[0:18] call this meeting to order.

[0:23] » Early on today, folks, we we had a situation

[0:27] across the parking lot here at District Court,

[0:31] a critical situation um where we had to stand by and and and stay locked up. I

[0:37] just want to recognize all the people that were involved in

[0:43] taking care of that situation. We had the sheriff's office. We had AIC Police

[0:48] Department, Farmington Police Department, Bloomfield Police

[0:52] Department, the FBI, the fire department, and the EMS.

[0:58] This goes to show how how different departments come together

[1:04] and act as one to keep our community safe. I can't express how grateful I am

[1:12] as a citizen, but also as a county commissioner of how our departments come

[1:18] together and take care of business when they're they're called upon. I just want

[1:22] to personally thank you and the county commission wants to thank you for your

[1:26] service and what you do in protecting our county. Thank you.

[1:33] » Now like this [clears throat] meeting is called to order. M Terry, would you do

[1:36] the invocation?

[1:41] » All right. If you'll just pray with me. Heavenly Father, I just thank you for

[1:45] this day that we can come here in freedom and safety. Dear Lord, thank you

[1:49] for the 250 years that we celebrated as a nation and everything that has

[1:54] happened during that time and even before and will happen in the future. I

[1:59] thank you, dear Lord, for all of the people that responded to this situation

[2:03] that was tense and uh really protected people from any further harm, even the

[2:09] subject that meant harm to themsel. I thank you for them because Lord, they're

[2:13] out there and anything could go bad at the time, but it turned out in favor of

[2:20] of all lives were protected. And dear Lord, I just also pray for water. We

[2:26] desperately need water. >> Amen.

[2:28] » We need to um be able to uh continue to water all of our plants and and just for

[2:35] drinking water. Thank you for the individuals that are here. I just pray

[2:39] for the commission as we make our discussions and all the people that are

[2:43] presenting. Lord, just be with us in our decisions in Jesus name. Amen.

[2:47] » Amen. >> Amen. Thank you.

[2:49] » J, would you lead us in the pledge? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[2:54] United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation

[3:00] under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[3:07] » Okay. [snorts] to regular meeting. I'd like to

[3:13] entertain a motion the approval of the agenda.

[3:17] » So move and >> Mr. Chair might just add that we don't

[3:20] have any changes tonight. >> Okay. Just we don't have any changes.

[3:23] Okay. Very good. We don't have any changes the approval. Is there a second?

[3:27] » Second. >> Okay. All in favor?

[3:29] » I. >> Any opposed? Motion carried. Thank you.

[3:37] » Moving. Moving on to the consent agenda. We've got nine items on the consent

[3:41] agenda. Item number one is consideration of regular meeting minutes for June 9th,

[3:47] 2026. Consider number two, consideration of

[3:51] finance check register for June 2026. Number three, consider consideration of

[3:57] treasur register for June 2026. Number four,

[4:02] consideration of FY26 budget adjustment number 17. Resolution number 26-27-05.

[4:11] Number five, consideration of contractual changes to ATB Behavioral

[4:16] Health. Number six, consideration of resolution number 26-27-02,

[4:24] appointing new surplus committee members. Number seven, consideration of

[4:28] projects for state fire marshall grant funding. Number eight, ratification of

[4:34] annual 2026 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program, EMPG,

[4:41] submitted to the state on June 30th, 2026.

[4:47] Number nine, consideration of renewal of proposal number 24-25-03,

[4:55] fire hose and hydrant testing. I'd like to entertain a motion to accept

[5:01] Mr. Chair, I would like to make a motion to approve the nine consent agenda

[5:08] items. >> Very good. Is there a second?

[5:10] » I'll second. >> There's a second. All in favor?

[5:14] » I >> I.

[5:15] » Any opposed? Motion carried. New business.

[5:21] Under new business. Um item number one, we have we have six items under new

[5:27] business. The first one is consideration of resolution number 26-07-01

[5:34] recognizing and honoring Purple Heart recipients in the designating San Juan

[5:39] County a Purple Heart County. I'd like to pass this over to Commissioner Gary

[5:44] McDaniel so he can um go ahead and read the resolution.

[5:49] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and uh commission as you know uh

[5:53] [clears throat] last commission meeting I alluded to this and uh to for it to be

[5:59] on the agenda and here we are. So uh I'm thankful for that. First of all, welcome

[6:04] everybody. We we sure appreciate you being here. Um, this resolution number

[6:10] 2627-01 formally recognizes the service and

[6:14] sacrifice of United States military personnel who have been wounded or

[6:18] killed in combat and are recipients of the Purple Heart Medal established by

[6:22] General George Washington in 1782. The Purple Heart is the nation's oldest

[6:28] military decoration still in use and is awarded to members of the armed forces

[6:32] who have been wounded or killed in action while serving in the United

[6:35] States. The resolution acknowledges the profound gratitude and respect of San

[6:41] Juan County residents for the men and women who have placed themselves in

[6:45] harm's way to defend the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans. It further

[6:49] recognizes the Purple Heart Trail Program, a national network of roads,

[6:53] highways, bridges, and communities established to honor Purple Heart

[6:58] recipients and preserve awareness of their sacrifices.

[7:03] Approval [clears throat] of this resolution designates San Juan County as

[7:06] a Purple Heart County and affirms the county's commitment to honoring Purple

[7:11] Heart recipients and their families. By joining the Purple Heart Trail Network,

[7:16] Sanan County publicly recognizes the courage, dedication, and sacrifices of

[7:21] wounded and fallen service members while demonstrating ongoing support for

[7:26] veterans and military families throughout the community. And as I

[7:31] understand it, if this passes, San Juan County will be the first county in the

[7:37] state to be a Purple Heart County. So I think that's uh uh very very great. Let

[7:45] me go ahead and read this. U San County resolution number 2627-01

[7:50] recognizing and honoring Purple Heart recipients and designating Sanan County

[7:54] a Purple Heart County. Whereas General George Washington established what is

[7:59] now known as the Purple Heart Medal in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. And

[8:05] whereas the Purple Heart Medal is the oldest United States military decoration

[8:09] in present use. And whereas the Purple Heart Medal is awarded in the name of

[8:15] the President of the United States to recognize members of the armed forces

[8:19] who are killed or wounded in action against an enemy of the United States or

[8:24] are killed or wounded while held as prisoners of war. And whereas the Purple

[8:28] Heart Trail was established in 1992 as a symbolic and honorary system of roads,

[8:35] highways, bridges, and other monuments to give tribute to Purple Heart medal

[8:39] recipients. And whereas residents of San Juan County have the utmost gratitude

[8:44] and respect for all men and women in the in the armed forces and have placed

[8:49] themselves in harm's way in selfless service to the United States. And

[8:54] whereas Sanan County seeks to honor those men and women who have been killed

[8:58] or wounded while protecting our freedoms by designating itself a Purple Heart

[9:03] County and by joining the Purple Heart Trail Network. Now therefore, be it

[9:08] resolved by the board of county commissioner of San Juan County, New

[9:11] Mexico, that San Juan County is designated as a Purple Heart County to

[9:16] honor the sacrifice of those armed forces members wounded or killed in

[9:21] action and service to the United States of America. Passed, approved, and

[9:25] adopted this 7th day of July, 2026. Signed by Sam Gonzalez, chair and

[9:32] County Clerk. But anyway, u uh first of all, Mr. Mr. Chairman, before I go any

[9:38] further in commission, I'd like to uh make a motion if I could that uh we u uh

[9:46] pass this resolution where uh counting uh resolution number 2627-01

[9:53] recognizing and honoring Purple Heart recipients and designating Sanan County

[9:56] of Purple Heart County. >> That we approve resolution 262701.

[10:01] » Okay. >> Okay.

[10:01] » That we approve it. >> Okay,

[10:03] » I'll second that. >> Okay, there's a second. All in favor?

[10:07] » I. >> Any opposed? Motion carried.

[10:10] Congratulations. Very good. >> And and before we go any further, if I

[10:13] could, Mr. Bill Simkins here in the front row. Bill is with American Legion

[10:18] uh number 93. And Bill has been instrumental in this. And uh I know he

[10:24] was going to have another uh person here today, but he couldn't make it from

[10:28] Oklahoma. But uh uh glad Bill is here. And uh Bill, would you like to say

[10:35] anything uh on behalf of uh what just occurred?

[10:38] » Well, yes. Uh chairman, uh commissioners,

[10:42] it's an honor for me to stand here and accept this from the county. It's, you

[10:47] know, been something that's it happened uh on Memorial Day, Farmington became a

[10:52] Purple Heart city. It all become of a because of a a friend of mine that came

[10:58] here on a retreat I did last August. He's a three-time Purple Heart recipient

[11:02] in one tour. >> He uh I'll just briefly mention it

[11:07] because we talked about it last last time.

[11:11] » U he got shot right here in the forehead, shattered his helmet, broke

[11:14] his neck and skull in the hospital. Commander says, "We're going to send you

[11:18] home." He says, "No, I'm a combat medic. I want to take care of my troops." So he

[11:22] stayed and stayed through three injuries like that.

[11:27] you know, offered to go home stay to finish off his tour. He's the reason

[11:32] that I do what I do to try to help, you know, recognize these people that are

[11:37] have given their life or or limbs or whatever has happened to him for the

[11:42] service. So, I just it's an honor to receive this for him and the mil

[11:47] military order purple heart. >> I would like to present you with this

[11:52] frame resolution present. I've known Bill for many

[11:56] decades and thank you for all you do and and on behalf of all of us, you know, we

[12:01] really appreciate you and thank you and your

[12:04] » this presentation >> you're so we can take

[12:06] » people you work with

[12:17] you can read

[12:25] Gary, I think you ought to be the one having this overd.

[12:33] » All right. Right here. Big smiles. One, two, three. One more. One, two, three.

[12:40] » Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Bill.

[12:53] Yeah, they are here. I don't know where they might be in the very back.

[12:59] Might have to come up.

[13:04] Okay, moving on to item number two. Consideration of resolution number

[13:09] 26-27-03, a proclamation honoring the Pedro Vista

[13:15] High School baseball team. Commissioner Forner.

[13:19] » Okay. Thank you. All right. So, whoever's here from Pedra Vista, would

[13:23] you go ahead and come forward? I know there's I I can see right over here. So,

[13:28] if you don't mind, go ahead and come forward. Thank you for being here. I

[13:33] know that probably people are different places playing. So, um, before I read

[13:38] this proclamation and say, I was going to say, will you introduce yourself and

[13:42] tell me what position you play? >> Yes, ma'am.

[13:44] » I'm Cody Kugton. I play second base. >> Thank you.

[13:47] » Yep. >> You can just stand right over there.

[13:49] Thank you. >> Basic Courtney. I play center field.

[13:52] » Thank you. >> I'm Zach Westford and I play right

[13:54] field. >> Right field. Okay.

[13:56] » Um, Kate Aragon and I'm the catcher. >> Catcher. All right.

[13:59] » JW Bis and I pitch and I play first. >> Okay. Thank you.

[14:03] » Andrew Cunningham. I play left field. >> Left field. All right.

[14:06] » Brady Sandal. I play first base. >> First base. Okay.

[14:11] » Uh, my name is Ethan Sessen. I'm an assistant coach.

[14:14] » Thank you for being here. >> Tyrell Curtis. I'm also an assistant

[14:17] coach. >> Thank you.

[14:19] » I'm Jeff Corali. I'm the head coach. >> Thank you, Jeff, for being here. Thank

[14:22] you all each one of you for being here. So, um, it's my pleasure that I was

[14:27] contacted by Carrie Sandival and, uh, she let us know what this was all about.

[14:34] And I'm a mom of a softball pitcher from Pedra Vista who was a state champ for

[14:39] four times herself pitching. So I know the dedication that goes into this and

[14:44] yours too, coach. Each one of you, I appreciate it because not it doesn't

[14:48] matter what the weather is. Um you're up early, you're out late, you're

[14:52] traveling. These are students. They have to make good grades. They want to

[14:56] graduate because I'm going to guess most of them want to go on to play college

[14:59] sports. Does is that kind of the goal? I have uh eight seniors this year. All

[15:04] eight are going to college and seven of them are going on baseball scholarships.

[15:08] » Oh, wow. >> That is awesome.

[15:13] [applause] >> So, so well done.

[15:15] » Yeah. I I appreciate it. I My one daughter went to Farmington, the other

[15:20] daughter went to PB. So, I love our high schools and everything that goes into

[15:24] this. So, thank you young men for being here. I appreciate it. So, at this time,

[15:29] I'm going to read the proclamation that the county commission has written up and

[15:32] signed. It says, "Whereas the Pedro Vista High School baseball team won the

[15:38] 2026 New Mexico Activities Association Class A State Baseball Championship on

[15:45] May 16th, 2026." So, that's barely over. That's what about six weeks ago. So,

[15:51] it's still fresh and exciting. Whereas the Pedro Vista Panthers defeated

[15:55] Cleveland High School. Yay. by a score of 10 to zero. That's big. In the

[16:01] championship game at Lobo Field in Albuquerque, securing the title in a run

[16:06] rule victory. Wow. A run rule victory. Okay, I understand that. [laughter]

[16:11] Okay. where whereas the Panthers advanced through a highly competitive

[16:16] state tournament defeating Los Cruus's in the quarterfinals, top-seated Rio

[16:21] Rancho in the semifinals in Cleveland in the [cough and clears throat]

[16:25] championship game. And whereas this championship marks the fifth state champ

[16:31] baseball championship in the Pedro Vista High School history, the program's first

[16:37] state since 2014. So that's 12 years. That's [clears throat] probably when you

[16:42] guys were all in kindergarten about I'm going to guess.

[16:47] Whereas the student athlete, coaches, administrators, parents, and supporters

[16:51] of Pedro Vista High School have demonstrated dedication, perseverance,

[16:55] sportsmanship, and excellent serving as exemplary representatives of San Juan

[17:00] County. Now there therefore be it resolved that the board of county

[17:04] commissioners San Juan County, New Mexico hereby congratulates and

[17:09] recognizes Pedro Vista High School baseball team coaches and supporters for

[17:13] winning the 2026 NMAA class 5 state baseball championship for bringing

[17:20] distinction and pride to San County and be it further resolved that the board of

[17:25] county commissioners hereby proclaims July 7th today 2026 six as Pedro Vista

[17:32] High School baseball team day in San Juan County, New Mexico in recognition

[17:37] of the team's outstanding achievement and fifth state championship passed,

[17:42] approved, and adopted this 7th day of July 26 signed by Commissioner uh Sam

[17:47] Gonzalez. So, thank you so much. [applause]

[17:52] » I'd like to approve the resolution. >> So, moved.

[17:57] » Is there a second to the >> I'll second.

[17:58] » There's a second. All in favor? >> I

[18:01] » motion. Any any opposed? >> Yeah. Motion car. We have a resolution,

[18:06] too. We have >> Yeah. Let's go. The guys can stand right

[18:10] here and move the podium, too. >> Get you guys in

[18:23] our

[18:29] Okay.

[18:40] » No hiding. >> All right. If you can't see me, I can't

[18:43] see you.

[18:47] » Ready? Big smiles. One, two, three. One, two, three. Very good.

[18:55] Oh, sorry.

[19:05] » There you go. >> Okay. Thank you guys so much.

[19:11] [applause]

[19:22] » Good job.

[19:32] I think that's pretty neat.

