Commission passes parking lot proposal

The Roosevelt County Commission voted on parking, taxes and other issues at their meeting Tuesday morning in the county courthouse. Actions and discussion included:

• Approval of a $18,400 proposal to reinstall parking along Second Street in the courthouse lot. County Manager Charlene Hardin said the spot would have drainage problems because it was designed for landscaping rather than parking.

• Issuance of an order imposing property tax rates. County Treasurer Micki Williams said Portales rates in- and out-of-town went down, while rates in Elida, Floyd, Causey, Melrose and House districts increased slightly. She didn’t know the reason for the increases, but said school debt services usually cause it.

• Approval of the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan with county road projects as the top priority, followed by the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds building and then a Community Development Block Grant project that hasn’t been identified. Hardin said a CDBG project must be included in the plan for the county to receive money for one. Road and information technology equipment are the last two items in the top five priorities.

• Approval of payment of just more than $60,700 in claims to the county indigent medical fund from May 19 until Tuesday.

• Hardin’s announcement that the New Mexico Association of Counties was having a consultant assess the county Detention Center medical care. She said counties throughout the state are struggling to provide the care, so the association hired the consultant to find solutions.

• A speech from Roosevelt County Fair Queen Samantha Grider. The Portales resident plans to compete in the State Fair Queen contest starting Sept. 23.

• Presentation of the Readers Choice Best Blade Operator Award to Derral Stroud.

• Approval of a Joint Powers Agreement between the county and the state Forestry Division to work together to fight wildfires. Under the agreement, the state may reimburse the county for some firefighting efforts.

• Approval of a summary subdivision plat for Derral Stroud to sell 40 acres of land divided into four tracts at Roosevelt Road 4 and Roosevelt Road O. Hardin said Stroud wasn’t authorized to development the land.