Officials approve drought resolution

The Quay County Commission on Monday unanimously approved a resolution that declared a state of emergency due to drought conditions and urged other counties, municipalities and state government to do the same.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map for Sept. 22 shows Quay County to be in a “moderate” drought except for the southwest corner, which is deemed as “severe.” Parts of northern, southeast and southwest New Mexico are in “extreme drought,” the second-worst rating.

Commissioners, who had hinted the map understates the severity, requested the resolution from county manager Richard Primrose during their previous meeting. De Baca and Guadalupe counties recently passed similar drought resolutions.

“This will give us a leg up to show we’re in a drought and hopefully get some help for our producers,” Primrose said of his resolution.

The resolution states Quay County has a deficit of 10 inches of moisture and has experienced a prolonged drought the past three years. The county has seen only 6.51 inches of rainfall in 2020, 38% below normal.

It also stated the COVID-19 outbreak has hampered or delayed forecasters and other experts’ ability to adequately evaluate the drought’s severity.

Jason Lamb, the county extension office’s agriculture agent, said Monday he’d received 40 letters from ranchers who detailed the drought’s effects. Lamb said 25% had culled their herds, and 50% are seeing additional feed costs due to lack of grass.

“They’re all hurting pretty bad,” Lamb said.

The resolution states dry conditions make the county more vulnerable to other natural disasters such as wildfires and flooding. The National Weather Service has forecast dry conditions would persist across much of the state.

The document asks the governor to review the state’s drought plan and make necessary adjustments, including a possible request to the U.S. government for a disaster declaration. Such a declaration could make federal aid available to some farmers and ranchers.

One of the resolution’s supporting documents states the value of livestock in the county has dropped by more than $2.7 million since 2016, including a 4% decrease this year.

In other business:

• Commissioners discussed sending a letter to the state Department of Health to express concerns about the COVID-19 criteria of daily cases per 100,000 people and test positivity rates that have kept students from attending in-person classes for weeks.

Commissioner Sue Dowell said the state’s formula “is maybe not the best” and added that House Municipal Schools has not been able to hold classes, despite no coronavirus cases in its ZIP code and just one case in neighboring De Baca County, while Curry County could hold more in-person classes with 800 cases. She said residents are suffering from psychological, emotional and economic devastation because of the health restrictions.

County emergency management director Daniel Zamora said he’d relay concerns about the formula during a state webinar later that day. “We need to get someone’s ear,” he said. “It’s really unfair.”

• Primrose said everyone in the county with a business license soon would receive a letter explaining the $370,000 available in federal COVID-19 funds and an application. The money can be used to reimburse pandemic-related expenses from March to Oct. 1, he said.

• Commissioners approved an Emergency Management Performance supplemental COVID-19 application for $25,000. Paired with a $29,000 matching grant to the county from federal CARES Act funds, Zamora said it would be used to buy a bigger truck for the department.

• Road superintendent Larry Moore said engineering on a new, $3.08 million bridge over Trujillo Creek on old Route 66 east of San Jon was 60% complete and would be due in early December. He anticipated construction bids would be let in May. The current 1931 span would be bypassed and left standing. Moore said he’s looking for cheaper designs on a nearby bridge on Route 66 because initial estimates of $4.3 million to $6 million were too high. He said he wants that project to be “shovel-ready” in case the state calls for grant proposals on future transportation projects.

• The commission approved the transfer of a 1986 Class A pumper truck from the Forrest fire department to Nara Visa’s fire department. County fire marshal Lucas Bugg said Forrest was taking the truck out of service, and Nara Visa firefighters needed the vehicle because one of their trucks was down with carburetor problems.

• The commission approved juvenile housing agreements with Dona Ana and San Juan counties. The rate would be $185 a day for Dona Ana County and $225 a day for San Juan County. Quay County also has existing juvenile pacts with Bernalillo and Lea counties. Quay County Detention Center administrator Christopher Birch said New Mexico has only four detention facilities to house juveniles.

• Commissioners approved two grant agreements totaling about $5,000 with the sheriff’s department to pay for overtime for additional patrols on county highways. Sheriff Russell Shafer also said during his August report that “suicides are up” in the county, but he didn’t have an exact number.

n The commission approved three budget adjustments for fiscal year 2020-2021: a $3,962 reduction in the EMS Fund; a $40,189 increase in the Hospital Fund to reflect a feasibility study; and a $28,188.85 reversion in the DWI Fund to reflect the loss of a preventionist position.