[19:41] » Okay. Item number three, moving right along. [clears throat]

[19:46] Consideration of resolution 26-27-04

[19:52] recognizing the 25th anniversary of the consolidation of San Juan County Fire

[19:58] and Rescue. >> Mr. David Vega

[20:02] say >> Mr. Chairman, Commission, good

[20:06] afternoon. Uh coming off the heels of a a big weekend where our nation just

[20:10] celebrated 250 years of uh independence. Uh I'm very proud to be able to come uh

[20:17] to you today as we celebrate uh 25 years as a consolidated fire department. This

[20:23] year marks a significant milestone for San County Fire and Rescue as we

[20:27] celebrate 25 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Sanongan County. Over

[20:33] the past quarter century, our department has grown tremendously. We began as an

[20:38] allv volunteer fire department that has evolved into a professional combination

[20:42] fire department, bringing together the dedication of volunteer and career

[20:47] personnel to provide fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue

[20:52] operations, and fire prevention throughout our county. This anniversary

[20:57] is not just about the department. It's about the people who built it. I would

[21:01] like to extend my sincere gratitude to the fire chiefs whose leadership shaped

[21:06] Sanin County Fire and Rescue over the past 25 years. Fire Chief Larry Markham,

[21:12] Fire Chief Doug Hatfield, Fire Chief Craig Dhy, and Fire Chief John Mohler.

[21:18] Their vision, commitment, and leadership laid the foundation for the department

[21:23] we proudly serve today. And I am honored. I truly am to continue building

[21:29] on the legacy they established in commission. I believe with us we do have

[21:33] uh fire chief uh Doug Hfield. Chief Hatfield if you would stand up. And then

[21:39] I believe in the back uh Chief Mohler and Chief

[21:45] and be recognized. [applause]

[21:51] » [applause]

[21:55] » Uh these two men mean a lot to me. In in 2011,

[22:00] uh Chief Hatfield uh hired me away from a different fire department uh as a

[22:05] captain. And uh in 2011 uh was not uh even in my sphere that I'd have the

[22:10] opportunity to uh lead this organization someday. And uh I'm humbled to to be

[22:16] here in his presence. and uh Chief Mohler uh hired me as a deputy chief and

[22:21] work directly under him and uh I'm just very grateful that uh they they are here

[22:25] and able to celebrate uh this accomplishment. So, thank you. I also

[22:30] want to recognize every past and current member of San County Fire and Rescue.

[22:34] Whether you served as a volunteer or career firefighter for a few years years

[22:38] or an entire career, your dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to serving

[22:42] others have made this department what it is today.

[22:47] Countless lives and properties have been protected because you answered the call

[22:52] often at a great personal sacrifice. And commissioner, if you would allow me to

[22:57] just acknowledge one other person in this room, and I had the pleasure to

[23:00] walk in with her tonight, and uh that's Susan Rosenbomb. Susan, I'm going to put

[23:04] you on the spot and ask you to to stand up. Susan started uh in 1980

[23:12] uh with Samon County and uh for those of you that are math inclined

[23:19] » uh [laughter] >> it's a long time ago.

[23:21] » That's a long time ago long time ago. >> Uh and I just want to recognize Susan.

[23:26] She's been here since day one. >> And it's what's even more important is

[23:30] uh she is still active uh today and one of our uh most active volunteer

[23:35] firefighters. uh she's still out there doing it. So Susan, thank you. And

[23:39] again, we're honored to have you. [applause]

[23:46] [applause] As we celebrate this milestone, we also

[23:50] look toward the future. We remain committed to providing exceptional

[23:53] emergency services, investing in our personnel, and continuing to earn the

[23:57] trust of the communities we proudly serve. On behalf of San County, I'd like

[24:02] to thank the San Juan County Commission for your continued support over the past

[24:06] 25 years. Your commitment has enabled us to grow, improve, and better serve our

[24:12] citizens. We are honored to serve San County and we look forward to the next

[24:17] chapter of our history. and commission. Uh it's my understanding that you have

[24:22] uh honored us with a proclamation and uh with the chairman's approval. I'd

[24:27] like to read that proclamation if I may. >> You you certainly may.

[24:32] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. San County resolution 26-7-04,

[24:36] a proclamation recognizing the 25th anniversary of the consolidation of San

[24:41] County Fire and Rescue. Whereas in October 13, 2001, ordinance or excuse

[24:46] me, ordinance 49 authorized the consolidation of multiple volunteer fire

[24:51] departments into a single countywide fire organization, establishing what is

[24:56] known today as San County Fire and Rescue. And whereas this consolidation

[25:01] created a unified fire and rescue agency dedicated to providing professional,

[25:06] efficient, and coordinated emergency response services to the residents and

[25:09] visitors of Sanongan County. And whereas over the past 25 years, San County Fire

[25:15] and Rescue has grown into one of the region's premier emergency service

[25:19] organizations, responding to fires, medical emergencies, technical rescues,

[25:24] hazardous materials incidents, wildland fires, and other emergencies while

[25:28] continually adapting to meet the demanding J change, excuse me, the

[25:32] demanding and changing needs of the community.

[25:36] And whereas the success of Sam County Fire Rescue is built upon the

[25:40] dedication, professionalism, and courage of its volunteers, firefighters,

[25:44] emergency medical personnel, support staff, and leadership who serve with

[25:48] distinction and a steadfast commitment to protecting lives, property, and the

[25:53] environment. And whereas the department has fostered strong partnerships with

[25:58] local, tribal, state, and federal agencies as well as neighboring fire

[26:03] departments and community organizations, strengthening emergency preparedness and

[26:08] response throughout the region. hand. Whereas beyond emergency response, San

[26:12] County Fire and Rescue has de demonstrated an enduring commitment to

[26:16] community risk reduction through fire prevention, public education, emergency

[26:21] preparedness, and outreach programs that help make San County a safer place to

[26:26] live, work, and visit. And whereas the board of county commissioners wishes to

[26:32] recognize the lasting contributions of the men and women who envisioned and

[26:37] implemented consolidation 25 years ago as well as every member of San County

[26:42] Fire and Rescue whose service has strengthened the organization and

[26:46] benefited the community. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the board of

[26:51] county commissioners of San County, New Mexico, hereby recognizes the 25th

[26:56] anniversary of the consolidation of San County Fire and Rescue, and expresses

[27:01] its sincere appreciation to all past and present firefighters, emergency

[27:06] responders, volunteers, staff, and leaders for their unwavering dedication,

[27:11] professionalism, and service. The board encourages all residents to join in in

[27:15] celebrating this milestone and to recognize the vital role San County Fire

[27:19] and Rescue has played in protecting our communities for the past 25 years while

[27:23] looking forward to many more years to come. Adopted this 7th day of July, 2026

[27:29] by the board of county commissioners of Sanong County, New Mexico, signed by

[27:33] Chairman Sam Gonzalez. >> Thank you, sir.

[27:36] » And Mr. Chairman, if I just may add, if I'd like, if I may have all my staff,

[27:41] past and present, Son County firefighters that are in the crowd

[27:44] tonight, my administration staff to please stand up and be recognized. And

[27:48] thank you for your service. [applause]

[27:56] [applause] After

[28:03] we entertain the motion and approve this and and and pass it, would like to go

[28:09] out in the lobby and take a picture with the firefighters.

[28:12] » Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> I'd like to entertain a motion to

[28:15] approve proclamation 262704 U recognizing the 25th anniversary of

[28:22] the consolidation of San Juan County Fire and Rescue.

[28:25] » I'll second it. >> Motion. Is there a second?

[28:28] » I did. Second. Is there a >> second? Second.

[28:30] » All in favor? >> I.

[28:31] » Any opposed? >> Motion carried.

[28:34] » Thank you, commission. >> You bet. Let's go take a picture with

[28:36] the staff.

[28:44] » Do you want to bring do it out there? >> No.

[28:46] » No. >> Why?

[28:47] » I don't want light behind them. >> Oh, okay.

[28:53] » So, up here. >> Yeah.

[28:54] » Gentlemen, ladies, come on. John, that means you

[29:04] » that means you [laughter]

[29:12] need a better deal. [laughter]

[29:32] All right, everybody together. We're going to have to get a second row in the

[29:35] back there. Please scooch together. Scooch in. Heather, that means you

[29:40] scooch in. Scooch in. Carl, scooch back. >> Goodness gracious. You guys never listen

[29:46] to me.

[29:49] » You're not on fire. [laughter] All right, there we go. Big

[29:53] smiles. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Very nice.

[29:57] Thanks.

[30:05] [applause]

[30:14] » Have one. The best mustache. All just sits in the stands in the back.

[30:18] » Take all the >> Yeah. statue of glory.

[30:23] » Didn't know I was going to need my walking shoes today. I guess [snorts]

[30:25] when I saw resolutions or popations, I should have known.

[30:44] All right, moving on to item number four.

[30:49] Consideration of memorandum of understanding with the city of

[30:54] Farmington authorizing ASD-JIP pilot program, Miss Jennifer Mitchell.

[31:03] » Welcome, Jennifer. >> How are you,

[31:05] » Mr. Chair and commissioners? Before I do proceed with the matter on the agenda, I

[31:09] would also like to at this time give you a brief update on the recent incident

[31:14] that occurred over the weekend at the ASD facility.

[31:18] As you know, an inmate breached the fence at the ASD campus and fled on

[31:22] foot. Law enforcement was notified immediately following the incident and

[31:27] the sheriff's office continues to lead that investigation. We are cooperating

[31:31] fully and deferring all investigative matters to them. Second, our internal

[31:36] review identified operational practices that may have contributed to the

[31:40] incident. We are following up with the involved staff from an administrative

[31:45] perspective, reviewing policies, practices, and reinforcing our

[31:49] procedures going forward, and that process is underway. Finally, we have

[31:54] identified the likely location of the escape. The examination revealed a

[31:58] security breach in the perimeter, which has since been rectified. The photos

[32:03] before you show the breach as we found it and the same location after the

[32:08] corrective work was completed. I'm happy to answer any questions that you may

[32:13] have now or following my presentation. >> Any questions from the commission?

[32:20] » Not so far. >> Okay, I'll go ahead and proceed then.

[32:23] So, I'm here today um along with uh Farmington City Manager Shauna Reeves,

[32:28] Farmington Police Chief T Steve Hebill Adair, Christine Carlson, and Estebon

[32:34] Rodriguez representing the GIF program to introduce a new pilot program that

[32:39] would expand our existing 28-day uh jailbased DWI treatment program to a new

[32:46] population, and to highlight what I think is a genuinely unique three-way

[32:50] collaboration between the San Juan County City of Farmington and

[32:54] Presbyterian Medical Services Toe Behavioral Health JIP program that makes

[32:58] this possible. So, let me start with the problem that we're trying to solve. As

[33:03] you are likely aware, the city of Farmington experiences significant

[33:07] challenges with respect to unhoused and intoxicated individuals. This issue

[33:12] remains a high priority for residents and business owners within the

[33:16] community. One effective tool the courts have to address the addiction and

[33:20] housing insecurity issues is by utilizing the joint intervention program

[33:24] operated by PMS's Total Behavioral Health Services. Historically, when the

[33:29] municipal court has sentenced someone into outpatient treatment, namely JIP,

[33:34] and that person fails to complete it, there hasn't been a structured secure

[33:39] treatment option to fall back on. That person uh basically cycles back through

[33:43] the court system and the judge is left with two choices. either send them back

[33:47] to JIP or place them in jail. As you know, our alternative sentencing

[33:52] division already operates a 20 proven 28-day jailbased treatment program. Up

[33:58] to now, that program has been limited exclusively to individuals convicted of

[34:03] DWI. But the inf infrastructure, the clinical staff, and the treatment model

[34:08] we've built are well suited to serve a small carefully screened group of in

[34:13] additional individuals, specifically those non-DWI municipal defendants who

[34:19] weren't able to exceed succeed in a non-secured treatment environment and

[34:23] need something more structured. This is where the three-way partnership comes

[34:28] in. To behavioral health services will continue to run JIP, the JIP program

[34:32] exactly as it does today. However, this collaboration will add a

[34:37] layer to the process in that when someone doesn't complete the program,

[34:40] the program's involvement and documentation of that non-comp

[34:44] completion becomes the catalyst um that opens up this referral pathway. San Juan

[34:50] County through the alternative sentencing division retains full

[34:52] discretion over program eligibility, admission, and space availability just

[34:57] as we do with our DWI population. We're not changing our clinical model or our

[35:02] screening standards. were simply extending eligibility in a very limited

[35:06] way to this new population. Individuals convicted of DWI and sentenced into the

[35:11] program will continue to have priority for admission. Additionally, the number

[35:16] of non-DWI inmates will be capped at five at any given time. So, I'm before

[35:22] you today to request that you approve the memorandum of understanding between

[35:26] the San Juan County and the city of Farmington that puts this pilot into

[35:30] effect. Under the proposed terms, the city would compensate the county $3,916

[35:36] per individual who completes the program or a pr-rated daily rate of one uh

[35:41] $139.86 for those who don't. Um, all of our

[35:46] existing admission criteria remain fully in effect and unchanged and either party

[35:51] will have the ability to terminate the agreement for convenience within 30 day

[35:54] with 30 days written notice which gives us an easy off offramp in case the pilot

[36:00] doesn't perform as we expect it to. We'll be tracking outcomes carefully

[36:04] throughout the pilot period so that we have a solid have solid information to

[36:08] use for evaluation of efficacy that will eventually help inform whether or not

[36:13] the partnership partnership should continue, expand or end. So with that,

[36:19] we stand for any questions you may have. >> Is there any questions?

[36:23] » I do. >> Terry, go ahead. Um I was just curious

[36:26] how many uh judges are involved in uh referral to this program for this is

[36:33] there one two >> Mr. Chair u ma madam I mean madame

[36:38] commissioner [laughter] Mr. Chair, madam commissioner. Um, yes,

[36:43] there is uh from the planning perspective, there has been one uh the

[36:48] full-time municipal court judge uh Robert Miller has been involved in the

[36:52] in some of the planning and and you know laying of the foundation of this um

[36:57] pilot. My understanding is that uh all of the judges at the municipal court

[37:02] level will be involved. So I believe there is a of course the full-time judge

[37:05] as well as a part-time judge and an alternate judge. Okay. So, this option

[37:09] will be a available to all of them. >> All of them. And they're aware obviously

[37:13] if they're part of the planning as well. >> Um, yes. Uh, Judge Miller is aware and

[37:20] I'm assuming he has relayed this information to the rest of the judges.

[37:24] But I will once this memorandum of, uh, understanding is is formalized, then I

[37:29] will make that uh, opportunity available to them so that they're familiar with

[37:34] all the processes. And it sounds like the accommodations are already in place.

[37:39] So, and staffing those type things already ready to go with this if we

[37:46] agree to this. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Forner, yes,

[37:48] the infrastructure is already in place. We've been doing it for years and um

[37:53] capping the the opportunity or the the limiting to the five individuals non

[38:00] non-DWI individuals at any given time will uh easily will easily be able to

[38:06] accommodate that. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you.

[38:09] » Mr. Chair, I have a question. Um you mentioned tracking mechanisms. Have you

[38:13] defined what [clears throat] your tracking mechanisms will be and what are

[38:16] they? >> Mr. Chair, um Commissioner Laneir. So we

[38:20] we have not defined exactly what parameters we're going to be looking at,

[38:25] but certainly we will be looking at success rates, recidivism rates, um uh

[38:30] completion rates to start with, of course, um things like that. And we

[38:33] already have uh database structure in place where we can um you know, easily

[38:39] track all of that information. >> Okay.

[38:42] » Any other questions from the commission? No.

