SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT/
COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

January to March, 2008

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

• The SNMEDD/COG Board of Directors met on January 13, 2006.  A quorum of the District’s Board Members was present.  President Don Carroll called the meeting to order.  A new slate of officers was elected.  Mayor Manuel Madrid of Artesia was elected President. Mayor Betty Rickman of Tatum was elected Vice-President.  And, Councilwoman Judy Stubbs of Roswell was elected Treasurer.  Hubert Quintana will continue to serve as the Secretary of the SNMEDD.  A discussion followed on the adoption of a resolution supporting Senator Pete Domenici’s legislative efforts to have a resident Federal District Judge appointed to serve eastern and southeastern New Mexico from the Federal Courthouse in Roswell.  After the adoption of the resolution, Lovington City Manager Pat Wise suggested that each member government, on their own, adopt a similar resolution and submit a copy of their resolution to Senator Domenici.  Mr. Paul Gutierrez, the New Mexico Director of Rural Programs for USDA, was the guest speaker.  Mr. Gutierrez spoke of the many funding assistance programs USDA has available to help our communities.
• Met with area Legislators, local government officials, hospital district officials, school officials and numerous private non-for-profit organizations on preparing their Capital Outlay requests.  Presented six (6) Capital Outlay Request preparation workshops in South Eddy County, North Eddy County, Chaves County, Lea County, Lincoln County and Otero County.  The workshop included information on where capital outlay monies are derived from in New Mexico, the purpose and use of the funds, eligible applicants and the process after successful projects are funded.  Technical assistance was provided to those applicants requesting assistance at the workshops.
• Provided information to the House Tax and Revenue Subcommittee on Capital Outlay Funding on the needs of our member governments and entities within their jurisdictions seeking funding assistance from the New Mexico Legislature.
• The 2006 Summary of Capital Outlay Project Totals by County are:
  
  

County	General Fund	Severance Tax	Total
Chaves	$4,736,000	$6,238,000	$10,974,000
Eddy	$7,307,000	$3,235,000	$10,542,000
Lea	$4,766,000	$4,893,000	$ 9,659,000
Lincoln	$4,650,000	$1,161,000	$ 6,530,000
Otero	$5,730,000	$6,407,000	$12,137,000
Total	$27,189,000	$21,934,000	$49,842,000
Multi-County	$   317,000	$9,703,000	$10,020,000
District Total	$27,506,000	$31,637,000	$59,862,000

• Worked on the development and preparation of a brochure for the SERPO describing the functions and programs.  The brochure will be available in mid-April.
• Provided information to SERPO members regarding training, resource materials for transit programs, RPO annual training and several other transportation related activities in the region.

 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• We are continuing to provide technical assistance to a local business attempting to open a small manufacturing operation in one of our rural communities.  In cooperation with our SBDC partner, local New Mexico Department of Economic Development representative, and the Chaves County Economic Development Foundation the project is continuing to make progress toward a successful completion.
• Work continues with two small business operators in one of our small rural communities toward the development of one, and possibly two, grocery stores.  The community recently saw its only grocery store close.
• Provided assistance with the completion and submission of CDBG grant applications for the communities of Corona, Carrizozo, Capitan, Tularosa, Otero County, Chaves County, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, Hope, Eunice, Hobbs and Tatum.  And delivered a total of 14 applications to DFA/LGD.  Eight of the 15 projects submitted from our district were awarded funds in the regular and Colonias CDBG program totaling $3,089,824. Four of the eight applicants for planning projects were given planning grants totaling $150,000.  One application was forwarded to USDA-RUS for funding.
• Provided assistance to the Village of Capitan at the request of both Senator Domenici and Senator Bingaman on preliminary request for federal assistance through their offices for water system improvements for the Village.

 

• Assisted the Lincoln County Agri-Tourism Council with obtaining approval for their Articles of Incorporation by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.

COORDINATION /LIASION

• Worked with the New Mexico Department of Transportation on the ranking and rating of applications for Section 5310 Elderly and Disabled Public Transportation and Section 5311 Rural Public Transportation projects through our regional transportation program.  Attended the annual NMDOT funding meeting for the programs.  A total of seven projects were funded in the SERPO region for a total dollar amount of $2,842,509.
• Worked with our member governments and the Eastern Plains Council of Governments, our SERPO partner, on recommendations for a regional transportation program identifying projects to include in the Regional Transportation Improvement Plan (RTIPR) and State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).
• Attended Eastern Area Workforce Development Board meetings and Chaves County Workforce Connection meetings.
• Assisted the Town of Carrizozo with the preparation of an Economic Development Act resolution and plan to assist in their ability to attract new industry and assist existing businesses to expand.
• Continued working with the New Mexico Department of Forestry, New Mexico Department of State Parks and Monuments and the Village of Capitan to prepare a Community Action Plan (Strategic Plan).  The SNMEDD/COG has been the lead agency in the effort to prepare the plan.
• Participated in public hearing with the New Mexico Department of Transportation in Alamogordo on the potential for the development of a regional transportation district to serve the communities of Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Tularosa, Mescalero, Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Capitan, Carrizozo, Socorro, Truth or Consequences, Hatch and Dona Ana.  The joint effort would serve two COGs/EDDs in southern New Mexico.  There appears to be widespread support to continue to investigate and develop the plan.
• Assisted EPCOG with conducting a joint Policy and Technical Committees meeting of the SERPO to rank and rate Roadway and Enhancement projects for submittal to the NMDOT for funding consideration.
• Assisted Lake Arthur at meeting with their engineer on the development of a preliminary engineering report for a wastewater system.
• Began conducting CDBG Public hearings in communities for 2007 CDBG funding.                      
• Presided as the moderator for the District 6 CDBG presentations before the New Mexico Community Development Council in Albuquerque and 2006 CDBG Allocations meeting in Grants
• Attended several city/village/town council and county commission meetings.

