility study with Pettigrew.
[2:16:24] I asked two weeks ago and the manager told me you were pulling a PO. Has that been completed? Chairman Fisher, Commissioner Sarna?
[2:16:28] That has.
[2:16:32] That that is.
[2:16:33] In Pettigrew's hands right now.
[2:16:35] And they should be starting that feasibility study.
[2:16:38] So you all have had the kickoff meeting and they're they've got their task order what they do.
[2:16:43] And I have their response of the $207,000 PO that we cut.
[2:16:48] So they will be starting work on that and that is the very beginning stages.
[2:16:53] That's kind of an initial.
[2:16:55] Type deal, they're going to do their.
[2:16:56] Their feasibility study will present that to the state. We'll see what qualifications do or don't meet.
[2:17:02] And then we'll have to take the next steps.
[2:17:05] That is in no way, shape or form a design.
[2:17:08] It's just going to be kind of the.
[2:17:10] The very beginning, opening that door to see if it's going to be a doable form.
[2:17:14] Project.
[2:17:16] I think we need to coordinate with the village of Rideau so and let them know of our progress made on this part and see where
[2:17:20] they're at with their high tea design so that.
[2:17:25] We're in lockstep with them as we move forward with this.
[2:17:28] Goal hopefully to create a more vibrant Midtown Rita so.
[2:17:32] I'll definitely contact Pettigrew and have them touch base with their engineering firm and see how that's all going to tie
[2:17:36] together, because it will.
[2:17:41] Eventually tie together there.
[2:17:43] On that end.
[2:17:48] Anything else?
[2:17:50] Tully and Co Bridges.
[2:17:53] Chairman Fisher, we do have an agenda item, I believe, about that.
[2:17:57] It has gone out to bid for the second time.
[2:18:00] It was.
[2:18:02] The bids were submitted. They came in a very similar.
[2:18:05] Price point.
[2:18:07] Which was a.
[2:18:08] A short ball from the money that was originally.
[2:18:11] Designated from FEMA.
[2:18:13] We have.
[2:18:15] Ask the District to engineer in Roswell to write us a letter similar to what he did for Otero County.
[2:18:22] Asking.
[2:18:23] That because of the bridge being in a rural area, the price points have.
[2:18:28] Typically going to be more than what FEMA has allowed us.
[2:18:31] So we're asking for more money from them.
[2:18:34] And with that letter from Francisco, hopefully that'll help.
[2:18:39] Kind of make that process happen.
[2:18:43] Yeah, there's it. It's gone from a problem to now.
[2:18:49] A real issue because of the timing.
[2:18:51] Right. It's been so long.
[2:18:53] And it is a significant shortfall in funding from what was bid twice.
[2:18:57] To what was allowed by FEMA.
[2:19:00] Let me ask you this since you got Pettigrew.
[2:19:03] Engineering company that did the design.
[2:19:06] On the repair of those bridges, correct?
[2:19:09] Yes, Sir, that is correct.
[2:19:10] Are they?
[2:19:12] Are they over engineering the?
[2:19:14] The solution?
[2:19:15] I mean, do you have any comment on that? Do you think there's a there's a way?
[2:19:19] I mean, if you look at it.
[2:19:22] You know, I'm not an actual engineer.
[2:19:25] Although I've been called 1.
[2:19:27] Among other things, by the way.
[2:19:30] Is there a way to confine?
[2:19:33] The uh.
[2:19:34] Work to what is required as opposed to.
[2:19:38] Something else?
[2:19:39] Sherman Fisher in my opinion, I drove Coal Canyon Bridge.
[2:19:43] Friday of last week.
[2:19:45] And FEMA had originally allocated $75,000 for the repair of Coal Canyon.
[2:19:51] The decking and the guardrails itself.
[2:19:54] Canopy actually are.
[2:19:57] It's not an issue at all.
[2:19:58] All the work that needs to take place on Co isn't going to be underneath.
[2:20:02] With the abutments.
[2:20:04] The money that was dedicated for Tully was $150,000 and that one is in much worse shape with the dangling guardrail, the canopy.
[2:20:13] And the decking issues?
[2:20:15] Both bridges are extremely narrow.
[2:20:17] Which we all know.
[2:20:19] I don't think it was over engineered.
[2:20:22] I think.
[2:20:23] Bringing in a contractor to this area, typically, like we discussed with District 2 engineer, those rural prices typically are.
[2:20:31] Extreme umm.
[2:20:33] The contractor that did bid both the job both times is out of Albuquerque.
[2:20:37] So you know when they're.
[2:20:40] You know $365,000 shortfall from the bid number that came into what we were allocated.
[2:20:45] So when do we expect an answer on that?
[2:20:48] Actually, King Industries and Charles has sent that letter in the information that was requested by the engineer.
[2:20:55] I saw that e-mail stream yesterday, so hopefully Cisco can get us a.
[2:20:59] A letter generated and we can get some.
[2:21:02] Information back from.
[2:21:06] DFA whoever we need to talk to about that.
[2:21:09] We'll be following that closely, as we have been all along.
[2:21:13] Anything else?
[2:21:15] Thank you.
[2:21:16] It's an oozing sore that needs to be lanced.
[2:21:19] Me or the?
[2:21:20] Bridge.
[2:21:29] Let's look at the facilities as Kingston.
[2:21:33] Thanks please.
[2:21:37] Sir.
[2:21:41] Good morning, Mr. Fisher.
[2:21:43] Commissioners.
[2:21:44] Want to say.
[2:21:48] James Barr assets and facilities.
[2:21:52] The city operations are continuing. It's a bit slow.
[2:21:55] I mean the last couple months.
[2:21:59] Minor issues that we've added. This is what balances and lights AC units.
[2:22:03] The board.
[2:22:05] Has been.
[2:22:07] Going bad on this due to electricity problems.
[2:22:09] The allergies.
[2:22:10] That's really causing havoc on Macy's.
[2:22:16] Other Nat.
[2:22:18] Everything has been running fine.
[2:22:20] We haven't had any major breakdowns.
[2:22:23] We are. I am replacing.
[2:22:25] The main shoreline from the.
[2:22:26] Extension Office.
[2:22:28] It's plugged up after 30 some years.
[2:22:34] Of parking lots.
[2:22:36] The price between.
[2:22:37] Probably March.
[2:22:39] Till now it's increased quite a bit.
[2:22:42] Oil. So I'm looking at it's increased over ten $10,000 money.
[2:22:49] We're holding back. I've been with Jeff.
[2:22:51] We were setting up a meeting, maybe we can get some better.
[2:22:53] Quotes prices.
[2:22:57] So hopefully we can get that done before.
[2:22:59] It gets too cold.
[2:23:00] We don't have a lot of time left.
[2:23:04] Anything else, Commissioner?
[2:23:07] Thank you very much for what you do.
[2:23:09] Oh, you're welcome.
[2:23:11] And we do have a.
[2:23:12] Position available.
[2:23:17] Maintenance operator mats.
[2:23:20] So if you know anybody wants to put in, that's fine.
[2:23:25] Too bad.
[2:23:27] Senior Services.
[2:23:31] Adam Montes.
[2:23:34] Good morning.
[2:23:35] Chairman, Fisher Commissioners Renee Montes, Senior Services Director.
[2:23:39] I really don't have a whole lot to report today.
[2:23:41] We're just business as usual. I'll give you a full first quarter report next month.
[2:23:46] When I come in with a number of units and amount of people and.
[2:23:49] Right now we're doing right about normal what we would.
[2:23:52] Be at our.
[2:23:54] Transportation units have increased.
[2:23:57] The requests have gone up for transportation with the price of gasoline. I'm sure that the seniors are.
[2:24:04] Appreciating that we can.
[2:24:07] Take them to their doctor's appointments and.
[2:24:09] And things so they we have seen an increase in transportation.
[2:24:14] Now.
[2:24:15] We have hired new person at Corona. We finally have a cook.
[2:24:19] In Corona, so we're very excited about that.
[2:24:22] We have a cook in Hondo.
[2:24:24] And so are we are fully staffed for the money.
[2:24:27] The first time since about April.
[2:24:29] That we have been fully staffed.
[2:24:33] Understand for any questions.
[2:24:34] Thank you.
[2:24:35] Is there anything from the Commission?
[2:24:37] Thank you ma'am very much.
[2:24:39] Appreciate you.
[2:24:41] Office of Emergency Services.
[2:24:49] Good morning, Chairman Fisher, Commissioners.
[2:24:51] Aaron, 31, fire service administrator.
[2:24:54] So looking back to August.
[2:24:57] Your Volunteer Fire departments ran 32 calls for service.
[2:25:00] Including two structure fires, 2 brush fires.
[2:25:03] 17 motor vehicle accidents.
[2:25:06] Two gas calls.
[2:25:07] Four false alarms, one control burn, 2 EMS assists, and two flooding calls.
[2:25:14] I wanted to give everybody an update this morning on the Monument Fire, which is the fire we had over the weekend about 8 miles
[2:25:17] South of Hondo.
[2:25:22] The majority of that fire was located on the Rio Hondo Landing Cattle Company.
[2:25:27] Actually within their high fence, within their.
[2:25:29] Their elk area.
[2:25:31] Fire We caught the fire at 572 acres.
[2:25:36] I got word this morning actually that they raised the containment on that to 90%.
[2:25:41] So the fire is looking very, very good.
[2:25:44] One thing that really surprised us with this fire was.
[2:25:47] I mean, we're.
[2:25:48] Into the middle of September already and we were seeing high to extreme fire behavior throughout the the event.
[2:25:53] Saturday.
[2:25:55] So that's that's a.
[2:25:56] Pretty great concern to us why we're seeing such extreme fiery behavior this late into the year.
[2:26:01] It is is still very dry once you get South of Hwy. 70 in that Hondo area.
[2:26:07] The departments that responded to that fire were the.
[2:26:10] Valley Fire Department, Glencoe.
[2:26:12] Lincoln, Arabella, New Mexico State Forestry.
[2:26:16] United States Forest Service and the OAS Office.
[2:26:19] So shout out to all those guys for catching that fire as quick as they did. I mean, it was.
[2:26:23] That fire was actually moving pretty good.
[2:26:26] And then a quick update on the Guyanese Tower project.
[2:26:29] The Guyanus tower was turned. The new guy in his tower was turned on yesterday. It was tested. It is operational.
[2:26:35] We have a few tweaks to make but that.
[2:26:38] Project is coming to a close here pretty quick it is.
[2:26:41] Online. Umm.
[2:26:42] So with that, I'll stand for any questions.
[2:26:47] Commissioners.
[2:26:49] Yes, Sir. Good.
[2:26:50] Mr. Green One, when have you heard back from the state?
[2:26:54] Proposing to limit fire restrictions for being patched aid in Mexico.
[2:26:59] I have not yet, I'm sorry.
[2:27:00] Chairman Fisher, Commissioner Feather, I have not heard when they're going to lift their fire restrictions yet. I sent an e-mail
[2:27:05] over to the fire management officer yesterday, but I believe he's out on R&R.
[2:27:10] He just got back from a fire up north so I'm just waiting for him to get back in the office and touch base with him.
[2:27:18] I will tell you An Arabella.
[2:27:20] It is correctly DRY.
[2:27:22] Haven't had any rain.
[2:27:25] Question on on Arabella.
[2:27:27] They they do not have the ability to pump water from their tanks.
[2:27:32] In the event of loss of Tarot County electorate.
[2:27:36] They need a generator. At least that's what.
[2:27:38] The report I got, we have any?
[2:27:40] Notion about that, You know what's going on there. Chairman Fisher, The Erbella Vol Volunteer Fire Department has a generator.
[2:27:47] I know it supplies their fire station. I do not know if that is hooked into their their pump. I think that's the point.
[2:27:54] So then I will, I will talk with Chief Stark out at that.
[2:27:57] Fire department and see what we can do about getting.
[2:28:00] That run over to their pump as well.
[2:28:02] I don't see why that it's a pretty large generator. I don't see why it wouldn't operate bull.
[2:28:06] Yeah, I'd appreciate that.
[2:28:09] Particularly as dry as it is out there.
[2:28:11] Yes, Sir.
[2:28:12] There's nothing else. We you have a question? Yes, ma'am.
[2:28:15] So with this restriction that Commissioner Prather spoke of, you have not been able to do anything with the.
[2:28:23] Training that you were going to have at Hwy. 220 in Rio Felix.
[2:28:27] Chairman Fisher, Commissioner Serna, that is correct. We have not been able to do any burns on that pile due to the restrictions.
[2:28:34] The way that's kind of playing out is the states fire restrictions.
[2:28:37] Are for all non municipal, non tribal, non federal lands, so that includes all the unincorporated areas of Lincoln County.
[2:28:44] So until they lift their restrictions, we cannot lift our restrictions and it's.
[2:28:49] It's just not right for us to go out and burn if we're not letting the general public burn.
[2:28:53] And it's not safe either.
[2:28:56] So I would just like to understand, as our Director of Emergency Services, you don't have any concerns since you just stated we
[2:29:00] have moderate to severe fire danger.
[2:29:05] With the pile that's accumulated.
[2:29:08] On Hwy. 70 and then the wind that we have at Hwy. 220.
[2:29:14] That area.
[2:29:16] Chairman. Fisher, Commissioner. That area along Hwy. 220 has received more rain than most areas in the county.
[2:29:22] I don't think that we would see the extreme fire behavior out of that area that we are seeing down South and on the eastern side
[2:29:26] of the county right now.
[2:29:30] I'm not saying it's not a concern.
[2:29:32] And that it doesn't need to be mitigated in the future.
[2:29:36] But right now, I don't think that we would see the the extreme fire behavior in that area that we're seeing South and east of that
[2:29:40] area.
[2:29:44] And the stockpiling on Hwy. 70 is not of.
[2:29:47] Concern.
[2:29:49] I haven't even seen the pile on Hwy. 70 yet. That's in the city of Ruidoso Downs.
[2:29:55] I can get with the Ruidoso Downs chief and go down and look at that if that's the direction of the Commission.
[2:30:01] You can see see what that one entails.
[2:30:06] I think it would be a bad thing.
[2:30:08] Be aware.
[2:30:10] But what's what's there?
[2:30:12] Make a comment I would have on that is that.
[2:30:15] Commission is well aware.
[2:30:17] Of these problems.
[2:30:18] And we are trying to find solutions.
[2:30:23] The Commission is aware, but if our director of emergency services is unaware of a pile that's a hazard to the public, that's a
[2:30:27] concern.
[2:30:32] Chairman Fisher, Commissioner Serna I I am aware of the pile in the downs, I just have not seen it yet.
[2:30:38] I have not had the time to go down there and drive around that pile like I have the one on 2/20.
[2:30:45] Anything else?
[2:30:49] Hearing who's responsible for that pile in the Downs.
[2:30:52] So that.
[2:30:53] Chairman Fisher, Commissioner Chavez.
[2:30:56] That pile falls within the city of Ruidoso Downs.
[2:30:58] So the responsibility for any fire starts down there would lie on the city of Ruidoso Downs Fire Department.
[2:31:03] OK. Thank you.
[2:31:09] Hearing no other questions.
[2:31:10] Thank you very much.
[2:31:16] Who am I missing?
[2:31:17] Finance department, but I think we'll do that.
[2:31:20] When we get to the to that.
[2:31:22] Budget.
[2:31:23] So forth.
[2:31:26] HR.
[2:31:28] Please.
[2:31:31] Yeah.
[2:31:36] Good morning, Commissioner Fisher, Commissioners.
[2:31:39] Jenna Gallardo, human resources Manager.
[2:31:42] Just some, really.
[2:31:43] Good news Updates.
[2:31:45] From my department, we fully staffed the Senior Center.
[2:31:48] As of last week.
[2:31:51] I got with New Mexico County safety inspector out of Roswell, Angelo.
[2:31:56] Groule, we went and did safety inspections of all county.
[2:32:01] Buildings.
[2:32:03] A couple days ago I should be getting that report.
[2:32:06] Sometime later this week and then me and James will work together because we've been working to rebuild a safety panel.
[2:32:13] And to make sure all of that is up to date and what we should be doing.
[2:32:16] I also scheduled with him CPR certification classes for who needs it for the county to help out Renee with the Senior Center who
[2:32:20] needs it.
[2:32:24] OES and the Sheriff's Office.
[2:32:29] We also hired on a certified deputy for the Sheriff's Office.
[2:32:33] We've got applications for openings for the road department for their opening of mechanic and Operator 2.
[2:32:40] We have a maintenance position open. We've received a lot of applications for that. So I'll be getting with James for.
[2:32:46] Us to schedule up some interviews now that we've got a substantial amount of those.
[2:32:52] Me and James have also been working.
[2:32:54] Diligently to be proactive for our insurance claims with New Mexico counties to stay on top of that.
[2:32:59] For all of our departments to make sure that we're doing what we need to do so we can get our vehicles up and going if there's any
[2:33:03] deficiencies.
[2:33:07] Me and finance, we've been working a lot smoother with Tyler for payroll actions. We've been seeing a good flow.
[2:33:14] Now that we've kind of got a hang of.
[2:33:16] The routes that we need to be taking for that new system.
[2:33:20] And I was also able to schedule a para representative to come down on Monday, October 26th.
[2:33:26] At 1:00 and 3:00 to have a presentation for all of our employees and to help answer any.
[2:33:32] Questions towards benefits, retirement and any other related matters.
[2:33:36] And I stand for any questions.
[2:33:40] Commissioners.
[2:33:43] Very good. I'm sorry.
[2:33:45] Have you been able to send out the employee satisfaction survey we talked about? I actually had solidified that, Commissioner
[2:33:48] Serna.
[2:33:53] Two days before I went on military leave and I will be sending it out.
[2:33:57] I had just gotten back about a week ago.
[2:34:02] I like the safety inspections a lot. I like the para.
[2:34:05] Proactive.
[2:34:07] Thank you. Appreciate what you're doing.
[2:34:09] Thank you.
[2:34:10] Thank you.
[2:34:12] So I think we have the planning and strategic resilience department.
[2:34:19] Mr.
[2:34:25] Thank you, Commissioners Ross Coleman, Director of Strategic Planning and Resilience.
[2:34:30] Just a few things to update you on.
[2:34:33] The Behavioral.
[2:34:34] Report that you and Otero County.
[2:34:37] Agreed to.
[2:34:39] August 24th.
[2:34:41] I was subsequently approved by Muscular Apache Tribe on September the 3rd.
[2:34:45] And that report was sent up to the Health Care Authority shortly after their meeting.
[2:34:50] They're going to have a meeting.
[2:34:53] For the approval by the executive Committee.
[2:34:55] On October the 6th in Santa Fe, and I'll be in attendance for that because they're probably going to have some questions.
[2:35:01] And we expect that plan to be approved.
[2:35:04] Regarding the shooting range.
[2:35:06] We've been in contact with Milo.
[2:35:09] And they expect that the modular containers.
[2:35:12] Will probably be ready.
[2:35:15] Late October. Early November.
[2:35:17] So we're commencing the underground work, which is the electric concrete.
[2:35:21] And so forth so we can be ready for that delivery.
[2:35:24] If by chance we're not ready.
[2:35:26] They're going to put those containers to the back of the facility while we get everything straightened up, and then they'll come
[2:35:29] back and move them into place.
[2:35:33] So that's.
[2:35:35] That's that's occurring pretty quickly.
[2:35:38] The IHS database for indigent care that you'll approved.
[2:35:41] Went up live last week.
[2:35:43] So we're starting to get into that. We're starting to work on payments and Billings, so.
[2:35:48] I don't know if next month will be ready to give you a report, but hopefully by November.
[2:35:54] We'll be able to capture some data.
[2:35:56] See what kind of savings we have? See how that's working?
[2:35:59] Provide you.
[2:36:00] You know the types of trends and and some of those items that y'all been asking for.
[2:36:06] Then on our strategic water, I I told you last time, Modesto Chavez is complete.
[2:36:12] Copper Ridge is almost complete. Looks like they just have a few things left and then over here.
[2:36:17] And no gal, looks like they're doing some underground work, probably some piping. They have an area cordoned off so.
[2:36:23] I'll be getting with the contractor to follow up.
[2:36:25] And see when that thing will be ready to be tested and approved.
[2:36:29] So that's what I have right now if you have any questions.
[2:36:35] Commission.
[2:36:37] Can you elaborate on the shooting range?
[2:36:40] Who is the contractor on the?
[2:36:44] On the On the what?
[2:36:45] The shooting range.
[2:36:46] So right now we have.
[2:36:50] What's that guy's name? The architect Yaboto.
[2:36:54] Yamamoto is the architect. Pettigrew I believe was also looking at that.
[2:36:59] And then I think we are looking into White Sands for doing some of the actual work and then Otero Electric.
[2:37:07] Is going to connect the three phase.
[2:37:09] Electrical up, so they've got to put a transformer.
[2:37:12] Run a line up to the.
[2:37:13] To the building. So those are the.
[2:37:15] The people that we're working with currently, right now.
[2:37:18] He procured it through state price agreements. Is that what you did?
[2:37:22] Mr. Chairman, Commissioner.
[2:37:24] We have procured this using our current on call contract. We presented that to you here a few months ago on how that's what we're
[2:37:28] going to proceed and that's what we're working towards right now.
[2:37:33] Oh, they could do it the quickest and the cheapest.
[2:37:36] Yes.
[2:37:38] Well, as we're doing.
[2:37:40] A pseudo design bill.
[2:37:43] We're working with them.
[2:37:45] To make sure that we fit the project within the budget.
[2:37:48] So that we can have everything ready that when it shows up.
[2:37:57] You may want to listen to the end.
[2:38:00] Uh, towards the end of the meeting for the sheriff's request because.
[2:38:04] I think that you'll be able to.
[2:38:07] His needs into this project.
[2:38:09] Yes, ma'am.
[2:38:13] OK. Thank you very much.
[2:38:21] I think we're going to elected officials now.
[2:38:25] Chair foot, please.
[2:38:28] You have anything left?
[2:38:36] Mr. Chairman Fisher, Commissioners Michael Wood, your Lincoln County Sheriff House.
[2:38:40] Briefly share with you real fast.
[2:38:43] Some statistics generated by my office since we met last.
[2:38:48] In the last 30 days or so, we have affected.
[2:38:51] Perform 16 arrests.
[2:38:53] Answer 309 calls for service.
[2:38:56] Investigated 74 incidents.
[2:39:00] We received from the court 16 arrest warrants. We serve 213.
[2:39:05] Civil process papers.
[2:39:08] And responded to 34.
[2:39:12] Freedom of Information Act requests.
[2:39:15] Also issue 55 traffic citations investigated.
[2:39:20] 20A motor vehicle accidents.
[2:39:24] So there's a rundown of some of my stats in the last 30 days.
[2:39:27] I'm prepared to tell you that I'm very happy, very proud, and that we have 0 openings within my office at this moment. I hired a.
[2:39:35] As HR.
[2:39:37] Noted. A little bit ago I hired a certified deputy from Roswell.
[2:39:40] So we have absolutely 0 openings.
[2:39:43] All my positions.
[2:39:46] And another caveat to that is.
[2:39:48] Finally, uh.
[2:39:50] You know, I've worked since day one.