[38:45] » Okay. Then I'd like to entertain a motion to approve

[38:50] I'll move that we approve >> with the city of Farmington authorizing

[38:54] ASD and GIP pilot program. >> I move that we approve theou with the

[38:58] city of Farmington authorizing ASD JIF pilot program.

[39:02] » I'll second. >> There's a second. All in favor?

[39:05] » I. >> I.

[39:06] » Any opposed? Motion carried. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[39:11] » All right. Good job.

[39:15] It's new. >> Item [clears throat] number five,

[39:18] consideration of the amended and restated joint powers agreement with the

[39:22] Navajo Nation to operate and maintain solid waste transfer stations. Mr.

[39:27] Stark. >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair and

[39:29] commissioners. Um, as you might recall, this this item was previously before you

[39:33] at the March 3rd uh commission meeting. We thought we had uh the agreement

[39:39] wrapped up, the third amendment, and ready to go for approval by the Navajo

[39:43] Nation. Uh we were informed by uh the Navajo Nation DOJ uh and really the

[39:49] primary change here uh is that they can't continue doing JPA that that go on

[39:55] in perpetuity. They need to have an end date and their end date is every 5

[39:59] years. And so that's the primary change is the term uh on this joint powers

[40:04] agreement. Um so it has a has a five-year a cap on it. And of course

[40:08] we'll go through you know when that point in time comes uh renewal

[40:12] appropriately uh for the JPA. So um just as background uh you know in 1994 San

[40:19] County and the Navajo Nation entered into this JPA for the operation and

[40:23] maintenance of solid waste uh compacting and transfer stations on the Navajo

[40:27] Nation at Shiprock uh upper Fruitland and Sand Springs. Um the original

[40:32] agreement was was ultimately amended in 2016 and 2022 and so this is of course

[40:37] the third amendment. Um the Navajo Nation did uh reach out. We've been

[40:43] working with Navajo Nation Council Michelle Garcia and Charlene Jeff who's

[40:48] the Navajo Nation senior projects and programs specialist for the division of

[40:53] community development. Uh and they made that that one major change. Um, but then

[40:58] also the just to make sure you're aware, the financial arrangements under the

[41:02] agreement have not changed at all. So, the Navajo Nation will continue to pay

[41:06] all operating and maintenance expenses of the stations. Uh, of course, San

[41:11] County will continue to operate the stations. Uh, each Navajo Nation fiscal

[41:15] year. They're on the federal fiscal year, so their federal their fiscal year

[41:18] starts on October 1st. the NAVO Nation will deposit with the county an amount

[41:23] estimated to cover the nation's total obligations uh for the upcoming fiscal

[41:28] year. Uh over the course of the year, each quarter, the county will credit

[41:31] against the deposit any revenues received through user fees at the

[41:35] stations. Uh if a deficit occurs between the amount on the deposit and the actual

[41:39] expense, the county will build the Navajo Nation uh for that amount on a

[41:43] quarterly basis. If any of the deposited funds remain at the end of the Navajo

[41:47] Nation fiscal year, uh that amount will be credited um against what I'm sorry,

[41:52] against what they owe. It does not appropriate funds for a given year. The

[41:55] Navajo Nation will alert the county to this fact as soon as possible before

[41:59] funds are exhausted and the county may terminate the agreement upon uh exhaust

[42:05] exhaustion of remaining funds. Uh you may recall we haven't done that yet. uh

[42:09] they are in a deficit situation, but uh we've been working with our great

[42:13] partners. We we've been working together since 1994.

[42:17] And so the agreement is that the JPA, if approved by you all, um will be approved

[42:23] by the Navajo Nation. It ultimately has to be approved as well uh by the

[42:27] Department of Finance and Administration for the state of New Mexico. So and when

[42:32] that happens uh then they will make good on their past due balance and then also

[42:36] provide us uh funding for the next fiscal year starting October 1st. So

[42:41] that is this reconsideration of this u third amendment before you

[42:47] this this evening. >> Well, thank you.

[42:50] » Uh is [clears throat] there any questions for Mr. Stark?

[42:54] » No. >> What's the balance that they owe us by

[42:57] the way? >> Um pretty close to half million dollars.

[43:00] No. >> So that that's accumulated over the

[43:03] course of a year. Um, you know, we notified them uh over a year ago about

[43:08] the outstanding balance and uh and ultimately, you know, kept extending

[43:14] credit in essence in good faith that we want to continue the partnership. It

[43:18] wasn't something we wanted to to just, you know, arbitrarily terminate. So, um,

[43:24] you know, to date, they've been good partners and we want to continue that

[43:27] partnership. We think it's a valuable service that San Juan County provides

[43:30] and and they've indicated they don't have the internal capacity to provide

[43:35] the service. So if we don't uh they would be left without a service.

[43:40] » Well, let's hope they pay up. That's for sure.

[43:42] » Mr. Chair, >> yes.

[43:43] » Um Mr. start. Uh you met with um their division directors and are they

[43:54] saying in the future that they're working on uh

[44:00] a a place, you know, where the tribe will take care of its own waste

[44:05] management? Did they kind of bring that up or it wasn't discussed?

[44:12] » M Mr. chair and commissioner toini um indirectly it was discussed they do

[44:18] operate a facility in Arizona as I understand and so uh they do have one

[44:23] facility that they currently operate and then I believe contract services um with

[44:27] other entities like us to provide services across across the nation but it

[44:33] was not mentioned that they would be looking to do that here in San County

[44:40] » Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion then, if I could. We uh approve the

[44:47] amended and restated joint powers agreement with the Navajo Nation to

[44:50] operate and maintain solid waste transfer stations as stated herein by

[44:55] Mr. Stark. >> I'll I'll take that. But we have another

[44:59] question from Commissioner for Sorry. Go ahead.

[45:02] » So, um Mr. Stark, just so I understand it, so right now half a million is what

[45:08] we're due. Is that correct? And what's the time period for that?

[45:11] » That's been over a year and 13 months, I think. Kim, does that sound right?

[45:16] » So, over a year. And um it says if the Navajo Nation does not appropriate funds

[45:22] for a given year, the Navajo Nation will alert the county to this fact before

[45:27] this funds are exhausted. And they've alerted us of that fact.

[45:32] » Well, Madam Mr. Chair, Madam or >> Go ahead, Commissioner. [laughter] Miss

[45:38] Mitchell got me started on that. >> I think she called me madam chair.

[45:43] [laughter]

[45:47] » Um yeah, they so part of the dilemma with

[45:52] uh and I think this new format of agreement plus having you know a a

[45:56] different management group in place is it was always a dilemma for them to

[46:01] reappropriate funding for the next fiscal year. Uh and part of it was it

[46:04] was a perpetual JPA that I think they oftentimes forgot about internally uh

[46:10] until we would notify them that their past due that their previous

[46:13] contribution their funds had been exhausted and and then we would you know

[46:17] oftentimes that would happen uh outside of the start of their fiscal year. And

[46:23] so that would be problematic for them in terms of getting funding re you know

[46:26] reappropriated during the middle of a fiscal year. And so, uh, this

[46:30] arrangement is much better, uh, because it's going to be prefiscical year start,

[46:34] October 1st, and they're going to make make good on the outstanding balance,

[46:40] um, and then also preund the next year's worth of activity. So, um, is it

[46:46] possible that we could end up in this place again? It is, but I think we've

[46:49] got a better structure in place now. And and then also there's uh certainly an

[46:54] out with the the termination after 5 years and actually an out if we so chose

[47:00] county commission so chose uh if there were funds not appropriated.

[47:04] » So it's an it's an annual payment that they make not not five years.

[47:08] » Uh Mr. Chair, that's correct. So they would make an upfront annual payment. Um

[47:12] and our hope would be that that's going to happen advance or right at the same

[47:15] time of the start of their fiscal year. >> Very good. Um, so this this should this

[47:19] should clean up, like I said, current and then going forward. And then we'll

[47:23] just have to make certain that they're appropriating accordingly uh for for

[47:27] future years to come. >> And is there a grace period and then any

[47:31] type of fees attached to that paid? Yeah. If it's not paid or

[47:37] » uh Mr. Chair and Commissioner For, we do not have any penalties and interest that

[47:41] acrew on this. So it it's it's solely the outstanding balance. Uh so we have

[47:46] been carrying that now for 13 months. >> That's a long time.

[47:49] » It is a long time. No question about it. >> And how how is the staff and how is the

[47:54] operations paid for in the event that for that funding hasn't been given to

[47:59] the county to operate? >> So uh Mr. Chair, Commissioner Forner, we

[48:04] we have a fund balance within the solid waste fund that would allow us to carry

[48:07] that balance and we've been doing so. We've had been in constant

[48:11] communication. So that >> um proactively by county staff, myself,

[48:16] Miss Martin, >> uh I I bet we're in communication over

[48:20] the last 13 months, every month. >> Uh unfortunately, we weren't seeing the

[48:24] the the ball moving forward and finally we got to a place where I think we've

[48:28] got the right people involved and so I don't think we're going to have this

[48:31] problem in the future. Um although, you know, uh management does change,

[48:35] elections will change management. So I hope

[48:38] » for the candidates. Yeah, I hope I hope that this is uh certainly something I as

[48:42] you know, we try to meet quarterly >> um with Navajo Nation officials on a

[48:47] variety of topics, right? Um but this will certainly be front and center going

[48:51] forward because we need to make sure that everybody has full awareness of how

[48:55] important this is because the last thing we would want

[48:57] » is for citizens um on the Navajo Nation in Sanin County to be out be without

[49:03] proper trash service, >> right?

[49:04] » And that wouldn't be good for anybody. also to strap the county at a position

[49:08] of operational funds for that. >> Correct. Correct.

[49:12] » So, we want to be fiscally wise in how we're using our money, too. So, I

[49:18] appreciate that those that information. So,

[49:20] » just I'm just wondering if we couldn't create some incentive by tacking on

[49:28] interest on that for the county. I mean, uh, we've given

[49:33] them plenty of time. >> Mhm.

[49:34] » And this might nudge them a little bit to be prompter on their payments.

[49:38] » Mr. Chair, is that something you you're suggesting we do for the for the future

[49:44] moving forward? Because we didn't have that provision for the current balance

[49:47] that's been accumulated. >> Yeah. And it will come into play if they

[49:50] if they pay up. >> Certainly, we could certainly add that

[49:53] provision to the agreement. And if you'd like to make a motion accordingly, we

[49:56] can we can add that accordingly. >> Yes. Do you want to amend the motion to

[50:00] include that provision? >> Gary.

[50:03] » Gary would you want to amend that motion?

[50:05] » Yeah, I'll amend that motion to uh I guess it was to add interest. Is that

[50:10] right? Okay. Same motion, but we'll add that to it.

[50:14] » And we can discuss at what percentage, but um I I think it'd be a good thing uh

[50:20] just just to motivate them to to make a payment. Is there a second to that

[50:23] motion? >> I'll second.

[50:25] » All in favor? >> I. Any opposition?

[50:29] Okay. Motion carried. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you.

[50:32] » Thank you. >> Item number six, consideration of

[50:36] fulfillment and release of ordinance 121, discommissioning requirements for

[50:43] public service company of New Mexico. Mr. Mike Stark.

[50:47] » Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair and commissioners. And I do want to note we

[50:51] have representatives of uh PNM with us tonight. uh I think in person as well as

[50:56] as online and then we also have Andrew Schoff who is uh San Juan County's uh

[51:02] engineer um relative to this project and I'll I'll share more with you. Uh so for

[51:08] background uh the county commission uh approved ordinance number 121 in in

[51:13] November of 2021. A couple of of commissioners here were part of this

[51:17] this uh passage of this ordinance and it it was an ordinance requiring the

[51:21] demolition and remediation of coal fired electricity generation facilities uh

[51:26] upon retirement. And it laid out um requirements that the county commission

[51:30] put in place uh relative to how decommissioning should work and and how

[51:35] it should be completed uh overseen and then ultimately a release that's

[51:40] provided. And that's what uh happy to announce that we're bringing to you

[51:44] tonight. Um and I've got uh I'm going to turn over some time to Mr. Shaw here uh

[51:50] our engineer that assisted us with this. But but in essence, we um

[51:56] uh you know, PNM has has demonstrated fulfillment of the obligations

[51:59] established under ordinance 121 by removing above ground generating station

[52:04] infrastructure, addressing associated environmental uh safety concerns, and

[52:08] restoring the site to a prevailing grade consistent uh with the approved

[52:12] demolition and remediation plan that was actually brought forth um to the

[52:16] commission previously. uh consistent consistent with section three of

[52:20] ordinance 121, Sanin County retained um a qualified independent engineering firm

[52:25] to evaluate the demolition and remediation plan and to assist uh the

[52:29] county in determining compliance with ordinance requirements. Uh following a

[52:33] review of P&M's completed uh documentation uh site conditions and

[52:38] demolition activities, uh the county's independent engineering consultant has

[52:42] concluded uh that San Juan generating station has been properly decommissioned

[52:46] uh and demolished in accordance with the approved plan and the requirements of

[52:49] ordinance 121. So with that, I'd like to turn it over to Mr. Schoff. Um he has

[52:55] provided you his letter. Um, in addition within our packet, your packet is the

[53:01] complete Burns and McDonald decommissioning completion report

[53:04] provided by by PNM and we have some associated pictures we can uh share with

[53:08] you all as well. So, with that, I'll if I could, Mr. Chair, turn over to Mr.

[53:12] Shaw. >> You bet. Mr. Shaw, you're on.

[53:16] » All right. Thank you. Uh, Mr. [clears throat] Stark and uh

[53:20] commissioners, the work that was done by PNM uh is inconsistent and uh supports

[53:27] what the ordinance was requesting uh from the county for the utility to do.

[53:34] Uh just to highlight several of the things that was completed during the

[53:38] activity. Uh there was a speestous that was removed from the facility. There was

[53:43] uh the elimination of you know like the uh chimneys which required notification

[53:48] of outside agencies. Uh there was some underground storage tank removal and

[53:53] above ground storage tanks that were removed and a lot of those things were

[53:57] also governed by uh other uh agencies permit requirements. So, uh that the uh

[54:05] New Mexico Environmental Department has some governing uh efforts over that and

[54:11] that they have reached uh all of the demolition and uh closure requirements

[54:17] from uh those different permitted uh storage tanks and activities. uh from a

[54:24] uh a couple of things that I do want to just kind of highlight uh that were like

[54:29] direct impacts to San Juan County. Uh that there was uh while there was a

[54:35] large amount of steel uh they typically refer to it as ferris and non ferrris

[54:40] materials. So ferrris materials or the structural steel that's removed from the

[54:45] facility. uh and the non-ferris metals. Uh most of that was all shipped off off

[54:51] uh and outside of San Juan County, but from a construction and demolition

[54:55] debris. Uh there was a large volume of it that was uh disposed of in the San

[55:01] Juan County landfill uh that uh totaled about 16,000 tons uh and uh which was

[55:08] almost 700 truckloads of material over the several years of decommissioning

[55:14] work, which is very common. Uh that's a very standard amount of material that

[55:19] would be uh but just want to make sure that the commissioners understand kind

[55:23] of the impact of the uh waste facility that you guys have and are uh managing

[55:29] for the the county. Um and that uh what they've talked about is the uh all of

[55:35] the material being properly handled and disposed of uh at the landfill or other

[55:41] disposal sites that they've coordinated uh through all of the standard um

[55:46] disposal requirements uh that are laid out in all of the regulations. Um, and

[55:53] want to just reemphasize the uh good work that the demolition company uh that

[55:59] was hired by PNM has done and has brought the site to uh the condition uh

[56:07] to reinstate it in kind of as close to the general rolling um topography that

[56:15] the site was at or uh is uh located in.

