Seriously, there is no cost or obligation? There are at least five (numbered) instances where we were told there is no cost or obligation in the ADN article below.
I don't know anyone who believes that County employees are volunteers and not compensated for their work. And where does the money come from to pay staff? Bingo, you and me. Paying the staff to do the work of Otero County is something I approve of. Paying staff to do the work of Mr. Galarza, Alternative Industry Resources and who knows what other companies and individuals is something I totally reject as the role of government. Talk about redistribution, this is a classic example.
Showing posts with label Otero Regular Meeting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Otero Regular Meeting. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Besides attending the Commissioners' Canvass of Votes meeting on Monday, I attended the work session and Grazing Advisory Board meetings.
Robyn Holmes, Otero County Clerk heard my two suggestions/requests. One, that mailing labels sold by the county to candidates include a second line "Or Current Resident" to avoid a waste of money and time on the part of candidates and P.O.
Two, that Otero County website on the Clerk's department include the numbers for those voting straight party ticket. This is done in other counties and Ms. Holmes said she thought that information was being posted. She/Ray Backstrom, county manager, agreed to correct this deficiency.
At the work session on Wednesday, the County agreed unanimously to lease 25 acreas adjacent to the prison facility to a solar power generating concern. There will be a public hearing on the creation of an Otero County Environmental Department at the regular meeting on the 30th.
The Grazing Advisory Board was most interesting. Until you witness the interaction between the feds, state, county government and constituents, you just haven't experienced politics. Never let it be said that good politics is not local.
Robyn Holmes, Otero County Clerk heard my two suggestions/requests. One, that mailing labels sold by the county to candidates include a second line "Or Current Resident" to avoid a waste of money and time on the part of candidates and P.O.
Two, that Otero County website on the Clerk's department include the numbers for those voting straight party ticket. This is done in other counties and Ms. Holmes said she thought that information was being posted. She/Ray Backstrom, county manager, agreed to correct this deficiency.
At the work session on Wednesday, the County agreed unanimously to lease 25 acreas adjacent to the prison facility to a solar power generating concern. There will be a public hearing on the creation of an Otero County Environmental Department at the regular meeting on the 30th.
The Grazing Advisory Board was most interesting. Until you witness the interaction between the feds, state, county government and constituents, you just haven't experienced politics. Never let it be said that good politics is not local.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Alamogordo Daily News has endorsed Janet White as its pick for Otero County Commission, Dist.1. We will provide a link when available.
We mailed 4,000 postcards to active voters in the district this week. The postcard tells how to vote for Janet White, Independent.
I continue to go door to door and my map is filling in with yellow highlighter on streets I have covered. I will do this until November 1. (I do not knock on doors on Sundays for obvious reasons.)
Don't forget the Otero County Commission Regular Meeting Thursday, Oct. 21. If you cannot attend, you can watch it live or archived on AlamogordoLive. The new FEMA Flood Map Ordinance will again be the subject of a public hearing as well as other agenda items.
We mailed 4,000 postcards to active voters in the district this week. The postcard tells how to vote for Janet White, Independent.
I continue to go door to door and my map is filling in with yellow highlighter on streets I have covered. I will do this until November 1. (I do not knock on doors on Sundays for obvious reasons.)
Don't forget the Otero County Commission Regular Meeting Thursday, Oct. 21. If you cannot attend, you can watch it live or archived on AlamogordoLive. The new FEMA Flood Map Ordinance will again be the subject of a public hearing as well as other agenda items.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Otero Regular Meeting on September 16th was long and a "barn burner". You can view it at AlamogordoLive.net. If you have specific questions, please email me.
The meeting at the Detention Center was very educational. Virginia Blansett and her staff were forthcoming with their concerns and perspectives. All three candiates from District 1 attended. We were "interviewed" for the position of commissioner, as it should be, instead of us telling them "what is best". Every department could do this.
I attended the Boles Acres VFD training meeting. Visited with the Chaparral community Sunday and registered 10 voters. It is very encouraging to see people starting to realize they can make a difference.
"It does not take a majority to prevail ...
but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
Samuel Adams
The meeting at the Detention Center was very educational. Virginia Blansett and her staff were forthcoming with their concerns and perspectives. All three candiates from District 1 attended. We were "interviewed" for the position of commissioner, as it should be, instead of us telling them "what is best". Every department could do this.
I attended the Boles Acres VFD training meeting. Visited with the Chaparral community Sunday and registered 10 voters. It is very encouraging to see people starting to realize they can make a difference.
"It does not take a majority to prevail ...
but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
Samuel Adams
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Highlights and lowlights
August 19th Regular County Commission Meeting:
* Commissioners accepted certificate of appreciation from U.S. Census Bureau. Otero County has 68K inhabitants.
* Public hearing to discuss proposed Environmental Department for Otero County. (There will be another public hearing next month on the 16th.) As reported in part by the Daily News:
"...Tommie Herrell, who is running for the District 1 commission seat currently held by Doug Moore, was the first member of the audience to make comment after Kirby's presentation. He said in doing his research with the NMED, he found the revenue and costs to do the permitting, inspecting and enforcing were quite different than those presented during the meeting by Kirby.
Herrell called it "silly" to duplicate services to citizens that the state already provides.