[2:39:52] School resource deputy in this county, we never had one. Ever.
[2:39:56] And for the last couple of years, we finally have had one.
[2:39:59] He's been the current school resource deputy has been.
[2:40:04] Sharing her services with two county schools.
[2:40:07] Right Hondo and Corona.
[2:40:09] A long ways apart.
[2:40:10] Long ways apart, so.
[2:40:13] This.
[2:40:14] Having been being full staff now is going to allow us within the month to commit.
[2:40:19] Another school resource deputy specifically to Corona.
[2:40:23] So and it'll be a bifurcated mission in that this deputy sheriff because that's that's just in my in my office, that's District 3
[2:40:28] everything from 380 N.
[2:40:32] County line West, County line North and county line E That is all District 3.
[2:40:37] And it encompasses a large.
[2:40:40] Large area geographically.
[2:40:42] So in the event something does occur in that area and the school resource deputy happens to be close enough to.
[2:40:49] Render aid or.
[2:40:52] Stop the bleeding, whatever necessary. Then they'll be called upon to do so. But the big.
[2:40:55] Picture here is that for the first time in forever, we're going to have two school resource deputies, so we're very excited about
[2:40:58] that.
[2:41:03] I'm going to end mine on a high note and I consider that a high note, so I would I would stand for questions.
[2:41:10] Commissioners.
[2:41:11] Thank you for all your good work.
[2:41:13] Thank you, Sir.
[2:41:14] Thank you, Sir. Thank you.
[2:41:21] The assessor, Sir, thank you.
[2:41:26] Do you have any questions?
[2:41:31] Thank you, Sir.
[2:41:36] County Clerk.
[2:41:38] Ma'am, Yes, Sir. Commissioners, right now we.
[2:41:43] As you guys know, we are in the middle of our election.
[2:41:46] The first day for absentee ballots to go out in the mail will be.
[2:41:50] On October 6.
[2:41:52] We have started the new permanent absentee.
[2:41:56] That has been we've had quite a few people sign up for.
[2:41:59] We sent out notices on.
[2:42:01] Monday.
[2:42:02] Yesterday.
[2:42:03] To 607.
[2:42:05] People that are currently signed up for permanent absentee letting them know.
[2:42:09] That they are signed up and.
[2:42:11] They don't need to do anything in order to receive that ballot, so those notices went out yesterday.
[2:42:16] So people getting those, they also we had noticed this sent out on Friday.
[2:42:22] And that is the notice of election. Just letting everybody know.
[2:42:24] That there is an election going on, dates, times, locations, that type of information.
[2:42:29] As I said, absentee first we can mail out is October 6th.
[2:42:33] That will also be when early voting begins in our office.
[2:42:37] And then early voting in Ruidoso will be after that.
[2:42:41] And then obviously Election Day is November 3rd.
[2:42:44] We also will start.
[2:42:46] This weekend on Saturday, sending out our Uokaba ballot.
[2:42:51] And that is the Uniformed Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
[2:42:55] Those are our military voters and our citizens that are.
[2:42:59] Overseas at the at the time.
[2:43:01] Those ballots will start going out.
[2:43:02] This Saturday.
[2:43:04] So the election is.
[2:43:07] Here, Yeah.
[2:43:08] So we're just trying to encourage everybody to get out and vote.
[2:43:11] And make sure that that their voice is heard and that.
[2:43:15] They do get out and vote either absentee early or Election Day. They they have lots of opportunities.
[2:43:20] That's what happened.
[2:43:21] Thank you.
[2:43:24] Madam Treasure.
[2:43:36] Good morning, Chair Fischers Commissioner Sherry Huddleston, Lincoln County Treasurer.
[2:43:41] Just to let you know, um.
[2:43:44] August 13th we did have a property tax sale in Lincoln County.
[2:43:48] We started off with 92 properties. We ended up selling 30.
[2:43:52] It brought in about $290,000. Only 29,000 of that was actually property taxes.
[2:43:59] So those.
[2:44:00] Owners of the properties or.
[2:44:03] Relatives or whatever, because a lot of the properties people didn't want, we contacted them.
[2:44:08] And they did not want them.
[2:44:10] So they can.
[2:44:11] Request to get those excess funds.
[2:44:14] And they can get those, you know, returned to them by the state.
[2:44:17] We are working currently with our auditor.
[2:44:20] They're asking for a lot of documentation, so.
[2:44:22] We've been putting all kinds of information through the portal for them.
[2:44:27] We are still working with Tyler.
[2:44:31] We're working in both programs still with Triadic and Tyler.
[2:44:34] And I have to say hands off to our staff, they have been working.
[2:44:40] Diligently. Many hours.
[2:44:42] Troy for heading it up. It's amazing.
[2:44:45] The amount of data that he's having to put in there.
[2:44:48] We've gotten.
[2:44:49] Our taxes for the last 10 years between the two programs.
[2:44:54] The auditor said about $20 he would.
[2:44:57] Except we're down to $0.68.
[2:44:59] The difference in taxes.
[2:45:00] So that's been a lot and I.
[2:45:03] Hands off.
[2:45:04] To Troy and everybody in our.
[2:45:06] The treasurer's office, it's amazing.
[2:45:09] We still are having some issues with Tyler on our distribution.
[2:45:13] We're having to still do it out of triadic.
[2:45:15] And they're still working on it. It's been about what, 5 weeks we are waiting for them.
[2:45:21] To get the data.
[2:45:22] Input it correctly.
[2:45:24] It's the special districts that's kind of kicking it off.
[2:45:27] Apparently Lincoln County has a lot of special districts, so that's been kind of a problem and.
[2:45:34] I stand for questions.
[2:45:41] Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, while I have the.
[2:45:43] Treasure up here.
[2:45:46] To add on to her, Tyler tried it and the concerns that they might have. We are going to be scheduling a.
[2:45:51] Town Hall, I think we agreed on September 29th is what we said.
[2:45:57] That E and MU in the large presentation room.
[2:46:01] To kind of.
[2:46:03] Inform the public of.
[2:46:05] Transitional concerns that there might be to inform them.
[2:46:09] Please check your bills.
[2:46:10] Please provide them with the information that if they think there might be a mistake, where they can go to check it.
[2:46:16] Just so we can make every sure everyone has the information.
[2:46:19] On their tax bills as they go out this year and we're in transition.
[2:46:22] That's just that's how these large transitions and startups go. There's never going to be one that's perfect, but we're working
[2:46:26] through the issues.
[2:46:29] As.
[2:46:31] As we find them so.
[2:46:32] And Friday we did meet with the.
[2:46:35] Some of the major title companies in town, the assessors and the treasurer's office.
[2:46:39] And we did provide them with information about the transition and what to expect on their title searches because?
[2:46:47] If a ranch has.
[2:46:48] 50 UPC codes on one bill right now in Tyler.
[2:46:52] They're going to get 50 bills.
[2:46:54] With it, it's going to be a lot.
[2:46:56] So we worked with them. We kind of, you know.
[2:46:59] I think Troy is going to go back and do some training of how they can actually input that data into the spreadsheet online for
[2:47:03] Tyler.
[2:47:07] And they were.
[2:47:09] Very.
[2:47:11] Happy with our.
[2:47:12] Letting them know what's coming up so.
[2:47:15] A lot of them haven't worked with Tyler before and a few of them have.
[2:47:20] Because I think Colorado has it and they're kind of familiar with that and, you know, Chavez County.
[2:47:26] Otero County, so it depends on where the properties sell, but they were very appreciative that we did go and talk to them. The
[2:47:33] assessor had some other documents that he presented to them about property tax division requires.
[2:47:40] It was really good meetings and.
[2:47:42] Stanford, any questions on that?
[2:47:45] That means that the bills will be mailed individually.
[2:47:49] If they have.
[2:47:51] That would be more of a assessor question, but if they actually have value on them.
[2:47:55] So they may put the value on one.
[2:47:58] And then we in turn in our office can do like a mortgage company file.
[2:48:03] And take that one owner and link all of those to it.
[2:48:07] And then that way when they do pay.
[2:48:10] You know they will get if they have value, they will get 50 bills.
[2:48:13] So if each UPC code has a value on it, they will get 50 bills.
[2:48:17] And that's why we increased our budget this year for postage and things like that.
[2:48:22] It's more of an assessor question, but.
[2:48:25] You can find it.
[2:48:29] We get all the data from the assessor's office.
[2:48:32] Good morning, everybody. Leroy Memorial, Lincoln County Assessor.
[2:48:35] Uh, treasure treasure ODL Spoon is correct.
[2:48:39] The way that the data is laid out.
[2:48:42] In our system right now.
[2:48:44] Netflix there's a ranch that has 50 individual UPC's 50 different parcels.
[2:48:49] Than in tighter the way it works is it it creates a bill for eqpc. It's not necessarily owner based like it wasn't triadic.
[2:48:57] But there are ways.
[2:48:58] That we're finding out to clean this up.
[2:49:01] But right now our our main focus is to get.
[2:49:04] These erroneous.
[2:49:06] Accounts corrected I think we've corrected over 4500 accounts.
[2:49:11] And that either had missing models.
[2:49:14] Mismatched taxing areas, it goes on and on. So our focus right now.
[2:49:20] Is to correct these errors that are going to affect the tax bills.
[2:49:24] So we are focusing 1000% on that up until the day that we have to create the tax rolls, send it to the treasurer so that she can
[2:49:27] submit it to be printed.
[2:49:32] And even after the tax bills are mailed out, we're going to continue to.
[2:49:37] To look at these accounts and be finding errors, then we'll.
[2:49:40] And.
[2:49:43] And we do have an insert going with each tax bill.
[2:49:46] Let them know to look at it. If they have any questions, contact our offices.
[2:49:51] We put both phone numbers on there and we anticipate that.
[2:49:55] We're going to have some errors, but you know, I think every transition does, they're going to have some.
[2:50:02] Fixes on them so.
[2:50:05] We're trying to do our due diligence to get everything out there, let the public know, let the you know, community know. So that's
[2:50:08] why we're having the community.
[2:50:13] Outreach.
[2:50:14] The 29th.
[2:50:16] Like your focus?
[2:50:17] To make sure that they're accurate.
[2:50:19] And then we'll figure out the.
[2:50:21] Bringing those together so we have one Bill.
[2:50:24] Do you anticipate being?
[2:50:26] Through your audit before the bills go out completely or what?
[2:50:30] When is that?
[2:50:32] Getting through the corrections.
[2:50:34] Oh yeah, I mean, we're going to do our best I can.
[2:50:37] Promise anything because this.
[2:50:39] So many corrections that we receive on a weekly basis, it seems like.
[2:50:43] We just received another one yesterday and was 600 errors.
[2:50:47] So we're going to our staff is concentrating on that this week.
[2:50:52] I mean, I can't guarantee you, but we're doing our best.
[2:50:54] That's all I can say. I could promise that we are.
[2:50:57] Dedicating every single day, every single hour.
[2:51:01] You have to be done.
[2:51:03] October. What did you say?
[2:51:07] October you have about a month.
[2:51:09] That's the deadline to mail.
[2:51:11] No, that's to get the data file to the.
[2:51:14] Printers so they can print it? Yeah, I have to have a mail by November 1st.
[2:51:19] You all pay $0.82 a stamp like the regular person or do you get a book? Great.
[2:51:24] We have a great.
[2:51:26] I don't know.
[2:51:27] I think it's $0.74 or 60%.
[2:51:30] I'm trying to think before.
[2:51:32] I think I think it's less.
[2:51:35] You know we give you a break.
[2:51:36] And they can combine all the bills into one envelope if they have the same exact name.
[2:51:41] Our printers are good for that.
[2:51:44] That's what I wanted to hear.
[2:51:45] Thank you.
[2:51:49] Come down here too.
[2:51:51] Spinners training thought cheaped up any treasure.
[2:51:54] We did already get a quote for the postage. It's a lot less than what we were anticipating.
[2:52:00] With the file that we were able to send to them for the test, they're kind of giving us.
[2:52:04] Like 17,000 for the postage and we budgeted what did we think 2525.
[2:52:10] So it is going to be increased, but from what we're seeing.
[2:52:16] It's not what we were anticipating.
[2:52:18] And so the 15th of October is the date that we have to get the.
[2:52:23] Final file to the printers in order to get them out by November 1st.
[2:52:27] So we will get the file sooner from the assessors because what we do in our office is we send that file to the printers early.
[2:52:34] They send us samples. We have a request, so we check the box for every single type of.
[2:52:41] Taxing authority.
[2:52:43] Exemption.
[2:52:44] We check all of those and then they send us. It's about.
[2:52:49] 100 accounts.
[2:52:51] They'll send us the samples.
[2:52:52] We'll do our manual calculations, make sure everything's showing up.
[2:52:56] And then that's whenever we'll give the go ahead on October 15th.
[2:53:01] But also to go off of that so the D change.
[2:53:05] The cutoff already hit on Friday.
[2:53:08] For the changes for the 2026.
[2:53:11] Taxes. So any of the deeds that are currently being recorded in the clerk's office.
[2:53:15] Those ownership changes will not reflect in the 2026 tax bills. Those are going to reflect in the 2027.
[2:53:21] Title companies are aware, that's why we went and spoke with them. They have handouts to give to each of the buyers.
[2:53:27] To notify them to contact us.
[2:53:30] That, uh.
[2:53:31] So we can get them a copy of their bill because it'll have the previous owner.
[2:53:35] So we're hitting the check marks right now and we're pretty close to.
[2:53:39] Calculating.
[2:53:40] Yeah, very good Commissioners. Anything else?
[2:53:47] Thank you.
[2:53:48] Thank you man.
[2:53:50] Mr. Manager.
[2:53:52] Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, all the.
[2:53:55] I just got to be very brief. I know we got to put other things to do.
[2:53:58] Just quick on the EWP.
[2:54:02] As an update, I know we had a conversation on that here on Wednesday.
[2:54:05] Pretty in-depth, detailed update.
[2:54:08] I just kind of numbers we have 366 properties that have applied.
[2:54:12] 264 that we have.
[2:54:14] Appraisals Ordered 84 of those appraisals have been received, 44 of them have been completed and reviewed.
[2:54:20] Then we're gonna have 18.
[2:54:22] For you today to.
[2:54:23] For consideration to proceed on to final offers.
[2:54:26] So with that we've had 4 to date that are complete and have.
[2:54:31] Offers on them and we'll review those today as well.
[2:54:35] So that's moving along very well. We're starting the planning process to try to look at some of the demos with some that come up
[2:54:39] just so that we have a plan in place and the coordination in in.
[2:54:44] And we move forward with this efficiently as we've been talking and discussing.
[2:54:49] As we just mentioned, we are going to schedule a town hall on September 29th to talk tax rates.
[2:54:54] So we will get that out. We'll get that advertised as we get that finalized at BNM you.
[2:55:00] In regards to Bonita Lake.
[2:55:02] We have spoke with.
[2:55:03] The city of Alamogordo.
[2:55:05] They have another.
[2:55:07] Council meeting on September 22nd.
[2:55:10] That they're going to discuss this and then after that they're going to have further direction from the city.
[2:55:15] In regards to which way they might be interested in proceeding and evaluating. So we'll have some further discussions with that
[2:55:19] and bring that back to you with options and hopefully some.
[2:55:24] A presentation on what?
[2:55:27] We can do to ensure that stays open.
[2:55:29] And, and I know we've touched on it and there's still some furthering concerns on the pile at 2:20.
[2:55:38] In addition, the supporting Aaron and trying to find times to schedule the trainings, we have been talking with Miss Laura and
[2:55:41] Nick.
[2:55:44] About alternatives with what we can do.
[2:55:46] Because at the end of the day, the.
[2:55:49] We don't anticipate the we program stopping. That's something that's a program we want to continue.
[2:55:54] And until we could find a permanent solution for what we're taking out of there instead of just piling it up at different
[2:55:57] locations throughout the county.
[2:56:00] We need to have final destination disposal.
[2:56:04] As Nick or I think as Miss Laura mentioned earlier, we are working on coordination with A.
[2:56:09] Phase two proposal for additional funding to continue that program, which will include final destination disposal.
[2:56:16] So we understand that we need to have a final solution.
[2:56:21] And we are working on.
[2:56:22] Multiple options on that.
[2:56:24] OK.
[2:56:33] Any questions, Commissioners?
[2:56:36] We're going to we're going to talk later about the.
[2:56:39] The Fairgrounds.
[2:56:40] Yes, Sir.
[2:56:41] So we'll wait to that.
[2:56:47] Since there's nothing else being asked.
[2:56:50] Commented on. Let's move on to commissioners. Commissioner Wilson, do you have something to?
[2:56:55] Just very briefly, Mr. Chairman, and the.
[2:56:58] Thanks to this movie.
[2:56:59] Pool room this morning.
[2:57:00] Very healthy as long as we can.
[2:57:02] Maintain a certain level of decorum. I think this is.
[2:57:05] This is what's been talked about all morning. It's we, the people.
[2:57:08] A lot of good feedback.
[2:57:10] And.
[2:57:11] Participate in government unless we show up. So I think everybody who did.
[2:57:25] I'd just like to take a moment to thank the sheriff.
[2:57:28] For having the courage and the respect for his office.
[2:57:33] And affording the public the opportunity to speak out and engage in the manner that we did.
[2:57:40] I truly appreciate you from the bottom of my heart and.
[2:57:45] I just want to thank you.
[2:57:46] For doing that.
[2:57:51] I think I've spoken enough. Let's go ahead and have a break for 5 minutes.
[2:57:55] Recess.
[2:57:58] Go ahead.
[2:57:58] And amount of recess.
[2:58:01] We're going to try to answer this.
[2:58:04] Diligently. Umm.
[2:58:05] And with alacrity.
[2:58:08] But it's pretty long, so I.
[2:58:10] We may we may take a 30 minute break.
[2:58:12] For lunch.
[2:58:14] So we'll go ahead so.
[2:58:16] Now.
[2:58:19] We're in the action items.
[2:58:20] Piece and the first piece is to approve the minutes from the regular Commission meeting. 8/18/26 The special Joint Commission
[2:58:25] meeting.
[2:58:30] 2426, as well as a special Commission meeting that same day.
[2:58:35] Before we.
[2:58:37] Entertain a motion to approve. Are there any?
[2:58:40] Needed corrections.
[2:58:42] On any of these minutes.
[2:58:46] I have one, Sir. You did? No, it's perfect. August 18th.
[2:58:50] I accidentally put Wednesday August 18th instead of Tuesday August 18th up at the top.
[2:58:58] I'll entertain a motion to approve these minutes with the.
[2:59:01] The Clerk's.
[2:59:03] On the 18th.
[2:59:04] So, Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the minutes from the regular Commission meeting.
[2:59:10] Said Corrections.
[2:59:11] Special Joining.
[2:59:13] 8/24/26 and Special Commission meeting 820.
[2:59:18] 2nd.
[2:59:19] Madam Clerk, roll call, please.
[2:59:22] Commissioner Chaves.
[2:59:23] Yes, Commissioner Prager.
[2:59:24] Yes.
[2:59:26] Commissioner Sarah Chair, Fisher Aye Motion passes Monthly accounts payable and payroll report, August 2026.
[2:59:35] This Billy Joel where?
[2:59:49] It's still morning. Good morning, Commissioner, Good morning.
[2:59:53] Chairman. Commissioner.
[2:59:54] Really joking about us?
[2:59:56] Finance Director.
[2:59:57] I am requesting approval for the accounts payable and payroll for August 1st through the 31st and the amount of 4,000,065.
[3:00:05] $1800.81.
[3:00:09] Umm, do you have any questions on the checklist you.
[3:00:14] I have some on the budget report.
[3:00:16] On the budget, yeah, I don't think we have.
[3:00:19] Just a couple SO.
[3:00:22] Maybe you can help us out.
[3:00:24] Manager, I'm sorry that the treasurer's in here.
[3:00:27] But umm.
[3:00:28] Just the one I've got.
[3:00:30] I'm looking at.
[3:00:31] Workers compensation.
[3:00:33] General County government.
[3:00:36] Excuse me?
[3:00:37] And and so we know what time of the year we're at.
[3:00:40] And I don't understand the 4.47% left.
[3:00:44] For that which?
[3:00:45] Suggest to me.
[3:00:46] That we spent an awful lot on workers comp.
[3:00:49] Are we in trouble that way? Are we trending up?
[3:00:53] Do we have an issue?
[3:00:56] Do you know what I'm talking about? Here is this page.
[3:01:00] 2 of 74.
[3:01:03] Yeah, I see that the.
[3:01:04] The payment of.
[3:01:06] 238,819.
[3:01:08] Yes, ma'am, we get an invoice from New Mexico.
[3:01:14] So this takes care of the year, takes care of the year pretty much. That's that's helpful.
[3:01:19] Thank you.
[3:01:21] And then I got a sort of a different question.
[3:01:25] Lincoln County Carrizozo Animal Control, That's at 18. We're going to talk about this a little bit later, but 18 of 74.
[3:01:34] We have 100%.
[3:01:35] Left on that.
[3:01:37] And I'm not sure what I understand is that.
[3:01:39] We just haven't made payment to.
[3:01:43] To you know, the SPCA or what?
[3:01:47] Mr. Chairman, we have.
[3:01:49] I do not think we have made payments this fiscal year. We did conclude.
[3:01:53] Within last fiscal year?
[3:01:55] OK, so this is Lincoln County Care Zozo Animal Control. Is that what we're calling?
[3:01:59] Our support of SPCA.
[3:02:04] That's that's yeah, humane. I'm sorry, 18 of 74. Thank you.
[3:02:10] Thank you.
[3:02:10] We have not paid them. We need the contract.
[3:02:13] OK, well that's what I'm.
[3:02:14] Confirming, yeah.
[3:02:17] So we have a patent. So that's that's why that's there.
[3:02:22] Talked about the generator.
[3:02:25] It's really not generated to hook up.
[3:02:29] How about the?
[3:02:31] Courthouse generator. That's on page 25 to 74.
[3:02:36] I'm using this as a tickler.
[3:02:38] For me to ask questions.
[3:02:41] So we've got a requirement.
[3:02:43] And put a generator to support this facility, this whole compound.
[3:02:49] And that's 380,000. Do you have any update on where, where that's going to go?
[3:02:54] This is for the courthouse generator, Sir.
[3:02:58] Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, it's my understanding on that, that we are in design on that.
[3:03:03] And once we receive that design, we will.
[3:03:06] Look at procurement. I think the initial.
[3:03:09] Anticipation is to use our on call contract, but if we need to bid that one out, being as large as it is, we can.
[3:03:15] Called it though. OK, so when do you anticipate that happening?
[3:03:20] Let me follow up on that, Sir, and I'll get an update out on that.
[3:03:23] Appreciate that.
[3:03:24] Page 47 of 74 EMS OPS 41.97% left.
[3:03:32] Are we? Are we?
[3:03:34] Underfunding this are we getting?
[3:03:36] Higher rates of.
[3:03:39] Zillion than we anticipated in our budget.
[3:03:43] That's on page 47 of 74.
[3:03:46] We have an encumbrance of 575,000.
[3:03:49] Yes, so.
[3:03:51] I believe that.
[3:03:52] Is umm.
[3:03:55] Let's start looking at the.
