Maggie Callaway announced there will be a party at Kathy Eaton’s on May 10 to celebrate Maggie’s college graduation. Mark Richard discussed volunteer opportunities for the Tour of the Gila. We can help in housing the riders. Contact Linda Bluestone, the
coordinator for housing at 575-534-6141 if you can help. The other need is for race monitors in particular for the downtown criterion on Saturday, April 26. Contact Jack Brennan at 575-590-2612 if you can assist with this.
Tom Bates gave an update on Bill Harrison who is now at Fort Bayard, and he would appreciate visitors.
Ray said there is a concert Saturday night, April 12 at Light Hall at 7:00 pm to benefit the GRMC Foundation. It is $20 and is titled “Give my Regards to Broadway.” Tickets may be bought at the door. Jim Callender said our primary goal is to support the needs of the EMT’s at GRMC.
Tom invited anyone who wanted to stay afterwards to meet with him, Jim, and the district nurse for the Silver Consolidated Schools to discuss their needs for hygiene supplies.
Ray announced that next week we will be meeting at The Hearth and lunch will be catered by the chef who used to run 106. The treasury is absorbing the cost for the first lunch and then we
will have to discuss how future lunches will be handled.

 

Ray introduced former commissioner Harry Browne who said that several people had asked him about what was going on with the county now. His term ended December 31. He appreciated his 8 years as a commissioner and had a remarkable experience and felt he had contributed to the community. He really appreciated the expressions of thanks he got from members of the community. The worst part of the job  was campaigning, although he enjoyed the debates.
The reason he ran was the proposed diversion of the Gila River. He felt this would be an enormous waste of money, waste of water and would cause ecological damage for our area. He was pleased that the diversion project was dropped. Outdoor recreation was another issue that was important to him. He wanted to see the county invest in additional outdoor recreation opportunities. They were able to get $250,000 from the State to do a trails and open space master plan for the county. This plan has not been implemented yet much to his chagrin. A staff member needs to be hired to implement the plan, and the majority of county commissioners were not in favor of hiring a person for this purpose. Renewable energy was also important to him. He wanted to see the county develop its own power generation sources. Instead the county joined PNM’s direct solar program. He had voted against this because it negated our ability to produce our own power.
The Hospital was another important issue while he was a commissioner. He feels saving the Hospital was the Commission's most important achievement while he was a commissioner.
The plan for overflights from Holloman AFB over the Gila was another big concern addressed by the Commission. It was opposed by unanimous vote. There is now a similar plan being floated. 

Another topic he was particularly interested in was the need for the county to improve its mental health services.  HMS is doing a good job with Tu Casa, but the behavioral health unit at the Hospital had to be closed because there were no doctors. 

 

After a question and answer period, Ray adjourned the meeting.