[56:24] » [clears throat] >> So the site is pretty much completely

[56:27] cleared up. Uh all of the structures above ground

[56:32] are uh all removed. There still are uh concrete foundations that exist uh out

[56:37] there. And if you look at the report that was provided by PN, you can kind of

[56:42] see there's the the different areas and they've they brought [clears throat] in

[56:46] fill in the area or kind of leveled it out so you don't see like big giant uh

[56:52] foundations jutting up out of the ground that it's kind of the uh general rolling

[56:57] landscape uh that exists out there. >> Good deal.

[57:02] » Mr. Chair, um if I could have Mr. committee pull up. We've got pictures

[57:06] that we could share that were in the report.

[57:09] Um, so this will give you an idea of of what that site looks like now post

[57:14] decommissioning. >> I think there's a handful of pictures

[57:18] here. >> Yeah. Towards the end of their report,

[57:22] so you can

[57:28] » and Mr. Chair, I might add that um myself, Mr. Svedra, Miss Sitta, you

[57:33] know, as well as P&M representatives met on site about a month and a half ago and

[57:38] and did a tour complete tour stem to Stern of of of the activities that have

[57:43] taken place uh since decommissioning. and they've done a commendable job and

[57:48] uh [clears throat] and you know not just with decommissioning but also managing

[57:52] uh future storm water uh making sure they have retention ponds on site so

[57:56] that you don't have you know wash outs or areas that get you know

[58:00] » Yeah, >> you know

[58:03] it sure has changed the view. >> Definitely.

[58:06] » Yeah, definitely. >> Right.

[58:08] » Like I mentioned we do have P&M um representatives here. I didn't know if

[58:12] you'd want them to come up or not, but they're certainly here if you needed to.

[58:15] » Yeah. If any representatives from PNM would like to step up and say a few

[58:19] words, would would be glad to listen to you and introduce yourselves and let us

[58:24] know who you are.

[58:30] » Good afternoon. Uh Derek Bailey, project manager for demolition decommissioning.

[58:35] » Uh good evening. Uh Mr. Chair, commissioners. Uh, I'm Wes Gray, vice

[58:40] president of operations in engineering for P&M.

[58:43] » All right. >> Good deal. Any any questions for these

[58:46] individuals? >> No.

[58:48] » But we just thank you for being here and and you know, do you have anything for

[58:52] us to tell us other than how the project's been going or or fill us in?

[58:57] » Uh, it's it's a bittersweet time for P&M. Uh the plants have operated here in

[59:02] San Juan County for a considerable amount of time and we we've

[59:05] [clears throat] been a partner here for for all those years. It it's tough for

[59:09] any utility to choose to decommission a plant and tear it down. But uh you know

[59:16] time time moves on and technology moves on and and you know we accept that with

[59:21] the energy transition that's going on in the state of New Mexico. Uh we're happy

[59:25] that uh the county is satisfied with the work we did that uh we're returning that

[59:30] site back to the way it once was. Um unfortunately at this point we we don't

[59:36] have a long-term plan for it. We've had a couple of soft inquiries about

[59:40] utilizing that site for some renewable generation facilities, but nothing

[59:44] concrete. But from us at P&M, we're committed to working with our

[59:48] stakeholders, our community partners, the county to try to find a viable

[59:52] long-term solution for it. But at this point, we don't. But, uh, you know, it

[59:55] it's a a little bit bittersweet, but I think the the project went very well.

[59:59] The team worked very cohesively with the county staff and the the consulting

[1:00:04] engineers to make sure that we met all the requirements and that the county is

[1:00:07] fully satisfied with the work we have done.

[1:00:10] » Well, very good. Thank you.

[1:00:16] » I guess it above ground it's easier to clean. Correct. rather than the storage

[1:00:22] that's underground. Is that being taken care of too? Like is that fuel of

[1:00:29] something? Is that >> Yes, ma'am. We removed the underground

[1:00:35] storage tank. So, all that has been remediated as well.

[1:00:38] » Okay. Thank you. just the big concrete structures are

[1:00:43] still in in place, but they are uh flush with the the rest of the ground, the

[1:00:49] back field to where but it looks good. >> All right. Any other questions?

[1:00:55] » Well, thank you. Thank you for coming up, but thank you for

[1:01:00] » and Mr. Mr. Chair, um so ultimately what this item needs is an action item.

[1:01:05] » Yeah. And so it would it would be that you all would accept uh that PNM has

[1:01:10] made satisfactory completed the requirements of ordinance 121 and and

[1:01:15] with that action then we could issue them formal notification via letter uh

[1:01:20] that we're required to do by way of the ordinance. No.

[1:01:23] » Well, I'd like to entertain a motion then consideration of the fulfillment

[1:01:27] and release of ordinance 121 uh decommissioning requirements for Public

[1:01:33] Service Company of New Mexico. >> I move that we accept and approve the

[1:01:38] fulfillment and release of ordinance 121 decommissioning requirements for uh

[1:01:43] Public Service Company of New Mexico Union.

[1:01:46] » Is there a second? >> I'll second.

[1:01:49] » Second. All in favor? I

[1:01:52] » I >> Is there any opposed? Motion carried.

[1:01:56] [clears throat and cough] It's carried. Motion passed. Okay.

[1:02:01] Moving on to the report from our county manager.

[1:02:05] » Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Commissioners, a brief update. I know we

[1:02:08] have some some uh department heads that like to to update you on some items. Um

[1:02:15] grants and awards is what I'm focused on tonight. So, we have continued, as you

[1:02:20] know, to do very well in the grants department and uh we recently received

[1:02:26] uh from the New Mexico Environment Department a VW uh settlement award of

[1:02:31] 244,481 that will replace um the heavy hall

[1:02:35] truck within our uh solid waste department. This is the third such award

[1:02:39] that we've received through uh through the VW settlement fund. And so, we're

[1:02:44] we're appreciative of that. It's going to replace a 2007 unit and uh it's going

[1:02:49] to be paid for through the grant. So, um it's always nice to have those dollars

[1:02:53] coming in from elsewhere to fund activities and capital replacement here.

[1:02:57] We also received uh been a few years, but Commissioner uh Toaden notified us a

[1:03:02] few years ago the Clean and Beautiful grant. Remember that one?

[1:03:05] » He said the county needs to apply for that. And we've been applying for it

[1:03:07] every year and we we won that grant again for $8,000 that will help us

[1:03:12] offset uh transfer station fees. you know, we do a spring um um waiver of

[1:03:17] fees at the transfer stations and then a fall that's actually provided. I can't

[1:03:21] remember if it's if the spring is is through through the contract we have

[1:03:25] with Waste Management or if if it's this this grant, but either way, it's funding

[1:03:29] uh one of those one of those uh cleanup free dumpster days um on a weekend that

[1:03:35] we we do twice a year. So, nice to have that. Um, we also found out, we're going

[1:03:41] to formally recognize him when we actually get the award. Uh, but the

[1:03:45] finance department uh was the recipient of the GFOA, Governmental Finance

[1:03:49] Officers Association Triple Crown Award. >> And so that's uh for three different u

[1:03:56] programs that that uh we submit on and and win the triple crown. out of 90,000

[1:04:04] roughly 90,000 governmental units across the United States, uh we're only one of

[1:04:08] 441 to have received the Triple Crown award. So, I just wanted to make you

[1:04:13] aware of that. And like I said, we'll once we get the hardware, we'll we'll

[1:04:17] get to formally recognize them at the July uh 28th meeting. And then uh we

[1:04:23] also received notice uh a week and a half ago that we are a national

[1:04:27] association of counties significant achievement award winner again

[1:04:32] » for two different achievement awards. And I don't know if Mr. Meyers is here

[1:04:37] from the treasur's office. He was instrumental in putting those together.

[1:04:40] But one is for our workforce feedback system using employee insight to improve

[1:04:46] uh county operations. Uh and the other award was for the GIS enabled delinquent

[1:04:51] property tax uh collection program. So out of the award winners uh for NAO in

[1:04:57] the state of New Mexico, there were only 12. And so we represent two of those uh

[1:05:01] 12 awards. And you know, we've got a wall right there of all of our

[1:05:05] significant achievement uh award wins to date. And so we'll be happy to hang two

[1:05:10] more on the wall >> uh here very soon. So,

[1:05:14] » and that'll be presented to us in in a couple of weeks also.

[1:05:18] » Yes, Mr. Chair, Commissioner Forer. Yes, July 28th. In fact, Mr. Myers is heading

[1:05:21] down to um to New Orleans for the summer conference to pick up those awards. So,

[1:05:28] uh that's here in a couple weeks. >> Okay, that's good.

[1:05:30] » That concludes my report tonight. >> Well, thank you,

[1:05:34] » Mr. Chair. Yes, ma'am. before um I know we're going to get the hardware about

[1:05:39] the finance department, but I just had to say publicly how much I appreciate

[1:05:43] them in light of a lot of things that go on in our state. Um we have been uh we

[1:05:50] look pretty good, I must say, because of the finance department and I know we'll

[1:05:54] be discussing it more later, but I just wanted to publicly say thank you.

[1:06:00] » Thank you. >> Good deal.

[1:06:03] Any [clears throat] other comments from the commission? Okay.

[1:06:08] Uh reports from our elected officials and our department heads. Who do we have

[1:06:14] up today?

[1:06:20] » All right. Apologize. [laughter] >> Mr. Chair, commission.

[1:06:24] » I also like to invite Jennifer Johnson forward. Um [clears throat] wanted to

[1:06:28] give you an update on how the year with Jen has been. So, [laughter] I have I

[1:06:33] often refer to her as our contract comedian. Um, which she is exceptionally

[1:06:38] funny and we do have like a Lucy and Ethel dynamic that goes on in the

[1:06:41] office. >> Um, but [laughter] she uh she's our

[1:06:44] success mentor. So, we have a strong partnership with 100% San Juan, which is

[1:06:49] a grassroots organization that aligns, amplifies, and advocates. Um, they're

[1:06:53] not a 501c3. They go through a fiscal sponsor. So, every penny goes to a

[1:06:58] cause. They have certainly amplified what we do and one of those ways in

[1:07:02] which they have is contracting out Jennifer Johnson. So wanted to give you

[1:07:07] kind of a 30,000 foot view both of how it's been um maybe where it's going but

[1:07:12] also what barriers she has observed which coexists with the barriers that

[1:07:17] the rest of us are observing as well and they're not new to you. You will you

[1:07:21] will recognize them. So, um, she has served a total of 486 clients this year,

[1:07:28] most of which have been, uh, what we would call high needs. Now, I mean, most

[1:07:31] people that walk through our door are high needs. Um, initially that was

[1:07:36] really the focus was following these more high needs clients. We've adapted

[1:07:40] that to accommodate the volume that comes into the navigation center. So,

[1:07:44] what she is doing is sort of functioning in a in a a bit of a triage way. uh

[1:07:49] Tuesday through Thursday, she's with us and those are walk-in days. So, Jen will

[1:07:54] take these individuals, she'll assess what's going on. If it's a fix that we

[1:07:58] can do right then and there, she will do that. Um if somebody needs to come back,

[1:08:02] they're going to come back to me or one of the peer navigators or Bianca for

[1:08:06] that follow-up work. Um so, that's a lot of people, right? Um and a couple of

[1:08:14] barrier or a few barriers that have come up. Uh transportation issues through

[1:08:19] 100%. We also received a grant for uh Greyhound bus tickets with which came in

[1:08:23] very handy. We would have um re-entry services from the jail approach us and

[1:08:28] say so and so is put in jail here but they actually are from here. Can you

[1:08:33] help us get them back to there? Uh and we've been able to do that which is

[1:08:38] lovely. Um, but transportation is a huge barrier for our community. Um, obviously

[1:08:43] we're not a very walkable community. Um, so that is a problem. Lack of phones or

[1:08:47] internet access. You guys might be aware that most restaurants and sort of these

[1:08:52] more entry-level positions, you can't walk in anymore and say, "I would like

[1:08:56] to be a dishwasher." Used to be they'd say, "Cool, put on an apron and like get

[1:09:00] back and wash dishes." Right? But now they're like, "Yeah, so you go to Indeed

[1:09:04] and you look us up and you turn in this application online, right?" Well, that

[1:09:08] is a barrier for folks that do not have access to computers, phones, internet,

[1:09:12] etc. So, we do have a computer station. She has helped numerous people apply for

[1:09:17] jobs through that mechanism. Um, long wait times and just multiple service

[1:09:23] processes that are going on. If you have five needs, you need to speak to five

[1:09:26] different people, but you're not even quite sure who the first one is nor how

[1:09:29] to get there and who to talk to. Helping with that affordable housing, we know

[1:09:33] thankfully a county is working on affordable housing plan. One interesting

[1:09:36] component that you might not think of is that often there are application fees,

[1:09:40] right? So, say we have the ability to help with move in expenses, but you have

[1:09:45] to have a lease to get that assistance, but you can't get a lease until you're

[1:09:49] accepted, but you can't get accepted till you put in an application fee,

[1:09:52] right? Um, other housing barriers include certain criminal charges are

[1:09:56] prohibited from housing, and that's a a big big deal that's going on out there.

[1:10:00] Um, and just again the the vital documents revolving door to our vital

[1:10:05] documents and uh Medicaid has some new requirements um for 80 hours of work,

[1:10:11] volunteer or school. And so what we're trying to do right now is to get that

[1:10:15] word out to folks that need to hear that and help connect them to volunteer work

[1:10:20] or school or work work um working through that. So those are the barriers.

[1:10:26] This is the broad overview. I wanted to allow a re reintroduce Jennifer. She's

[1:10:31] hard to forget, but here she is again. Uh, and also give her a chance to share.

[1:10:36] There's a story today that happened. Um, so I would like to give her the shot to

[1:10:41] tell you that. So, >> well, thank you, Megan.