[3:03:58] Umm.
[3:04:02] I'm concerned about are we going to have enough?
[3:04:04] By the end of the year.
[3:04:05] I think we'll be fine on that, being that there's the incumbents.
[3:04:09] For that for the 575,000 can you?
[3:04:13] Can you bring that to our attention next?
[3:04:15] Meeting. Sure.
[3:04:16] Thank you.
[3:04:21] We talked about.
[3:04:22] Co and Tully bridges so I won't bring that up again.
[3:04:30] 2nd monthly payout on EMS which is on page.
[3:04:34] 11 of 41.
[3:04:35] This is a check.
[3:04:39] Now we're at check side.
[3:04:42] So there's been some discussion and I wanted to talk to Todd. He's not here now.
[3:04:49] I guess what I don't understand and I think it's important.
[3:04:52] And maybe this is just Mark being stupid.
[3:04:55] Which wouldn't be the first time.
[3:04:58] EMS.
[3:05:00] Is paid for by.
[3:05:02] US and run by Presbyterian. Is that a correct statement?
[3:05:05] No, no.
[3:05:08] Mr. Chairman, I know this was a conversation we had.
[3:05:11] While we were looking at doing an MO U for the ambulances.
[3:05:14] Right, and we might need to get Madam Treasurer to come down here and fill in my.
[3:05:20] Where I might lack an understanding but.
[3:05:23] The way that this works is that, yes, Presbyterian.
[3:05:27] Does manage EMS, but EMS is paid for.
[3:05:30] As part of the mill levy that goes through the hospital, right? So it's not.
[3:05:34] Necessarily the county.
[3:05:36] Well, it is. It is. It is.
[3:05:38] It is the taxpayers, but it is not us as the county.
[3:05:42] It is going through the hospitals.
[3:05:44] Did I say that right?
[3:05:48] You did.
[3:05:50] OK.
[3:05:53] Are we going to have enough?
[3:05:54] I guess we think we're going to have enough to get through the year on this.
[3:05:58] So.
[3:05:59] So how are we staffed on EMS throughout the county? Is that?
[3:06:03] Are we 24 by 7 right?
[3:06:07] Yes, 24 by 7.
[3:06:09] It's our understanding they do have 24 hour coverage. I mean even here in Keras that stay at the.
[3:06:14] EMS.
[3:06:16] Across from the center. I thought that too so.
[3:06:19] What's generating this?
[3:06:21] Line of questioning.
[3:06:22] Is that there's some?
[3:06:24] Concern that at the, I think at the state legislature that we're not.
[3:06:29] Having enough support for EMS and I'm just not sure I understand that.
[3:06:34] I'll take that on myself.
[3:06:37] I think we've got, we're paying for.
[3:06:39] We have 24 by 7.
[3:06:41] Coverage. Umm.
[3:06:42] We're building a new building here in Carrizozo I think.
[3:06:46] We've got something up in Corona, do we not now?
[3:06:49] We haven't done that yet.
[3:06:51] They asked for a generator this year is what we're supporting them with this year.
[3:06:56] But we don't have, we don't have full time EMS up there. Is that true statement?
[3:07:00] Mr. Wilson, Mr. Chairman, I think I.
[3:07:02] If this is what you're talking about, it's.
[3:07:04] Part of New Mexico.
[3:07:06] Legislative, uh.
[3:07:07] Initiatives was to.
[3:07:09] Reclassify the EMS of.
[3:07:12] Necessary service along with the sheriff and the emergency.
[3:07:15] Response.
[3:07:18] So just to reclassify them, we give them.
[3:07:20] Avenues Group.
[3:07:22] My name is Resources.
[3:07:24] Yeah, I don't know if that's what you're alluding to or not, but.
[3:07:27] I'm not sure either, I'm trying to.
[3:07:29] Figure out what the solution is.
[3:07:31] Why are we building a solution? We don't have a problem. Do we have a problem?
[3:07:34] And coverage of EMS in the county.
[3:07:36] Not in our county.
[3:07:38] But in in county, statewide there there is issues.
[3:07:41] OK, so we're taking care of our.
[3:07:43] Our county sits favorable compared to many.
[3:07:47] Have we looked at it would be interesting and I don't know who to ask on this one.
[3:07:52] It would be interesting to know what our call times are.
[3:07:55] Relative to to other areas.
[3:07:59] I think I think I understand where that came from.
[3:08:02] And I'm getting information that's incomplete and you've helped complete that for me.
[3:08:07] But I want to make sure that the county is covered.
[3:08:10] And we are. I thought we were.
[3:08:13] Thank you very much, Mr. Wilson.
[3:08:16] Chairman. Fisher, Commissioner.
[3:08:18] I'm Sherry Huddleston, Lincoln County Treasurer. And the 500 fund they actually get.
[3:08:22] State funds for training and equipment.
[3:08:25] For each of the.
[3:08:26] Different. Umm.
[3:08:28] Locations in the county.
[3:08:30] So that adds to it. That comes from the state.
[3:08:33] OK, OK.
[3:08:37] I think that's.
[3:08:39] That's pretty much all I've got.
[3:08:43] I have a question.
[3:08:46] In the road department, vehicle fuel.
[3:08:48] Line it looks like.
[3:08:51] They've already encumbered 44th.
[3:08:53] 1000.
[3:08:56] Commissioner Serna.
[3:08:58] They also have the 421 fund.
[3:09:00] And that's their extra gas fuel line. And so they build that up, they get.
[3:09:08] Well, it's motor fuel vehicle taxes.
[3:09:10] That they use, yeah, gas tax.
[3:09:13] For that 421 fund.
[3:09:15] So he utilizes what's in his fund and then he'll start using the 421 fund.
[3:09:20] So it's guests reaching $6 a gallon or diesel.
[3:09:24] Have we? Are we going to need a?
[3:09:26] Budget adjustment.
[3:09:28] Not yet, but we'll look, you know, in.
[3:09:33] February or March and see how he's looking.
[3:09:39] It's over $6 for Basil yesterday.
[3:09:43] Get us all.
[3:09:46] OK. Any other questions or comments?
[3:09:49] Thank you very much.
[3:09:51] Entertain a.
[3:09:52] A motion to approve the Council payable and payroll for August 2026.
[3:09:59] Mr. Chair, make a motion that we approve.
[3:10:02] Accounts payable and payroll report, August.
[3:10:04] 2026, Thank you. Do we have a second?
[3:10:08] Madam Clerk, please.
[3:10:11] Commissioner Sarna.
[3:10:13] Aye, Commissioner Chavez. Yes, Commissioner Prather, Commissioner Wilson, Chair Fisher, thank you very much.
[3:10:20] Next is consideration to schedule a public hearing regarding.
[3:10:23] Proposed amendments to Lincoln County.
[3:10:25] Personnel policies and procedures.
[3:10:28] I'll ask you, Manager Burns, to just highlight.
[3:10:33] What we're trying to do there?
[3:10:35] Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
[3:10:37] So on this we have.
[3:10:40] Our ordinance 2502, it has been open. We have been reviewing it with HR.
[3:10:46] Madam Council and with.
[3:10:48] Mark Allen from NMC.
[3:10:51] We have reviewed it with the department heads.
[3:10:54] And uh.
[3:10:56] It has taken a significant.
[3:10:58] Overhaul. Umm.
[3:10:59] Primarily just to bring it up to current state, federal.
[3:11:04] Standards.
[3:11:05] And statutes.
[3:11:06] So.
[3:11:09] With that, we will.
[3:11:12] We are wanting to bring that back. We are.
[3:11:15] Doing a finalized review.
[3:11:17] Before we send it out, we're going to have that sent out today. I know, I said, uh.
[3:11:21] Yesterday. We will have that out today and I apologize.
[3:11:26] But we will have that back out to department heads with the comments from NMC.
[3:11:30] And Mark Allen?
[3:11:31] For review and then the other thing I'd like to do with the Commission prior to bringing this back to you in October.
[3:11:37] The public hearing is consideration to adopt.
[3:11:39] Is I'd like to schedule an individual workshop that we can go over it individually.
[3:11:44] That we will have Mark Allen at.
[3:11:45] Because as much of an overhaul as it did.
[3:11:48] Take and how many recommendations are in it so.
[3:11:51] With that, what your item is here today is that we could schedule a public hearing.
[3:11:55] For your Commission meeting on.
[3:11:57] October 20th.
[3:11:59] For potential consideration.
[3:12:00] Of this ordinance.
[3:12:02] Let me get this straight.
[3:12:04] The the department heads will have the opportunity to review it.
[3:12:08] With Mark Allen is that.
[3:12:10] Is that the they are welcome to come to the public hearing. We're going to send it out as it currently is that has.
[3:12:16] The Red Line revision with Mark Allen's comments about why he made the revisions that he did and, and and all the department heads
[3:12:19] will get.
[3:12:23] Copy it. Being able to look at that, yes, we've sent it out there prior.
[3:12:28] Previously.
[3:12:30] And now we're going to send it out again.
[3:12:32] Is what we're gonna do.
[3:12:34] Are we going to receive a copy tomorrow as well?
[3:12:37] Today, uh.
[3:12:38] You'll have it by the end of the day today.
[3:12:40] And then we're going to have a workshop with Mark Allen present, yes.
[3:12:45] Prior to a public hearing.
[3:12:47] So that we can have any final revisions and then we'll get that advertised out with your Commission package.
[3:12:52] As part of your public hearing.
[3:12:54] Yes, that would be the intent.
[3:12:55] Anything changes and all of that can be made prior to you the.
[3:12:59] Publication.
[3:13:01] Madam Commissioner.
[3:13:03] If there are significant changes, yes, but I'm not expecting many this has been.
[3:13:08] I expect comments but not significant changes.
[3:13:11] Because I had over 100 changes from the original when it was first sent to me.
[3:13:16] And so to be able to compare that with your.
[3:13:20] Changes that are being.
[3:13:22] Shown to us it's just concerning and I don't know if we're.
[3:13:25] Going to be able to do our due diligence because you have three that you want to hold in October.
[3:13:30] And so that's what my concern is that time management.
[3:13:33] Your personnel policy.
[3:13:35] Will be the largest one in October.
[3:13:38] Your other two that we're going to discuss here in a minute, I feel are fairly minor and we've discussed.
[3:13:42] A couple times.
[3:13:45] And if we have significant changes that we need to.
[3:13:48] Push the consideration in to November, then we can do that at the October meeting and we'll schedule another public hearing.
[3:13:54] For November.
[3:13:57] Without seeing.
[3:13:58] For me to say yes, we will be ready in October.
[3:14:02] I think it's a point he's making that if you're not ready in October, we'll move it to the November.
[3:14:07] I'm confident in the product, in the product that we've developed.
[3:14:11] Especially with.
[3:14:13] The review of Mark Allen.
[3:14:15] And the attorney then with HR going through and I'm.
[3:14:18] Very confident in this.
[3:14:20] I understand the.
[3:14:21] Amount of changes that were there previously.
[3:14:23] And we're probably very warranted.
[3:14:26] I I think the updates we've made now.
[3:14:28] Are very appropriate to what we have for a personal policy so.
[3:14:34] And if you need more time.
[3:14:36] We could move it to November. It's just.
[3:14:38] Non problem.
[3:14:40] Right now.
[3:14:42] How's the problem?
[3:14:44] Because I haven't even seen it in the amount of work that we'll have to put into reviewing it to be able to say in one month I'm
[3:14:50] going to be prepared to speak on creating a policy.
[3:14:55] Well, uh.
[3:14:58] I yeah, I restated.
[3:14:59] That if you cannot.
[3:15:02] And you don't feel like you can acquaint yourself?
[3:15:05] Where we can't make changes.
[3:15:07] That we agree on.
[3:15:09] Before the October meeting.
[3:15:11] Series.
[3:15:13] Then we will move it.
[3:15:14] To the right to November.
[3:15:17] I think that gives you the option that.
[3:15:19] If you can't do it.
[3:15:21] Mr. Chairman, so, yes, I have a point of clarification just for my understanding.
[3:15:26] These.
[3:15:29] Public hearings.
[3:15:31] Meant to put.
[3:15:33] To provide input into these changes.
[3:15:36] That's correct.
[3:15:38] So it's it's conceivable to say that even after a public hearing, we would want to make further changes.
[3:15:43] We don't have to adopt any changes immediately after a public hearing.
[3:15:47] So it is conceivable that we get this.
[3:15:50] We provide our input.
[3:15:52] To give the public and.
[3:15:53] Option to provide their input in October.
[3:15:56] And we still don't.
[3:15:57] Adopt this until November.
[3:16:00] I think that's absolutely true.
[3:16:02] So scheduling the public hearing, I don't think they did an issue at this point because we would welcome any of that feedback.
[3:16:08] It's just this.
[3:16:10] The approval.
[3:16:12] Yeah, it's the approval that can be kicked until November if.
[3:16:15] And wind changes are.
[3:16:16] Misses her.
[3:16:18] I guess my concern would be whenever we publish the public hearing, we have to make available the ordinance itself to the public
[3:16:23] for them to receive it and if.
[3:16:28] Commission as a body hasn't been able to weigh in on the ordinance and that's what's being presented. These are the changes. It's
[3:16:33] like these are not the changes by the Commission, these are the changes by.
[3:16:38] The bureaucrats.
[3:16:40] That's my concern.
[3:16:48] So what you're saying?
[3:16:51] That we need to meet.
[3:16:54] Prior to.
[3:16:56] Publishing.
[3:16:57] The draft ordinance.
[3:16:58] So that we can ensure that changes.
[3:17:02] And then we're comfortable with what's being published, right? Right.
[3:17:05] That's what I'm saying.
[3:17:10] What's your timing with respect to?
[3:17:13] This this workshop.
[3:17:17] Do you have any idea on that?
[3:17:19] I mean.
[3:17:22] Mr. Chairman.
[3:17:25] We had not picked a specific date yet. We were going to try to.
[3:17:28] Coordinate that with the.
[3:17:30] Commission, but even as early as next week.
[3:17:33] Based on availability.
[3:17:36] So that that might.
[3:17:38] I'd be a little bit tight.
[3:17:45] I think.
[3:17:47] Let me make a suggestion to the Commission.
[3:18:09] I think I think that the consideration to.
[3:18:12] Absolutely close to November.
[3:18:15] Particularly.
[3:18:17] The.
[3:18:20] The personnel policies and procedures, this is something that's extraordinarily important to everybody.
[3:18:25] Particularly, yeah.
[3:18:26] Our employees.
[3:18:28] But also everyone in the community.
[3:18:31] So slowing that down is not an easy reason.
[3:18:34] Class in the sense that.
[3:18:36] Once we have.
[3:18:37] Our meeting with Mark Allen.
[3:18:41] My hope is that we'll get enough information.
[3:18:44] With respect to being able to.
[3:18:47] Look at the draft.
[3:18:49] Hear his explanations.
[3:18:51] And then also.
[3:18:53] Discuss it, perhaps amongst ourselves.
[3:18:55] And we could have a special meeting or a workshop that.
[3:18:58] Accommodate that, whatever.
[3:18:59] The legal venue.
[3:19:03] And then?
[3:19:04] We can consider changes to it.
[3:19:08] And with that.
[3:19:10] That becomes what what is published for the?
[3:19:13] Consideration of the.
[3:19:15] Of the community.
[3:19:18] Does that make sense?
[3:19:19] Does that make sense to this?
[3:19:21] This body.
[3:19:25] One could imagine we could still have that.
[3:19:27] That meeting next week?
[3:19:30] One could imagine it. I don't know if that works for you, I know.
[3:19:34] Time for a bunch of people here.
[3:19:38] And let's workout. Let's workout the timing.
[3:19:42] Get a consensus from the Commission, I'm pretty open.
[3:19:45] But I have AI don't have the responsibilities that some of these people.
[3:19:53] So the format I'm thinking.
[3:19:56] Commissioner, I'm thinking the format with this meeting with Mark Allen, I think it's appropriate.
[3:20:01] That we have him there.
[3:20:03] We go through this line item by line item and I don't want the first time I see it. And you said you're going to send it out today
[3:20:06] anyway.
[3:20:10] To be that meeting, but at that meeting.
[3:20:13] We can.
[3:20:14] Agreed to any changes that we want.
[3:20:19] If you know with Mark Allen there and council there and.
[3:20:23] HR there.
[3:20:25] You know, using them as resources.
[3:20:28] And then at that time we can decide when.
[3:20:30] We should actually have this.
[3:20:34] This this public hearing.
[3:20:36] OK. And that could be November?
[3:20:40] It just depends on.
[3:20:42] Time again.
[3:20:45] Understood.
[3:20:45] Is that are we good with that?
[3:20:48] Commissioner Wilson.
[3:20:51] So you pointed your finger up, I assume you wanted. Yeah, so, so I think, I think that that's reasonable.
[3:20:57] I think it's we still need.
[3:20:59] Schedule our public hearing.
[3:21:01] With anticipation of being in October. With anticipation of doing it in October.
[3:21:05] I think that's fine, you can always change it.
[3:21:08] Could you inform us when Mark Allen to be available to sit down with us?
[3:21:13] Mr. Commissioner, yes, we will coordinate that.
[3:21:18] With the workshop it'll probably.
[3:21:20] We'll get some dates and.
[3:21:21] And get.
[3:21:23] Because I'm in agreeance with you.
[3:21:25] Commissioner Rosa.
[3:21:27] About getting this.
[3:21:28] Later.
[3:21:31] So.
[3:21:34] Instead, I would entertain a motion to approve.
[3:21:37] Number three of the action items.
[3:21:40] With the caveats that we just mentioned.
[3:21:43] Move We schedule public hearing.
[3:21:50] We have a second.
[3:21:52] 2nd that 4.
[3:21:54] We're on October, yes, our next regular.
[3:22:02] Work when you're ready.
[3:22:05] Commissioner Wilson, Yes.
[3:22:07] Commissioner Chavez. Commissioner Prather.
[3:22:09] Aye, Chair Fisher. Motion passes 4:00 to 1:00.
[3:22:14] Next is consideration to schedule a public hearing regarding proposed amendments in Lincoln County ordinance #20009-2.
[3:22:21] It's rated related to the economic development planning.
[3:22:27] Mr. Burns.
[3:22:29] Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
[3:22:31] Yet again we have a.
[3:22:33] Request to schedule a public hearing on a revision to our Leader Ordinance.
[3:22:39] This one we've had open.
[3:22:41] For a few months we've been reviewing this with our.
[3:22:44] Economic development loads with Jim Lacero and Kevin Wilson.
[3:22:48] Also as well as.
[3:22:50] Madam Treasurer.
[3:22:51] It's my understanding on this that we were going to have a revision to the security requirements so that we can continue to use
[3:22:55] the lead ordinance. This would be your.
[3:22:58] Request to schedule a public hearing.
[3:23:01] For your October meeting.
[3:23:04] For those considerations.
[3:23:07] And this will be the same this this is from my understanding, and maybe Madam Treasurer can explain it a little better.
[3:23:14] A very minor change that we can get out. It's not an overhaul of the entire ordinance.
[3:23:22] I have treasure.
[3:23:24] Chairman Fisher. Commissioner Sherry Huddleston, Lincoln County Treasurer.
[3:23:27] So an Alita funding they have to.
[3:23:31] Right now we have them put up.
[3:23:34] CD.
[3:23:35] For the amount of the Lita.
[3:23:37] Funds that they receive.
[3:23:39] And we would like to change the ordinance to where they can do a letter of credit or something like that.
[3:23:45] I mean.
[3:23:46] You know the.
[3:23:47] They've already received all the funding, they just have to finish it out and it takes.
[3:23:51] Amount of time? Is it two years or something like that?
[3:23:54] To finish the program, but I don't think it's fair that they have to have a CD.
[3:23:59] Put with.
[3:24:00] Tied to Lincoln County.
[3:24:03] I think a letter of credit.
[3:24:05] Would be.
[3:24:06] You know, umm.
[3:24:10] Equivalent to the CD.
[3:24:12] And or any other.
[3:24:15] I guess a bond or anything like that.
[3:24:17] So the ordinance would just need to be changed to where we can accept the letter of credit from the person getting the lead of
[3:24:20] funds.
[3:24:26] Mr. Chair, I remember discussing this.
[3:24:29] With the economic development division, when Jasper Riddle was asking for this and.
[3:24:34] It was to.
[3:24:36] Mirror what state statute?
[3:24:38] Requires and not be more strict and so.
[3:24:43] Yeah, I would have liked to have seen a draft or.
[3:24:46] A red line version in our packet. It's very difficult to.
[3:24:50] Make decisions without understanding what the backup material is.
[3:24:56] So I remember that very well too.
[3:24:58] There, this is kind of a different twist.
[3:25:02] On.
[3:25:02] On what I thought was going to be presented.
[3:25:07] We had we have unnecessarily constrained.
[3:25:11] The utility of that.
[3:25:14] Leader, Those leader funds.
[3:25:17] In this county.
[3:25:19] I would I would like to.
[3:25:22] I would like to have us.
[3:25:25] Prefer with.
[3:25:27] Our economic development department.
[3:25:29] To ensure that that we're as.
[3:25:34] That we are not overly constraining beyond what the state statutes require, state regulations require.
[3:25:41] And I don't see that we've done that.
[3:25:44] Is there some way it was presented earlier in?
[3:25:47] I guess last year.
[3:25:49] Yeah, and it was in there.
[3:25:52] I don't know I I don't have those documents in front of me.
[3:25:57] It would be nice to have you, can we?
[3:25:59] Revisit this particular one because it.
[3:26:02] Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, and, and maybe this is my misunderstanding, that's the purpose of scheduling our public hearing so
[3:26:06] that we can present this to you, so that we schedule this.
[3:26:11] If that's my misunderstanding all all research is a little more and.
[3:26:15] Revise how we present these to you.
[3:26:19] So.
[3:26:21] I just.
[3:26:22] My concern here.
[3:26:24] Is that we are. We are not addressing.
[3:26:26] The original.
[3:26:27] Problem that we had.
[3:26:29] When we address this with Jasper Riddle.
[3:26:31] In noisy water.
[3:26:34] I just want to make sure that what you present to us.
[3:26:38] Includes.
[3:26:39] Those changes that need to keep it as loose as possible.
[3:26:43] So that we comply with the state, but we don't constrain.
[3:26:47] Our economic development in.
[3:26:49] County of Lincoln.
[3:26:51] So.
[3:26:53] If you present that to us.
[3:26:57] Beforehand.
[3:26:58] I think we can go ahead and have a public hearing. It's a very minor change, as I recall.
[3:27:03] And I'm OK with with.
[3:27:05] Proposing a public hearing on the next.
[3:27:08] The next.
[3:27:11] Meeting that we have, but it's going to have to include verification that we have met.
[3:27:15] You know, I want something from.
[3:27:18] What was it? Mark Roper. He used to be there.
[3:27:20] Kevin Kevin Wilson Kevin Wilson.
[3:27:24] Sure, I want to make sure that they.
[3:27:25] Kevin is.
[3:27:26] Coordinating with this on on the revisions on this.
[3:27:29] It is a very minor change and it is a result of Jasper's Lita.
[3:27:33] So it is in there.
