Important Otero County Information sent out 7/27/10 am.

Friends,

Below is a petition that will be delivered to Otero County Commissioners. Please read and if you agree, simply respond by email. I will then add your name to the petition noting electronic response. If you have questions, I will be happy to answer them.

Janet




We, the undersigned citizens/voters of Otero County, New Mexico, are aware of a desire on the part of Otero County Commissioners to move ahead with plans to renovate and equip 2351 Eddy Drive, Alamogordo.



This property is known as the old Pepsi building and is proposed as a new location for Otero County Sheriff’s Dispatch and Otero County Emergency Services. A target completion date of November 15, 2010, has been indicated.



We, the undersigned, are requesting the Otero County Commission place this project on hold until after January 1, 2011, when two commissioners will be sworn into office.



We, the undersigned, want this project to proceed in a deliberate, open and thoughtful manner which will best serve the needs of Otero County’s first responders and therefore provide the maximum level of safety to its citizens.



We want the opportunity to review Otero County’s long range plans to see that this project will achieve those goals prior to further actions.



Finally, we would request that a Public Hearing be scheduled where the Board can address questions and concerns on this project before further action is taken.

Update: 7/27/10 pm

Friends,

I met with Sheriff Blansett, Undersheriff Sanchez and Assistant Dispatch Supervisor Mackewich this afternoon.

John, Norbert and Terry were very helpful in explaining the need for the Public Safety Access Point (PSAP 911) equipment prior to the first of the year 2011. I was told today that Qwest will be making changes to its phone service sometime around January 2011. This change will have the potential to make existing dispatch equipment obsolete or non-functional. Of course, that would be a major safety concern for the public, peace officers, EMS and fire departments.

I assured John, Norbert and Terry that from my perspective, safety and security come first and are legitimate functions of our government.

As a result of what I learned at the meeting, I volunteered to remove paragraph 3 from the petition as waiting for the PSAP installation until after January 1 would be irresponsible:

"We, the undersigned, are requesting the Otero County Commission place this project on hold until after January 1, 2011, when two commissioners will be sworn into office."

In light of local, state and national economic and political climates, all other paragraphs will remain as they address legitimate concerns of citizens.

I welcome your feedback,

Janet

Where we are now: We have approximately 40 signatures on the petition. I am researching the Qwest change of service issue and will report what I find.

Billboard dedication, rally and four-hour plus observation of Otero County Sheriff's Dispatch.

Otero Tea Party Patriots are building momentum and members. With the election on November 2, County Fair - August 11-14, there is much to be discussed. The next meeting will be after the fair. If you want to be on their list, let me know.

From 7pm to well after 11pm, I observed Dispatch. The calls early on were mostly the result of heavy rains and flooded areas. Mixed in, were welfare check requests and requests from deputies in traffic stops for verification of licenses, etc.

Not only were Chris and Bruce receiving 911 calls, administrative calls, radio communications, their job requires them to provide documentation for deputies. The best way to describe their job is "rubbing their tummies while patting their heads" or keeping three to four balls in the air at the same time - something not many people can do.

Without going into a lot of detail, these folks have to know what they are doing and obviously, they do. Kudos. Our safety and that of the deputies, fire departments, EMS, depends of good communication. Here in Otero County, the problem is not the people. But, there is a definite lack of radio capabilities - no service areas and aging, unreliable equipment.

Meeting K-9 "Jimbo" and his handler was inspiring and depressing to learn about meth and it effects.

Learning and staying out of the way was my goal. My plan is to visit other departments as well. My only assistance came in the form of solving a math problem and was glad my grey matter didn't leave me under pressure.

Notes from Public Safety Access Point, PSAP, 911 meeting 7/21/10:

The location for PSAP will be 2351 Eddy, the old Pepsi building. The location will share space with Otero County Office of Emergency Services http://www.co.otero.nm.us/OCOES/ocoes.htm

Motorola is the vendor of the equipment for originally four consoles, now probably five to accomodate dispatch from a failed dispatch elsewhere. The power has been moved onto the new location and the tower is up but not completed. Security for the perimeter of the building was discussed; bollards, half-walls, etc. to prevent motorized attack.