[1:10:43] » Well, good afternoon. Thank you for having me. Sorry this is a bit

[1:10:46] spontaneous. I didn't expect to have the time to be here, but I had a story I

[1:10:49] shared with Megan and she goes, "Could you come to the commission meeting with

[1:10:52] me? I think they might love this." And I'd also just like to take a minute to

[1:10:55] thank you for what you're doing. I I'm going to try not to cry because I do

[1:10:58] that a lot. Um, Jennifer, Jill, Christine, what an incredible thing

[1:11:02] that's going on over there. Uh, P&M, the contribution that you've made to our

[1:11:07] community in so many ways will be long missed. Uh, so I had a walk-in day

[1:11:13] today, which was fairly calm, and I had a gentleman come in who, um, it often

[1:11:19] starts with one small problem, and then you you kind of see the the avalanche

[1:11:22] underneath, right? So, he just wanted to replace his ID. Um and the beautiful

[1:11:26] thing about it was the attitude that he had towards the services he's

[1:11:30] experienced in San Juan County. So he was referred um just being released from

[1:11:35] jail in uh on Saturday in fact. And so he came to the first walk-in day cuz

[1:11:39] that was the earliest time that he could be seen. He wanted to replace his New

[1:11:43] Mexico ID. He had the expired one. He still had his bracelet on which is gold

[1:11:47] if anybody knows that is a government ID basically. So uh he still had that which

[1:11:52] was great. and he had his Medicaid card which was from about 6 years ago. Wasn't

[1:11:55] sure if it was still active or not. And so he said, "If I could just replace my

[1:11:59] ID and I have my SNAP card, but my SNAP benefits were cancelled while I was in

[1:12:02] jail. If I could get that back, I am so motivated." And this was one of the most

[1:12:07] inspiring people I've met yet. So motivated. I I want to work. I want to

[1:12:11] work anywhere. I want to get housing. I've been at the bottom. I don't want to

[1:12:14] be there anymore and I'm ready to do it. And I was like, "Oh my gosh, you're so

[1:12:17] cool. I can't wait to [laughter] help you." Um, and so we started on his ID,

[1:12:21] which luckily we have the the paperwork and the funding to be able to send him

[1:12:25] to the MVD without um having to pay for it. We can verify that he's homeless, he

[1:12:30] has no income, he's a resident. We had that all in favor. We didn't have any

[1:12:34] current bus passes, and again, transportation an issue. So, um, on foot

[1:12:39] from the navigation center to the DMV is is a long ways. Um, so luckily, I had

[1:12:43] the flexibility to be able to take him there. And as we went there, we talked

[1:12:47] about his SNAP benefits and we tried to call um several numbers that was a long

[1:12:51] wait, but we got a hold of Echko. They said, "We can get you here at 3:15 if

[1:12:54] you can be here. We will get your SNAP benefits back up and running." And so in

[1:12:58] the short drive from the navigation center to um the MVD, he shared with me

[1:13:03] that he not only had an exceptional experience with Mr. Web and actually the

[1:13:08] whole program there, that he wrote him a letter that he had hoped would be shared

[1:13:11] with you all. I I can't give you any details on the Hippopy, but you might

[1:13:15] have already heard his story. Um, and so he said it was incredible. I love that

[1:13:20] they sent me straight here because all I needed was that small win to make me

[1:13:24] keep getting those wins. He goes, I knew if I didn't talk to somebody today who

[1:13:28] made me think I could do this, I wasn't going to make it. And that was not me.

[1:13:32] This was the opportunity that you guys gave me along with 100% and the grant

[1:13:37] from the Encor Fund to be there for him. and we both [laughter] cried on the way

[1:13:42] to the DMV, if you can imagine. Uh that he said, "I can't wait to be a CPSW. I

[1:13:49] can't wait to help other people. I can't wait to tell them about my experiences."

[1:13:53] And uh the other little thing that I think he might have mentioned in his

[1:13:56] letter was um a bicycle. Cuz I told him, I said, "I understand that we are so

[1:14:00] grateful to have the transportation system that we have. Um, but I've had a

[1:14:04] client who, for example, got a job food prepping at a restaurant on the east

[1:14:08] side by Lowe's, 7 am to noon. So, the bus didn't leave early enough from PATH

[1:14:13] to get him there on time. Then, he got a second job at a McDonald's, but only

[1:14:17] working the graveyard shift from 8:00 to midnight. So, the bus is shut down. He

[1:14:20] can't get there. So, he's trying to get from um essentially Lowe's to PATH back

[1:14:26] and forth twice in a day. And he said, "All I need is a bicycle." And so I got

[1:14:32] 100% because we had an anonymous fund for homeless support for $112. We got

[1:14:36] him a new Huffy bike from Walmart. Um, which is a small thing, but that changed

[1:14:40] that person's story. And I told him, "What do you think if I could get you a

[1:14:45] bike?" And then we cried again. He was like, [laughter] "If I could get a

[1:14:48] bike," he goes, "I'm going to make you [clears throat] so proud of me."

[1:14:52] » And so I just wanted you guys to know the navigation center does incredible

[1:14:56] things. There are a lot of beautiful things going on in this community, but I

[1:15:00] think that they are overlooked for the sense of belonging that we give to

[1:15:05] people that come in and just giving them that sense of hope because it's never a

[1:15:10] closed door. If it's something that they can't provide, they still sit with you,

[1:15:14] talk to you about it, figure out who can help you, and if no one can help you,

[1:15:18] then we figure out how we fix that. So, thank you

[1:15:23] [applause] Any

[1:15:27] questions? >> Any questions?

[1:15:30] » I have something. >> Go ahead.

[1:15:32] » Okay. [laughter] >> I didn't have a question. Terry does.

[1:15:36] » Jen, you always tell a great story and cry and I love it. You always have great

[1:15:41] stories and you know, >> well, that's that's that passion,

[1:15:44] enthusiasm, and I appreciate that. And Megan, thank you for having her come and

[1:15:49] tell. And so, you know, there's this thing called Tik Tok and YouTube and

[1:15:53] that >> tell me an Ethel thing. [laughter]

[1:15:58] » You guessed it right. I am Ethel. Yes. Okay.

[1:16:01] » Yeah. Well, and we need comedic relief sometimes cuz you guys deal with tough

[1:16:06] things and it's okay to laugh and make other people laugh and I appreciate the

[1:16:11] way you guys tell stories because um you know ultimately at the end of the day

[1:16:16] you guys are doing it. we have the opportunity to to support you in this

[1:16:21] and I hope that we always have that opportunity to support you cuz that's

[1:16:24] big work and for somebody to say that he has hope

[1:16:28] » that is big from a bicycle you know I mean

[1:16:33] » yeah so thank you for sharing that >> yeah absolutely I feel like I have to

[1:16:37] tell you a joke [laughter]

[1:16:42] » it's not a good one but it's the most recent one I heard so do you know what

[1:16:45] the difference is between New York and Minnesota. Why they're polar opposites?

[1:16:50] Because New York has the big apple and Minnesota is where the mini apple is.

[1:16:58] » That's good. That's kidfriendly. >> Any other questions? [laughter]

[1:17:04] » The stage now. Okay. >> Thank you for making the difference.

[1:17:17] » [laughter]

[1:17:21] » other department heads.

[1:17:26] » There comes Mr. Nick >> road information bridges.

[1:17:32] That's good. >> Uh good afternoon, Mr. Chair,

[1:17:36] commissioners. Um Mr. Starcast I give you a report. U we'll share So I'll

[1:17:39] share two projects that are going on right now. Um yesterday, today's

[1:17:44] Tuesday, uh we started uh the full depth reclamation work uh for the second phase

[1:17:49] of the road 7900 project. Um that should take about 6 weeks. Uh so we do have

[1:17:55] single enclosures in place during the day out there right now. Folks that that

[1:17:58] may use that road will indeed um encounter construction and asking them

[1:18:03] certainly to obey any signage and direction we have in place from our our

[1:18:07] crews on the ground. Uh second project um starting actually next Monday that

[1:18:12] you awarded I think it was on the consent agenda last month is the

[1:18:16] rehabilitation project on the APS bridge is what it's known. Uh it's that bridge

[1:18:20] that crosses the Sanan River uh between Upper Futland and uh and Futland outside

[1:18:26] of Kirtland. Uh that project will be continuing through October this year.

[1:18:30] It's uh structural concrete repairs, a bridge coating project and replacement

[1:18:35] of the the supporting uh bridge bearing plates. Um certainly keep you updated as

[1:18:40] that project progresses, but starts Monday. So, a lot going on.

[1:18:44] » Awesome. >> Well, good. Thanks. Thank you.

[1:18:46] » I I don't have anything. I just have a comment is that I feel kind of like a

[1:18:50] salmon on a salmon ladder with all the construction, not in the county, but in

[1:18:55] the city. I'm get I'm trying to go here, but I'm going all the way over here. But

[1:18:59] I feel like um you know and it's just you got to do stuff now, right? But

[1:19:04] » I I just realized that today I'm getting further away from where I'm going

[1:19:08] [laughter] >> to get there.

[1:19:11] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[1:19:12] » It's like 550. >> I have a little bit of a report and a

[1:19:16] little bit of a request. So a few weeks ago we had the um New Mexico County

[1:19:21] summer conference down in Gallup. Um there were several of us from the county

[1:19:24] that were able to attend that. Um, it was great few days of networking and

[1:19:29] learning and visiting a county that I honestly had never spent much time in.

[1:19:34] Um, Gallup has a lot to offer. It's kind of a neat place. Um, but as I was

[1:19:39] driving in, um, one of the first things I noticed was their fuel prices, and I

[1:19:43] know fuel prices was on everybody's minds. Um, at that point it was 355 a

[1:19:49] gallon at Walmart. Um,

[1:19:53] we're a community that just as Jim was saying, we do have public

[1:19:57] transportation, but it's not convenient for everybody. So, everybody has to use

[1:20:02] their cars, get their kids to school, go to work, whatever. Um, so I've had

[1:20:06] several PE people reach out to me and I am now asking the county staff to um

[1:20:14] open an investigation into our fuel prices in Sanong County.

[1:20:19] » [applause] >> um

[1:20:23] that will be going through the attorney general and um we just want some answers

[1:20:28] as to why our prices are higher. Um we need a better understanding as to what

[1:20:33] the issue is issues are whether it be um supply or transportation because that's

[1:20:38] kind of the typical answer I seem to get. Um competitions, taxes or other

[1:20:44] reasons. Um, you all deserve transparency and I'm hoping that as a

[1:20:49] county we're able to provide that. >> Well, very good. That's a great

[1:20:54] suggestion for sure. >> Okay.

[1:20:56] » Yeah. Is there any other [snorts] department heads that need to give us an

[1:21:01] update? >> Mr. Chair, um,

[1:21:05] » Mr. start. I don't know if you've already done it, but uh Farmington

[1:21:10] Police Department lost an officer in a tragic. If if we haven't sent um

[1:21:17] condolences, could you please do that? >> Mr. Chair and Commissioner Toni, we'd be

[1:21:22] we'd happy to do so on behalf of the commission.

[1:21:25] » Okay. Okay.

[1:21:29] Guess there's not any more [snorts] um

[1:21:35] comments and input from the general public.

[1:21:39] Comments are accepted in person. >> How do we do that? Do I just say

[1:21:46] » okay let me read this and then we can come up. Comments are accepted in person

[1:21:51] limited to three minutes on the subjects the commission has not previously

[1:21:56] discussed or formal action has not been taken. No formal action will be taken at

[1:22:02] this meeting that relates to the comments or inputs from the general

[1:22:06] public. If you have a comment or an input, come

[1:22:11] on up.

[1:22:17] Hello you all. >> Well, hello there.

[1:22:19] » I don't come real often, you must admit. No,

[1:22:23] » but I'm here to tonight to ask you to rethink something.

[1:22:29] » Introduce yourself, please. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Dr. Carol Claw. I'm a

[1:22:34] retired educator and an alalfa hay farmer.

[1:22:37] » Okay. I live on the West Hammond. And when I was 18 years old, my husband

[1:22:44] was 19, we got married and came to Farmington

[1:22:48] and we fell in love with it. Then we went all over. You know how the gas

[1:22:52] company does. And when we had a chance to come back, said, "Let's go to San

[1:22:56] Juan County." And we did. And we bought a 100 acres on the West Hammond. It had

[1:23:02] never been planted. And we didn't know how to farm. You remember Christy Donna

[1:23:06] Thorp? Yes, >> she taught us how to farm and Harold

[1:23:10] built her a chicken coupe. [laughter] We had a 5-year-old, 7year-old,

[1:23:15] 9year-old little daughter. One of the middle daughters back there with me now

[1:23:20] on that West Hammond, it was a dirt road. There were literally 12 families.

[1:23:27] The reason I know that my husband and four men started the water company for

[1:23:33] drinking water. Barbara Kipper is here. There are now

[1:23:39] 3,500. That road

[1:23:44] paved by the San Juan County Commission. Thank you. Is a two-lane highway.

[1:23:51] The road coming from Albuquerque to Farmington is four divided. Farmington,

[1:23:58] Bloomfield to Farmington, four divided. the huge trucks come down that road. Now

[1:24:06] I'm a retired educator and my daughter Dr. Kimberly Meiselle was superintendent

[1:24:11] in Bloomfield. She said, "Mom, that's really dangerous because we have kids

[1:24:18] standing out there morning and evening being picked up or let off from the

[1:24:23] buses. The bridge has been built twice. I don't know how much a oil tanker

[1:24:31] weighs filled up, but I'm assuming it's pretty much and there's enough for two

[1:24:37] or three to be on that bridge. I would like to ask you all to rethink

[1:24:45] perhaps that road isn't appropriate for huge trucks.

[1:24:52] Now I don't know what it would take to do that but I do know that there are

[1:24:57] areas where there is high population in cities that trucks are not allowed to

[1:25:03] go. So my request tonight

[1:25:09] after I thank manager Mike Stark, I really do thank you Mike and at the

[1:25:16] state fair he gives me a hug because he is working the booth for San Juan County

[1:25:24] and I am down there as a commissioner. So, I really appreciate and he always

[1:25:30] calls me back and he helps me solve my problems. If the county can't do it, he

[1:25:35] tells me how to get it done. So, I want to thank all of you for what you do. I

[1:25:41] appreciate it. I love this community. I love this county.

[1:25:45] And I'm appealing to you to rethink that road being open. Oh, by

[1:25:53] the way, it's so straight. It's a racetrack

[1:26:00] and I have to remind myself not to do it too.

[1:26:04] But please just consider that and what you're looking at doing in the future.

[1:26:10] And as a high school principal, I used to tell my teachers,

[1:26:15] don't tell me why you can't, tell me how you can.

[1:26:21] All right? So, think of it that way. Thank you.

[1:26:23] » Thank you, Cheryl. >> [applause]

[1:26:31] » allow myself to introduce myself. My name is Steve Wl. I reside at 48 Road

[1:26:35] 5250 on the West Ham. Thank you for uh allowing us to come and speak here today

[1:26:42] of a serious concern of course of what Miss Chlor has already alluded to with a

[1:26:46] show of hands. How many uh West Hammond residents do we have here today?

[1:26:50] Wonderful. I'm the one I'll take full

[1:26:53] responsibility. I'm the one that spearheaded this effort because I see a

[1:26:57] safety related concern on the West Hammond. Since the construction of the

[1:27:01] bill of of the um of the bridge itself that was completed in May of 2022,

[1:27:07] that bridge was actually constructed to allow that of heavier weight trucks to

[1:27:12] enter as well as to exit, I guess you could say, over the bridge and continue

[1:27:16] on to 550. As you well know, all of us search for

[1:27:21] that of the closest parking spot at Walmart.

[1:27:26] The same thing here in that of psychology applies. People think that

[1:27:31] they can take that shortcut and eliminate time. I talked to the state

[1:27:35] police officer. I said, "How much time does really we can actually save?" And

[1:27:39] he says, "Probably about 4 minutes." Ladies and gentlemen, these heavy trucks

[1:27:43] coming up and down our road have now become that of a serious problem.

[1:27:47] I asked the state police officer, I said, 'What is it going to take to

[1:27:50] correct the problem? He said, ' Probably a serious accident and then the review

[1:27:55] of what the problem is. I'm here to provide that of a solution.

[1:28:00] We just restrict that of heavy over the low over the road tractor trailer rigs

[1:28:06] coming through our West Hammond rural road, which is a double yellow line,

[1:28:12] very narrow with no shoulder. Case in point, I was actually making a left-hand

[1:28:16] turn to go into my road 5250. To make a left-hand turn, we had traffic going

[1:28:21] obviously going eastbound, so I had to stop. Behind me was a tractor trailer

[1:28:25] rig. With that person's impatience, I guess you could say, in order to make

[1:28:28] the final delivery point, decide to pass me on the right hand side, completely

[1:28:32] around me. There's no shoulder there. What would happen if a pedestrian or

[1:28:37] someone riding a bicycle? How about there was a school bus?