[3:27:34] You're saying, no, Sir, that's what we're adding here. We, we, we revised the agreement for Jasper to be able to allow it, but
[3:27:38] that is the.
[3:27:42] This is the result of why we're doing it is so that when we do this again with a similar situation that.
[3:27:48] It accommodates so that we don't have the issue again like we've had with Jasper. It wasn't. It was not clear to me in the
[3:27:52] original discussion.
[3:27:55] We were just talking about CD's.
[3:27:59] This was more than that, as I recall.
[3:28:03] Am I wrong in that? Do you know?
[3:28:06] No, that's the way I recall it.
[3:28:08] I will entertain a motion to to have that public hearing then.
[3:28:13] But I want to make sure that that.
[3:28:15] Kevin Wilson.
[3:28:17] That we're complying with.
[3:28:19] The requirement.
[3:28:20] But not we're not constraining the county.
[3:28:23] We need economic develop.
[3:28:27] We will ask them to be at your next meeting, Sir.
[3:28:29] OK, so therefore.
[3:28:31] Do you have something else? My same concern lies.
[3:28:35] We're not going to be able to.
[3:28:37] Review it before it's published and made available to the public.
[3:28:41] Once again, we're saying this is the changes.
[3:28:43] Presented by the governing body, but we haven't seen it.
[3:28:48] How can I compare a state statute to a local ordinance?
[3:28:52] And say, come pick up your ordinance. This is what the Commission wants to revise.
[3:28:56] Our feet are being cut from under us because we're the policy making body, but we're not given the policy before we publish it.
[3:29:06] Mr. Chairman, Madam Commissioner.
[3:29:08] Respectfully, I mean, again, kind of Commissioner Wilson's point.
[3:29:12] The whole point of the public hearing is so that can be considered and published even with your revisions.
[3:29:17] We're getting it out to you earlier so you can review it.
[3:29:19] And hopefully make some changes prior to the meeting, but it's also for review and discussion during your October meeting.
[3:29:26] October 6th would be your deadline to have this available to the public.
[3:29:30] And if we change it during your public meeting, then that will be the direction of the Commissioner.
[3:29:36] So we're going to get it out to you. We'll get this one out as soon as we finalize the revisions.
[3:29:42] So you can have some pre look at it if we have.
[3:29:44] Prior comments, but.
[3:29:49] Not a single commissioner's comments will not be incorporated into the ordinance revisions prior to October 6.
[3:29:55] I guess you're correct on that, but when you have comments on October 20th, they will be incorporated.
[3:30:02] Well, the comments.
[3:30:03] Yeah, comments will be considered.
[3:30:06] The body will prove it.
[3:30:09] So I I'm I'm OK with that.
[3:30:16] We schedule a public hearing.
[3:30:17] For the proposed amendment to the ordinance.
[3:30:27] Madam Clerk.
[3:30:31] Commissioner Serna.
[3:30:32] No, Commissioner Wilson, Yes.
[3:30:34] Commissioner Chavez, Chair Fisher. Motion passes 4:00 to 1:00.
[3:30:41] The next is a.
[3:30:42] Consideration Schedule a public hearing on October 20th, 2026.
[3:30:47] Modification adoption. Solid waste collection is closed.
[3:30:50] We talked about this a number of times already.
[3:30:58] Give us an update.
[3:31:00] So Sir Ross Coleman, Director of Strategic Planning and Resilience.
[3:31:04] Stephanie has been working on a lot of the comments that you had from the previous meeting a few months ago.
[3:31:10] She's been going through all of the collections.
[3:31:13] Looking at the fee structure.
[3:31:15] And so I believe that she is ready for us to move forward with a public hearing so we can discuss those items.
[3:31:21] So that we can decide.
[3:31:23] How you would like to move forward?
[3:31:25] Move forward adoption.
[3:31:32] Commissioners.
[3:31:36] Once again after reviewing.
[3:31:37] The ordinance that was provided to us in our.
[3:31:41] August meeting for the public hearing they were going to schedule.
[3:31:44] I have a few changes that I would like for the body to consider.
[3:31:48] Before it's published.
[3:31:50] To the public.
[3:31:54] And that's what being able to put eyes on it, I just.
[3:31:57] Right off the bat.
[3:32:00] If you look at the.
[3:32:01] Hardship waiver there's no defined.
[3:32:04] Hardship, You know, if you go apply for public assistance, they say you must be under a percentage of the federal poverty
[3:32:08] guideline.
[3:32:12] Ours is just open-ended.
[3:32:20] I agree that needs to be tightened up.
[3:32:23] And then there's another part.
[3:32:26] I don't think that I'm on it directly.
[3:32:29] It says a hardship waiver can be.
[3:32:31] Submitted to the county manager and also appealed by the county manager.
[3:32:37] That doesn't seem right either. The appeal needs to be by a different individual.
[3:32:42] Such as the governing bot.
[3:32:47] I concur with that as well.
[3:32:49] And there's another one that.
[3:32:51] Speaks about the commercial dumpsters. I don't think that.
[3:32:55] It's the duty of the government.
[3:32:57] To limit.
[3:33:00] Commercial activity, you know.
[3:33:02] In the unincorporated areas of Lincoln County.
[3:33:05] Have it in our ordinance.
[3:33:09] I agree.
[3:33:14] Commissioners, would it be acceptable to take some of these changes today?
[3:33:18] Have our public meeting.
[3:33:21] Public hearing in October, work on changes and then bring it back to you in November.
[3:33:26] Mr. Chairman, Commissioners saying the other way of comments.
[3:33:29] We've looked at this multiple times.
[3:33:32] And incorporated the comments and and what our understanding of the Commission was and and with some.
[3:33:38] Additional details.
[3:33:40] We can incorporate those, but.
[3:33:41] Scheduling the public hearing and moving through the process and you know.
[3:33:45] I guess what we're going to do is I'll sit down with Director Coleman and Stephanie and we're going to really take a look at.
[3:33:50] You know our processes of how we conduct ordinances as we open these revisal and bring them back to you.
[3:33:57] To make sure that they're compliant with state statute and up to the expectations of the Commission.
[3:34:05] Well, what I'd like to do.
[3:34:07] What I would like to do, I'd feel more comfortable with.
[3:34:10] Is that we?
[3:34:12] See these.
[3:34:14] This revised.
[3:34:15] Ordinance Suggested. Proposed ordinance.
[3:34:19] Again.
[3:34:21] And I'd like to incorporate some of these changes we just talked about.
[3:34:24] For our review.
[3:34:29] We can do that online.
[3:34:31] I have another comment.
[3:34:34] I have reached out to Alan Merrill and Alex Bobbitt on questions regarding the settlement agreement in JPA with Greentree.
[3:34:43] Because they have concerns.
[3:34:45] With the solid waste ordinance change.
[3:34:48] I think it'd be prudent of us to have a meeting as a body with.
[3:34:52] Green tree to.
[3:34:54] Hear their concerns at a minimum and.
[3:34:56] Ensure that our new solid waste ordinance is not in violation of the settlement agreement that we have entered into with them.
[3:35:05] And I agree with that also.
[3:35:11] I just want to make sure we're doing our due diligence, yes.
[3:35:17] OK.
[3:35:22] My suggestion is that we table this.
[3:35:27] Move and accept a motion to table this to our next meeting.
[3:35:31] With the with the.
[3:35:35] Requirement.
[3:35:36] That we review it again.
[3:35:40] We can do that offline.
[3:35:42] But we need to have scheduled a meeting with Greentree. That's council. Was that your?
[3:35:47] Is that your advice?
[3:35:49] We're good enough.
[3:35:53] I'm not sure how because I'm not sure how Greentree plays with this, but we do have a settlement agreement. I don't know what that
[3:35:57] settlement agreement says.
[3:36:01] So if there's a concern from your side as our county.
[3:36:06] Lawyer. Then I suppose we should do that.
[3:36:11] You agree?
[3:36:13] OK, so let's I'll accept a motion to table this.
[3:36:16] To our next regular meeting.
[3:36:19] And in the meantime, we need to.
[3:36:20] Operate some of those changes.
[3:36:23] As a suggestion.
[3:36:25] More and also need to meet this tree tree.
[3:36:29] Mr. Chavez, you are a member of that board, are you not?
[3:36:33] So would you make sure that that meeting that we get to meet with them? I have a meeting with them on the 17th, on the 17th.
[3:36:40] Thursday. Thursday, yeah.
[3:36:43] I'll make sure that we.
[3:36:45] They're informed and we'll see when we can schedule a meeting and then.
[3:36:50] Is that something we want to have multiple commissioners at and plus our?
[3:36:54] Legal uh uh.
[3:36:56] Little team.
[3:36:57] I would like to invite them into executive session.
[3:37:01] Mr. Manager on the.
[3:37:04] Proxy for that board, so I'd be willing to go and.
[3:37:07] Take part in that green tree meeting as well.
[3:37:13] OK.
[3:37:18] You got the meeting on the 17th, you said Thursday, Thursday.
[3:37:22] So. So why don't the two of you attend that meeting?
[3:37:27] And figure out where we stand with this.
[3:37:30] And I don't know.
[3:37:31] You know the county manager, you probably should go as well.
[3:37:34] From this particular.
[3:37:36] Subject uh.
[3:37:37] So you're there.
[3:37:38] And we'll discuss it.
[3:37:39] And then come back.
[3:37:41] Come back on our October meeting.
[3:37:44] And we'll discuss your findings and any changes that need to be made.
[3:37:51] Is that reasonable? Well, the problem is there is that we're not going to be on the agenda. So we.
[3:37:56] It's on the agenda. Oh, is it on the agenda?
[3:37:59] OK, all right, look at it. Yes, she sent it to all three of us.
[3:38:04] Mr. Chairman, I will.
[3:38:07] We've had some concerns previously about Open Meetings Act. We're going to have three commissioners there discussing county
[3:38:10] business.
[3:38:13] I don't know that a potential quorum will cover that.
[3:38:16] I will be at the meeting Thursday. I'll let you all handle that. I'm assigned to other boards and committees. Thank you,
[3:38:18] Commissioner.
[3:38:22] It'll just be those two.
[3:38:26] All right, plus you.
[3:38:28] Plus, umm.
[3:38:29] Loss, perhaps, and I'd like to have a lawyer there.
[3:38:33] So I'll accept the motion to.
[3:38:36] To table this.
[3:38:41] I make a motion that we.
[3:38:44] Table action item.
[3:38:45] #5 until next meeting.
[3:38:49] 2nd.
[3:38:50] Madam Clerk.
[3:38:54] Commissioner Chavez.
[3:38:55] Yes, Commissioner Sarna.
[3:38:58] Aye, Commissioner Frather.
[3:39:00] Commissioner Wilson.
[3:39:01] Yes, Chair Fisher Motion.
[3:39:06] All right.
[3:39:09] Thank you.
[3:39:10] This is a tough one because nobody likes it.
[3:39:13] But we have to have it.
[3:39:21] So it's sensitive.
[3:39:23] Next is consideration of Colonious Infrastructure Project Fund Agreement 1676 and resolution.
[3:39:28] 2027.
[3:39:30] Dash 10 and I think that's Mr.
[3:39:34] Yes, Sir, Chairman Fisher Commissioners Jeff Honeycutt, Lincoln County Road Superintendent.
[3:39:41] This is the drainage design.
[3:39:46] Keep going up there. No, you're fine. Keep going.
[3:39:49] For Alamo Canyon.
[3:39:51] It's part of the Colonias Grand. It's a $204,000 grant with the 20,450.
[3:39:57] $5 match I believe.
[3:40:00] So there would be $184,000.
[3:40:03] That's part of the grant and.
[3:40:05] Included in that is also $20,454.00 of a loan.
[3:40:10] That we have to.
[3:40:11] Apply for it. What this does, essentially is.
[3:40:15] It gives us an idea. We get the drainage.
[3:40:17] Uh, study done in there, we get some of the design work done the right of way established and that way when we do need to go out
[3:40:21] and get.
[3:40:24] Bigger.
[3:40:25] Sums of money.
[3:40:27] To do road work or drainage repair will have this thing already in place.
[3:40:31] In the Colonius grant, which has worked very well for us in the past when we already have a project designed.
[3:40:38] And ready to go.
[3:40:39] It's almost like Step 2 of getting the additional money.
[3:40:45] So that's what this one is about.
[3:40:47] For Alamo candy.
[3:40:48] Does that start from?
[3:40:50] The right away the county all the way to the end. That is correct, Sir.
[3:40:55] Including the low water crossings. We'll just study the whole thing. Let's see what we need to do.
[3:41:00] Of course, $200,000 is not going to cover the complete design of a nine mile roadway.
[3:41:06] But it will get us started and see what we need to do and what areas we need to focus our attention on.
[3:41:12] The most?
[3:41:15] So this is already incorporated into what?
[3:41:17] Has been done to element Gators.
[3:41:19] Already Or is it?
[3:41:21] Is this an extension of that?
[3:41:23] Chairman Fisher, Commissioner Chavez, this is not.
[3:41:26] Incorporated into what we did before, there was just a micro surface, type 4 micro surface that was just kind of a maintenance.
[3:41:34] Project.
[3:41:35] It was kind of an exploratory deal on our part. We wanted to see if it would work with.
[3:41:40] About putting it on top of chip seal that went down on the existing roadway surface.
[3:41:44] And to this point, it's held up well.
[3:41:46] But it was a maintenance project, it's not part of the bigger.
[3:41:49] Design if it ends up holding up.
[3:41:52] And still performing like it has to this point.
[3:41:54] It could be a very inexpensive option for us to continue that along Alamo Canyon.
[3:42:01] But we'll find some of the deficiencies when we do the drainage study.
[3:42:05] Of where we're getting the most.
[3:42:07] Flows in some of the areas that could need to be corrected.
[3:42:13] And this is colonial.
[3:42:17] Thank you, Jeff. Yes, Sir.
[3:42:21] Motion to approve.
[3:42:22] Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve.
[3:42:25] The Commission.
[3:42:27] 231676 and resolution 202713.
[3:42:34] Clerk, please.
[3:42:37] Commissioner Wilson.
[3:42:38] Commissioner Serna.
[3:42:39] I Commissioner Prather, Aye, Commissioner Chapman Chair Fisher.
[3:42:43] Aye, Motion.
[3:42:45] Thank you.
[3:42:46] Thank you.
[3:42:47] Let us sit there. Yes, Sir.
[3:42:49] Thank you.
[3:42:50] Consideration of budget adjustment award, IFB 26-03, ARCO and Tully Bridges.
[3:42:57] This is the one that we talked about briefly before.
[3:43:03] We don't currently have any funding for this additional amount of money, do we? That is correct, Chairman Fisher. I'm Jeff
[3:43:07] Honeycutt, the Lincoln County road Superintendent.
[3:43:11] We did put this out to bid twice.
[3:43:14] Of same contractor bid it twice.
[3:43:17] And the numbers came back.
[3:43:19] The same.
[3:43:21] Which was?
[3:43:23] $592,000 and we have $225,000.
[3:43:28] Tied to this project obligated through FEMA.
[3:43:31] So we have.
[3:43:32] Essentially a $365,000 shortfall.
[3:43:37] But we are in the process of trying to get more money.
[3:43:40] Sent to us from FEMA.
[3:43:42] That will take time.
[3:43:44] They have to re obligate that project and we.
[3:43:47] Pretty familiar with the FEMA process.
[3:43:50] But.
[3:43:51] The Commission's desire to.
[3:43:53] Potentially fund this then that would.
[3:43:56] Be able to expedite it.
[3:43:57] And if we did get more money from FEMA, that would just have an option for us not to use this money.
[3:44:04] But there is that shortfall and.
[3:44:08] Compared to the total.
[3:44:09] Cost of the project.
[3:44:10] Madam Treasurer, do you have a comment?
[3:44:13] On this.
[3:44:20] How much is the shortfall? I'm sorry.
[3:44:23] Chairman Fisher, Commissioner Sernitz $365,000 The bid came in twice at 592,000 and we were allowed.
[3:44:31] 225,000.
[3:44:33] Was the obligation from FEMA.
[3:44:36] 365,000 is a shortfall.
[3:44:38] Did did you not mention that that?
[3:44:40] With the letter from the.
[3:44:42] I can't remember what his name is. District 2.
[3:44:45] Francisco Sanchez we made.
[3:44:48] We may be awarded more funds.
[3:44:50] That is correct, Commissioner Chavez, it actually was a.
[3:44:54] It did work for Otero County that way.
[3:44:57] And.
[3:44:59] Francisco Sanchez has agreed to write the letter.
[3:45:01] And we're getting them the information that that he requested.
[3:45:05] So I feel good about us getting.
[3:45:07] More money.
[3:45:08] It's just going to be a factor of wind.
[3:45:11] And that's the problem.
[3:45:13] I would probably be more comfortable waiting until after we find out about the letter.
[3:45:19] That will.
[3:45:21] Not allow us to do any of the work that we have put out to bid at this point.
[3:45:25] So we would be at a stopping point.
[3:45:28] On those two bridges.
[3:45:32] I don't have a crystal ball, but we potentially could have another government shutdown in October.
[3:45:38] This is just good too.
[3:45:40] Doing it. We're going to keep kicking this down and their safety concerns for the traveling public.
[3:45:45] Particularly first responders, I think that we need.
[3:45:49] Shore up this project.
[3:45:52] Let me ask. Let me ask you this.
[3:45:55] And I agree with that comment.
[3:45:58] Let me ask you this.
[3:45:59] So this is a combined.
[3:46:01] Work Co and Tully. Tully looks to me to be the.
[3:46:06] The worst of the two for sure. That is correct. Yes Sir.
[3:46:11] What? What?
[3:46:13] Would we be able to achieve what we need on Tully Bridge?
[3:46:16] If with that amount that we currently have.
[3:46:20] Chairman Fisher, the projects were bid.
[3:46:22] Together. Umm.
[3:46:24] Both bridges were bid together and I think well I know FEMA obligated $150,000 for.
[3:46:31] Chipotle and 75 for Cove.
[3:46:35] I'm not sure how.
[3:46:37] How close we could get?
[3:46:38] Or if we would be able to do that under FEMA, because we do have to stay.
[3:46:43] Pretty strict to.
[3:46:45] What they obligated, Mr. Chairman, Yes, point.
[3:46:50] The obligated cost.
[3:46:51] Four totally Bridge was 149,610.
[3:46:55] A single bid from this contract was 228. You'll be at a shortfall 78,600.
[3:47:01] And some change.
[3:47:02] I do not think those costs include NGRT, so we'll have to adjust it for the 5.25%.
[3:47:08] And we would have to look at to see.
[3:47:10] How they would do that?
[3:47:12] Individually. Umm.
[3:47:13] Some of their numbers might change.
[3:47:16] If it's not together, if they're not doing, we'll bid it separately but with a joint.
[3:47:21] Correct, it was bit individually.
[3:47:23] Just total, yes. So we could award just one if we wanted to per the procurement, yeah.
[3:47:30] And we could hold them to that.
[3:47:31] Treasured. What are we looking like?
[3:47:33] In terms of funds that might be available for these kinds of activities.
[3:47:37] Chairman Fisher. Commissioner Sherry Hilton, Lincoln County Treasurer.
[3:47:41] Scare me like that we could take it out of our.
[3:47:45] Cash reserves in general fund.
[3:47:49] Or we do have the wind turbine.
[3:47:50] That is drawing interest every month.
[3:47:53] Of about 30 something thousand so it's building up pretty good so you know it's the.
[3:47:59] Board's choice Which fund you'd like us to?
[3:48:03] Utilize so do we jeopardize the funding from.
[3:48:06] From DD.
[3:48:07] I by self funding it.
[3:48:10] The additional money?
[3:48:14] I I don't have a good answer for that. I am not sure how that.
[3:48:17] That would be looked at. We could use some of the additional funds maybe for.
[3:48:21] Doing work there on coal, but if we have the extra money to finish Tully.
[3:48:26] Up completely.
[3:48:28] I don't know. I don't know how that would look. Mr. Chairman. Funds from dot would not jeopardize the FEMA funding.
[3:48:35] It would just be the question of.
[3:48:37] How quickly could they be made available?
[3:48:41] Dot.
[3:48:43] Usually are, just not at the pinstroke of the district engineer, Yeah.
[3:48:47] So we would have to go through that process of when they would be made available. So, so here, here, here's my point. I
[3:48:50] appreciate.
[3:48:53] All these comments and I need to sense of the Commission on this.
[3:48:58] But these the damage to these two bridges occurred in the floods of 2024.
[3:49:03] Yes, Sir.
[3:49:05] If you look at.
[3:49:07] Tully in particular codes not so bad.
[3:49:09] Oh was passable needs need some work.
[3:49:12] But you look at Tully, it's freaking dangerous.
[3:49:15] And those people have been extraordinarily patient with the county that.
[3:49:18] Has promised them.
[3:49:21] Helped. We've been successful. We've been successful in doing.
[3:49:27] Many of these sekis down there in in.
[3:49:29] Probably good time.
[3:49:31] I think that's going to pick up, I hope.
[3:49:35] But this ones been hanging over our heads.
[3:49:38] What?
[3:49:40] What is the sense of the Commission in terms of?
[3:49:43] Of taking care of a problem that in my view is a safety problem.
[3:49:48] Do you have, you know, it's a lot of money?
[3:49:52] But we we are getting that some of that wind turbine, I mean is this.
[3:49:56] What we use that?
[3:49:59] Call it largesse, for lack of a better term.
[3:50:02] Four. Or do we just hold on to it for another disaster?
[3:50:07] I'm not sure.
[3:50:09] My thought my thought is that we need to pay. We need to get it done.
[3:50:19] Chairman, if I could, I mean, if we do decide that.
[3:50:22] Tully is definitely the one that we need to focus on. We have dangling guardrail.
[3:50:26] The low canopy and.
[3:50:28] Work that needs to be done underneath the bridge.
[3:50:32] To secure that.
[3:50:34] So Tully is.
[3:50:35] Should be the focus point if we're looking at just one.
[3:50:40] Question Mr.
[3:50:41] So so if we did get a letter of support for additional funding from FEMA from.
[3:50:47] Yes. What's the timeline?
[3:50:50] On any queries.
[3:50:52] Chairman Fisher, Commissioner Wilson I.
[3:50:54] Don't know, kind of like the manager said. I mean the.
[3:50:57] It's not just the District 2's.
[3:51:01] Discretion.
[3:51:02] Or but the letter would help but.
[3:51:05] But FEMA typically takes.
[3:51:11] We could be 6 to 9 months down the road.
[3:51:14] So, Mr. Chairman, Commissioner, if I could on this.
[3:51:19] You know, I think you're.
[3:51:21] Perception of.
[3:51:22] Thus, needing to repair these bridges is correct.
[3:51:25] We have bridge maintenance that we're responsible for and if we have some help from FEMA.
[3:51:30] We should utilize it and not let it go.
[3:51:33] With that also being said.
[3:51:35] Superintendent Honeycutt reported earlier that we just received.
[3:51:38] $3,000,000.
[3:51:40] Or something from TPF funding.
[3:51:42] So to go back and over.
[3:51:44] Squeeze the state off.
[3:51:46] Some pretty.
[3:51:48] Favorable funding.
