Deer Canyon Residents Seek Road Extension

Residents from the Deer Canyon development located near Mountainair, requested permission to work with the Torrance County Road department to estimate costs for adding mileage through state land as a county road.

Residents in the development stated that they had to travel 11 miles to hit pavement and that the new route would shorten time for emergency services.  The path of the route would cross state lands leased by the Lovato family.  As the lesee the Lovato's would need to agree to the road extension and they did not agree.

The Deer Canyon subdivision is a prime example of on going development issues in Torrance County.  Debelopers go through the planning and zoning process, but, that process and department does not have the funding to monitor develpors after approval.  Without follow up, developers will continue to come to Torrance County taking profit off the top leaving the residents and the county with substandard roads and emergency access issues.

Until the county becomes proactive in holding developers of all kinds accountable Torrance County will continue to struggle to meet the needs of its citizens. 

October 10 Torrance County Commission Draft Agenda

Torrance County Commission

Reglar Meeting to be Held at:

Administrative Offices of Torrance County

Commission Chambers

205 9th Street

Estancia, NM 87016

 

AGENDA

October 10th, 2012

9:00 A.M.

Please Silence All Electronic Devices

 

Call Meeting to Order
Pledge of Alegiance
Invocation

     Approval of Minutes: 
      
       September 26th, 2012 Special Meeting  September 26th, 2012 Regular Meeting
     
     Approval of Consent Agenda:
       1.  Approval of Warrants
       2.  Appproval of Indigent Claims

Public Requests:  At the Discretion of the Commission Chair.  For Information Only (No Action Can Be Taken).  Comments are limited to two minutes per serson on subjects not on this published agenda.

ACTION ITEMS*

*Department Requests/Reports:

  1.  Deparment Update(s)
  2.  Ratification of Contract Addendum between Katrina Pino and Torrance County Sheriff's Office
       to Add Travel Cost for Out of County Bloood Draws
  3.  Memorandum of Understanding between U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security & U.S. Customs
      & Border Parol and Torrance County To Share Radio Communication - Michelle Wells,
       Administrator


*Commission Matters:

  4.  Letter of Vacation for portion of the developer known as Ranchos Los Caballos being lots 8
       through 39 inclusive (the "Vacated Lots"), located within section(s) 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
       1, 22, 23 T1N, R7E, NMPM; and Section 18 T1N, R8E, NMPM, in Torrance County, New
       Mexico.  Owner requests Vacation of the Plat as it pertains to the Vacated Lots, together with
       vacation of the Disclosure Statement as applicable to the vacated Lots, filed of record on
       September 1, 2006 by the Torrance County Clerk in Book 310, Page 01091

  5.  Request Letter of Support to Keep the Park Service Visitors Center Located
       Within the Town of Mountainair - Betty Cabber

  6.  Consideration of Purchase of Stove at Tajique Community Center

  7.  Torrance County Fair Board:
        a.  Agreement
        b.  Organization
        c.  Appointment Process
 
  8.  Commission Update

*County Manager Requests/Reports:

  9.  Update

EXECUTIVE SESSION

As Per Motion and Roll Call Vote, Pursuant to New Mexico State Statute Section 10-15-1, the following Matters Will Be Discussed In Closed Session:

  1.  Personnel Matters:  10-15-1 (h)(2)
  2.  Threatening and Pending Litigation:  10-15-1 (h)(7)
        a.  Threatened Litigation

*Reconvene from Executive Session

*Adjourn

NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE OFFICIAL AGENDA, CONFIRM THE INFORMATION PROVIDED DIRECTLY WITH THE TORRANCE COUNTY MANAGERS OFFICE

Torrance County Manager's Office
PO BOX 48, 205 9th Street, Estancia New Mexico, 87016
Joy Ansley - County Manager - Email

Phone: (505) 246-4752
Fax: (505) 384-5294

MENTORS & ART TEACHERS NEEDED

MENTORS AND ART TEACHERS NEEDED

 

MENTORING PROGRAM

We are in our third year of a greatly successful mentoring program at Mountainair Elementary School and are always looking to expand the number of people who are working with our young people. We currently have about 15 volunteers and the needs of this district could certainly use more.

The program is simple - you have a child (Grades K-5) that the school determines would benefit from some one-on-one time with a caring adult. You come once a week during their recess/lunch time and have lunch with them (away from the lunch room) and spend time playing games (often ones that help build academic skills), doing art work or just visiting. We have found it is the TIME focusing on them that you spend that is more important even than what you do.

We need you to commit to the school year, once a week for about 40 minutes (which day is your choice). You will need to get fingerprinted so a background check can be made (standard procedure these days in schools) and it does cost about $40. We will help facilitate that but if at all possible, the cost is your responsibility. We ask you to come to the school for a brief (30 minute) orientation where we go through a few "rules", have suggestions for you and answer questions.