[1:28:42] There's no shoulder, ladies and gentlemen. Now, we have the wonderful

[1:28:45] Dollar General store. The wonderful Dollar General store. Along with that,

[1:28:50] we have three major mailboxes along that pathway on that south side of the road.

[1:28:55] Now, we have obnoxction, you would say, of egress and degress of traffic coming

[1:29:00] in and out of that of Dollar General store. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm telling

[1:29:05] you what, I'd hate to see a school bus. I'd hate to see any fatality or injury,

[1:29:10] including myself. My wife and I we every time we I guess you could say drive the

[1:29:15] gauntlet the West Hammond and the influx of that of tractor trailer rigs has

[1:29:20] become a major major safety concern. I did the research here ladies and

[1:29:24] gentlemen. We do have a state statute is chapter 66 motor vehicle 66-7-415

[1:29:31] when the state transportation commission or local authorities may restrict the

[1:29:35] right of the usage of streets and highways.

[1:29:38] I would suggest your legal counsel review this and we're talking about

[1:29:42] let's don't wait till tomorrow. Let's get it done. We do appreciate the large

[1:29:47] marquee sign that says to please slow down. We appreciate that, but it's not

[1:29:50] going to remedy the problem. Now, I'm not out to that of the fact of limiting

[1:29:55] or saying that of anyone who has a business of tractor trailer business of

[1:29:59] semis. No, I'm not out to do that. I'm looking out for the safety the safety of

[1:30:06] our constituents and our residents who live in rural America, rural New Mexico

[1:30:11] on the West Hammond. Let's take action now. Let's put up a sign on both ends.

[1:30:18] It is not a thorough way. It's not I7. It's not an extension of I50, 550 or

[1:30:23] anything else. It's a two-lane highway, ladies and gentlemen. Let's not let a

[1:30:28] fatality or that of someone become seriously injured on that road. And then

[1:30:31] we finally decided, let's take action. My 3 minutes is up. I do have a copy of

[1:30:35] that state statute. I'm going to go and leave that for your legal counselor to

[1:30:38] review. I suggest in collaboration with your local authorities along with that

[1:30:42] state police, whatever the case might be, and and your sheriff's department,

[1:30:46] we take action now. Please, I beg of you. Okay? All right. Thank you for your

[1:30:53] time, consideration. I've gone over the three minutes. Thank you.

[1:30:56] » You was 10 minutes. >> Thank you.

[1:31:01] » [applause]

[1:31:11] » Hey, Mr. Chairman County Commissioners. I'm Barbara Kipper. I live out in the

[1:31:17] West Hammond area. I've been there for 20 years now. And uh I've watched the

[1:31:22] traffic continually to increase. And ever since that bridge that everybody's

[1:31:27] talked about was uh uh given more strength and the trucks now go through

[1:31:33] there. Um I've watched that traffic with the trucks just increase every year. Uh

[1:31:40] I recently found myself sitting at the uh stop sign at 550 and 5500

[1:31:47] waiting for an opportunity to get on and merge on to 550. waiting for all the

[1:31:53] trucks, the Walmart, the Target, the Core Mark, just constantly coming and

[1:31:59] turning coming down that hill and turning on the 5500. And as people said,

[1:32:06] yeah, they're saving two, three, four minutes by not going into Bloomfield.

[1:32:12] Um why? What about the destruction that

[1:32:16] those heavy trucks are going to do to the road that the county is maintaining,

[1:32:23] not the state as 55550 is maintained by the state. So, um

[1:32:30] the mailboxes that are all along the rural road, they sit very very close to

[1:32:37] that road. And when those big trucks are coming by and you're standing beside

[1:32:42] your mailbox, you can feel the pressure from these trucks,

[1:32:47] it's dangerous. And I really ask that the county take

[1:32:55] and evaluate what is happening on that road, how it has changed, what are the

[1:33:01] safety concerns to the people there to recognize that it is a rural community.

[1:33:09] There's tractors. There's people going slow for valid reasons and they're

[1:33:16] feeling the pressure from these trucks that are going 60 miles an hour and

[1:33:20] they're right there on your tail end. They want you to go faster.

[1:33:26] Uh ask you to evaluate what are our

[1:33:29] options. How can we improve the process, improve the highway there

[1:33:35] before something seriously does happen? Thank you for your time and your

[1:33:40] consideration. >> Thank you.

[1:33:43] [applause]

[1:33:52] » Good evening, commission. Just like to say that I appreciate the ability for

[1:33:58] citizens to come on board their >> gentle your name, please.

[1:34:02] » I'm sorry. David Harrison Bloomfield. >> David Harrison. Um, I appreciate being

[1:34:07] able to be heard and and seen by you folks and we appreciate what you guys

[1:34:11] do. I know it's pretty tough job. Um, those uh who have spoken are pretty

[1:34:17] tough acts to follow and I'm not going to really elaborate, but I'm also a

[1:34:21] citizen. I mean a a a resident off of 5500. Um, the traffic is is pretty bad

[1:34:28] and uh lots of trucks etc. One thing I've noticed, um, I'm recently retired,

[1:34:33] but when I was working the oil field, uh, I was up on Nappy just above there,

[1:34:38] and I noticed when they started the major construction of the intersection

[1:34:43] in Bloomfield with 550 and 64, U, and that was kind of a mess over there. I

[1:34:49] noticed a pretty sudden change in the traffic across, uh, 7100 up there. not

[1:34:57] 7100. Um, but anyway, across the cut across, it goes all the way to uh the

[1:35:02] Bista Highway. And come to find out to talking through to some of the truckers,

[1:35:07] it was actually Google that was routing them

[1:35:10] » across that way. >> And so, you know, I try to look up stuff

[1:35:15] and as most of us probably know, Google is like there's no contacting anybody

[1:35:22] there that you can do anything with. But anyway, so looking at that, it it made

[1:35:26] sense and then I noticed slowly the traffic started increasing on 5500 while

[1:35:32] they were still working on that intersection in Bloomfield. So I don't

[1:35:35] know if there was uh something that Google had changed in their program that

[1:35:41] would automatically just send people, you know, cut them across the top of the

[1:35:45] bluffs or down 5,500. But there was definitely a change and I'm thinking

[1:35:49] that since we have a lot of uh people who are not from here that are passing

[1:35:53] through that are driving trucks and stuff like that that that's probably

[1:35:57] where that came from. Having said that, um I also spoke to someone um I don't

[1:36:04] remember who it was, but basically what I was told was it being it's a county

[1:36:09] road that comes off of a state highway. I think I was asking about signage or

[1:36:14] something that we could put up, you know, to kind of try to divert traffic

[1:36:17] back through Bloomfield. Uh, and basically they told me that it's kind of

[1:36:22] hard for state and county to collaborate on something like that to get a sign or

[1:36:27] signs put up to kind of make that happen. So, you guys are the experts at

[1:36:33] that. I don't know how uh that could be done, but that was one of the things

[1:36:37] that I was told and stuff. But anyway, uh not going to take up a bunch more of

[1:36:41] your time. Um but that it is a concern. Like Mrs. Cler said, it's it's really

[1:36:46] dangerous. I've got kids and all kinds of stuff. I know you guys know what's

[1:36:50] going on, but uh just wanted to reiterate that it's a it's a pretty good

[1:36:54] problem and you know, the sheriff's department does everything they can to

[1:36:58] do what they you know what they do. And we appreciate them a lot. They're pretty

[1:37:02] uh visual out there and we do see state police also. So, thumbs up to them.

[1:37:08] Thank you all for your time. I appreciate it.

[1:37:10] » Thank you, David. [applause]

[1:37:23] Commissioners, uh, my name is Alyssa.

[1:37:34] I am a resident of San Juan County. I have been for almost all my life and

[1:37:39] it's not that much. I am a steward of the land by birth being a da woman which

[1:37:46] has brought me to you today. Um more importantly I am also a community

[1:37:51] member. I like to say everywhere my foot touches is my community. So, I'm very

[1:37:56] concerned when there's um outside entities who are trying to come in to

[1:38:03] desecrate our water, desecrate our land, and by doing so with a data center. That

[1:38:10] is my largest concern at the moment. On the reservation, of course, we are

[1:38:14] surrounded by rivers at this point. We have the utmost beautiful land. I think

[1:38:19] the rivers are one of the resources that we have. Other states do not. Other

[1:38:25] parts of New Mexico do not. I have been following data centers since the

[1:38:30] beginning of this year, possibly back to December of 2025.

[1:38:36] I've just been watching at this point, and have just started to make myself

[1:38:41] heard by means of drafting resolutions for my local chapter, which is the

[1:38:45] Shiprock chapter. I am also working with well just trying to get myself heard

[1:38:52] with leadership and giving information about data centers. Some of those are

[1:38:58] the amounts of water that are used. There's a lot of talk about new tech to

[1:39:03] where they are closed loop systems. However, resources are actually being

[1:39:09] utilized. Be it water. Uh there are promises of jobs and anything that's

[1:39:15] built from the get-go always is lucrative in jobs, but over the course

[1:39:19] of time those uh amounts of jobs are decreased. With data centers

[1:39:24] specifically, the employment that happens after they're built is a very

[1:39:30] skeleton crew. You just have someone there either cleaning or making sure

[1:39:34] that everything's cooled down. Given the location of where we are at, my biggest

[1:39:39] concern is the water usage. We do have farmers, ranchers that are still

[1:39:44] utilizing their lifeways. We do have indigenous cultures living downstream

[1:39:49] from us to be considered. And ultimately, we have future generations

[1:39:53] that are depending on us to protect the resources within our community. So my

[1:39:59] ask for you today is to please consider our future generations when making

[1:40:03] decisions if approached by data centers that want to set up within the county um

[1:40:09] and more importantly within our area. Uh the amount of water that is used, the

[1:40:14] amount of frequencies that the sound makes could potentially make people

[1:40:19] aggressive um or affect the animals where they're

[1:40:23] grinding their teeth from the frequencies that are bothering them. So,

[1:40:27] I thank you for the opportunity to talk. I thank you for the opportunity to serve

[1:40:32] you. And I look forward to watching my leadership do good for our community.

[1:40:37] » Thank you for your time. [applause]

[1:40:47] » Good late afternoon, chairman and commissioners. My name is Linda Corwin.

[1:40:51] I live in Bloomfield. I'm also going to be talking about the data centers.

[1:40:57] Uh we are aware that there are people I would say snooping around

[1:41:02] uh looking for a suitable place for a data center in Sanin County. And because

[1:41:08] other counties and the state legislature and even the United States government

[1:41:13] are moving to ban or put moratoriums on data centers, the pressure is going to

[1:41:19] be increased on you. Many outlandish promises will be made to

[1:41:25] you like we could get water out of the air or we have a new system to make

[1:41:31] electricity. But please remember what Enchant Energy

[1:41:36] did to our area. How much of our money was spent and lost.

[1:41:43] These data center companies are rushing too fast. Please slow down and ask some

[1:41:51] questions. One, ask them, "Do you have a fullcale

[1:41:56] working model of whatever machines they're pushing?

[1:42:01] How much noise will be produced 247? How much light pollution will be

[1:42:07] produced 247? How much air pollution will they produce

[1:42:13] 24/7? How much land are they asking for?

[1:42:19] Each acre equals habitat destruction for our endangered pong horns and other

[1:42:26] wildlife. So, I am all for solar energy, but we've

[1:42:31] already lost over a thousand acres of habitat

[1:42:35] from uh for our wild creatures who need that land to survive. So, please say no

[1:42:43] to these greedy companies. Thank you. [applause]

[1:42:54] » Good evening. I'm Sean Schlafley and um I have a concern about the data centers,

[1:42:59] too. Um I guess there's a proposal right now. They're in the uh early stages of

[1:43:06] selling off some school land, I guess, over across the Llata. Um uh that's very

[1:43:13] precious. Um I think we're short. Um that's a short-term decision, not a

[1:43:19] long-term, you know, short-term. Yeah. You know, the money looks great. uh you

[1:43:24] know and since New Mexico is considering banning AI centers right now or putting

[1:43:30] a moratorum on them because they want to study water resources, electrical rates,

[1:43:36] etc. They're already planning to do one over across from the the platada. Um, I

[1:43:44] think that is a very poor decision and anybody that makes that decision, they

[1:43:50] can have that in their backyard cuz there's a lot of people that are going

[1:43:53] to live next to that school and they're going to be affected.

[1:43:58] And you know, if you're making these decisions, think about your own backyard

[1:44:02] because if you want to put it in your own backyard, you know, think, think,

[1:44:06] think. Thank you. [applause]

[1:44:15] Hello, commissioners. [clears throat] My name is Rebecca Davis. Um, I live in

[1:44:20] Bloomfield. I'm an elementary school teacher in Farmington. Um, I want to

[1:44:24] start by thanking you guys for your time, um, this service that you guys do.

[1:44:28] We may not agree on what I'm about to speak on, but I do appreciate the time

[1:44:32] and effort you guys all put into this. Um, I'm coming to you today on behalf of

[1:44:37] myself, but I know there are many more in the room in our county uh that care

[1:44:41] what I am here about today. Um, so I'm here to talk about the concern um

[1:44:46] surrounding data centers um coming to San Juan County. I was first made aware

[1:44:50] of the um situation thanks to a Farmington schoolboard meeting in May uh

[1:44:56] where the realtor and state legislator spoke about uh several data center

[1:45:00] developers that are com um confirmed to be looking in the area. Um he was not

[1:45:04] openly asking FMS to sell their land to that data center. I've listened to it

[1:45:09] many times. He did not ask them directly, but it was enough to concern

[1:45:14] myself and others uh that care about our environment here and our um livelihood.

[1:45:20] Um so thankfully it seems as though FMS is not going to be selling that land.

[1:45:24] It's not been on the agendas um and following meetings. Um but that's why

[1:45:30] I'm here today. Um I actually would like to know how many if you could raise your

[1:45:34] hand if you are here about data centers and your concern against them. So, this

[1:45:39] was with a week's notice of trying to get uh concerned people together.

[1:45:43] There's a lot of people concerned about this. Um, and we know that it's not on

[1:45:47] your agendas yet. We haven't heard anything official. Um, I think the

[1:45:51] concern is what's happening that we don't know about. What's happening

[1:45:54] behind non-disclosure agreements. Um, and so that's the concern. Um, data

[1:46:01] centers are not good for our land, our people, our animals, our spirits. I

[1:46:07] thought it was interesting that you guys started today with a a Christian prayer.

[1:46:11] Um, with it being a government entity, but because it seemed as though maybe

[1:46:15] all are spiritual people, we could equate data centers to a devil. Um, a

[1:46:19] data center is a devil that will come with false promises, will come with

[1:46:24] false promises of jobs, an economic boom. But in reality, what will we see

[1:46:28] is a hike in electric prices, short-lived jobs that will fade out

[1:46:33] after uh development, and massive amounts of pollution in our air, land,

[1:46:37] and water. Now, whether or not y'all as a commission and county choose to

[1:46:41] believe these things are true, um you are held to represent the people who

[1:46:46] elected you. You are held to do what the people want and is what is best for our

[1:46:50] well-being. And a data center is not that. I ask that you please consider

[1:46:54] adopting a moratorum on data centers um in the area or even an ordinance to ban

[1:46:59] them would be better. I know my journey doesn't stop here uh to fight data

[1:47:04] centers, but I do hope that this will be the start of San Juan County um putting

[1:47:07] the well-being of its people over profit. Thank you

[1:47:12] [applause]

[1:47:19] » commissioners. Good evening. My name is Candy Blasting Game and I live in Aztec.

[1:47:24] And I'll start with something a little bit unusual.