[3:51:50] I don't know if we need to go squeeze too much.
[3:51:54] But it's not that we shouldn't pursue it.
[3:51:57] So I guess what I'm saying is we are.
[3:52:00] Being very favorably awarded right now within.
[3:52:04] So it might be worth this being our.
[3:52:06] Buy to the sandwich.
[3:52:11] With this letter, are we not squeezing FEMA? Isn't that worth the extra money?
[3:52:15] Come from, Mr. Commissioner, I could tell you right now FEMA is being fairly difficult.
[3:52:20] And that's putting it very nicely.
[3:52:24] I know that the village is having.
[3:52:27] Very.
[3:52:28] That problems, I think they just filed A lawsuit against him.
[3:52:32] So FEMA's being.
[3:52:33] Very difficult to deal with.
[3:52:36] On these issues and we're going to have.
[3:52:39] I will also say that this will be a regular funded project.
[3:52:42] This will not go through our Senate Bill 31, so we're having to go to FEMA directly for this.
[3:52:47] Already.
[3:52:48] So to do a modified project, it basically starts the process all over again to go in them to reconsider and approve it.
[3:52:56] And essentially what we'd have to do is by the time we get it back to the processes, we'd have to refit it.
[3:53:01] Which would probably be.
[3:53:02] Next spring.
[3:53:07] Any other questions?
[3:53:08] Have questions. So the funding that was allocated from FEMA, it was for Co and Tully bridge together joint. Are we going to be
[3:53:13] penalized if we don't complete code?
[3:53:18] No ma'am, it's my understanding that these are separated. I have an e-mail here from from JD.
[3:53:23] The Co and Totally are separate. Co Bridge has $75,000.
[3:53:28] Plus $21,000 of 406 hazard mitigation money.
[3:53:32] And then totally was allotted 149,000 and.
[3:53:35] Kind of like he had stated.
[3:53:39] FEMA has always had issues with estimating construction, especially in southeastern New Mexico.
[3:53:46] They want to use dot.
[3:53:48] Estimations that are in metropolitan areas that.
[3:53:51] Are not the same numbers that we're going to get up here in Lincoln County or anywhere else that I've seen before too.
[3:53:56] So that's always the discrepancies after we go bid and we take the real numbers tool.
[3:54:01] There this is and this is not a new issue.
[3:54:05] So it's it's just.
[3:54:07] Their way of doing it, but we have to do a modified project, then it goes completely back through the reconsideration project or
[3:54:10] process again.
[3:54:15] Anybody else?
[3:54:18] I want to tell you I I would.
[3:54:19] I would recommend.
[3:54:22] A motion to approve.
[3:54:25] The full amount and we make up the delta.
[3:54:29] I think, I think we've got, we've got some funds that that are there.
[3:54:33] For these kinds, this is a quasi emergency.
[3:54:38] Use of our phones. I mean, it's not even quasi.
[3:54:41] It's damage that we've had for two years.
[3:54:45] If if if we don't do some of the reventment work.
[3:54:50] On both those bridges.
[3:54:51] And we have.
[3:54:52] What people are saying, some people are hoping and praying and so forth.
[3:54:57] Prognosticating.
[3:54:58] Then we're going to have severe flooding.
[3:55:02] In the near future, because of the.
[3:55:04] Tremendous El Nino.
[3:55:06] Has not hit.
[3:55:07] Arabella yet?
[3:55:11] Yes, yes, Commissioner Sherry Huddleston, McConnell Treasurer.
[3:55:15] I have to say that we did receive another one.
[3:55:17] $1,750,055.57.
[3:55:22] Reimbursement from our original FEMA disaster.
[3:55:25] So we're at over 900.
[3:55:27] 9,000,000 something getting refunded from FEMA.
[3:55:31] Of the original 10 million we spent, so we're doing really good.
[3:55:35] That may be another option to take it out of the disaster line.
[3:55:38] So I did put that money back in there.
[3:55:40] If this is for disaster repairing bridges.
[3:55:45] I'm good with that.
[3:55:47] OK, I'd like to entertain a motion that the.
[3:55:51] That we approve.
[3:55:52] Approve this.
[3:55:55] This expenditure.
[3:55:57] And take it out of the emergency fund. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion that we.
[3:56:04] Project.
[3:56:08] 2nd we have a second.
[3:56:11] Excuse me, I thought you, I thought you were interrupted.
[3:56:13] Agreements 1676 and Resolution 202710.
[3:56:18] With emergency.
[3:56:22] I think you're on the wrong 1. You need to go to 7.
[3:56:25] I apologize, guys. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion that we do the budget adjustment for award IFB.
[3:56:33] 2026-03R.
[3:56:36] Poe and Tully bridges using.
[3:56:39] Emergency umm.
[3:56:42] 2nd Madam Clerk, please.
[3:56:46] Commissioner Sarna.
[3:56:48] Aye, Commissioner Wilson.
[3:56:50] Commissioner Chavez.
[3:56:56] Commissioner Prather.
[3:56:57] Yes.
[3:56:58] Chair Fisher.
[3:57:03] Aye. Motion passes 3:00 to 2:00.
[3:57:07] There we go. All right. Thank you.
[3:57:11] Thank you.
[3:57:15] Always keeps it.
[3:57:16] You gotta say no sometimes.
[3:57:20] OK.
[3:57:23] The next is consideration to confirm the appointment of Nick Smolkovic as a member at large of the Land and Natural Resource
[3:57:26] Advisory.
[3:57:32] Good morning.
[3:57:39] Chair Commission. Stephanie Plenty.
[3:57:42] Technician.
[3:57:43] Today we're bringing forth.
[3:57:45] And a recommendation of approval to consider.
[3:57:50] Next month, Mitch as a member at large.
[3:57:54] The Land and Natural Resources Advisory Committee.
[3:57:58] Is to advise the Lincoln County Commission.
[3:58:01] On the responsible stewardship, conservation and sustainable use of public land and associated natural resources.
[3:58:08] The committee provides informed guidance that balances Environmental Protection.
[3:58:12] I would say economic rights.
[3:58:16] Production of private property.
[3:58:18] Water rights along the term.
[3:58:20] Regional resilience through science based and.
[3:58:23] Analysis. Stakeholders.
[3:58:25] Collaboration and transparent decision making.
[3:58:29] The natural, natural.
[3:58:30] Resources Advisory Committee held its regular meeting on September 9th.
[3:58:35] 2026.
[3:58:36] And it where discussion was held on the recommendation of appointment for Nick Smokovich to build a member at large vacancy.
[3:58:44] All members present at the meeting.
[3:58:46] Voted four and 04 against.
[3:58:53] Mr. Smokovich, she has something to say.
[3:58:56] I would just like to address.
[3:59:00] Mr. Chairman and Commission that.
[3:59:02] You know this is This is basically extension of what?
[3:59:05] The state of New Mexico is already asking me to do is to.
[3:59:08] Look at the natural resources.
[3:59:11] Here and and and.
[3:59:13] Be a technical advisor to the citizens in New Mexico.
[3:59:16] And so I'm honored.
[3:59:19] By the willingness of the Commission and to entertain this and.
[3:59:23] And to the Land Rock Committee for.
[3:59:25] For voting for it so.
[3:59:28] I'm here just to provide.
[3:59:30] Best information available.
[3:59:33] Commissioners.
[3:59:37] Mr. Wilson.
[3:59:38] I fully support this. I think that's this is a very.
[3:59:41] Wise selection and decision by.
[3:59:47] I agree and thank you.
[3:59:49] Mr. Smokovich.
[3:59:50] Thank you for stepping up.
[3:59:52] Nick, you're very welcome.
[3:59:55] Motion to approve.
[3:59:56] Make a motion that we appoint next Vukovic as a member at large.
[4:00:00] For land Recre.
[4:00:02] Surgeon. Land Clerk.
[4:00:08] Commissioner Chavez. Commissioner Sharna.
[4:00:14] Aye, Commissioner Prather.
[4:00:15] Commissioner Wilson, Chair. Fisher, motion.
[4:00:20] I was going to say.
[4:00:25] All right. I probably addressed the other member that's not.
[4:00:28] This one we have we have a letter from myself and.
[4:00:32] The chairman Barber that his seat has been vacated.
[4:00:35] Look for an appointment to fill his seat.
[4:00:39] Which is your district, Sir? So we need an appointment for your district.
[4:00:46] Next items are consent items.
[4:00:50] Do you have any want to pull out?
[4:01:09] 5.
[4:01:18] Anything else?
[4:01:22] Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to approve consent items.
[4:01:26] One through 4:00 and 6:00 and 7:00.
[4:01:29] Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make.
[4:01:30] Should be approved consent item.
[4:01:32] 12346 and 7.
[4:01:36] 2nd.
[4:01:38] Madam Clerk.
[4:01:41] Mr. Crater.
[4:01:43] Commissioner Chavez.
[4:01:44] Yes, Commissioner Sarna. Aye, Commissioner Wilson. Yes, Chair Fisher.
[4:01:48] Aye.
[4:01:49] #5 Commissioner Cerner, you wanted that pulled out.
[4:01:53] I want to talk about that.
[4:01:55] Who's got that?
[4:01:57] Agreement.
[4:02:00] Yes, Sir, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
[4:02:02] This is your agreement.
[4:02:05] With the Lincoln County Humane Society.
[4:02:10] Umm.
[4:02:14] We did bring this before you.
[4:02:15] Last Commission meeting to discuss some some of the challenges that we're having.
[4:02:22] As it pertains to.
[4:02:25] Animal control as a whole, and maybe we.
[4:02:29] Might also ask for the sheriff and undersheriff to come up with if it's necessary.
[4:02:34] We modeled.
[4:02:36] The contract to be in line with the direction from the Commission.
[4:02:39] And the approved.
[4:02:42] Funding.
[4:02:42] It was allocated during our budget process.
[4:02:48] And also with.
[4:02:49] The Humane Society to not to exceed A200 animal limit.
[4:02:56] So that we could maintain service for the Sheriff's Office as we go through the year.
[4:03:01] Um.
[4:03:09] With this we did model it as a lump sum.
[4:03:12] Payment for the amount of animals.
[4:03:14] So if we would like to revise it to be a.
[4:03:17] Per animal basis, previously it was $250 an animal.
[4:03:22] Throughout the agreement so.
[4:03:25] With that will stand for questions. I don't know if you got anything one thing I wanted to.
[4:03:29] Correct on that. My name is Abel Guzman, Executive Director of the Humane Society.
[4:03:37] Commissioners.
[4:03:38] The $30,000 covers.
[4:03:43] 200 animals at $150.00 per annum.
[4:03:47] It's not 250.
[4:03:50] So once you go over that.
[4:03:51] It's 200.
[4:03:55] So I wanted to make that clear.
[4:03:58] There was a meeting that was held in August. There was a lot of questions that weren't answered and I'm here to answer those
[4:04:02] questions for you guys if needed.
[4:04:07] I mean, one of the, you know, I just want to let everybody know that, you know, we're not here to criticize anybody. You know,
[4:04:11] we're not here to ask for.
[4:04:16] A big check to give to us. We're not here to make money off of the animals. I think account, we're here to help out.
[4:04:22] The citizens of the county, we're here to work with the Sheriff's Department as we always have.
[4:04:27] I've been working for the Humane Society for the past 11 years and.
[4:04:31] This is the first time this has ever come up.
[4:04:34] And so we're just here to answer the questions that you had, Sir.
[4:04:38] You know, so I'm here.
[4:04:40] Ready to answer questions, whatever you guys have.
[4:04:43] I'm Debbie Barbie, the president of the Humane Society Board of Directors.
[4:04:48] And I know that you have been given some information about all that we provide for the.
[4:04:55] Flat fee that.
[4:04:57] We charge for the animals.
[4:04:58] We don't make any money on that. In fact, we lose money on each channel.
[4:05:03] So this is a service that we provide.
[4:05:07] To help you.
[4:05:11] And just to give you guys some numbers.
[4:05:15] Per day to care for an animal at the Humane Society is $44.50.
[4:05:21] If you call a boarding facility, it's between 40 and $60.00.
[4:05:26] For any boarding.
[4:05:29] The three day hold.
[4:05:31] Which is in accordance with the contract.
[4:05:33] Equals $133.25.
[4:05:36] That's just a three day hold.
[4:05:38] Now if it requires up to the five day hold, that's $222.18.
[4:05:45] An animal under our care from start to finish usually is 10 days. Within 10 days we have the animal.
[4:05:51] Already ready to go up for adoption?
[4:05:54] That cost for us.
[4:05:56] In total is $457.
[4:05:58] Per animal.
[4:06:01] Now the the percentage wise of what?
[4:06:05] Is covered Really.
[4:06:07] The $150.00.
[4:06:10] Base rate only covers 32% of that.
[4:06:14] We have to look for grants, we have to look for donation money to come in.
[4:06:18] To cover the rest of it.
[4:06:21] You know, we try and do our part.
[4:06:23] We've opened up new programs. There's programs out there to help.
[4:06:28] With spaying and neutering, you know, since COVID, we've seen an uptake in animals.
[4:06:34] IN200052526 you had 277 animals come in.
[4:06:40] Back in 2015, 2016 year, there was only 116.
[4:06:45] There's been an uptick and it's still going up.
[4:06:48] Back after COVID was over with, we went to each entity within Lincoln County and said this is going to be a problem.
[4:06:56] We created a solution.
[4:06:58] You know, mandatory spaying, neutering, and doesn't have to be smashed right off the bat that you need to.
[4:07:04] Put these ordinances in into effect.
[4:07:07] No, we worked with.
[4:07:09] Ruidoso, Rodoso Downs. You know, there was a time period to let everybody know, hey, this is going to be coming up. This ordinance
[4:07:14] is going to be put into place.
[4:07:18] We gave free microchips to.
[4:07:21] Those entities to help out.
[4:07:24] We created these programs. There's free spay neuter that's going on.
[4:07:29] In Mescalero to help out with that we have free spay neuter and.
[4:07:33] February through our.
[4:07:35] Organization, there's low cost spay neuter.
[4:07:38] $45.00 to get an animal Spain and neutered.
[4:07:41] There's low cost microchipping, there's low cost vaccinations, so we've done a lot to get to this point to help out.
[4:07:47] We need you guys to meet us halfways on this.
[4:07:50] We're not asking for more money, we're just asking.
[4:07:54] You know.
[4:07:56] To get this problem under control, these ordinances need to be set in place.
[4:08:00] Or else it's going to get even more out of control.
[4:08:05] We need your help.
[4:08:07] You know, again, we're not here to make money off of the animals. No, we there's no way for a nonprofit to make money.
[4:08:13] There's not.
[4:08:15] But we need your help to continue.
[4:08:18] This is for the residents of Lincoln County.
[4:08:22] Currently with no contract in place.
[4:08:25] We have residents call, call.
[4:08:27] The shelter and they want.
[4:08:30] Help with animals that are at large.
[4:08:34] They had to call the Sheriff's Office. We just heard the sheriff's offices got a lot of things to catch. Bad guys they don't need
[4:08:37] to go out and catch.
[4:08:42] A litter of kittens that are left on the side of the road.
[4:08:45] But that's a traffic hazard too, so it's a safety matter.
[4:08:50] And this is something that we have to tell them, sorry, we can't take them right now because.
[4:08:58] There's no contract in place.
[4:09:00] We're not allowed to take them at this time.
[4:09:03] So there's a lot of backlash from that.
[4:09:07] And then one of the questions you had is how do we verify?
[4:09:11] Where this animal came from?
[4:09:13] You know, we try and document the precise address, the location where the animals picked up from.
[4:09:19] In doing so, you know it keeps the call from ever reaching the Sheriff's Department if somebody from the public does this.
[4:09:26] We collect the name, the address, telephone number of that person, their license, everything to verify this information.
[4:09:33] We verify the location to make sure it's within the county if they tell us. We picked up this animal on Airport Rd.
[4:09:41] You know, it, it it's county, you know, if they say we picked this animal up at Shell station.
[4:09:47] In Alto we know that Shell station is.
[4:09:50] Ruidoso, you know, we know that where these areas are and.
[4:09:54] The fact that the public is picking up.
[4:09:57] The animals is saving.
[4:09:59] The Sheriff's Department having to go out.
[4:10:02] Leave their post.
[4:10:04] Use their vehicle. Put mileage on that vehicle.
[4:10:08] They don't have to do that.
[4:10:09] Well, right now from my understanding there is no animal control.
[4:10:14] When Animal Control was sent in place, we had.
[4:10:17] Great communication. We the numbers were.
[4:10:21] 225 at 1.222 but without that communication.
[4:10:28] We did really know.
[4:10:29] Things get.
[4:10:37] This is this is a vexing.
[4:10:40] Problem for us.
[4:10:44] If you subsidized something.
[4:10:46] He grows.
[4:10:49] And you can see that we did not have a unanimous decision here.
[4:10:54] For public safety.
[4:10:57] Because of the expense.
[4:10:58] Because we are limited.
[4:11:00] And we're expecting to have more.
[4:11:03] More disastrous for people.
[4:11:05] Right, so.
[4:11:07] So if we said.
[4:11:09] If if we if we allocate it.
[4:11:12] I'm not going to, but if we allocated more money then then.
[4:11:15] We're not solving the problem.
[4:11:17] I think you, I think you brought that point up and we're going to, we're going to look at our ordinances.
[4:11:22] But it's very difficult.
[4:11:24] To enforce these things when you have.
[4:11:28] People who just are not responsible.
[4:11:30] Arabella Rd. is a very favorite place.
[4:11:33] For dumping off animals.
[4:11:36] I picked up a couple and it did not take them to you.
[4:11:39] And I did not shoot them.
[4:11:41] We took, we found homes for it.
[4:11:46] But.
[4:11:48] It looks like it has a never ending.
[4:11:52] Growth potential.
[4:11:55] And we have to somehow.
[4:11:57] Put some pressure back.
[4:11:59] For the citizens of this county.
[4:12:02] And this is the only way we know how to do that.
[4:12:06] We don't have.
[4:12:07] We don't have other tools available. We can't make people.
[4:12:11] Be responsible.
[4:12:12] Machine, if you don't mind me speaking, that's a problem that Rudoso had, Rodoso Downs had.
[4:12:18] Until they enforce these ordinances.
[4:12:20] They put them into place.
[4:12:22] Ruidoso was bringing in 650 animals a year.
[4:12:26] And right now, they're averaging between 380 and 400.
[4:12:30] Ruidoso Downs was bringing in close to 300 animals. They've gone down.
[4:12:35] I think right now they're bringing in 210.
[4:12:39] And they just changed their ordinance last year.
[4:12:42] So it works.
[4:12:45] It's just making sure that.
[4:12:47] The ordinances are set in place and there's somebody to.
[4:12:51] Be there to make sure that the citizens.
[4:12:54] This is why we've also put in place ways for people to get.
[4:12:58] To be in compliance.
[4:13:01] We have.
[4:13:01] All these programs were even for feral cats.
[4:13:05] We have a trap and release program.
[4:13:07] Where you can get them spayed or neutered and return them back to the community.
[4:13:11] We have.
[4:13:13] Low income vouchers for spay and neuter.
[4:13:16] We have a program that we've developed for people that don't fall into that.
[4:13:21] That where we can pay half of it at the vet so they can do it.
[4:13:25] So we encourage people to use our programs. We've developed them.
[4:13:29] Because that's what we have to do is turn it off at the faucet.
[4:13:32] Quit having all these unwanted litters. We very much appreciate your efforts. I don't know if, Commissioner.
[4:13:40] How many intakes of animals have you all received from the county?
[4:13:44] Since July, it's been 51.
[4:13:47] And you stopped receiving county animals.
[4:13:51] Well.
[4:13:54] Go ahead, Mr. Chairman, Commissioner.
[4:13:56] They still have and further our direction, and in your direction they are.
[4:14:01] Will still take animals from the sheriff we.
[4:14:03] Asked them to not take animals from the public.
[4:14:06] And that's where the.
[4:14:08] Maybe a miscommunication or confusion is is.
[4:14:11] We asked them to.
[4:14:12] Not allow public animals which were.
[4:14:14] It's my understanding there were $250 a piece. Well either way it's.
[4:14:17] Up to the 200 animal limit, be it from the sheriff or from the public.
[4:14:21] Anything in excess of that 200 animals is $250 an hour.
[4:14:26] The Commissioners and one thing to take into consideration, you are going to see an uptake.
[4:14:31] During this time of the year, because this puppy and kitten season, it always happens the first part of this time.
[4:14:37] There's going to be an high increase.
[4:14:39] When fall winter comes around it.
[4:14:41] Dramatically goes down until spring again when puppy and kitten season starts over again.
[4:14:47] So that this dramatic increase that we're seeing, it happens not even only for the county, but for Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs,
[4:14:51] Capitan, Carrizozo, we see that.
[4:14:56] It's a norm.
[4:14:57] The other thing we've done to try and help animal control?
[4:15:01] With other entities as we've provided them with the.
[4:15:06] Scanner for the microchip.
[4:15:08] If they're required to have a microchip, a.
[4:15:11] Officer can just have their wand.
[4:15:15] See where it belongs. If it belongs down there, they take it over there and it doesn't come to the shelter.
[4:15:20] So there's no.
[4:15:21] Cost and commissioners. There was an example of that last week where two boxers were out in the county area. They got caught and
[4:15:26] by a citizen.
[4:15:32] And they weren't able to bring it in. There wasn't deputies available to to help.
[4:15:37] Bring it in. They ended up bringing in the animals. We scanned it, they had my microchip and within 5 minutes we found the owners
[4:15:40] where they were from.
[4:15:45] So that's again an example of how microchips can help.
[4:15:49] Our database is available to the deputies to animal control where they could go in themselves. If the animal has a microchip, they
[4:15:53] don't have to make the trip to us.
[4:15:57] It seems gas. It saves time.
[4:16:00] I don't have a quick question for you, please. I was under the influence, Mr. Sheriff, that we had an animal control. We just
[4:16:06] actually increased the pay rate. That position is not currently filled. Yeah.
[4:16:12] Chair. Chairman Fisher.
[4:16:14] Commissioner Prater.
[4:16:15] We do have that position. The current animal control officer resigned yesterday.
[4:16:21] So we have that position. We just got to refill.
[4:16:25] Yes, Sir. OK.
[4:16:26] What about the wand? You guys said that you guys?
[4:16:28] Usually provide those. We did provide them. It's in the, it's in the animal control truck. It should be there. That's the last
[4:16:32] that we know of.
[4:16:36] Well, the matter, the matter before us, unless there's any.
[4:16:39] Particular questions.
[4:16:40] Regarding the matter.
[4:16:42] Is the approval.
[4:16:44] Of #5 the Agreement, 1658.
[4:16:50] Facilities with me.
[4:16:58] You still have just another question.
[4:17:00] Please.
[4:17:03] Appears that we're trending to.
[4:17:05] Go over the 200 animal limit. And so that's my concern.
[4:17:10] Or is this 30,000 sufficient?
[4:17:13] Because I would much rather pay you all the $150.00 up front.
[4:17:19] And increase our number.
[4:17:21] As opposed to that $250?
[4:17:24] Number when we surpassed 200 animals.
[4:17:28] So commissioners is one other thing I want and now that you brought that up.
