[Editor's Note: This is part 1 of a multi-part series of the work session held Feb. 19, 2019. Later articles may combine portions of this meeting with the regular session to be held on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Grant County Board of Commissioners held an extended work session on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019 to discuss several issues likely to be contentious at the regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, which has been moved to a larger venue—the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center, next to Ace Hardware.

At the beginning of the work session on Tuesday, during the discussion of the agenda, Commissioner Alicia Edwards requested that the presentations by Sheriff Frank Gomez, be followed by a presentation from "another group, yet to be identified," in order to hear implications of the gun-control bills from different positions.

Gomez said he would not be at the meeting, but that he would have a statement that the Undersheriff Jesse Watkins would read and be able to answers questions on the issues.

Commissioner Harry Browne said he thought that implications on several bills should receive separate presentations.

Edwards also asked that the resolutions on the issues should be placed at the top of the resolutions section on the agenda, so that attendees could hear the results in a timely manner. She suggested that a larger venue than the commissioners' chambers be sought for the meeting, such as the conference center.

County Manager Charlene Webb said she would also have to make sure that Community Access Television Silver City (CATS) had the equipment to record the proceedings.

County Attorney Abigail Burgess said if the Conference Center were not available, the county might be able to get speakers and put them in the County Administration Center lobby for people to hear the meeting.

Commissioner Javier Salas also suggested that Western New Mexico University might have capabilities with video.

Webb stepped out and made a phone call. When she returned she said the meeting could move to the Conference Center. While she was making the call, Administrative Assistant Bernadette Coleman talked to the CATS manager, who said he could record the meeting on a single camera on a tripod.

Webb also said they would have the city fire marshal monitor the event for safety, and Gomez said he would have a couple of deputies available at the meeting.

Next on the agenda were the county reports. [Editor's Note: These reports were, at the request of commissioners at the last meeting, moved to the front of the agenda.]

Detention Center Administrator Mike Carillo reported that the population at the jail had jumped since the prior meeting. "We have 92 today. We have a lot of probation violations and warrants."

Browne asked about the fence around the jail that is to be paid for with bond funding.

Community Development and Planning Director Michael "Mischa" Larisch said Jason Lockett is already working on the planning for the fence, "so, as soon as the funding becomes available, we will be ready to start."

Road Superintendent Earl Moore said: "We are waiting for better weather for patching roads."

General Services Director Randy Villa said maintenance department personnel are working on fire alarm systems and doing electrical work. "Our new electrician is doing work at the Dispatch Center. We have installed LED lighting at the airport terminal parking area. I want to thank the Road Department for being out there with equipment. We have had a couple of small structure fires that were contained by volunteer fire departments. Members are beginning training on wildfire suppression."

Salas said he had received a call about troubles with handicap accessibility at the Bataan Park facility.

Villa said the building was a maintenance shop. "We know access is an issue, but it's going to be a huge cost to fix a facility that is basically a prefab garage."

He noted that access to the park is fine, but not into the facility that the county leases out for events.

Commission Chairman Chris Ponce asked if the government shutdown had set back the fire training or anything else.

"Not much," Villa said. "We are consistently training. It set us back a bit, but we're back to normal."

Larisch pointed out that he, Randy, Earl and Jason are having weekly meetings on Monday mornings "to keep us up-to-date on what we're doing that week and what was accomplished the week before."

In his report, he said the addition to the Whiskey Creek Volunteer Fire Department building is under construction. "We're getting the sewer line extension done first, before we work on the road."

Two people spoke during public input.

Shelby Hallmark, vice chair of the Grant County Democrat Party, said although he discovered the resolutions were on the agenda to be considered, "I can't find the actual resolutions on the county website or in the press. I hope you take time to consider them carefully. You should ensure input from all parts of the community. Those of us not involved in the legislative session aren't perfectly informed about the bills. The bills the resolutions refer to may be amended or rejected as the process plays out. Many of us have concerns, but we don't feel the county needs to pick up a megaphone on our behalf. We just expect the Legislature to do its work."

"Elections have consequences," he continued. "Democrats took over the Legislature and the governorship and they're working to put into effect their campaign promises. One of the things the Democrat Party of New Mexico supports is the universal background check for all firearm purchases. Polls show the majority of Americans support it, too. Evidently the Sheriff's Association believes otherwise and has incited counties to assert their right to refuse to enforce the law were it to pass. The threat of nullification of the law is a dangerous step and should not be taken lightly. Are gun owners or buyers really going to face anything other than a bit of inconvenience? Gun control and the Second Amendment is a divisive issue in the country. I hope commissioners take the long view. Let's not make the divide worse by taking a rash action. Do we need a Second Amendment Sanctuary status? It will stigmatize Grant County so that some people will want to give a wide berth to it. Don't make rash decision that would be a permanent stain on our history."

Ron Bateman said he is a lifelong resident of Grant County. "I would like to react to the previous gentleman. I believe in the Second Amendment as it is. We already have a background check in place. We don't need continued background checks and burdens put on citizens, where it's to the point where if you exchange weapons or do all these other things, there's a penalty. Because of this unnamed cost, they will impose it on you if you decide to sell your weapon to someone else. What if I want to give a gun to someone? I am not in support of any gun control. I read that someone wanted a bill to notify law enforcement if an illegal wanted to purchase a gun and the Democrats voted against that. The bill talks about all citizens and all law-abiding citizens. It doesn't address the criminals that are not law-abiding or the illegals, who aren't either. Basically, that's why they call them illegals. So, I am totally against that law, and I hope you follow along with those counties in rejecting the bill. Make us a Second Amendment sanctuary county."

The next article will address the update given by Gila Regional Medical Center.