[1:47:27] I'm not here about a project because as I understand it, there isn't one on the

[1:47:32] table. And that's exactly why I'm here. I would like San Juan County to

[1:47:37] proactively stand up an exploratory committee on data centers now before any

[1:47:42] developer ever walks through the door. [applause]

[1:47:45] Oh, y'all aren't going to like me too much in a minute, so hold on. Here's my

[1:47:50] reasoning. A committee isn't how we slow this down. A moratorium is a horrible

[1:47:54] idea. It's how we make sure that if something gets built, San Juan County

[1:48:00] actually wins instead of just hosting someone else's win. Because the benefits

[1:48:06] of these projects are negotiated, not automatic.

[1:48:10] Look at Los Lunis. They came prepared and they locked in a payment in lie of

[1:48:15] taxes revenue and a state grant dedicated to water infrastructure.

[1:48:21] Elsewhere, the same industry has built and gifted entire water treatment plants

[1:48:26] to the towns that hosted them. And that's what a ready county captures.

[1:48:32] Now, on the other hand, Donana County approved a multi-billion dollar project

[1:48:37] in about a month. Nobody was prepared, and the fight over water and emissions

[1:48:42] has not stopped since. When you're unprepared, you get

[1:48:46] stampeded into a rushed yes or a rushed no, and you leave the real benefits on

[1:48:52] the table. I'll be honest about where I stand.

[1:48:57] I think this county can host a data center reliably. And I think if we can

[1:49:02] host a data center reliably, we should consider it in light of the benefits it

[1:49:07] may offer. I would rather help shape one on our terms than miss it or agree to

[1:49:14] terms that fail to capture full benefit or fail to negate full harm.

[1:49:19] I also know that I am prone to confirmation bias and so is everyone in

[1:49:24] this room on both sides. I've heard a lot of information, a lot of

[1:49:29] misinformation. I'm not going to claim to be an expert

[1:49:33] on data centers, but I can say that some of the things I've heard even in this

[1:49:37] room tonight are facious. A public balanced committee is how we

[1:49:43] protect each other from our own certainty.

[1:49:47] And this isn't data centers as villain or savior. It's a partnership. And a

[1:49:52] partnership is impossible when everyone's already dug in. Here's what

[1:49:57] it looks like. A major tech company is already funding leak detection across

[1:50:02] Farmington's water lines, a project the city expects to save hundreds of

[1:50:07] millions of gallons a year. That happened because someone was at that

[1:50:11] table. So my ask is specific. Form the committee now. Make it

[1:50:18] genuinely balanced. Utility engineers and hydraologists, not just advocates

[1:50:24] and not just opponents, plus any residents nearest that site.

[1:50:30] Publish everything. Be transparent and set our standards in advance. water,

[1:50:38] rateayer protection, closure bonding, real permanent jobs, environmental

[1:50:44] impact. Let's get ahead of this in the open so

[1:50:48] we can decide with a purpose. Thank you. [applause]

[1:50:59] » My name is Steve Rogers. I'm a resident at uh County Road 5251. I've been there

[1:51:05] 42 years. I would like to address the 5500 issue from another perspective. I'm

[1:51:11] a professional truck driver. I haul fuel in San Juan County. [cough] The

[1:51:17] unprofessional actions that I have seen on 5,500 by countless companies, both

[1:51:23] local and out of state, display that their professionalism is lacking

[1:51:30] and they're dangerous. They come off of the hill from Nappy down to Sanan to to

[1:51:37] turn off there on 5500. Your brakes are hot if you're a loaded truck. You can't

[1:51:42] stop from 65 miles an hour down to a complete stop and then turn and have

[1:51:48] brakes that will instantly respond to you while you're traveling. I've seen

[1:51:52] these guys pass me. I could name companies that do this. FedEx being one

[1:51:58] of them. M&R Trucking another one. uh some of the other local companies and

[1:52:04] these drivers are displaying unprofessionalism. They're passing on a

[1:52:08] double yellow line. There's 400 ft according to Google Earth Maps

[1:52:14] difference in the route on 5500 and going into Bloomfield turning left and

[1:52:19] going on a highway that has three lanes so that you can move around and avoid

[1:52:25] slow vehicles or you can stay in a slow lane. But it it's a very dangerous

[1:52:31] situation that we have out there. Somebody's going to get killed out

[1:52:34] there. I'll guarantee you that. I will give kudos to the Sanin County Sheriff's

[1:52:40] Department. They are out there. They are trying to slow vehicles down and they're

[1:52:44] issuing tickets. They've put out a a sign that says, "Are in a hurry? Don't

[1:52:49] don't break the speed limit." That's a good thing. That's a great idea. Uh the

[1:52:54] mailboxes are dangerous. I go to get out and get my mail. I open the door and

[1:53:00] it's about 8 in from the pavement where those trucks are going by and cars at 70

[1:53:06] and 80 miles an hour. That happens every week. And uh I just kind of want to add

[1:53:13] my comments to it from the truck driver's perspective. It's better to go

[1:53:17] on into Bloomfield and turn and use uh 64. And it will always be better because

[1:53:24] that highway was designed for a volume of traffic and it's a [clears throat]

[1:53:27] great idea. Needed to be done when it was done. 5500

[1:53:32] is a danger. I love living out there. I don't want to

[1:53:36] move. I don't want my wife and I were almost retired. Not quite.

[1:53:42] But we would like to see it stay a safe place. And I agree with Carol Clure. It

[1:53:47] was a great place to move when 42 years ago we were there. Thank you guys for

[1:53:53] your time. Appreciate it. Thank you. [applause]

[1:54:00] » My name is Candy Lynn Christensen Le Moine. I live in Farmington. I'm here to

[1:54:07] speak about AI data centers. I appreciate each and every one of you for

[1:54:12] serving San Juan County. I was the volunteer coordinator, the mayor's

[1:54:20] the mayor's volunteer partners coordinator for the city of Farmington.

[1:54:26] Um, I worked for the city of Farmington for 26 years. I loved my job and I love

[1:54:34] my community. I have one daughter, four grandchildren, and five greatg

[1:54:40] grandandchildren. Three of my granddaughters live here and three of my

[1:54:44] greatg grandand do grandchildren live here. I want to see them have a future.

[1:54:51] Water has a heartbeat and we're losing it. We are If you travel to Durango and

[1:54:58] go over Wook Creek Pass, the trees are screaming. I can hear them screaming

[1:55:05] because they're dying and they bring us water.

[1:55:09] So, I don't know what we're going to do about this climate situation, but it is

[1:55:14] getting bad. And AI data centers. I want you to do a full

[1:55:22] cost benefit analysis to include the environment to include

[1:55:29] future generations and what we do here. We have lived here a long time. My

[1:55:35] grandfather was born near the confluence in a log cabin 1901. Don H. Homer Steel.

[1:55:44] My grand greatgrandparents came in here at the behest of President Snow

[1:55:51] with that Mormon migration. So, um I'm very appreciative of my community. I

[1:55:58] hope I can help serve on any commission that you you uh you elect to do and I

[1:56:06] appreciate your service. Just please Aaron Brochovich is even on the case

[1:56:12] with this. Just Aaron Brochovich data centers. All you got to do is give that.

[1:56:19] Thank you for your time. Thank you for your service.

[1:56:23] [applause]

[1:56:33] Thank you commissioners for your time. My name is Judith Johnson. I live in

[1:56:37] Farmington, New Mexico. I'm a retired school district uh teacher from

[1:56:41] Farmington school districts. >> [snorts]

[1:56:44] » Um though I have followed the news

[1:56:48] concerning data centers over the last years, I have recently begun to educate

[1:56:52] myself on the impact of data centers and what they could the impact could be in

[1:56:57] San Juan County, both positive and negative.

[1:57:02] I have learned enough to know that the decision to proceed with data centers

[1:57:06] will require rigorous review. Nationally, we are in a climate where

[1:57:11] investors and developers exert extreme pressure on government entities to act

[1:57:16] quickly. However, due diligence should be our first priority.

[1:57:22] I have include I have emailed you um the written comments that I'm making today

[1:57:27] with links to um citations for the comments that I'm going to make. So, at

[1:57:33] your review um please feel free to look at that. It's in your email. Donna Ana

[1:57:39] County and the project Jupiter developers are embroiled in lawsuits

[1:57:43] over the lack of transparency and incomplete permitting applications after

[1:57:47] their rush through approval of the project. Much of the original proposals

[1:57:52] concerning securing energy and water resources have already shifted and

[1:57:56] changed. Quoting state representative Michaela

[1:58:00] Kandana um who attended the meeting where the

[1:58:03] county voted to approve an industrial bond. She said, "I like so many of my

[1:58:08] constituents that I represent were surprised to see that our county

[1:58:12] commission here in Dona Anna was taking a high $165 billion industrial revenue

[1:58:19] bond vote on a proposal that we knew less than a month about." And again,

[1:58:24] there are citations in your email. In Sakuro, New Mexico,

[1:58:30] a letter of intent was signed by the Green Data Center Corporation, James

[1:58:34] Bach, as the CEO. He represented his company as having developed several data

[1:58:39] centers to bring cutting edge technology to address water scarcity. His website

[1:58:44] states that he is actively building data centers in New Mexico, which he is not.

[1:58:49] um his tech cutting edge technology was to address water scarcity by um the

[1:58:55] ability to secure water from the atmosphere. A letter intent was signed

[1:59:00] with his corporation and again the citations are available to you. The

[1:59:04] impact of technologies that are being developed and deployed at record speed

[1:59:08] can only be fully understood in time. Just last week, it was reported by the

[1:59:12] Cheyenne, Wyoming Board of Public Utilities that they would no longer

[1:59:15] accept the wastewater for secondary use from the Meadow Data Center in Cheyenne.

[1:59:20] The center uses a closed loop technology, but there is contamination

[1:59:23] that has been found. Again, citations that data center development is has an

[1:59:29] inherent pressure and a rush in order to provide economic

[1:59:34] development. But I would like you to take these considerations and I guess at

[1:59:39] this point I hope that you read my email for more information and considerations

[1:59:43] I'd like you to take. Thank you. [applause]

[1:59:52] » Good evening commissioners. My name is Kyla Johnson. I'm a retired educator.

[1:59:58] I'm also a veteran and I've been in um this area for 40 plus years now and um

[2:00:07] I'd like to speak um against data centers. I am going to try not to get

[2:00:14] emotional because I don't think emotion um persuades people sometimes. Yes. But

[2:00:22] I've been, you know, I came into this kind of feeling emotional about a lot of

[2:00:27] things um over the last year or so. But then I said, "Come on, you're a retired

[2:00:34] librarian. Look at the facts." So, I've been looking at facts. And I thank my

[2:00:39] colleague Judy who I'm not related to even though we have the same last name.

[2:00:44] But I've been trying to look at facts and things like that and saying, "Show

[2:00:48] me the facts. Show me the facts." because there is so much misinformation

[2:00:52] out there. And um one of the things I was reading

[2:00:56] this weekend from the Wall Street Journal, which is one of the most

[2:01:00] conservative newspapers around that I subscribe to, and they were talking

[2:01:06] about the hidden cost of the water usage because before you even get to the water

[2:01:12] that the actual data centers use, they were talking about there is the frontend

[2:01:20] [clears throat] water usage that is being used to power the electricity that

[2:01:25] goes to the data center to power the data centers. So from where they're

[2:01:31] getting their electricity to run them, there is that hidden cost of water that

[2:01:37] powers the electricity that runs the data centers. And they were saying that

[2:01:42] that's not included in their cost proposals that they give to the

[2:01:47] communities. And it's up to 30 times more than the usage of water that the

[2:01:53] data center actually uses in itself. There's up to 30 times more. And this is

[2:02:00] from uh the Wall Street Journal I think is a pretty reliable source. And that

[2:02:06] article came out this weekend. And and then I was reading today

[2:02:12] um in source, New Mexico about the water agreement that we all are a part of the

[2:02:19] upper basement, upper basin of the Colorado River compact, which we all

[2:02:25] know [laughter] San Juan River water usage and um we all

[2:02:33] know how what a hot topic water agreements are in this area in the lower

[2:02:41] basin of the Colorado and it's still ongoing and there is the three tribal

[2:02:49] entities that um are about to exert their use and

[2:02:54] they're waiting for the federal government to agree that for the usage

[2:02:58] as they put forth to um take their fair use of the um upper basin

[2:03:07] in the lower basement and how that's going to work and that of course is

[2:03:11] going to affect us here because that hasn't been properly

[2:03:16] um exercised their rights to that which is going to affect in turn the San Juan

[2:03:24] use and their rights there and that hasn't been exercised before and it's

[2:03:31] just been kind of glossed over and so um we have a shortage of water we all agree

[2:03:36] we have been in a drought and anybody who walks B park as I do on a fairly

[2:03:41] daily basis can see that you can walk across it right now and um the Animus

[2:03:48] River we have a water shortage um I don't think we should be doing anything

[2:03:52] that is going to use more water right now that's just

[2:04:00] speaking in a factual manner and I don't think we are going to get any more water

[2:04:06] anytime soon for whatever reason. Um, you know, we don't have to get into the

[2:04:12] politics of it. We just don't have water. So, that's all there is to it.

[2:04:18] Thank you, [applause]

[2:04:25] [applause] >> Captain Chair. Commissioners, thank you

[2:04:28] for giving us the opportunity to voice our concerns. We are um members of the

[2:04:35] West Hammond community. >> What is your name?

[2:04:38] » I apologize. Dorothy North is my name. Um I don't know

[2:04:44] where people or who are sets

[2:04:50] the speed limits on residential areas um up until after you pass the bridge is 35

[2:04:58] m an hour. from there to 550 is 50 miles an hour. Maybe if they were lower the

[2:05:06] speed limit, these trucks would not be coming through there. Um we our deer

[2:05:12] population is being wiped out. The school buses during the school year,

[2:05:18] I've seen it too many times where there's going to be a bad accident out

[2:05:23] there. Um, we have on both ends of the road, we have signs

[2:05:28] that say engine brakes prohibited in the residential area.

[2:05:34] One of our neighbors is a truck driver and he refuses to to go by that law for

[2:05:43] a half a mile coming out either side. He uses that Jake break either any time of

[2:05:50] day or night. We have reported it before and we were told that the DOT has to be

[2:05:56] there to witness it. I don't know what else to do. It's a nuisance and I know

[2:06:03] that he has a job to do as well, but he doesn't need to wake up the whole

[2:06:08] neighborhood. It's posted. I don't know who can

[2:06:12] enforce that. Um, I appreciate you listening to our

[2:06:18] concerns. used to be a really nice neighborhood,

[2:06:22] but right now it isn't. There's so much traffic you have to wait some time to

[2:06:28] get out of your off your county road to the highway. I appreciate your time and

[2:06:34] thank you for listening to us.

[2:06:38] [applause]

[2:06:44] Good evening y everyone. Hello. Um my name is Tissa Bernali.

