According to county manager Amber Hamilton, the Roosevelt County Commission, at its regular meeting Tuesday morning, “revolves around land use and allows residents to manage their land without federal overreach.” Approved one dissenting opinion.
Opposition to the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LCP) as an endangered species and removal of wild livestock of the Gila monster were common themes of the conference. Commissioner Tina Dixon takes the lead on both lines of business. However, the Commission has been working on drafting a resolution on the LPC for the last month.
According to the resolution, “The designation of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as an endangered species will have a wide range of adverse effects on communities, industry and settlements, ranches, farms, and the people who use millions of livestock. Acres of public and private land identified as habitat for small prairie chickens of distinct population segments in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
The resolution further states that the extent of protection provided by the FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) in listing the lesser prairie chicken as “endangered” is detrimental to working families, local industries and communities, and the state of New Mexico. It says that it is. whole.
The committee will consider the resolution at its next meeting on March 21.
Opposition to the removal of livestock in the Gila Wilderness comes after the Gila National Forest issued a decision to remove wild cattle within the boundaries of the Gila Wilderness using lethal methods.
Commissioner Dixon asked the rest of the committee to sign a letter from the Arizona/New Mexico County Union.
According to Dixon, the letter read, “Gila National Forest is being offered several humane alternatives to the Forest Service at no cost.” By signing the letter, the Commission agreed to ask Gila National Forest to use these alternative methods. The Commission approves the letter to be signed and it is sent to the Governor.
In another line of work, Hamilton provided an update on legislative action as the commission oversees more than 130 bills that could directly impact the county.
County Clerk Mandy Park recently traveled to Santa Fe to attend a hearing. Hamilton believes the county clerk doesn’t get the recognition he deserves in Santa Fe.
“Some of these initiatives lack collaboration with county clerks,” Park said, and they’re not just handling elections.
Park said in the report: Senate Bill 180, House Bill 4, and his IPRA Bill. All three of them he got a do-pass. Other legislative updates were provided at Tuesday’s meeting.
Roads Superintendent Ricky Lovato told the commission in a report that “a lot of maintenance is going on.” This comes after recent storms in eastern New Mexico. Lovato said his department is working to clear tumbleweed, push sand from roads and clear cattle guards. I thanked Lovato for his department’s work to make it better.
Finally, the Commission reviewed discussions from the February 21 meeting regarding the agreement between Roosevelt County and the City of Portales regarding the Portales Communications Center. The county attorney and sheriff’s office were to submit two draft contracts for consideration, but those drafts were not completed. The Sheriff’s Office told the committee that the wording needs clarification but the draft is nearly complete.