If you are interested, please contact me - Anne Ravenstone, aravenstone@earthlink.net. I would LOVE to hear from you!

ART AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM TEACHERS NEEDED

For many years we had extensive grant funding for a large, diverse afterschool program, but that funding disappeared two years ago. Last year we received a grant from New Mexico Arts to keep the art component of that program going and we have received some funding again this year.

Some of our artist/teachers are returning but we are always looking for new ideas. We pay $25 per hour and you will have to be fingerprinted so a background check can be made. If the $40 that costs is a hardship, we can pay for it. The program is approximately 9 to 10 weeks long and meets Monday and Wednesday after school (kids have a snack and then class is from 3:25-4:25). Some teachers do both days, but most pick one or the other.

Mountainair young people don't have much to do after school (other than sports for the older kids), so this has proved to be a very popular and valuable program.

ARE YOU SOMEONE WITH A LITTLE TALENT AND LOTS OF ENTHUSIASM FOR YOUTH?

Contact me - Anne Ravenstone, aravenstone@earthlink.net if you are interested!

--

Manzano Mountain Art Council

This event/class/workshop is made possible in conjunction with the Manzano Mountain Art Council.

HOW COULD YOU DUMP ME?

HOW COULD YOU DUMP ME?

On or about last Thrusday, June 14, 2012 these two little dogs showed up around our house.  Both are entact males that look like they have not been fed or well cared for.  A member of our family said that a newer blue colored sedan vehicle, possibly a Chevy, was seen at the intersecting of Forest Road 275 and Rocking RL road on Thursday with these dogs chasing the vehicle as it speed away.  

One male looks like an older animal, he has some damage to his right eye and possible scaring on the right side of its face.  The other male looks younger.  I think they may be Chiuaua cross breeds.  Both dogs flee when approached so we are trying to calm them down in order to capture them.  

Should it be the case that these pets wandered off - our family would be very happy to assist in returning them to their owners. If the owners can not be found, we would be happy to offer them to a new home, or ultimately, will either have to take them to animal control or dispose of them should they show any danger to our livestock. 

Should it be the case that these animals were dumped, to the person/person's who may have dumped these dogs, just because you may see ranches with lots of land doesn't mean that the families living there want to be responsible for your throw away pets.  You should be very ashamed of yourselves - throw away pets/dumped pets can suffer a slow painful death from lack of food/water, can become prey to coyote, big cats, bear, and risk being shot by a rancher in order to protect their livestock. 

Given today's economy, it is understandable that some folks can't feed and care for their animals. There are other options besides dumping these animals on the side of the road. You could contact the area shelters, talk to animal control officers in the communities, put up flyers offering to give these pets away, or ultimately, man up and have them put down. Dumping animals is not only a crime, but is morally reprehensible.



Please help these dogs be reunited with their family or offer them a new home - we already have multiple mercy pets and can not take on any more.  If you recognize these dogs, please contact Edwina Hewett 505-847-2220 or 505-705-0732 or George@WhisperingRange.com. 

Mountainair All Candidate Meet-N-Greet, June 2, 2012

Join us for Hamburgers & Hot Dogs at the Mountainair . . .



ALL CANDIDATE MEET-N-GREET
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Mountainair Town Park
11:30am - 2:00pm

Enjoy the BBQ while visiting with the candidates, friends & neighbors!

Bring your instruments for a jam session if you like. Just please come!

Sound like lots of folks are coming so get there early before the food runs out!

Marketed & Hosted by: Edwina Rae Hewett, Candidate for Torrance County Commission District 3

Food Donated by: Candidates, B Street Market, and friends of Edwina Rae Hewett for Torrance County Commissioner District 3



Wildland Fire Outlook – May through August 2012

The Predictive Services group issued their first major outlook for the season yesterday, it can be found here: http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Excerpts from the report:

National Wildland Significant Fire Potential Outlook

National Interagency Fire Center

Predictive Services

Issued: May 1, 2012

Next Issue: June 1, 2012

Wildland Fire Outlook – May through August 2012
The May through August 2012 significant fire potential outlooks are shown below. The primary factors influencing these outlooks are:

El Niño/Southern Oscillation:

Conditions in the equatorial Pacific continue to trend toward neutral conditions with the possibility of entering an El Niño phase by early summer. However, timing remains very uncertain.

Drought:
The abnormally dry winter for most of the western U.S. continued the severe to exceptional drought from last year across most of western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, with rapidly developing drought conditions across California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Severe to exceptional drought persisted in the southeastern U.S. across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and southern Alabama. Drought has continued or developed over the Northern Plains and Upper Mississippi regions and along the eastern seaboard from North Carolina to Maine.