Rardin said Herrell was coming in at the end of a process the county began in January, and that Herrell ran into some of the same problems the county found in the beginning..."
What was not reported in the ADN:
The Alamogordo phone book, under New Mexico government listings, shows the address of the ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT as 1015 Cuba Avenue.
The Otero County Assessor's website shows the owner of 1015 Cuba Avenue to be HERRELL, TOMMIE & JOSETTE TRUST. Can you say conflict of interest?
*Aerowest Helicopters will be hired by the county for approximately $30K to conduct coyote reduction - Pinon. (The coyotes are thick in my area. Two dogs attacked in the past week. How about where you live?)
Outside the Commission Chambers: I have visited with three rural volunteer fire departments; Burro Flats, Oro Vista and Bent. Each is unique but what they have in common is dedicated people that provide an very valuable service.
Did you know the ISO (Insurance Services Organization) rating of the department serving you affects the fire insurance rates you pay? I didn't. The lower the ISO (Class 1 to 10), the lower the rates. In the whole U.S. with a total of 44,000 departments, 62 are Class 1 and 60% are Class 9.
Burro Flats (18 +/- members) Class 9
Bent (16 +/- members) Class 9
Oro Vista (20 +/- members) Class 5
Complete ADN report at http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_15846442
August 19th Regular County Commission Meeting:
* Commissioners accepted certificate of appreciation from U.S. Census Bureau. Otero County has 68K inhabitants.
* Public hearing to discuss proposed Environmental Department for Otero County. (There will be another public hearing next month on the 16th.) As reported in part by the Daily News:
"...Tommie Herrell, who is running for the District 1 commission seat currently held by Doug Moore, was the first member of the audience to make comment after Kirby's presentation. He said in doing his research with the NMED, he found the revenue and costs to do the permitting, inspecting and enforcing were quite different than those presented during the meeting by Kirby.
Herrell called it "silly" to duplicate services to citizens that the state already provides.
Rardin said Herrell was coming in at the end of a process the county began in January, and that Herrell ran into some of the same problems the county found in the beginning..."
What was not reported in the ADN:
The Alamogordo phone book, under New Mexico government listings, shows the address of the ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT as 1015 Cuba Avenue.
The Otero County Assessor's website shows the owner of 1015 Cuba Avenue to be HERRELL, TOMMIE & JOSETTE TRUST. Can you say conflict of interest?
*Aerowest Helicopters will be hired by the county for approximately $30K to conduct coyote reduction - Pinon. (The coyotes are thick in my area. Two dogs attacked in the past week. How about where you live?)
Outside the Commission Chambers: I have visited with three rural volunteer fire departments; Burro Flats, Oro Vista and Bent. Each is unique but what they have in common is dedicated people that provide an very valuable service.
Did you know the ISO (Insurance Services Organization) rating of the department serving you affects the fire insurance rates you pay? I didn't. The lower the ISO (Class 1 to 10), the lower the rates. In the whole U.S. with a total of 44,000 departments, 62 are Class 1 and 60% are Class 9.
Burro Flats (18 +/- members) Class 9
Bent (16 +/- members) Class 9
Oro Vista (20 +/- members) Class 5
Complete ADN report at http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_15846442
Friday, June 25, 2010
June 24, Regular Meeting of Otero County Commissioners
Three items of note:
(1) Clarissa McGinn, Commissioner District 2, requested and received confirmation from Ray Backstrom, County Manager, that the Bills' List (sounds innocuous, right?) will be easily accessible on county website. It is not on the home page yet but assurances were given that it will be soon.
(2) There was a departure from the usual "we're going into executive session, do I have a motion?" type language. At this meeting Commissioner McGinn asked for specifics as to which items of generic A-G items would be addressed. (I will address this later under Open Meetings Act.) I know it sounds like jibberish but this is highly significant to those of us who are believers in the word of the law. Stay tuned as I bring you updates and attempt to communicate the significance of this departure from the norm.
(3) Grace Gonzales, County Treasurer, was nominated to be a voting member of NACo - National Association of Counties. Commissioner Rardin has a position with NACo that does not allow him to vote so a voting member was necessary. The vote was unanimous. Rardin and Gonzales will be attending the next meeting in Reno, NV. For the curious, I do suggest you go to NACo's website and get a feel for where they are headed.
Three items of note:
(1) Clarissa McGinn, Commissioner District 2, requested and received confirmation from Ray Backstrom, County Manager, that the Bills' List (sounds innocuous, right?) will be easily accessible on county website. It is not on the home page yet but assurances were given that it will be soon.
(2) There was a departure from the usual "we're going into executive session, do I have a motion?" type language. At this meeting Commissioner McGinn asked for specifics as to which items of generic A-G items would be addressed. (I will address this later under Open Meetings Act.) I know it sounds like jibberish but this is highly significant to those of us who are believers in the word of the law. Stay tuned as I bring you updates and attempt to communicate the significance of this departure from the norm.
(3) Grace Gonzales, County Treasurer, was nominated to be a voting member of NACo - National Association of Counties. Commissioner Rardin has a position with NACo that does not allow him to vote so a voting member was necessary. The vote was unanimous. Rardin and Gonzales will be attending the next meeting in Reno, NV. For the curious, I do suggest you go to NACo's website and get a feel for where they are headed.
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