[4:17:32] One other way that we help out the county.
[4:17:34] Is whenever there's.
[4:17:37] Court holes.
[4:17:39] We've had 6 animals there.
[4:17:42] At our facility that were put on hold for a court case.
[4:17:47] You can imagine how much that's increased.
[4:17:50] How much money?
[4:17:51] Is old but.
[4:17:53] We don't charge the county for that.
[4:17:55] Unfortunately, we don't even see that money.
[4:17:57] We've held these animals for six months.
[4:18:00] Each animal for six months is $3000.
[4:18:05] So just to give you guys an example.
[4:18:07] That's something that doesn't go towards you guys.
[4:18:10] We go ahead and take up that card.
[4:18:13] But I guess she wants to know. But do they need more and?
[4:18:17] What you need I'm going to give you an example of Ruidoso Downs. Their contract is at $35,000 for.
[4:18:23] 200 animals.
[4:18:24] And for the first year when they did that contract, we're willing to give an extra 20 animals. We'll take up that cost.
[4:18:31] But the key part is again the.
[4:18:36] This problem is going to continue until something is done with the ordinances.
[4:18:41] Mr. Chairman.
[4:18:42] Commissioner.
[4:18:44] And maybe with both of them here we can make a.
[4:18:47] Consideration to the contract.
[4:18:51] That we might have it as a.
[4:18:53] $150.00 per animal with a not to exceed limit.
[4:18:56] If that would be acceptable to.
[4:18:59] And then that way we can.
[4:19:01] Track as it's going and.
[4:19:02] Proposing not to exceed limit, and if it's going to exceed, we can come back and request more funding.
[4:19:09] Yes.
[4:19:10] I think that's what we have.
[4:19:12] Sir, the way it's currently set up, which is.
[4:19:14] The way we set up all of your external requests this year is as lump sums.
[4:19:18] For their requested services and we.
[4:19:20] Did them the same, the only difference in their contractors it has an actual.
[4:19:25] There's not a 200.
[4:19:27] Right, so.
[4:19:29] What I'm suggesting here is that instead of having a lump sum, we make it a unit based contract for $150.00 an hour per animal and
[4:19:33] then that'll allow us.
[4:19:39] To go through the year and track the cost, not knowing because the the intake is going to be variable based on the sheriff's.
[4:19:47] And the intake of the Humane Society.
[4:19:50] Well, I'm, I'm OK with that, I mean.
[4:19:52] Very similar to what we've just established other than.
[4:19:55] Than we being billed monthly.
[4:19:58] You're giving them a lump sum for 200.
[4:20:01] That's what it says, right? That's what it says. I'm.
[4:20:04] I'm suggesting A revision, Sir.
[4:20:06] That we change it to a per unit basis instead of a long for the purposes of understanding the rate of.
[4:20:12] Consumption of the money, understanding the rate of intake, but also so did allow, you know like you said, the puppies and the
[4:20:18] kittens and the intake, we can kind of manage that on a per unit basis and it's not just a hard $30,000 number.
[4:20:26] Then what's the?
[4:20:27] Up You know what's the top end?
[4:20:30] That's kind of something we we decide later.
[4:20:33] We can set it right now at.
[4:20:35] You know 30,000 or even if we want to make a suggestion to increase it a little bit, I can tell you last year our overall.
[4:20:41] Final.
[4:20:42] Pavement to the.
[4:20:44] Hawaiian society was $45,000.
[4:20:48] It would be at the discretion of the Commission.
[4:20:53] I I say we keep it at 30,000.
[4:20:56] I say that if you want to want to.
[4:20:58] Not have it a per unit basis that to track for the purposes of tracking at 150 which is the same.
[4:21:04] Amount that you.
[4:21:06] Have having this agreement.
[4:21:08] I don't have a problem with that.
[4:21:10] I almost don't understand the difference other than.
[4:21:13] Will be able to track the consumption. It would give us the ability to increase it if.
[4:21:17] Need be, Sir.
[4:21:19] So if we have that now, if we go over, we're paying $100 extra. Yeah, if we go over, we're paying 100. So I'd rather not. So I'd
[4:21:23] rather.
[4:21:27] I'm I'm with you. I'd rather.
[4:21:29] Say, let's up it to 40,000.
[4:21:32] That gives our intake to 266.
[4:21:35] Units going to you guys.
[4:21:37] And then what happens on 267?
[4:21:42] We tracked that because they do invoices.
[4:21:44] Monthly.
[4:21:45] They do provide us their intake numbers.
[4:21:47] And that if we get close to that amount, we'll bring it back and ask for additional funding because apparently you said that last
[4:21:51] year we paid.
[4:21:55] 4545 thousand, so that's $15,000 more so.
[4:22:03] Is is. So I read this.
[4:22:06] And it looks like they're it's already in not to exceed limit.
[4:22:11] It is currently not to exceed limit, but the payment on it is a lump sum.
[4:22:15] Could be invoiced as a lump sum. I see that here so.
[4:22:18] It's essentially this.
[4:22:20] It's authority enough to exceed in this agreement, correct? But we would revise that lump sum to a.
[4:22:25] Per unit intake.
[4:22:28] Not to exceed.
[4:22:30] Not to exceed.
[4:22:31] Whatever amount that.
[4:22:32] Commission, uh.
[4:22:36] I think that's the point.
[4:22:38] What is? What is our top?
[4:22:39] Top dollar, that's what I asked.
[4:22:42] You're saying 45?
[4:22:43] That's what we were at last year, that's what we were at last year was 45,000 so.
[4:22:48] So so if we're.
[4:22:50] So the point is.
[4:22:51] If we happen to be 250.
[4:22:54] For 200.
[4:22:55] It would be less than 45,000.
[4:22:57] Just if we got up to 266.
[4:22:59] And they can't do the math in my head right now, but it would be 45,000.
[4:23:05] 266 is 40,000.
[4:23:07] Yeah, 40,000. OK, Thank you.
[4:23:10] I told you I couldn't do that in my head.
[4:23:14] Yes, Mr. Wilson. But I think if we're doing this on a per unit basis, it really doesn't matter where the ultimate.
[4:23:19] Final number is, we can adjust it as.
[4:23:22] I think this is upfront money though.
[4:23:25] They're asking for the money up front, so no Sir. The the invoice comes as invoices.
[4:23:30] As the animals are in touch as we do accordingly invoices to you.
[4:23:35] That's what we do so. But if we exceed the.
[4:23:39] $30,000 it bumps the price up to 200.
[4:23:43] 250A unit.
[4:23:45] Correct. So I would rather I would rather make a deal with you.
[4:23:49] Where I have this many units instead of that many units where I don't exceed.
[4:23:55] The $100 extra per.
[4:23:58] I understand.
[4:24:00] One more question. Yes, Sir.
[4:24:01] So if the 51 intakes that you've had this far.
[4:24:04] Fiscal year How many are from the sheriff and how many are from?
[4:24:07] I have that right here.
[4:24:11] So the Sheriff's Department has brought in 13. Public has brought 38.
[4:24:15] So if if we proceed with the sheriff, then we'll.
[4:24:19] Just a sharp intake of old.
[4:24:21] Remain well under that.
[4:24:23] So what is the public do?
[4:24:26] There's been public backlash. I don't know if you guys have received calls, but and you all have received pressure from the public
[4:24:29] as well.
[4:24:33] In the contract is the all the previous contracts I could give them to you from 2015 on it's always said that public are able to
[4:24:36] bring in.
[4:24:43] I have them with me.
[4:24:50] Sorry so.
[4:24:59] I'd say Puppet.
[4:25:05] So so last year was 266 total public and.
[4:25:08] And two 77277 now.
[4:25:12] Public and the Sheriff's Office.
[4:25:15] And what do we need to cover that?
[4:25:17] We said we had 40,000, we could do 2, so it would be 45,000 to.
[4:25:22] Cover that.
[4:25:23] If you guys want, I'll give you an additional 20.
[4:25:26] It won't take cost that cost if you guys hold.
[4:25:31] 45,000 at 150. An animal would be 300 animals.
[4:25:34] The exact math is 41,550.
[4:25:38] Is the answer to your question, Chairman.
[4:25:40] And then he said he would throw 20 in on top of it. We'll take on the customs.
[4:25:46] But again, I think you guys.
[4:25:48] Can get your numbers done with them.
[4:25:51] It's improving two different entities.
[4:25:55] And that number can go down.
[4:25:56] From 40,000 to less.
[4:25:58] We're trying to save you guys money. It's a circle.
[4:26:01] It'll save Sheriff's Department money, US money, you guys money.
[4:26:06] In the long run.
[4:26:07] What's the sense of the Commission? Sorry, Mr. Prather, you have something else to say? Yes, Sir. If we, if we were going to go
[4:26:13] ahead and update it to $41,550 and we only go to, let's just say 250 animals as opposed to 277, we're not getting over or we're
[4:26:19] not going to be overcharged.
[4:26:26] In conjunction with.
[4:26:28] OK, so it could be a $35,000 bill said and done.
[4:26:33] This is just a promissory note saying that hey, if we do get up to 277.
[4:26:41] So my suggestion would be that we a lot of 41,550.
[4:26:47] Pam up front for that.
[4:26:49] Is that is that the day or just?
[4:26:51] Poorly filled quarter getting quarterly, Bill, yeah.
[4:26:54] That's fine.
[4:26:55] I don't have a problem with that. Beats 250.
[4:27:02] That's fine. Hopefully we're less.
[4:27:05] Or Mr. Chairman of.
[4:27:07] On a budgeting site, can I make a recommendation? We round up the 42,000.
[4:27:12] Sure, 42,000 in in a different fund.
[4:27:17] OK. Build quarterly.
[4:27:19] When we start, we look at the trend lines. We will need a report quarterly.
[4:27:24] Says where we're at, what we need to do.
[4:27:27] To understand what we're happening, I want to make sure the Sheriff's Office has a place to.
[4:27:31] Dump these animals and I guess the public as well.
[4:27:35] All right.
[4:27:37] Need a motion? Somebody work on motion up that makes sense out of this mess.
[4:27:41] I make a motion.
[4:27:43] To consent item number 5.
[4:27:46] With so said changes.
[4:27:53] Just for clarification, it's my understanding that we will revise their contract to be at $150.00 per animal.
[4:28:02] Up to and not to exceed amount of $42,000 and we will revise the eligible animals to allow for the public.
[4:28:08] To surrender, surrender animals as long as they came from the unincorporated county.
[4:28:16] Is there anything you would like us to do to better?
[4:28:19] Find out where these animals come from is that?
[4:28:21] Is there anything else you can do?
[4:28:26] I would not like you to go anywhere.
[4:28:31] If you use your all right, so we have a motion.
[4:28:33] Need a second, I'll second that.
[4:28:36] Madam Clerk.
[4:28:44] Thank you for the deal.
[4:28:47] We're here to help.
[4:28:48] Yes, Commissioner Serna. Commissioner, Commissioner Wilson.
[4:28:54] Chair Fischer.
[4:28:59] Aye. Motion passes 4:00 to 1:00.
[4:29:02] Thank you.
[4:29:03] Thank you guys for coming.
[4:29:06] We do have the ordinance, all right. We're going to recess for more minutes.
[4:29:11] And then we're gonna bring you bring you up, Sir.
[4:29:15] Power through.
[4:29:17] Billy Bob.
[4:29:19] The first thing I want to talk about since we've got.
[4:29:23] Mr. Billy Bob Schaefer, Yeah.
[4:29:25] Is we want to talk about the discussion direction regarding current Lincoln County Fairgrounds improvement project including
[4:29:29] project status, plans, layout.
[4:29:33] Instruction schedule and thank you, Sir, for waiting so long patiently.
[4:29:39] We could get up there, Billy Bob. Yeah, finally.
[4:29:55] So, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
[4:30:01] In regards to our fairgrounds project with our EDA grant.
[4:30:07] We.
[4:30:12] We have made we brought this to you a couple times.
[4:30:15] For direction discussion, we passed several.
[4:30:23] Really. Ideas and reviews?
[4:30:26] That so if I get it all really good.
[4:30:34] The.
[4:30:38] This has been a fairly.
[4:30:41] Complex.
[4:30:42] Project umm.
[4:30:44] As we've had our scope of work.
[4:30:47] And trying to fit a project that.
[4:30:52] Fits within the EDA scope.
[4:30:54] That is, uh.
[4:30:55] Acceptable to the Commission and then fits.
[4:30:57] The requirements of.
[4:30:59] The facility.
[4:31:03] So when we first brought this to you.
[4:31:06] Or when we first started this, and I've come on, this was a covered arena.
[4:31:10] After we've done some.
[4:31:13] Research and.
[4:31:14] Or some discussions. We decided that we wanted to have more of an open.
[4:31:18] Open air concept with the horseshoe. So as we've had some conceptual designs completed on that that we've presented to you.
[4:31:26] We exceeded our budget.
[4:31:28] Fairly substantially.
[4:31:30] And it ended up to being where just the arena alone was going to be a.
[4:31:34] $6 million.
[4:31:36] Development estimated.
[4:31:39] As we continue to try to.
[4:31:41] Get this thing to fruition.
[4:31:43] And several of the concepts.
[4:31:46] We came back and made a recommendation to.
[4:31:49] Look at the practice arena and and potentially a pig barn and Fletcher and.
[4:31:54] We were. We were told that the priority wanted to be.
[4:31:57] The Arena.
[4:31:58] So as we've gone through this.
[4:32:01] What we've come to.
[4:32:03] Is.
[4:32:04] What you see on the?
[4:32:07] The board and we can kind of go through this a little bit, but.
[4:32:11] Were the north side of this would be over here.
[4:32:17] This will be where Fletcher Hall if you can see my mouse over here.
[4:32:20] The current show barn your pig barn to be over here this.
[4:32:23] Blue building right over here.
[4:32:26] Is essentially an approximate location of the current bathroom that is installed.
[4:32:31] So you can see.
[4:32:32] What we're trying to accomplish here.
[4:32:35] What this allows us to do is to.
[4:32:38] Fit a price point of our project.
[4:32:41] And what I mean by that when I say is if you look at the seating, what we're currently planning is a.
[4:32:47] Certain amount of number of.
[4:32:49] Fold down seats, there's going to be the majority are going to be.
[4:32:52] Aluminum seats with backs.
[4:32:56] It'll be all ADA compliant.
[4:32:59] With ADA ramps there are cutouts.
[4:33:03] For ABA compliance, you can see this. We've talked to a few vendors.
[4:33:08] That are. I don't know where that went.
[4:33:10] Sorry I'm.
[4:33:11] Too many.
[4:33:12] Tabs.
[4:33:15] It's not clean up. I apologize.
[4:33:18] Anyway.
[4:33:21] Trying to find the right tab, but anyway, we've had several conversations with.
[4:33:26] Seating vendors that are on state pricing agreement to look at doing.
[4:33:30] Bleachers that you would see at a football stadium or a.
[4:33:33] Softball Complex.
[4:33:35] Currently in this configuration.
[4:33:39] I lost my sticky note.
[4:33:41] I we are at.
[4:33:43] 400.
[4:33:45] Approximate seats.
[4:33:49] We've also had some conversations regarding.
[4:33:52] Not only maximizing the capacity of the facility, but also for.
[4:33:56] Flow of stock.
[4:33:57] During our events.
[4:34:01] As such, we we did move the roping.
[4:34:04] Shoot, which was currently on the.
[4:34:08] West side over here now to the east side and offset it also with gates. They're wide enough to accommodate tractors and
[4:34:12] ambulances.
[4:34:16] On both sides of.
[4:34:18] The Arena.
[4:34:20] The other thing that this allows for, which is a current concern, is walkways currently around.
[4:34:26] The front of the.
[4:34:27] Sitting areas.
[4:34:28] Right now, access into additional sitting areas is.
[4:34:32] Difficult to access.
[4:34:34] But this allows us to scale up and scale down based on our price point.
[4:34:39] So we've also looked at reconfiguring the pin.
[4:34:42] The pins. This is currently where the buck and chutes sit. Right now they would be moved.
[4:34:47] Back.
[4:34:48] To the South.
[4:34:51] But you can see the flow for the bucking shoots and this also vastly increases the.
[4:34:55] Capacity for.
[4:34:56] Holding which meets.
[4:34:58] Spirit of.
[4:34:59] The scope.
[4:35:00] Would be an evacuation Center for animals in the event of disasters so.
[4:35:08] We have.
[4:35:09] Provided you a.
[4:35:10] Very rough estimate on what we're expecting.
[4:35:13] For this to cost with our arena seating being about a million.
[4:35:17] We're going to have a civil site works 4 to 500,000 structural foundations.
[4:35:22] Arena facility, lighting, electrical infrastructure.
[4:35:26] Arena coverings. The pins.
[4:35:30] And our demolition work, so.
[4:35:33] We're working through this as a step by step more towards construction.
[4:35:37] And and what our hope is, is to finalize our plan and our layouts.
[4:35:42] We've already talked to local.
[4:35:44] Vendors for shades.
[4:35:46] We have confirmed our procurement process with EDA that they're going to approve.
[4:35:50] Or have approved.
[4:35:55] So we are moving along with this diligently.
[4:35:58] And I have.
[4:35:58] Billy Bob here.
[4:36:02] As we have reviewed this with Billy Bob and.
[4:36:05] The fair board a couple times.
[4:36:07] But also because.
[4:36:08] We are very much trying to.
[4:36:10] Ensure that we do not interfere.
[4:36:13] With current events, at least our major events.
[4:36:15] Being that.
[4:36:17] We have college rodeo that's coming up.
[4:36:19] And then?
[4:36:20] To ensure that as we start on this, that we make sure that this is done and ready to be used.
[4:36:26] By 4th of July next year.
[4:36:29] So, umm.
[4:36:34] Kind of just.
[4:36:36] You know, we're, we're ensuring we do have the engineer that's been on it.
[4:36:40] All along maintaining our compliance with EDA.
[4:36:43] And the reporting aspects of it.
[4:36:45] We were trying to prioritize our construction, make sure we get shows in the dirt and we get this thing.
[4:36:50] Substantially moving, we have.
[4:36:52] Officially with EDA started construction.
[4:36:57] But we want to ensure that we start some.
[4:36:59] Substantial.
[4:37:00] Work soon, but we also don't want to jump the gun on this and go over there and start tearing stuff out.
[4:37:06] Prior to.
[4:37:07] Being ready and interfering with what's currently going on.
[4:37:14] And then also making sure that whatever we do.
[4:37:16] That we are not.
[4:37:18] That we keep our major draws to the area.
[4:37:23] Established for our next year's events that are already scheduled.
[4:37:26] So I don't know if you've got me.
[4:37:30] You have anything you want to say? Billy Bob Schaefer, president and the Fair boy.
[4:37:36] Mr. Chairman, Commission.
[4:37:38] The February.
[4:37:40] Looked at this we made.
[4:37:43] I mean, I've.
[4:37:44] Probably do Jason's.
[4:37:47] Just like we've changed his mind several times trying to get.
[4:37:50] What we think will work, we think this plan will work.
[4:37:53] We think it's.
[4:37:56] Make our facility better. Last year we had.
[4:37:59] Two nights where?
[4:38:00] We turn people away. We had no more room.
[4:38:03] I think the night that you were there, Mr. Fisher, you can find the chair either.
[4:38:08] And so.
[4:38:09] I hope some of you came and liked it, but we think this is a workable.
[4:38:13] Deal with the fair boards for this.
[4:38:19] Yes, Sir. Question. Yeah. At what point were you turning people away? How many people can we?
[4:38:24] Well, last year we could. We could see.
[4:38:27] I think.
[4:38:28] 1800 is about what we figure, so we're going almost coming in.
[4:38:32] And so I.
[4:38:36] I don't think that.
[4:38:39] That we're going to run short with this facility.
[4:38:42] Because tonight.
[4:38:44] Out of the four or.
[4:38:46] We start on a.
[4:38:48] End on a Sunday. People have to go to work Monday so they don't come on Sunday, so we have short night.
[4:38:53] With the weekend night, just when we.
[4:38:55] Renewal capacity.
[4:39:00] Good. Anything else?
[4:39:02] So it's my understanding that the dimensions.
[4:39:07] Of the arena have been.
[4:39:10] Large. This is definitely whiter.
[4:39:14] Yes, and that's in.
[4:39:15] Tell me. I think that's important to make it.
[4:39:19] PRCA compliant.
[4:39:21] National Finals Rodeo. I mean you do barrels and so on. You need to have 150.
[4:39:27] Feet and width.
[4:39:30] I think it's also good for the rough stock too.
[4:39:32] Have that extra width.
[4:39:34] And I think what that does for the county.
[4:39:38] Not only do we support.
[4:39:40] Our Stampede, which is the premier event.
[4:39:44] But we also have Enmur.
[4:39:47] Right, their rodeo program.
[4:39:49] And they're gonna.
[4:39:50] Want to be compliant?
[4:39:51] With national standards.
[4:39:53] This will meet.
[4:39:55] You might be able to bring in other events that we don't currently have because it's just, well, you know.
[4:40:01] It's, it's not, it's not the same size as a normal arena.
[4:40:05] With might be.
[4:40:06] This takes care of that problem.
[4:40:09] I think that's important for this county going forward because I'd like to see.
[4:40:14] My hope is is that.
[4:40:16] Not only do we have the Stampede and the ranch rodeos, which I enjoyed.
[4:40:20] Tremendously.
[4:40:22] But we can also bring other national events here in the future.
[4:40:27] And turn this into something that.
[4:40:30] More than just for a couple of 3 or 4 events.
[4:40:33] Yeah, well, don't forget that the LC.
[4:40:36] Is the Lincoln County Youth Rotary Association.
[4:40:39] They wrote you all summer.
[4:40:40] Yeah, and that place is packed when they're there. Yeah, it is.
[4:40:45] It's a big deal.
[4:40:46] Lovely to see too.
[4:40:49] Kendall's kids are in.
[4:40:50] And involved in.
[4:40:54] Back to the infrastructure.
[4:40:56] What? Umm.
[4:40:58] Does this.
[4:41:00] $4 million.
[4:41:02] Cover I see where it says to be finalized for building improvements. What is that?
[4:41:07] Going to Intel so.
[4:41:10] Madam Commissioner.
[4:41:17] We are going to be able and as I put these numbers and we finalize them, we'll be able to bring you a very much more detailed.
[4:41:24] Expenditure and budget on the project.
[4:41:26] We're looking at.
[4:41:29] $1,000,000 for seating.
[4:41:31] We're looking at, you know the the cost for the shades, the large one is $106,000. This ones they're $60,000.
[4:41:38] The other thing that we're going to need to do is as we figure out, we need to go over there and.
[4:41:44] We have to run a procurement process off of our current on calls. We're going to have to.
[4:41:49] Pull a Davis Bacon wage decision to ensure that we're compliant with that so that we have a way to begin talking to contractors
[4:41:53] and get actual numbers that it is compliant with EDA.
[4:42:02] As we were able to finalize these numbers.
[4:42:04] The hope?
[4:42:05] Is that this will come in.
[4:42:07] Under budget.
[4:42:08] The other thing that we are doing is that there is several.
[4:42:14] Components.
[4:42:15] To the.