Three employees of Motorola were in attendance. They need detailed construction plans to give estimates for additional console. Radio capability for the fifth console is needed in the budget. Chairman Moore is looking to a 11/15/10 completion date.

Special Meeting 7/22/10, Budget and approval of 30-day extension for County Attorney, Dan Bryant, contract. Clarissa McGinn requested that a copy of Mr. Bryant's contract be part of the supporting documents for the next Regular Meeting on August 19 where a vote will be taken to continue the contract for the last year. This contract will be available on the County's website http://66.208.116.79:8080/agenda/otero as we get closer to the Work Session 8/11/10.

Budget discussion in its entirety can be viewed at http://www.alamogordolive.net/

The proposed ordinance generated to comply with new FEMA map can be read at "Proposed Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance 10-06" button.

Please read the Bills List at the same Home Page link above. Advisory - You may regret it if you read these lists of bills paid on a full stomach. There was some discussion between commissioners at the Special Meeting about not being able to determine if the bills paid were budgeted. There is no way to determine this without a copy of the budget in hand and checking each item. How can you stay within budget if you don't compare expenditures to budget? Answer, you can't. Also, it was discussed that bills list be approved before payment rather than after the fact. DUH!

Today is the Special Meeting of the Otero County Commission regarding the budget. I will report later on this meeting, PSAP, Public Safety Access Point (911), and FEMA flood map.

As a prelude to the budget meeting:

Gov’s estimates were wrong: NM rev down by $32.5m for 2010, $159.3m for 2011

http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2820/govs-estimates-were-wrong-nm-rev-down-by-32-5m-for-2010-159-3m-for-2011/

New $300 million state deficit
Sneak peak at grim NM revenue estimates

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/home/new-%24300-million-state-deficit

Just to let you know what I have been doing.....

July 12 attended the Fair Tax Rider meeting at Margo's. Great turnout. Wow.

July 13 attended the Machinists' Union Meeting, introduced myself and answered good questions. I liked the meeting because I didn't see the same faces and was treated very fairly.

July 15 attended the Otero County Regular Meeting. From my perspective, this was the most contentious meeting in four years; from the "lawfulness" of the Fair Board signs to the final payment of the Chapparal Health Center to the FEMA required ordinance regarding new flood map - this is one to get involved with.

July 16 attended meeting in Cloudcroft regarding Restore America. Benny House was in attendance. Huge crowd and very well run.

July 17 attended Otero Tea Party Patriots meeting.

In my spare time I have ordered "rack cards" and reordered campaign business card as I have only a handfull. Thank you one and all for the verbal tips in lieu of contributions. Those words or encouragement and info are what keep me energized. I am deeply appreciative to those who have contributed what they can, large and small. I know when someone gives me hard-earned cash they are serious about getting some new faces, ones that they can trust, in local politics and are sick and tired of seeing Otero County wither on the vine.

Onward and upward with humility of the job ahead,

Janet

FAIR TAX Rider Mike McLean's Harley. Mike and his wife gave a presentation to a packed room at Margo's yesterday. Click link to learn about the Freedom Ride and links to FAIR TAX. http://www.grassrootsfreedomride.com/ Mike was escorted by other bikers including New Mexico's Sons of Liberty from Roswell to Alamogordo.

There it is, one day a frame; the next, a finished highway sign. Many, many thanks to Gene. See what happens when people get a fire in their belly and keep their word? My friends are just like that.

Installation progress for a huge campaign sign. Can you guess where it is? Kudos to Gene for the ingenuity, good taste and hard work.

I have put up a new link "Otero Bills' List". Each Friday, and sometimes in between, bills submitted to the County are compiled for the Commission's approval. If you want to see where the money is being spent in Otero County, this is the place to go. It lists details: Amount paid, for what, to whom, for which department.