Commission takes lead in Cannon growth study

Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to take the lead in a Joint Land Use Study into expansion and a changed mission at Cannon Air Force Base.

As community sponsors, the county will act as the lead, local agency and partner with the Office of Economic Adjustment in obtaining grant money and collecting information from the community for a study focusing on issues that could impact Cannon’s mission as a special operations wing.

At issue are busy roads, train whistles and the potential of future wind farm development, among other things.

Community leadership and “stake-holders”, such as land owners, business persons, school representatives and residents, are required for creation of a working group for the project, according to JLUS project manager Amanda Fagan.

The county is also responsible for 10 percent of the cost of the study, Fagan said, which can be offset or consist of the value of staff hours spent on the project.

Evaluating and documenting “What are the existing and potential future land use and encroachment issues,” Fagan said the study could cost between $80,000 and $200,000 and take anywhere from 12 to 18 months depending on the scale of concerns.

Based on a working knowledge of Cannon and the surrounding area, Fagan said OEA representatives expect to be on the low-end of the time and financial estimates.

Currently in the organizational phase, the study seeks to, “preserve and protect (Department of Defense) missions and assets and protect public health and safety”, Fagan said in her presentation.

Elements presenting possible joint land use issues already identified are “clear zone violations” presented by Curry Road R’s proximity to the base, the potential development of night lighting, wind farms and other things incompatible with low-level special operations missions and rail traffic adjacent to base housing, OEA Associate Director David Witschi told commissioners.

27th Special Operations wing Mission Support Group Commander Col. Babette Lenfant told commissioners issues with Curry Road R, which parallels the base’s western perimeter, have grown over the years as the road has been transformed from a rarely used dirt road to a well-traveled thoroughfare.

And the whistle of trains passing by a base housing area, she said, have prompted numerous complaints from residents.

The OEA provides financing, technical assistance and works with the community on the project, Fagan and Witsche said.

Through coordination with local, state and federal stakeholders, it is the community’s role to resolve issues once they are identified, according to Fagan’s presentation.

City Manager Joe Thomas and Clovis Mayor Gayla Brumfield, in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting, said they supported the study.

In other business at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting:

• Clerk Connie Jo Lyman announced last week she swore in former clerk Mario Trujillo as her chief deputy.

Absentee voting for the school board election begins Friday and only Texico’s school district has a contested race. Dec. 30, Clovis candidate Jerry Wilhite withdrew as a candidate, Lyman said.

• Sheriff Matt Murray made commissioners aware of a memo of understanding between the sheriff’s department and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The relationship gives the department access and funding for training and technology to assist them in Internet predator interdiction.

The Region V Drug Task Force, which operates in Curry, Roosevelt, Guadalupe, Debaca and Quay counties, was rated second out of seven, Murray said, and received $108,000 through the federal Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program.

• Bernice Baker said she recently swore Debbie Spriggs in as chief deputy treasurer.

• Jail Administrator Lois Bean introduced a classification specialist and fire safety and sanitation specialist on loan to the detention center from the Eddy County detention center.

The two men are studying the jail in their respective areas of experience and are assisting and training detention officers, she said.

When asked about the current state of inmate classification by Commissioner Caleb Chandler, Assistant Administrator Audrey Barriga said classification, typically done through a point scoring assessment by booking officers, is “lacking” and the facility needs an individual whose position is dedicated to the task.

• Fair Grounds Manager Susan Ferrell said the search for 2009 County Fair entertainment has been renewed since the band Canadian Ragweed recently declined the county’s request for them to play.

• Commissioners approved a request by County Manager Lance Pyle to allow an exception to the user agreement for the Special Events Center. The exception is for motocross sports to prevent damage to the facility or potential hazards to other users.

Pyle said in the past, events involving motorized equipment have left hazardous material like glass and metal shards behind, causing issues in cleanup and for other facility users.

Commissioners determined until the issue can be adequately studied, events presenting a potential hazard to the facility will continue to use the outdoor arena at the fairgrounds.

• Commissioner Wendell Bostwick suggested the board hold periodic commission meetings in outlying communities such as Texico, Melrose and Grady, in order to better involve rural areas of county government.

Commissioners said the issue will be further addressed at a later meeting.

• Clovis Mayor Gayla Brumfield offered the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Library as a location for future county commission meetings after Commissioner Bobby Sandoval said he felt the commission meetings have outgrown their space at the courthouse and need more room to offer people better opportunity to participate in meetings.

“I really think it’s a disgrace that if we have more than five people here, we have to pull out folding chairs,” he said.

Commissioners agreed to discuss the issue in the future.

Commissioners approved the following items:

• Resolution supporting efforts to obtain funding for replacement of the Hull Street overpass.

• Resolution to transfer $1.5 million from the general fund to pay for amenities at the Special Events Center.

• Resolution to transfer $20,000 from the General Fund to pay for a centennial cookbook, which will be sold.

• Resolution of compliance with the New Mexico Open Meetings Act

• Bid by Anderson Building Company to construct a garage for La Casa Senior Center.