[2:06:59] and I am of the Da tribe. Um, my name is Tissa. My clans are Mountain Cove. My

[2:07:06] father is Kanani uh, Towering House. Both my paternal maternal grandfathers

[2:07:11] are Salt Clan. And I'm a mother. I'm not a grandmother yet. And I'm a mother of

[2:07:16] five children. I'm also a social worker. I've been a professional in the four

[2:07:21] corners area primarily for the last 15 years doing a lot of what was just

[2:07:26] discussed earlier working in the community. I'm also an activist. I'm a

[2:07:31] member of the American Indian Movement D women and I do a lot of advocacy in my

[2:07:37] community grassroots. I'm not paid for doing that. So I I want to say thank you

[2:07:41] for having me speak to Shinat or Natani the leaders up here about the data

[2:07:47] centers. I'm here on that platform today specifically to talk to you about the

[2:07:52] importance of our water. Our

[2:07:58] means water is lifeon means the same thing. As a da woman this

[2:08:04] is my territory here before colonization. This is where my people

[2:08:10] lived in this area of Aztec Farmington, so-called Bloomfield. As a little girl,

[2:08:16] my mom told me, "Take care of that water. Take care of the land." Those

[2:08:21] were things that were instilled in me as a young woman. And I have lived the

[2:08:26] history. I am 52 years old of resource colonialism. And I have seen the

[2:08:32] destruction these corporate companies come into our communities and what they

[2:08:36] do to our people, our land, our four-legged, our wing ones, and our

[2:08:41] botany. So, I'm here I'm not going to give you statistics or facts. I'm

[2:08:47] educated. I can email that to you if you want me to. I'm here to talk about the

[2:08:52] significance of our water. That water is a living entity. We are taught to pray

[2:08:57] to it every day. We do offerings. I was here when the gold king mine spill

[2:09:02] happened and I remember how it impacted our farmers down in Shiprock where they

[2:09:08] couldn't plant their heirlooms, their seeds for two or three years because

[2:09:13] that water was tainted. We are living in a time where we we don't have water. We

[2:09:18] have prophecies from our indigenous elders that say when these resources it

[2:09:23] is not a resource are used we won't have anymore. So, I am here to speak for the

[2:09:29] water, the land, and these data centers that are coming into our communities.

[2:09:34] [snorts] You know, I I um I just came from a a um conference over at Sanan

[2:09:40] College, a plant teaching on the importance of

[2:09:45] these plants that grow on our mother earth, Nihham Sun, and how special they

[2:09:50] are to us, and they give us life. So I implore you to understand from the heart

[2:09:56] that these the water is not for sale. It has never been. And these corporate

[2:10:02] entities that come in here see it as profit to us. It is our life. It

[2:10:09] sustains us in our ceremonies and what we do. So I'll stop there, but thank you

[2:10:14] for listening to me. My time is up. Yeah. [applause]

[2:10:24] » [applause] >> Hello, my name is Trip Gomez. I live in

[2:10:26] Aztec and I first and foremost want to thank everybody who's come up and spoke

[2:10:30] before me and those who are lined up to speak after me to do their civic

[2:10:33] participation and I also want to thank the council members for uh listening to

[2:10:38] uh all of us and our worries and plights. When it comes to data centers,

[2:10:42] I think it's a giant nuanced conversation. Uh what Candi said is

[2:10:46] true. There is an algorithm right now that's helping save Farmington gallons

[2:10:49] of water per year. And so it is a very big uh idea that government moves like

[2:10:58] an iceberg intentionally to make sure things are done right the first time.

[2:11:01] And I'm just hoping to implore all the fellow citizens here and in county

[2:11:05] abroad to uh do the due diligence that is needed to make sure that if we are to

[2:11:10] have something of this industry come in that it is legitimately to the benefit

[2:11:15] of our community. Uh a lot of stipulation right now a lot of the

[2:11:19] reason that the data centers are booming in construction is because there is

[2:11:23] language in the big beautiful bill that offers a rebate for those when they are

[2:11:26] in full uh full effect. There is a lot of speculation as to why that language

[2:11:31] is in there that I'm not going to uh go down on today. But I do want to say that

[2:11:35] we as a community can come together in all the various aspects that are needed

[2:11:41] to make sure that what happens here in our land benefits us to the be best of

[2:11:46] our abilities. But that is an active communication that is a big discussion.

[2:11:51] Uh it's a large table that many people have to come to in good faith to to have

[2:11:55] that discussion about. I believe that the people who spoke today are very

[2:11:59] passionate about the understandings that we want uh our future generations, our

[2:12:04] livelihoods to be maintained and thought about throughout, you know, uh through a

[2:12:08] long course of action instead of short order. And so when uh big companies come

[2:12:14] into town offering us big dollar signs for the short-term uh effects, I just

[2:12:19] think that it behooves the council uh the commissioners here as well as in the

[2:12:23] cities and on the state level to really fully consider the impacts throughout

[2:12:28] and uh not just look at the big flashy ticket items that are being proposed.

[2:12:33] Um, of course, this means that we have uh hopefully a lot of uh people

[2:12:38] participating in this conversation together to make sure that uh Sanongan

[2:12:42] County's future is as bright as it possibly can be. Thank you for your time

[2:12:45] and have a great day. [applause]

[2:12:54] » Good evening. Uh my name is Jody Moore. I live in the uh

[2:13:00] fentanyl and meth corridor of Farmington, New Mexico. This area is

[2:13:04] also called district 1 or the Animus corridor of Farmington. Um I'm here

[2:13:10] today to invite all of you guys and all the people here in the audience. The

[2:13:15] city of Farmington is holding a hosting a community listening and action session

[2:13:20] on July 30th at 5:30m. Um at this meeting we are going to I'll

[2:13:26] just read what they wrote in their uh page here that I'd like to give to Joe.

[2:13:31] Um we know our local businesses businesses and residents are dealing

[2:13:36] with serious daily challenges regarding uh public intoxic intoxication, street

[2:13:43] inebriation, drug activity and vandalism and safety issues that come with them.

[2:13:49] Um we need everybody on board. Uh we have a serious fentanyl and med problem

[2:13:54] I believe in in the four corners, not just San Juan uh county. Uh Monizuma

[2:13:59] County Sheriff Nen's been dealing with it. Monaceel uh recently busted somebody

[2:14:04] with like 78 lbs of meth. My neighbor was busted with over six pounds of

[2:14:08] fentanyl and meth. I believe she was let out in two days. Um it's been a

[2:14:13] nightmare. Um for the last 5 years, her boyfriend later got charged with like 12

[2:14:18] felony charges and and was let off in a couple days. Um, we've got the incoming

[2:14:24] sheriff, Ken Christensen, is is on board with all of this. Uh, he met, we've had

[2:14:28] meetings down at Pancake Alley to try to address the the problems. But, uh, the

[2:14:33] city's solution has been to lock the public restrooms. That's also been the

[2:14:37] Speedway gas station solutions, lock up their public restrooms. So, we we have,

[2:14:42] uh, street folks um, using and not just street folks, customers at the speedway

[2:14:46] using the ConX box for a restroom. So, imagine how terrible that is on on our

[2:14:52] tourism that you go to the speedway down on Broadway. And not only are people

[2:14:56] being killed, but you also have uh piles of, you know, how do you say it nicely?

[2:15:01] Um, you understand human waste. There we go. I'll be nice. Uh, human human waste

[2:15:06] on the street. So, we want to get those restrooms open. We would also like uh

[2:15:10] drinking water dispensers for everybody to use. We need those at the library and

[2:15:16] every city park. So, thank you for your time. I also love the timing. It seems

[2:15:22] like in Farmington, uh although we have 3 minutes, it seems like they're kind of

[2:15:25] sick of us after about 30 seconds. So, I appreciate the fact that you guys are

[2:15:30] awesome. Keep doing the great work and and come to come to the meeting. We need

[2:15:34] you. Thank you. [applause]

[2:15:43] » Hello. My name is Megan Sheay. I'm a resident of Farmington, New Mexico. I'm

[2:15:48] here speaking about the data centers and I want to admit that I'm actually here

[2:15:52] to thank you for your prayer when you open the meeting because I I came in

[2:15:55] here with a heavy heart. Reading the news, you get really concerned, but to

[2:15:59] be reminded that our community really understands the importance of water to

[2:16:03] support us really booied my spirit and I appreciate that.

[2:16:08] Um, saying the prow reminded me I've got a

[2:16:11] little one at home. He recently asked me for a new toy and I said, "You don't

[2:16:14] take care of your toys. I'm not going to get you a new toy." And he said, "I'll

[2:16:18] take care of this one." Like, I wouldn't be a good mom if I gave into that every

[2:16:21] time. And so, I just really appreciate what the public has said about opening

[2:16:25] exploratory committees, considering memorandums, everything like that. My

[2:16:29] concern with these data centers is they need a lot of water and we don't have a

[2:16:34] lot of water. So, why do they want to come here? and I have a fear that they

[2:16:38] have the economic and legal might to take our water. And so I really

[2:16:42] appreciated the comments that the public had to work on that. Thank you so much

[2:16:45] for your time. [applause]

[2:16:55] » Good evening, commissioners. My name is Yael Oliva. I'm a mental health

[2:16:59] therapist here in Farmington. Um, I'd like to talk about a couple of

[2:17:04] issues that everyone has talked about tonight, but I would like to add my

[2:17:08] voice. I saw serious looks on your guys' faces,

[2:17:13] and I hope that if you haven't been thinking about these

[2:17:17] data centers that it's going to be a focus for you.

[2:17:23] I don't know what the right answer is. I'm not that smart. I don't understand

[2:17:27] all the technology. I don't understand what's possible.

[2:17:33] I also believe that AI is here to stay. Let's just be real. Everybody's using

[2:17:40] it. It's used for good reasons and bad reasons.

[2:17:44] Please, please, please don't destroy our community and our land in the process.

[2:17:50] Please be transparent. include the community

[2:17:55] and allow us to go forward in a way that is the least damaging and the most

[2:18:01] beneficial possible. You guys are entrusted with the future

[2:18:08] and I just am begging that you include us and you do your due diligence on this

[2:18:16] matter. I can't say anything better than anyone

[2:18:19] else here has already said tonight except just to ask you guys that

[2:18:25] I also just want to say my office is on West Apache. I'm very familiar with a

[2:18:31] lot of the problems with unsheltered folks and what's going on in the

[2:18:36] community and I also support this initiative to please get water fountains

[2:18:41] and restrooms. They're human beings. At the very end of the day, they are

[2:18:47] human beings and there but for the grace of God go any of us

[2:18:52] and I would really like to see us support them in this way. Thank you

[2:18:58] [applause]

[2:19:05] Stephen Shelby under Farmington New Mexico. Uh thank you all for letting us

[2:19:11] speak. Um, one thing I did want to touch base on just right quick is, uh, when

[2:19:16] we're talking to council at Farmington, they're up here and and I have to look

[2:19:21] up at them like I'm having to to address a king or to address someone, um, that's

[2:19:27] higher or above me. Um, thank you guys for being on my level, being on our

[2:19:32] level. um that instantly gives a person a less intimidating uh aura to come up

[2:19:37] with uh to to speak with you guys because it's hard for a lot of these

[2:19:41] people to come up to to speak. You can tell. Um I want to commend everybody

[2:19:45] that's came in and speak. I know some of y'all have a hard time with that. So,

[2:19:48] thank you for doing that. Um y'all, I I we've got a lot of information regarding

[2:19:53] the data centers um that's coming in. Um Farmington resident San County my whole

[2:19:59] life. my my family which is the Shelby family is one of the first families to

[2:20:03] settle uh in Farmington, New Mexico or to come into San Juan County. Um so we

[2:20:08] got a lot of lot of blood and skin in the game. A lot of years here I I love

[2:20:12] this place. It it is absolutely unbelievable and special. Um, if you go

[2:20:18] take time and and you go set into the desert and you go dry camping for a

[2:20:22] couple days and you listen to the coyotes howl and uh you listen to the

[2:20:26] wind through the trees and and you put your feet in the dirt, you you will

[2:20:30] truly understand how how important this land is to a lot of us. Um, just some

[2:20:35] background guys, oil and gas industry. Uh, I I raised a family on oil and gas.

[2:20:41] I understand closed loop, what closed loop means. um did a lot of work with

[2:20:46] BLM guys fixing a lot of wells that were doing a lot of damage to our water

[2:20:50] system. Um so we know that things happen sometimes even though we're trying to to

[2:20:55] do good and and bring our economy up. There's going to be things that get by

[2:20:59] and that did get by for many many years um that I'm sure we're still working on.

[2:21:05] But I was a part of that process of fixing those those issues as well. So,

[2:21:09] I'm fully versed on on the oil field closed loop systems and everything else

[2:21:13] they want to say about data centers. Um, to to get to a different point, guys,

[2:21:17] anytime the federal government tells us that we need to do something or that

[2:21:22] they're going to put a law in order to do something, uh, executive orders,

[2:21:27] which are against the law as we know, that raises a red flag for me. So, I'm

[2:21:31] going to cut it come at these in a different perspective. Not that I

[2:21:34] disagree with everyone's perspective. Um because I do agree with y'all's

[2:21:38] perspective on things. Um why are they pushing us to build data centers? Why is

[2:21:43] the federal government pushing to build data centers? What that does when he

[2:21:48] pushes to build them on federal property? That puts a real push on our

[2:21:53] counties and our local government to maybe perhaps push data centers in

[2:21:58] before the federal government does. you guys, we don't need any any more uh

[2:22:04] surveillance or anything else proposed by the government. Now, I know they say

[2:22:08] this is for data reasons and and the data gathering. Okay, that's fine. We

[2:22:13] have data centers. We we have ways of gathering data. We've been doing it for

[2:22:18] years. Why do we have to to keep going and upgrading data? How much data do we

[2:22:25] need to operate as a society, you guys? Um, honestly, we don't need AI to

[2:22:32] operate as a society. We have the tools as human beings to operate as a society.

[2:22:37] Um, so I will ask you all moving forward, please consider what I'm saying

[2:22:41] and everybody else. Um, as we move forward, I will raise a petition to ban

[2:22:46] uh data centers in the county. Um, so that's coming too. Uh, but again, you

[2:22:52] all, I love my county. I love my people. Uh this place is special. We know it's

[2:22:59] special. Um as as the the young lady had said, um guys, there's a lot of culture

[2:23:06] here and we can't forget about that culture. Uh it's a mix of cultures. We

[2:23:11] have Mexicans, we have whites, we have da, we have everybody. Everyone's here,

[2:23:16] guys. We have to learn to get together. I love your stones.

[2:23:20] Um we can do this if we work together. Please be transparent with us, guys.

[2:23:25] That's all I'm asking uh moving forward. Transparency. Thank you for what you're

[2:23:29] doing and uh I look forward for more uh dialogue with you going forward.

[2:23:34] » Thank you. [applause]

[2:23:43] » Is there anyone else? Okay, moving forward to the rest of our

[2:23:47] meetings.

[2:23:52] I' I'd like to hear from you, Sandra. Go into close session.

[2:23:56] » Uh motion to go into close session. I move that we go into closed executive

[2:24:00] session pursuant to sections 10-15-1H7 and 8 to discuss the possible

[2:24:06] acquisition of real property for the Pinion Hills extension project and to

[2:24:11] discuss matters pertaining to litigation related to the movement of Sunray

[2:24:14] Western Gaming Racino license to Clovis, New Mexico.

[2:24:19] » Right. >> Second.

[2:24:20] » Second. All in favor? >> I.

[2:24:23] » Any opposed? into close session.

[3:01:55] Ready.

[3:02:02] Let's come in out of out of close session.

[3:02:04] » Yep. I move that we go out of close session and go back into open session.

[3:02:07] » Second. >> All in favor?

[3:02:11] » I. >> All oppose. Any oppose?

[3:02:13] » No. >> All right. We have returned from closed

[3:02:16] session. The matters discussed in the closed session were limited to those

[3:02:18] specified in the motion for closure. All right.

[3:02:23] Meeting's adjourned.

San Juan County Commission Meeting July 7, 2026 - Complete recording

Transcript