Commission proclamations recognize public works, EMS, seniors

BERNALILLO — The May 28 Sandoval County Commission meeting had three proclamations on the agenda, including recognitions for Public Works Week, Emergency Medical Services Week and Older Americans Month.

Chair Mike Meek presented the National Public Works Week to county public works director Mark Hatzenbuhler and his team.

“This truly is a department inside our county who has so much work to do and probably gets very little credit because people complain and then, when things are fixed, they forget about it. They don’t keep coming back to say thank you,” Meek said.

Despite the job being somewhat thankless, Meek thanked Hatzenbuhler and the public works department. “We appreciate all the hard work you’re doing,” he said.

Part of the proclamation reads that from May 18-24, the week focuses on “dedicated professionals who contribute to enhancing the quality of life in our communities.”

“Such facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, maintenance staff, and administrators who are a team of employees at all levels of government. Public works professionals play a vital role in our communities by planning, building, managing and operating essential infrastructure, including road maintenance, landfill operations management and operations, and county fairgrounds providing right-of-way maintenance, snow removal, mowing, and landscaping of county properties tree trimming and removal facility maintenance, vehicle, and equipment maintenance,” the proclamation states.

The proclamation also highlighted some of the county projects such as the public safety building, the animal resource center and pending judicial complex construction.

Commissioner Katherine Bruch complimented Hatzenbuhler and admitted she and Commissioner Josh Jones rely heavily on public works for projects that are outside of incorporated areas.

Bruch presented the Emergency Medical Services Week proclamation, saying she has had personal experiences in Placitas with EMS and her family’s well-being.

“Emergency medical services are a vital public service. The members of emergency medical services teams provide licensed care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the proclamation reads.

Interim County Fire Chief Chris Bagley received the proclamation and thanked the commission on behalf of the crew members unable to attend.

“I’d like to think that the crews aren’t here because they famously don’t like to get their picture taken,” Bagley joked.

He noted, however, that members of the crew were answering call after call in the area.

“But we thank you for this honor. We take our our EMS very seriously here at Sandoval County Fire and Rescue, and we will continue to do so,” Bagley said.

The last proclamation for Older Americans Month was sponsored by Vice Chair Jordan Juarez.

“I find the only fitting that you have the youngest guy on the commission doing this,” he joked.

The proclamation stated that Older Americans Month is observed nationally as a time to recognize the contributions of older Americans, highlight aging trends and reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults. The goal of the proclamation was to “transform how society perceives, talks about and approaches aging.”

Sandoval County’s Senior Services department accepted the proclamation.