[4:42:17] Restock Arena, the panels, the chutes.
[4:42:19] That have already been purchased and we're going to take inventory of that and see what can currently be reused as it is portable
[4:42:23] and we can reshape it and put it back down.
[4:42:29] We're also evaluating this.
[4:42:31] Sufficient amount of LED lights that we can light this thing up.
[4:42:34] So and that's.
[4:42:35] What's nice about this is we can make sure we're up and down, but the goal on this is to complete this for under the 4 million and
[4:42:38] be able to complete a.
[4:42:42] In addition to Project B, that either Fletcher Hall.
[4:42:45] Or the covered animal.
[4:42:47] Pig barn that we're calling the pig barn back here.
[4:42:51] That is the goal.
[4:42:53] I'm just trying to.
[4:42:59] Understand how this meets the.
[4:43:01] Evacuation facility.
[4:43:03] Also.
[4:43:05] When we evacuate, do they utilize the pig barn in all of that area to pin their animals?
[4:43:11] Well, if the last.
[4:43:14] Yeah.
[4:43:16] Down there every answer that place.
[4:43:20] There were tents under the pig bar.
[4:43:23] But the way we.
[4:43:24] Are you asking about?
[4:43:26] The pig barn where?
[4:43:27] I think she's asking about evacuations for animals.
[4:43:30] Just in general, with the these improvements, will they serve a dual purpose for the evacuation?
[4:43:36] As well as.
[4:43:38] Well, Oh yeah, they should, because it's a.
[4:43:41] When the fire is in Ruidoso and the floods.
[4:43:44] We got let in.
[4:43:46] But this year, the fire on the mountain.
[4:43:49] It was burning the mountain.
[4:43:52] We didn't have animals, we had people.
[4:43:54] And so I think.
[4:43:56] That that is going to be a facility to house a lot of animals.
[4:44:02] So it's a dual purpose? It's a dual purpose, yes.
[4:44:06] That was my question, just to make sure that we're meeting the intent of the.
[4:44:10] Grant Oh yeah, I think so. I think this alone where this instant.
[4:44:16] The animal rescue effort.
[4:44:20] If you look at it, I.
[4:44:22] The way I see it.
[4:44:24] The capacity.
[4:44:26] Is bigger.
[4:44:28] The handling of the livestock will permit you to do different things.
[4:44:34] That we couldn't do before.
[4:44:36] Because that's much neater.
[4:44:38] Run right.
[4:44:42] The other the other building some improvements that that one could do which are low cost like the pig barn.
[4:44:48] As an example, I to use that term but.
[4:44:51] A lot of pigs in there from time to time.
[4:44:54] Really requires.
[4:44:56] Lower cost improvements.
[4:44:58] Than what you're seeing there.
[4:45:00] You could.
[4:45:02] And I'm, I'm not talking for my myself. I'm talking people. I talk to Billy Bob.
[4:45:07] Who use that facility?
[4:45:09] They're reasonably happy, even though it's a, it's a pole barn, right? It's a pipe barn.
[4:45:14] Covering uh.
[4:45:15] If you would.
[4:45:16] Increase the amount of electricity available back there.
[4:45:20] The amount of water that's available back there.
[4:45:24] It would even be more suitable and it's kind of a low cost.
[4:45:27] Upgrade, yeah.
[4:45:28] Needs to happen anyway for the.
[4:45:30] The people that are showing their animals.
[4:45:32] But from an evacuation standpoint.
[4:45:35] It would also.
[4:45:36] Facilitate that and that's.
[4:45:37] That's a low cost.
[4:45:38] Part of this project.
[4:45:40] And that's an incorporated in this design, I think so I.
[4:45:44] I think so.
[4:45:46] It's been talked about. He doesn't. He doesn't have a picture of it up there, but you can imagine if you walked under.
[4:45:51] Underneath there, you know, in the summer when it's really hot.
[4:45:54] They got a few box fans.
[4:45:56] Gone and there's no Mr. Strikes.
[4:45:59] There's no easy water there.
[4:46:01] And then and then the electrical outlets.
[4:46:05] They need better amperage and more of them accessible.
[4:46:08] For their showing.
[4:46:09] Which will also facilitate.
[4:46:11] Using it during an evacuation too.
[4:46:14] So that that's been discussed and I don't know what that cost. Hell, I'll put the sprinklers up.
[4:46:19] Who? Who is doing the design?
[4:46:24] I am so we had an engineer on there.
[4:46:28] As we were coordinating with the engineers we were having.
[4:46:32] Conceptual. It was mainly conceptual.
[4:46:34] And their next planned phase is this is a very tight timeline. They were wanting to take another planning phase.
[4:46:41] That was going to take this part of the project significantly over budget.
[4:46:45] And it was going to take it for another 18 weeks, so.
[4:46:48] We took a more.
[4:46:49] Direct approach on this that was more towards construction and layout.
[4:46:53] I you know, I put this together.
[4:46:57] With consulting of our folks and.
[4:46:59] Making sure that it fits.
[4:47:00] Well, with the construction.
[4:47:03] Is electrical just like UL listed or how have you bypassed?
[4:47:08] We won't bypass the engineering on the specific items, ma'am. So like when it comes to the electrical, we will find us an
[4:47:13] electrical engineer or the contractor will be responsible for providing just like the shades.
[4:47:18] Those are going to be pre engineered.
[4:47:20] Metal structures.
[4:47:22] That we will.
[4:47:24] Bring the structural engineer in to provide us the concrete footings.
[4:47:27] And stamp those as the structural piece for those pre engineered that will be designed and stamped for the metal structures.
[4:47:33] The same thing for the bleachers.
[4:47:35] The bleachers are all.
[4:47:37] The component fabricated.
[4:47:40] Aluminum structures that they come in and they're all rated ADA compliant, structurally rated for their weight class.
[4:47:46] The electrical will be the same thing. We will bring those in. We've already started the electrical with the transformer.
[4:47:52] And talk to Otero Electric.
[4:47:54] So we will.
[4:47:56] With the vendor who we bring in to do the lights, we'll get the electrical.
[4:48:00] Engineering required to make sure that that stamped and installed correctly.
[4:48:05] So you do have an engineer? We have several engineers, so it's not one.
[4:48:09] Like a general contractor, we don't have one overall. Putting multiples together, we're going to them individually to acquire the
[4:48:12] components that we're looking for.
[4:48:17] So basically you're saying that?
[4:48:20] The seating manufacturer is actually.
[4:48:24] Already have it.
[4:48:25] Engineered into the.
[4:48:27] Into the.
[4:48:28] Plan that's already.
[4:48:30] Or the seating that's already available.
[4:48:32] Further area.
[4:48:34] Yes, yes.
[4:48:36] And I, and I apologize, I lost my PDF, it locked down, but I do have a set of preliminary plans for that, but I lost it.
[4:48:46] I'm just worried about the actual foundation.
[4:48:50] For the the buildings or the the shades or the stands and the shades just to make sure that they're.
[4:48:56] All foundations are going to be stamped by structural engineer.
[4:49:05] On their bond.
[4:49:06] Yes, ma'am.
[4:49:07] What's on their stamp?
[4:49:12] You have more discussion.
[4:49:15] I'm excited. I think this is cool.
[4:49:18] Direction then.
[4:49:21] As they move forward, proceed with alacrity.
[4:49:24] Is that get done by that?
[4:49:27] Deadline. Yeah, get done by your deadline.
[4:49:32] We'll, we will.
[4:49:35] Thank you. Thank you.
[4:49:37] Thank you, Sir, Thank you. I'm sorry it took so long, but.
[4:49:40] We have county business to do. You know, I learned a lot today. Yeah, it was a good or bad.
[4:49:46] Some both.
[4:49:50] Hey, by the way, you're back next meeting for your update.
[4:49:52] OK, we'll be here. See ya. All right.
[4:49:58] Thank you. So next is.
[4:50:03] Discussion and direction regarding potential revisions to Lincoln County Animal Control ordinance #20008-08.
[4:50:15] Good afternoon, Ross Coleman, Director of Strategic Planning and Resilience.
[4:50:19] The current.
[4:50:20] Lincoln County Animal Control ordinance.
[4:50:23] Provides for empowerment of animals found at large confinement of biting dogs and female dogs and cats in heat.
[4:50:30] Requires anti rabies vaccinations setting fees.
[4:50:34] Prohibits cruelty and neglect. Abandonment.
[4:50:36] Animal nuisances and provides for various penalties.
[4:50:40] We've been going through the.
[4:50:42] Ordinance First of all, this was.
[4:50:45] Written in 2008.
[4:50:47] And so we've been going through it and seeing certain things that we would like to.
[4:50:52] Have the ability to revise if possible.
[4:50:57] As an example, we'd like to review the empowerment.
[4:51:00] Requirements. Uh.
[4:51:01] And make sure that these are still in line with current practices and what we're doing.
[4:51:06] Also the finding of unattended animals and removing them.
[4:51:12] And then the there is a pet sterilization act that was written back in 1978. We don't know if that's even still current.
[4:51:19] So we'd like to make sure that those are updated.
[4:51:21] And in line with some of the things that were talked about earlier, this document doesn't recognize microchipping.
[4:51:29] So we would like the opportunity to go through this document, make sure that all the definitions are current.
[4:51:36] Add microchipping if you think that that's allowable.
[4:51:40] And just make sure that we have an updated document that's reflective of the things we want to do.
[4:51:49] Page 4 You refer to the Sheriff's.
[4:51:51] Office of Sheriff's Department.
[4:51:53] Yes, Sir.
[4:51:55] Exit. Thank you.
[4:52:01] You know, you know, we've talked about this before and we're here today and we're going to do the best we can, but.
[4:52:10] I'd love to see.
[4:52:12] Love to see what your suggested changes are.
[4:52:15] OK. And we don't see that?
[4:52:18] So, Mr. Chairman, Commissioner, this is.
[4:52:21] We don't have any.
[4:52:22] Changes yet? This is a discussion direction item on if it be the direction of the Commission to open the ordinance and make
[4:52:25] revisions.
[4:52:30] We had a discussion today regarding the Humane Society. This is our current ordinance. It is not currently open. It is the
[4:52:34] direction of the Commission and we'd like to see revisions.
[4:52:38] Didn't even bring it back to you at your next meeting to open the ordinance and begin the revision process. I'd like to see
[4:52:42] suggested revisions.
[4:52:45] Wouldn't we?
[4:52:49] If any.
[4:52:50] So we can talk about it.
[4:52:52] I think I'd like for them to weigh in.
[4:52:56] For the sheriff.
[4:52:58] Yes, undershirt to weigh in.
[4:53:02] OK. Do you have any comments, Sarah?
[4:53:06] At this time.
[4:53:07] No, not that, but it would be nice that you referred to and your deputies referred to multiple times.
[4:53:13] To.
[4:53:15] Be made aware of any suggested changes. Absolutely fine and would.
[4:53:19] Most likely have some input in Yes Sir.
[4:53:21] Yes, Sir. Thank you for that.
[4:53:24] So, uh.
[4:53:25] I'd like to consider too the the new nuisance that we do have.
[4:53:30] In the county of horses.
[4:53:32] Yes, I think that needs to be addressed also.
[4:53:35] Yes.
[4:53:38] Horses, Horses.
[4:53:41] I feel like it changes though I would.
[4:53:43] Caution you all.
[4:53:49] Prioritize not creating any unfunded mandates.
[4:53:52] But that's a really big concern of mine.
[4:53:59] I like to castrate all the feral stallions.
[4:54:06] I've got a Pharaoh Yelding right now.
[4:54:09] Thank God he's getting.
[4:54:13] And that would that would take care of that problem going forward.
[4:54:17] A little herd that's around my house. There's three little ones about that, Yeah. And they're, they're being abused and they're
[4:54:21] not being taken care of and they're not going to be.
[4:54:25] And so so if you.
[4:54:28] Yeldies Stallion.
[4:54:32] Then the herds will will be.
[4:54:35] Lowered and reduced. We won't be killing them on a Rd.
[4:54:40] ETC.
[4:54:42] That's.
[4:54:46] OK. Well, with your permission, I'd like to move forward with that and then visit with the Sheriff's Office and.
[4:54:51] Maybe come back to you, probably more likely November.
[4:54:55] That'd be acceptable.
[4:54:57] Is that the sense of the Commission?
[4:55:00] Yes, Sir.
[4:55:03] Do so. Make it so.
[4:55:06] Thank you, Sir.
[4:55:08] If you masturbate the stallions.
[4:55:18] Works every time.
[4:55:22] Next is discussion direction regarding Lincoln County law enforcement.
[4:55:26] Shooting range project at proposed locations.
[4:55:32] Come on.
[4:55:38] So, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
[4:55:42] We have a discussion direction item here. There's been a.
[4:55:46] Idea proposed on an additional shooting range.
[4:55:50] That would be in a location that's.
[4:55:53] Adjacent to our current.
[4:55:55] Indoor shooting range and training center project.
[4:56:03] I think we'll have some.
[4:56:06] Hello, design issues to.
[4:56:10] Overcome, but it's nothing that's not undoable, and it would be a very convenient location being that it is next door to a.
[4:56:16] Training Center.
[4:56:17] An indoor range that we could utilize both of them.
[4:56:22] On the same location and it further expands our Sierra Blanca training center.
[4:56:27] So with that I'll.
[4:56:28] You guys.
[4:56:30] So you want to bring up.
[4:56:32] Oh yeah, you'll give me a deal.
[4:56:35] Chairman, Commissioners, you took that.
[4:56:38] Used our drone to take up the photograph for the proposed location so you can get an idea.
[4:56:43] With pin drop structures in the area.
[4:56:48] This is actually a proposal brought to me personally by.
[4:56:52] A couple of the commissioners and said, hey, look at this.
[4:56:55] And I think it's a great idea and it puts it right next to the new facility that you could fund for.
[4:57:00] Indoor range and I think it's fantastic that way we're not split up.
[4:57:05] So I I like the idea.
[4:57:09] You're going to see Copper Ridge. That's the fire station there, 48.
[4:57:13] To the subdivision across their.
[4:57:15] Blank spot you see across from Copper Ridge Fire Station is.
[4:57:19] What is it 11 acres?
[4:57:21] Refresh my memory club living in some change, almost 1211 and some change. So that's the proposed site of where you're going to
[4:57:24] put in the indoor facility.
[4:57:30] And so.
[4:57:31] Someone who knows a little bit more about dirt work and digging and all that kind of stuff.
[4:57:36] Mr. Chavez has looked it over and proposed that we.
[4:57:40] Put in the 100 yard.
[4:57:41] 100 plus yard long range.
[4:57:44] Shooting facility on the same.
[4:57:46] Patch of land there.
[4:57:48] I think that's fantastic you.
[4:57:50] You're going to have power already for the new facility. We can get power next to it because there's some requirements that we
[4:57:52] need and.
[4:57:56] On a long range shooting range for nighttime qualifications etc. So.
[4:58:03] Again, it's going to take someone smarter than I to look at the geographics and the dirt and all that kind of stuff figure out.
[4:58:10] Where exactly it's going to go, But I mean, there you, you have some natural backstops which we would never rely on.
[4:58:17] We would always want to accentuate those backstops.
[4:58:21] And enhance those back stops just so that we make sure there isn't anything because we.
[4:58:26] We.
[4:58:29] In fact, some pretty heavy duty stuff out there.
[4:58:35] You want to you want to go up there.
[4:58:38] To point out what we're talking about, Absolutely.
[4:58:41] Go ahead now, okay.
[4:58:44] I think I have an idea this.
[4:58:46] So what we're looking at is.
[4:58:49] So this is where the facility is going to go, the indoor facility, the indoor facility.
[4:58:54] So what we're looking at is this stretch of land right here.
[4:58:57] And what we measured out was 140.
[4:59:01] I think it was 13130.
[4:59:04] From right about here.
[4:59:06] All the way to right here.
[4:59:11] There you go. There we go. Yeah, there we go.
[4:59:14] Is what we're looking at.
[4:59:16] So there is a ravine.
[4:59:19] However, like the sheriff was talking about.
[4:59:22] Somebody that has the engineering.
[4:59:24] Abilities to.
[4:59:26] To put the dirt work in.
[4:59:27] They're going to have to take a look at that.
[4:59:29] But that's where.
[4:59:31] I think it's going to be a great location. It's going to be next to the.
[4:59:34] Indoor range in the training facility that.
[4:59:37] We're looking forward to having.
[4:59:40] And it's going to be utilized by a lot of them.
[4:59:42] Not only the public, you're indoor, but.
[4:59:45] Other counties that come here really host the sheriff's conference every single year, and there's always training and
[4:59:48] qualifications.
[4:59:51] There's been times and they've actually had a pistol competition issue. So is it?
[4:59:56] It isn't as though it won't be used.
[4:59:58] I mean greatly. And it's very necessary again.
[5:00:01] We are currently using a.
[5:00:03] Landfill.
[5:00:06] And so the proposal in the county property we had up by the fairgrounds was.
[5:00:10] You know going to work, but this is even better. I think this is puts.
[5:00:14] Puts it all in one package right there, and I don't think there will be quite near the disruption to.
[5:00:20] Public key, you know, disrupting the peace.
[5:00:24] A lot of our guys like to go out and.
[5:00:27] On their own, which is great news, with their own ammunition at all hours of the night, I don't think this is going to be a big
[5:00:29] foe.
[5:00:32] Some of us prefer to do our night qualifications at 4:00 in the morning, so.
[5:00:36] I think this is a better spot. I think it's a great location.
[5:00:40] And that this was just going to it will require minimal. Well, I say that again, I'm not the expert on it, but.
[5:00:46] If the Honeycutt and his crew can do the job on this, they did it the.
[5:00:50] They did have the fairgrounds. We'll be in high cotton man.
[5:00:53] So that that would be our suggestion, our proposal, if it's the Commission's desire to.
[5:00:59] Figure out a way that we can.
[5:01:01] Marry those two.
[5:01:03] Ranges together in the same spot.
[5:01:09] So I went over there and I looked at it. I I actually the one that suggested it.
[5:01:13] Yes.
[5:01:15] Alex.
[5:01:16] Asked me to go see the the shooting range over there at the.
[5:01:19] At the fairgrounds.
[5:01:21] I wasn't.
[5:01:22] I wasn't impressed with that.
[5:01:23] That area right there, I felt that it was too open a tough spot.
[5:01:27] You know, and so I, I made the suggestion over here, I invited.
[5:01:32] Commissioner Serna.
[5:01:34] Alex and myself to go over there to look at it.
[5:01:38] I I think it's.
[5:01:40] I personally.
[5:01:41] I'm not an expert.
[5:01:42] So I don't know.
[5:01:43] And I would like to get the.
[5:01:45] The input of the people who live around it, Also how they feel about it.
[5:01:50] I also invited.
[5:01:52] Commissioner Prather.
[5:01:54] And he had some concerns.
[5:01:56] Would you care to?
[5:01:58] Delivery, yeah. So we.
[5:02:00] I'm just going to be honest, we've been talking about.
[5:02:02] This for 3 1/2 four years at this point because we've known that the EPA was going to come in and they were going to kick us off
[5:02:06] the use of.
[5:02:11] The current Lincoln County gun or Lincoln County range there that we've been using in the past.
[5:02:18] It's always been a problem.
[5:02:20] With the residents surrounding those areas.
[5:02:24] But this particular residence that we're talking about right here is right adjacent to the Copper Ridge.
[5:02:33] Subdivision.
[5:02:35] I was under the impression that they had.
[5:02:37] Talk to us in the purchase of that property to make sure that those things were not going to be utilized for those particular
[5:02:41] things I think they're worried about.
[5:02:45] Number one, noise ordinances and all those, all those different subject matters, but.
[5:02:51] In my opinion.
[5:02:54] I mean, I'll just be honest, I don't like it.
[5:02:56] I think it's shooting toward another person's property.
[5:02:59] I think that the lead mitigation problem is going to be a huge ordeal. I think that there's going to be a lot of things that we're
[5:03:05] running into if we do decide to go ahead and put that range out there. I'm only one of five.
[5:03:11] But I would propose that we continue to look for a more strategic.
[5:03:16] Safer place to put that range when we're talking about right and left lateral limits. I mean, it wouldn't even be out of the right
[5:03:20] lateral limit.
[5:03:24] The way it's proposed, or at least the way that I've.
[5:03:27] Imagined it.
[5:03:29] The road.
[5:03:30] Hwy. 48 would be literally right in the middle of the right lateral limit for that particular range.
[5:03:37] So yeah, I mean.
[5:03:38] In my professional opinion, personal opinion.
[5:03:42] It doesn't work for me.
[5:03:44] And I did go out there yesterday and I think I did kind of voice that my my concerns are more about the range.
[5:03:50] The distance.
[5:03:51] These individuals are potentially going to be shooting.
[5:03:55] I would like to see a piece of property that has quite a bit more range.
[5:03:59] There's also the other.
[5:04:01] Organizations that are still here.
[5:04:03] I mean, I have no problem with spending.
[5:04:07] A taxpayer money on getting a range that's going to be.
[5:04:10] Used in perpetuity for the rest of Lincoln County history, but there's there's been quite a few different ranges proposed over the
[5:04:17] course of the last few years. The there are two also private ranges that can also be utilized for sniper qualifications for
[5:04:23] service rifle competitions for for those other types of deals, there's the Lincoln County Gun Club, which is housed up in Rita so
[5:04:30] Downs, which will allow for 600 yards. There's the Capitan High Power Club that would allow for 1000 yards.
[5:04:38] I understand that being right there next to that facility.
[5:04:41] Would be awesome.
[5:04:43] But I feel like there should be another way, another solution.
[5:04:47] To how we can get that increased range that's necessary for the officers to be able to shoot and.
[5:04:53] Not potentially in danger.
[5:04:56] The public, and I don't want to say that that would endanger public, but I mean that road will be literal.
[5:05:01] Right, the right lateral limits of of firing. So I mean my personal perspective is keep searching.
[5:05:08] But I mean if the if the board wants to move forward with this.
[5:05:12] And I get.
[5:05:15] Outvoted then.
[5:05:16] So be it. We'll we'll move forward and try to make it the best possible.
[5:05:21] Chair Fischer, Commissioner Prater, I completely understand and.
[5:05:25] Absolutely. I understand your concerns about that. It would be, it would be the Commission's responsibility to fund.
[5:05:32] The design.
[5:05:34] And, umm.
[5:05:35] Infrastructure on this to.
[5:05:38] Largely prohibit.
[5:05:40] There being any problems with?
[5:05:42] The highway it would be.
[5:05:44] And so I'm not opposed to looking.
[5:05:47] Other places, I just think putting them together, you're fixing to put an indoor shooting range right there.
[5:05:52] And you're going to have the traffic. There's an awful lot of things that are already in place based on the fact that you're going
[5:05:56] to use this property for an indoor.
[5:06:01] Shooting range is open to the public.
[5:06:03] You know, those who don't make their living by the guns the way we do.
[5:06:07] That are not so much maybe familiar with the proper handling and.
[5:06:11] These kind of things. So I think you're already in a little bit of a pickle with the position you're in. But again.
[5:06:16] I just need to place where I can qualify my deputies to meet the statutory requirements.