Fuel Conditions:
La Niña conditions that extended into the fall and winter had a significant effect on fuels conditions across the U.S. Abundant fine fuels stretching across the south central U.S. into New Mexico early last year led to significant fires much earlier than normal. This year, in contrast, has seen greatly reduced fine fuel availability largely due to the extremely dry conditions that persisted through the winter. Carryover fuels from last year remain across the Great Basin and the northern and central Plains. Lack of significant snowfall at lower elevations in these areas left an abundance of standing grasses, making them available for this fire season.

Note: Significant fire potential is defined as the likelihood that a wildland fire event will require mobilization of additional resources from outside the area in which the fire situation originates

For questions about this outlook please contact the National Interagency Fire Center at (208) 387-5050.

CIBOLA ART GALLERY SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY!

CIBOLA ART GALLERY SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY!

YOU’RE INVITED!

A special show by

Seventeen artists

With a theme of “Seventeen”

Join us for our opening of this show on

Saturday, May 5

2:00-4:00

(right after the workshop for sculpture building at MAOB)

Refreshments

Creativity

Fun Folks!

Manzano Mountain Art Council

This event/class/workshop is made possible in conjunction with the Manzano Mountain Art Council.

Mountainair Event for Democratic Candidates

State Senate Dist. 39

Candidate - NICOLE CASTELLANO

(Donations Gratefully Accepted, but Not Required)

AND

A MEET & GREET for

State Representative Dist. 50 Candidate’s

Patricia Lincoln & Stephen Easley

Hosted by Dan & Joan Embree & Jan Eshleman

COOKOUT / POTLUCK

Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Drinks provided

Please bring something to contribute to the buffet!

Date: SATURDAY May 5^th

Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm

Place: 99 Gato Road

Off Rt. 55 between mile markers 71 & 72. Take La Entrada Rd. Look for signs.

Estancia Valley Solid Waste - Now Accepting Recyclables

Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority (ESVWA) is accepting recyclable materials.  Not all stations are ready to accept all items, they are still waiting for the storage bins to come in.  The flyer being distributed at the stations is not 100% accurate so please call the office  (505-384-4270) to find out what station is ready to accept the following items:

  Aluminum & Tin Cans
  Cardboard
  #1 & #2 Plastic Bottles
  Mixed Paper (junk mail, etc.)
  Scrap Metal
  Appliances with Freon
  **Tree Branches (Only at Moriarty & Mountainair)
  Electronics
  Rechargeable Batteries
  Auto Batteries
  Tires
  Auto Fluids

Please rinse out cans and plastic bottles.  Items can be separated on site but if you can split things out before taking them in it will speed up your trip and allow others to get in and out of the stations faster.

Happy Recycling!

East Mountain Soil & Water Conservation District Annual Meeting

November 9, 2011
10:00am
700 10th Street, Estancia NM
(Next to Torrance County Fair Ground - West Entrance)

LUNCH ~ DOOR PRIZES~SPEAKERS

Please call 505-384-2272 ext 5 to confirm your attendance for lunch and seating.

Many thanks to event sponsors;

Farm Credit
Charlies Sporting Goods Store
Schwebach Farms, LLC

4 Cords of Wood for $20 - Fuelwood Permits Are Back!

For Immediate Release                               Contact: Karen Lessard, District Ranger

Phone: 505.847.2990; e-mail: klessard@fs.fed.us

Mountainair Ranger District

Offering Fuelwood Permits

Mountainair, NM – October 26, 2011:  The Mountainair Ranger District will resume selling personal fuelwood permits beginning on Monday, October 31, 2011 at 8am.  Permits will be a maximum/minimum of 4 cords for $20 and will be sold on a first come first serve basis.  Citizens who bought permits during our first round of fuelwood sales will not be eligible to buy permits for the first 3 days as the demand for first time purchasers is too high.  Permits will only be sold at the Mountainair Ranger District.  A photo ID will be necessary and the public will not be allowed to buy permits for others.  The permits will be for dead/down Ponderosa Pine within the Thunderbird Ecosystem Management Area. 

If you have questions regarding personal fuelwood or any other Mountainair Ranger District questions please call 505-847-2990 or email D’Ana Riley at dlriley@fs.fed.us.  You may also check the website at www.fs.usda.gov/cibola/mountainair.

-end-

Salt Missions Trail Scenic Byway Project - Torrance County Commission Meeting 10/12/2011

Last Conceal Carry Certification Class Until Spring 2012

DBL. 'G' Firearms Training will present a . . .

