Short commission meeting brings updates on county projects, grant approvals and more

BERNALILLO — The Sandoval County Commission meeting was short but productive Feb. 12.

It began with a presentation from Charles Martinez Jr., the public works construction and special projects manager, on several county facility projects.

“First of all, these projects wouldn’t even happen if we didn’t have the support of the commissioners or the administration, with part of that support being funding,” he said as he addressed commission.

He explained the process of projects within the county, saying each one requires planning on some level, design and eventually construction. He said sometimes this can slow things down.

One of those projects was the new Animal Resource Center, which has been in the works for some time.

“We’re almost there with the design for the facility. We’re almost there, 90% complete, almost ready for that one,” Martinez said.

The Cuba Fairgrounds, he said, are going to take a while to get up because it is one big master plan. The dispatch center is in construction phase and should be up and running soon. Another project close to home for the county is the pending judicial expansion. Martinez said it is lacking in design, however.

The Bureau of Elections Warehouse project is still in early planning phase. County commission chambers and Placitas Senior Center projects are planned and are on their way through the design phase. Fire Station 41, emergency generators, Pena Blanca site and public works administration projects have all started construction as well.

Commissioners Katherine Bruch and Josh Jones asked for regular updates on these projects with Chair Mike Meek noting that updates should be provided quarterly.

After the facility project update, commissioners heard from the community in public comment. One proposed was changing the time limit on public comment back to three minutes from two minutes. The people who spoke mentioned that other public comment sections in municipalities allow three minutes per speaker. Toward the end of the commission meeting, Meek said he would go over the three-minute rule. People also brought up several bills being discussed in the round house in Santa Fe as part of the legislative session.

Commissioners also voted on three agenda items. They unanimously approved a motion to approve the food services and commissary services agreement for the Sandoval County Detention Center between the county and Trinity Services Group. They also $1.8 million for the extension of Paseo del Volcan from Unser Boulevard to Rainbow Road. The capital outlay agreement for the project ends June 30, 2028. Lastly, the commission approved a grant for for funding that would go toward phase two of the Pena Blanca Community Center that Martinez mentioned earlier in the meeting.

As a closer, Bruch asked that people talk to commissioners and legislators about pending legislation if need be.

For more information or to watch the county commission meeting, visit sandovalcountynm.gov.