[5:06:20] Get my snipers dialed in.
[5:06:23] That's all I need.
[5:06:23] Right now I'm using a.
[5:06:25] Junkyard, I'm using a landfill. Can I propose just one solution for at least for the for the interim and the time being?
[5:06:32] I know, I mean, I'm a member of the the board for the Lincoln County Gun Club and I know that I can discuss that with them. The
[5:06:36] use.
[5:06:40] Of the Lincoln County Gun Club in the interim until we already.
[5:06:44] We just never thought that was even a possibility.
[5:06:46] Thank goodness for the Undersheriff when the commitment the conference happened this year.
[5:06:50] He was able to secure the long range out there Capitan the long.
[5:06:55] Distance range for, for because we, we got sheriff's from and under sheriff's and deputies from all over the state and quite
[5:06:58] frankly.
[5:07:02] The last thing I wanted to do in terms of representing this county was take them to a landfill.
[5:07:07] So thank goodness for that, but I'm not opposed to.
[5:07:10] Being on the lookout for me.
[5:07:11] I just need something.
[5:07:12] I mean for years when I was here 1112 years ago on patrol.
[5:07:16] We were qualifying and for Stanton.
[5:07:18] Up against the hill, I mean it.
[5:07:20] We need a firing range.
[5:07:22] So we need to find and that's not my, that's not my intent by my comments is to say that, hey, we don't need a fire. I understand.
[5:07:26] I understand and know that we need a firing range. I understand if I could find one in the middle of nowhere that was again
[5:07:30] accessible to the public.
[5:07:35] We kind of thought Captain was an opportunity for some economic development. I mean, we had sheriff's and under sheriff's and.
[5:07:41] I must have been 100 plus people here and would would have gone and gotten gas and eating at the restaurants and.
[5:07:47] You know, give Capitan a little bit of boost, but.
[5:07:49] Some reason another that one can waste, I told.
[5:07:52] I am absolutely not opposed.
[5:07:54] And listening to your concerns, they're valid concerns. I get it and I understand, I mean.
[5:07:58] My gosh, look at your history. You know what you're talking about. And so I'm grateful for that.
[5:08:02] So in saying that, I I think that there is.
[5:08:06] Options, I think that's still, I really think that's a good place.
[5:08:10] I think that there's.
[5:08:11] There's ranges that are built.
[5:08:14] That we don't have to reinvent the wheel that are in.
[5:08:17] Public areas that could probably.
[5:08:20] If we do certain measures to that area that we can actually facilitate that.
[5:08:25] I'd like to see a national force backed property.
[5:08:28] So that we know that any bullets that are potentially going to impact are going to impact in a potentially.
[5:08:35] Public area.
[5:08:37] Well, we'd be glad to research some of those areas and get with our Forest Service partners and find out what county property is
[5:08:40] available in those venues.
[5:08:45] But exploring this here, I think you need to you need to rule this out before we you know.
[5:08:50] I think, well, like I said, I'm sure there's other options and there's places.
[5:08:54] That are that are in.
[5:08:57] Cities that they're seeing ranges.
[5:08:59] That are made I mean, we don't have to reinvent the wheel, that's first we can actually.
[5:09:04] See if that is an viable option.
[5:09:08] How many yards away is the nearest structure that's not county owned?
[5:09:13] The nearest structure is 333 yards away from.
[5:09:16] That's not county owned and it's.
[5:09:21] The South southwest of the.
[5:09:23] Sterling itself was the hardware.
[5:09:25] Across the highway.
[5:09:27] This one, yeah, that would be the nearest is across the highway and up on the hill. Yeah, if you.
[5:09:33] No, Yeah, so.
[5:09:34] So if I may.
[5:09:36] I.
[5:09:39] If you look at that.
[5:09:40] That one spot that you're.
[5:09:42] You pointed out.
[5:09:44] It really is in a.
[5:09:46] And it's in a draw. It's in a draw, Arroyo like.
[5:09:49] Area.
[5:09:51] And if you change the elevation of that a little bit, you brought it down.
[5:09:57] And then you put.
[5:09:59] Tim, I'm thinking about.
[5:10:01] Like we did out there and.
[5:10:03] In Mystic you know with.
[5:10:05] Basically a funnel.
[5:10:07] You know, for.
[5:10:08] Those so so if you.
[5:10:10] You can imagine.
[5:10:12] I don't know how to explain this. I would like the words but.
[5:10:15] But you can you can imagine if you have something like this.
[5:10:18] And you're shooting.
[5:10:20] Here.
[5:10:21] If and their targets are there.
[5:10:25] If you.
[5:10:26] Elevate your.
[5:10:27] Your weapon out of.
[5:10:29] Out of where it should be?
[5:10:30] Before you go, you deflect it left or right.
[5:10:33] You're going to hit that baffle and then you're going to have a spent shell. It depends on how you build that.
[5:10:39] But essentially you are tunneled.
[5:10:42] Straight down to where that target and that backstop is.
[5:10:46] As long as you're in the firing position.
[5:10:48] That's approved, you can't have a problem.
[5:10:51] It just doesn't exist.
[5:10:53] And so.
[5:10:55] One could imagine.
[5:10:57] That that you could do that.
[5:10:59] For that hundred, we said one 100.
[5:11:01] 30 yards.
[5:11:03] And simply just not have a problem.
[5:11:07] And we shot towards Roswell.
[5:11:09] Every day with 50 calibers.
[5:11:13] Barrett.
[5:11:14] And that was made a little excessive.
[5:11:17] But we did that successfully.
[5:11:20] With three oh eights and down below that.
[5:11:23] You would have no problem.
[5:11:25] In in making that happen.
[5:11:28] But if it's going to require a little groundwork.
[5:11:32] Not excessive. You're going to have to cut down some trees.
[5:11:36] You're not going to lose the forest, it needs to be thinned out over there anyway.
[5:11:41] And I think the ability.
[5:11:43] To jump from pistol Qualls inside.
[5:11:47] That new facility we're putting in there with the.
[5:11:52] You know, with the programs and all of that.
[5:11:55] And then to be able to jump to your long gun.
[5:11:57] Right there and.
[5:11:59] To have the classroom.
[5:12:01] Right available.
[5:12:04] Is is pretty fantastic.
[5:12:07] Now it's easy enough to put.
[5:12:09] To not allow public at that long range, that might be something you don't do.
[5:12:14] Yes, we required and want to have the public that have periodic access.
[5:12:20] Controlled access.
[5:12:21] To the indoor range because that's for that.
[5:12:24] But you put those together, I think you you end up having a really good neat solution that doesn't require.
[5:12:31] A bunch of running around and so forth.
[5:12:34] And being inside that.
[5:12:36] That draw.
[5:12:38] Noise abatement.
[5:12:39] Becomes much less of a problem.
[5:12:41] In terms of being able to hear.
[5:12:43] The cracks on the.
[5:12:44] You know, going up and down the road.
[5:12:46] Or on the 368.
[5:12:49] Yards away.
[5:12:52] I I don't see it as a problem.
[5:12:54] Well, Jared Fisher, Commission I.
[5:12:57] Would modify if.
[5:12:59] And we had planned on doing this. If we did, the facility was going to go in and Capitan is modify and stay within the ordinances
[5:13:02] on the.
[5:13:06] Not being disturbing. People do the 3:00 tomorrow, the guys want to go out and fire their own weapons and they can go places they
[5:13:09] go.
[5:13:13] And go to the Hicks, you know I can go somewhere.
[5:13:16] We would be up. We would modify That didn't even provide potential warning or notification publicly. Hey.
[5:13:22] Sheriff's Office is going to be out here on so and so date.
[5:13:24] For a three day run qualifying his or her deputy sheriff's and this is how it's going to be.
[5:13:28] Most of all, I think now or.
[5:13:31] Dang near all of my long guns are suppressed.
[5:13:35] That's just the way to go.
[5:13:36] We're using suppressors.
[5:13:39] I mean, it's just.
[5:13:41] That's what we're doing. So I think we can mitigate the noise complaint, the safety issue as you alluded to, and I agree.
[5:13:47] Mr. Chairman.
[5:13:50] Commissioner Fisher right there. You know what?
[5:13:53] And I and it needs to be brought up.
[5:13:55] I think it can be handled to.
[5:14:02] Another quick question. Yes, Sir.
[5:14:04] And so this is just going to be at the base level for my understanding as we have these conversations going forward.
[5:14:10] Aside from the proximity to the pistol range.
[5:14:13] Why do we need our room?
[5:14:15] I mean, I've heard, I've heard a couple times say we need our own. And so I'm just looking For these reasons for the foundation of
[5:14:20] our further conversations. Well, to lay the foundation from the beginning as we were.
[5:14:25] Obviously statutory required.
[5:14:27] A certain number of qualifications annually.
[5:14:31] With their long gun, sidewarm sidearms, that kind of thing. So it's an it's a necessity necessary that we have.
[5:14:37] A place to go.
[5:14:38] That accommodates that with length, width.
[5:14:41] At any given time, we may have 5 or 6 deputy sheriff's on the firing line.
[5:14:46] So that being number one and not necessarily by ranking it by a.
[5:14:52] Importance but.
[5:14:54] The more these guys and gals fire their weapons and shoot, the better. We just need a place to do that.
[5:14:59] Safely, and we need a place to do that where we can.
[5:15:03] Host if.
[5:15:04] There's counties in this state that do not.
[5:15:06] Host the sheriff's conference, the police chief conference here. We do every single year. You've got lots and lots of people and
[5:15:11] we want to represent and give them a nice, safe place to go.
[5:15:17] And do their business again and obtain their necessary qualifications further.
[5:15:22] Certification so.
[5:15:24] So if we do build this, you're saying there's a potential economic development? Yeah, absolutely.
[5:15:29] Economic and.
[5:15:32] Yeah, and again, it has been that way for years because the sheriff's conference always chooses Ruidoso.
[5:15:38] Even in the midst of the fires and the floods, here they came.
[5:15:41] It's still paradise and here they came. God love them so.
[5:15:45] So sort of further my question is why these other two shootings that are already?
[5:15:49] In place one other private.
[5:15:51] Those well and so.
[5:15:52] It's been suggested that there's going to be some opening for.
[5:15:56] Willingness to.
[5:15:58] Cooperate.
[5:15:59] And so if that willingness exists, then it sounds like these ranges could potentially fit.
[5:16:05] Your scope? Well, again their private facilities.
[5:16:08] Membership only.
[5:16:10] There's a liability issue there that a Commission would have to concern themselves with, but.
[5:16:15] Again, we don't know. It just happens that when the undersheriff was able to secure this one, they weren't using it.
[5:16:20] We need a dedicated range of our.
[5:16:23] We don't need to be traveling.
[5:16:24] We don't need to be traveling from Copper Ridge from an indoor handgun range.
[5:16:29] Out to the Downs or even Capitan in the very same day when we can have it all in one pack.
[5:16:35] Under a Sheriff Trujillo had mentioned they have a Conex box full of.
[5:16:39] Equipment and so I think that would be.
[5:16:42] One of the reasons it needs to be Co located. We have two contacts boxes actually they hold all of our firearm stands.
[5:16:48] Or backstops, I mean auto backstops with our silhouettes targets.
[5:16:52] Ammunition. We have two Con Xboxes that stay out at the landfill right now.
[5:16:56] Because we use so much of that material.
[5:17:00] And again, those private facilities, we wouldn't be able to do that. We'd be calling it.
[5:17:05] And how? How often do you qualify? What is it now we're doing twice a year, minimum, day and night?
[5:17:11] Every single one in here, every pistol factor in my office has to go out twice a day.
[5:17:15] And is everybody you know?
[5:17:16] Qualified on long range.
[5:17:18] Yes.
[5:17:22] Plus we have we have sniper capability.
[5:17:25] And so.
[5:17:28] We need a place to go.
[5:17:30] And what are the requirements to qualify for? We had to get with the snipers on those and figure it out because at the moment it's
[5:17:35] still in its infancy, but they're still warming up to their weapons.
[5:17:41] We're building policies and making sure that.
[5:17:44] And make no mistake about it, if a sniper.
[5:17:47] Deputy, our weapon is.
[5:17:49] Necessary tomorrow, we're going to, we're going to do what we need to do to protect this county.
[5:17:53] But in terms of some specific qualification numbers, I'm not sure they have a number on them.
[5:17:58] I second, I mean I can.
[5:18:01] I can definitely chime in on that the the snipers that are certified snipers with burritos OPD.
[5:18:06] Do their qualification at the Reno start the Lincoln County Gun Club range in Ruidoso Downs. So does Ruidoso the Downs Police
[5:18:10] Department.
[5:18:15] They use it and they just give us.
[5:18:17] Prior notice beforehand in order to be able to come and use Lincoln County.
[5:18:23] So what yardage?
[5:18:25] So the only qualification that I know of specifically with snipers is 100 yards.
[5:18:30] But that's mainly because the capability, obviously we need to practice at further ranges in order to be able to do those
[5:18:35] qualified 6.
[5:18:39] If I made chairman, Commissioners.
[5:18:43] I'm actually taking out our snipers out to White Sands.
[5:18:48] To Stallion range, October 8th.
[5:18:51] So we can stretch those weapons out.
[5:18:53] They have a designated sniper area. I've been on it several times. It's.
[5:18:57] Great, uh.
[5:18:58] Facility, but I want them to have that experience and it's out to 1100 meters.
[5:19:03] Is one of the targets.
[5:19:05] Sort of that point, I mean, we could put resources in county lands.
[5:19:10] Invested into this and it could still be insufficient for what you really need? Well, no.
[5:19:15] Say the sniper the same as the the indoor shooting ranges.
[5:19:25] You build, it will come.
[5:19:27] Trust me, we could build it.
[5:19:30] Dozen different ones and step it up every time.
[5:19:32] My point is that, you know, there could be.
[5:19:34] Potentially more.
[5:19:35] That you need than just this.
[5:19:38] The next question is what would the public be available to utilize?
[5:19:42] The long range port.
[5:19:43] If we got the short range there in the long range also that would, that would be a question for you, the Commission, I mean, if
[5:19:49] you're going to put our long range right next door to the indoor shooting pistol short range.
[5:19:55] Then that would be, you know, a question for.
[5:19:57] The county.
[5:19:59] I would prefer that our dedicated long range.
[5:20:03] With the concerns Commissioner Fraithers brought up, do we want everybody bringing out their squirrel guns?
[5:20:08] You know on county property right there.
[5:20:11] I don't know.
[5:20:12] Mr. Chairman, Commissioner, I can tell you now that even with the indoor one, as it'll be made available to the public, it will
[5:20:17] not be open to the public. It will be in a controlled environment with folks there that are managing it to have a range master
[5:20:21] there.
[5:20:27] Utilize it.
[5:20:30] So you all work with the detention center correction officers to qualify them as well? We do.
[5:20:35] This county owns their firearm.
[5:20:38] There Bob purchased under mine under the sheriff's name.
[5:20:41] They're in my inventory and we qualify. There's there are seals.
[5:20:46] With our weapons.
[5:20:53] Well.
[5:20:53] So, umm.
[5:20:54] We've we've heard this.
[5:20:56] We've heard a couple of options.
[5:20:58] Is there any consensus in terms of direction? Because that's what's being asked.
[5:21:05] Discussion and direction.
[5:21:09] You.
[5:21:13] Here's what I suggest.
[5:21:16] What do we have a timeline? Before I make my suggestion, what's our timeline?
[5:21:22] Ross on the installation of this.
[5:21:24] Indoor range.
[5:21:25] Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, your current.
[5:21:28] Timeline on that one is there intending to have.
[5:21:31] The uh.
[5:21:32] The boxes delivered.
[5:21:34] By mid to late October, early November.
[5:21:37] So we are in the process now of.
[5:21:40] Getting civil contractors to ensure we have the foundations and the concrete done so that when they come, they're lifted off the
[5:21:44] truck and ended up.
[5:21:47] Place umm.
[5:21:50] On that site we also have to have the infrastructure ready for them to be hooked up.
[5:21:54] So we're, we're kind of in a dash, but we're.
[5:21:57] Opened by the end of the year, we have a.
[5:21:59] So maybe not a complete one, but.
[5:22:01] Something substantial.
[5:22:02] The calendar year.
[5:22:04] The calendar. Yes ma'am. Sorry. Yes ma'am. Calendar.
[5:22:07] So, OK, so that's that's one.
[5:22:10] That's one.
[5:22:11] Touchpoint.
[5:22:13] It seems to me that.
[5:22:15] Before we.
[5:22:16] We make a recommendation.
[5:22:20] That's some surveying.
[5:22:23] I mean real surveying.
[5:22:24] Might be important.
[5:22:25] Terms of.
[5:22:26] You know, get in transit up there, looking at depths and heights and so on. See how feasible.
[5:22:31] Feasible it is before direction is given.
[5:22:35] With respect to this thing and and what other?
[5:22:38] Is there any other kind of abatement? Bullet traps? What? What is the real? What is the real cost on this?
[5:22:45] Might, might look like and, and let's do that.
[5:22:48] Because you're going to have we talked about.
[5:22:50] That abatement, that's important.
[5:22:52] It's critical because with the EPA and so forth.
[5:22:56] So you have to have the proper bullet traps, no question about it.
[5:22:59] The heights going from.
[5:23:01] The shooting position to the target area.
[5:23:04] Need to be.
[5:23:06] Understood. Comprehended.
[5:23:07] How much excavations required?
[5:23:10] And in that estimate excavation I'd like.
[5:23:14] Mr. Prather to be part of.
[5:23:16] Looking at uh.
[5:23:17] What we talked about being in that.
[5:23:20] Pulling up a tunnel.
[5:23:22] And see if that's feasible if that can.
[5:23:24] Meet some of your concerns.
[5:23:26] Or maybe all of them.
[5:23:27] Yeah. And and with that, that'll give us an idea whether we can.
[5:23:33] Logically.
[5:23:34] Move in that direction or do we have to go somewhere else?
[5:23:38] Is that is that reasonable for the Commission?
[5:23:42] In terms of direction.
[5:23:44] And then there's also this other dirty little thing that says, we probably need a public hearing or some sort of notice that says.
[5:23:52] We've got to make sure that the folks.
[5:23:54] Are comfortable with that design.
[5:23:56] That we could present them with.
[5:24:00] I don't see your head going up and down, you saying.
[5:24:02] There's an an ordinance that would require that.
[5:24:05] Because there is not zoning in the county we could consider.
[5:24:09] Not doing it or doing it.
[5:24:11] But yeah, that's what I'm thinking of.
[5:24:15] But I think.
[5:24:16] I think we don't. We haven't really comprehended.
[5:24:19] The the problems and the solutions.
[5:24:23] Associate, we're going to have problems wherever we go.
[5:24:25] And we're going to have to have solutions wherever we go.
[5:24:28] Unfortunately, the county does not own.
[5:24:31] Large expanses of land.
[5:24:33] Where we can do this?
[5:24:35] But we do have.
[5:24:37] Some options here and I think we could we could be a little more educated in our.
[5:24:43] Process than what we are currently. I think it's a good idea I do.
[5:24:47] I've actually been out there before.
[5:24:49] And I've looked at it and in my mind's eye it seems to make sense.
[5:24:53] But I don't know.
[5:24:55] You know this.
[5:24:56] The the issues of.
[5:24:59] The parent rounds is always important regardless of who's shooting.
[5:25:04] I'm in a place where I saw.
[5:25:07] Shoot inside a building and he didn't mean to.
[5:25:10] So it happens.
[5:25:11] And he did. He really didn't mean to.
[5:25:15] So it can happen but.
[5:25:17] So let's do that. So I think the direction is.
[5:25:21] Could we not utilize?
[5:25:23] The work Gary has already done for the grading in the.
[5:25:28] Parcel of land to.
[5:25:30] Madam Commissioner, it only includes that site right there that the building and the Foundation are going to be on now.
[5:25:36] We can ask.
[5:25:37] Pettigrew actually did the civil and the.
[5:25:40] The topography we can ask them to expand on that day, it's at the control points.
[5:25:44] So we can ask them to expand on that.
[5:25:46] Yeah, because right now you're you're shooting, you're shooting down a little bit, right And.
[5:25:50] And we want to be horizontal. We don't want to have the defilator inflate issues at all.
[5:25:55] That's a little more complicated.
[5:25:57] So so.
[5:25:59] But let's do Let's do a little survey work, see what needs.
[5:26:02] Needs to be done.
[5:26:04] See if it's feasible. Get some ideas on what what bullet traps cost which might have to.
[5:26:10] Occur wherever we're at, right? That's a, that's a standard.
[5:26:13] Standard cost unless we opt for the.
[5:26:16] A different solution like you were suggesting.
[5:26:19] The High Power club.
[5:26:22] So is that the direction?
[5:26:26] Let's let's figure out what's required to make this work.
[5:26:30] Decide whether it works or not.
[5:26:32] And then that drives us into another solution set. Are you OK with that?
[5:26:35] Yes, Mr. Chairman.
[5:26:38] OK, OK, OK.
[5:26:41] That's the direction.
[5:26:42] OK, OK.
[5:26:45] Bueno.
[5:26:48] Thank you.
[5:26:52] I have a lot of.
[5:26:55] Understanding about.
[5:26:57] Jones target range. I have my own at home too.
[5:27:07] Let's proceed. What do you say?
[5:27:09] Are you good to proceed? You will need a.
[5:27:11] Bio Break.
[5:27:15] I'm good. 22 minute bio break, let's go.
[5:27:19] We're in recess for two minutes.
[5:27:22] How to reset normal meeting?
[5:27:25] Oh sure, Ready.
[5:27:29] Make the motion that we go into executive session.
[5:27:33] 2nd.
[5:27:34] Ma'am, clerk, roll call, please.
[5:27:38] Commissioner Wilson, Yes.
[5:27:39] Commissioner Chavez, Yes. Commissioner Prather. Commissioner Sarna aye. Chair Fischer, Aye.
[5:27:45] Motion.
[5:27:47] OK, we're now in executive session.
[5:27:50] I attest matters discussed in the closed meeting were limited to those specified and no action was taken.
[5:27:58] Come back in a regular meeting session.
[5:28:02] And I'm looking for a motion to.
[5:28:06] Approve notices to proceed for eligible properties under the Lincoln County EWP Buyout program.
[5:28:13] Following the executive session as presented.
[5:28:18] Mr. Chair, I make the motion is.
[5:28:20] He just recited.
[5:28:23] I second.
[5:28:25] And clerk roll call, please.
[5:28:29] Commissioner Prather.
[5:28:30] Aye, Commissioner Wilson, Yes.
[5:28:33] Commissioner Sarna Aye. Commissioner Chavez? Yes. Chair Fisher.
[5:28:36] Aye.
[5:28:38] The next regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, Lincoln County will be Tuesday, October 20th, 2026 at 08/30 at this
[5:28:42] location.
[5:28:47] Are there any further matters to be discussed before we turn?
[5:28:51] Make a motion. We adjourn.
[5:28:53] 2nd Madam Clerk, roll call, please.
[5:28:58] Commissioner Wilson. Yes, Commissioner Chavez. Yes. Commissioner Sarnas.
[5:29:02] Hi, Commissioner Fraylor, Chair Fisher Aye, you are adjourned.