CONCEALED-CARRY LICENSE CERTIFICATION CLASS
STAURDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, 2011

If you have been thinking that now it the time to get your license, this class is for you! 
Don't own a handgun or haven't decided yet on which one to buy?? . . . No problem, the class fee includes the use of several handguns in popular calibers. 

This class will be taught by NRS & New Mexico Certified Instructor, Don Gallahue.
This course is intended for those seeking to become licensed to carry a concealed handgun or anyone seeking instruction in the safe handling and use of firearms.

COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE WILL ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO APPLY FOR A FOUR-YEARS CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSE FROM THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IN ALBUQUERQUE*

Where:  Town of Mountainair, Town Hall, Judges Chambers
              107-North Roosevelt.  (North of NM Highway 60
               West of the Mountainair Post office.

TIME:  Registration beings at7:30am
             Class lecture begins PROMPTLY at 8:00am 
             Lunch from 12noon - 12:45 (Bring your own lunch or restaurants nearby)
             Class ends at 4:00pm.

             Range portion of the course will be on Saturday, November 26 at DBL. 'G' Firearms
             Training School, near Tajique to begin immediately after fingerprints are taken and
              will last until all students have qualified.

FEE:  $150.00 Due at the time of the class, made payable Donn Gallahue
           $100.00 license fee due when applying in Albuquerque, payable to NMDPS
           (Ask about gun club discounts).

Ammunition and safety equipment will be offered for sale during the class, and during range qualification.

Reserve your seat now for this class by calling DBL. 'G' Firearms Training 505-384-1189 because Safety is Everyone's Responsibility!

5 Job Openings Still Available - Family Dollar, Mountainair, NM 87036

Family Dollar is still looking for a few good men and/or women - well, 5 positions to be exact.  If you have already applied but have not received a call for an interview, check your email for a confirmation message and ID number showing that your application was received.

Without that confirmation ID number, you application did not process.  If you need assistance in finding the correct place to apply on the Family Dollar web site, contact the store in Estancia by stopping by, or give them a call  505-384-0235.

Higher Speed Internet - System Upgrade, Great For Customers

Sometime this afternoon, Higher Speed Internet service will be off line due to an infrastructure upgrade.  Higher Speed Internet continues to improve their backbone in order to better serve their customers and the area, all without benefit of government grants.  The outage should be minimal so be patient and look forward to a stronger back bone!

Thanks Higher Speed Internet - our family loves your services!

WANTED: HOUSE CLEANER

Need some one to clean a house in Mountainair for a move in ASAP. Carpets, general cleaning, if interested, call 505-847-2220 reply to this post or email me at George@WhisperingRange.com

Thanks.

Lost Dog Follow Up

Update on the Lost Dog post . . . "Baby" showed up late Tuesday night and is home with his owner Hamilton Montgomery safe and sound.  Rumor has it that Baby was tracking a good sent and just lost track of the time - lol.  Glad to hear a happy ending to a scary time for Baby's family!

Mountainair Farm & Garden Market Opens May 5th

The Farm & Garden Market opens Thursday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo, 3-7pm, in front of the Dr. Saul Center celebrating with food and music - we're inviting local organizations and businesses to share in the festivities by hosting an informational booth! If you are a biz or a part of a group who would like to participate, distribute your promotional materials, sell crafts or food, or even play an instrument, the cost is $5 for a 10'x10' space. This money is used to pay the Town for the $10ea they're charging us, to pay our membership with the NM Farmer's Market Assoc, and other misc. costs. Contact me here; this invitation is good for any week, not just the opening.

Hope to see you! Kristine Lauritsen, 619-995-3600

Mountainair Farm & Garden Market Opening Day May 5

Count down has started for the Mountainair Farm & Garden Market opening, Thursday May 5, Cinco de Mayo, so we're planning on some Latin themed food and music to celebrate this exciting day!

We're trying to get an approximate tally of those planning to be vendors at the opening (fresh produce, plants, home-made art/crafts, one-time event permitted prepared food, organization with an informational booth). Our headliner will be Mary Childers unveiling a new food offering from Alpine Alley! Don't miss this opportunity to get in on the fun!


Contact Kristine Lauritsen  mountainairfarmgarden@gmail.com, or
Rebecca Lueras by phone: 505. 847-0973

Check out the farmers market web site and Facebook page at:
   
  http://mountainairfarmgardenmarket.blogspot.com/

  http://www.facebook.com/MountainairFarmGardenMarket?sk=wall

Reminder: Gardening Workshop April 5, 2011

Announcement: Gardening Workshop Series -Presents !


"VEGETABLE GARDENING"

Presentation by:
Gene Winn, County Extension Agent-Agriculture, NMSU-Torrance County Extension Office

April 5th - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Mountainair High School - Library, 901 West 3rd St

*Library is located at north end of school - follow "Gardening Workshop" signs