 

TRAINING/LIASION

• Provided the Waterfall Mutual Domestic Water Association with a training program on both CDBG and Capital Outlay.
• Received training on the role of the Regional Planning Organization for transportation needs in the SERPO region.
• Participated in the RPO quarterly Roundtable
• Provided a Grant Writing and Capital Outlay training seminar at the New Mexico Fire Fighter Training Academy for Fire Chiefs and volunteer fire department personnel.
• Provided a Strategic Planning and Program Assessment seminar for the Southern New Mexico Community Action Council representing Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Lincoln and Otero Counties.
• Participated at an EDA/NewMARC training meeting in Las Cruces.  The Regional Director of EDA, Pedro Garza, facilitated the meeting.

 

REVIEW AND COMMENT

The District prepared three E.O. 12372 letters of review and comment during this quarter.  E.O. 12372 letters of review are prepared for applicants seeking federal funding assistance for programs or projects having an impact on localities in New Mexico, especially in our five county region.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

• Participated in NewMARC meeting with the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration on the expanding role of EDDs and COGs in New Mexico and changes needed in the State’s funding policies and formulas to facilitate the new role requirements.
• Met with SERPO joint Policy and Technical Committees to propose changes to the Annual Work Plan and the impacts the policy changes might have on SERPO members.
• Worked on the development of new or updated policies for the SNMEDD/COG in the areas of Procurement and Personnel.
• Participated in the Southeastern New Mexico Community Action Council Board Meeting.

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Worked with the City of Roswell on the potential for applying for a new planning grant and potential funding sources for the plan.
• Assisted Tularosa, Capitan, Carrizozo, and Hope in finishing their CDBG surveys and with last minute details for their CDBG applications.
• Conducted site visits to CDBG projects administered by the SNMEDD in Hagerman, Loving and Chaves County
• Completed the conversion of our financial records from the only Apple Mac program we had used for years to the new Windows based QuickBooks.
• Began work on FY 2006-07 Annual Work Program and Budget for the SNMEDD/COG.
• Continuing to work on the development of a mailing list (both email and regular mail) for SERPO members to include the Policy and Technical Committees and non-profit organizations that interact with the SERPO for program funding.
• Began work on a Traffic Data Collection and Analysis System project for SERPO.
• Our annual audit has been approved by the State Auditor and will be available to the public following our Board meeting in April.
• Attended the New Mexico Municipal League District meeting in Alamogordo.
• Attended regular and special meetings of the Chaves County Economic Development Foundation.
• Attended city, town, village council and county commission meetings throughout the District to keep abreast of what is happening in our communities and in some cases to provide on the spot technical assistance.
• Submitted both our EDA Annual Report and GPRA Report in a timely manner to EDA.

 

TRANSITIONS

• The SNMEDD Board of Directors lost several members during the recent municipal elections.  We also lost a number of familiar faces and friends on city councils, village and town boards during the election.  We thank you for working with us in an effort to make southeastern New Mexico a better place to live, work and conduct business.

Mayors:
Don Carroll                         City of Alamogordo
Monty Newman                    City of Hobbs
Bob Miller                          City of Ruidoso Downs

Councilors/Trustees:
Inez Moncada                     City of Alamogordo
Troy Harris                         City of Lovington
Judith Stewart                     City of Artesia
Bill Martin                          Village of Capitan
Jimmie Cisneros                   City of Carlsbad
Manny Anaya                      City of Carlsbad
Louise Tracey                     City of Carlsbad
Judi Waters                        City of Carlsbad
Andy Olsen                        Village of Cloudcroft
April Joy Bailey                    Village of Corona
Maurice Gardner                   City of Eunice
Albert Hernandez                           City of Hobbs
Tracey Antley                      City of Jal
Rosa Salcido                      Town of Lake Arthur
James Rodriguez                           Village of Loving
Jim Monteith                       City of Roswell
Marlin Wells                        City of Roswell
Susan Garrett                     City of Ruidoso Downs
Judy Miller                         City of Ruidoso Downs
Doris McDonald                    Town of Tatum
T.J. Parks                         Town of Tatum
Margaret Trujillo                    Village of Tularosa

• The Board of Directors sends warm greetings and congratulations to the new Mayors, Councilors and Trustees that have joined us at the SNMEDD/COG. 

Mayors:
Steve Brocket                     City of Alamogordo
Gary Don Reagan                 City of Hobbs
Tom Armstrong                    City of Ruidoso Downs

Councilors/Trustees:
Eric LeRoy Brewer                 City of Alamogordo
Joe Ferguson                      City of Alamogordo
Raye Miller                         City of Artesia
Manuel Barragan                   City of Artesia
J.R. Davis                         Village of Capitan
Nick Salcido                       City of Carlsbad
Lila King                                    City of Carlsbad
Westley Carter                     City of Carlsbad
Nathan McDonald                  City of Carlsbad
Dennis Dunnam                    Town of Carrizozo
Dusty Voss                        Town of Carrizozo
Dennis Vega                       Town of Carrizozo
Joy Crowley                       Village of Cloudcroft
Kimberlee Smith                   Village of Corona
Billy Hobbs                        City of Eunice
Jonathan Sena                    City of Hobbs
Carl Mackey                       City of Hobbs
Jack Fletcher                      City of Jal
Jennifer Fields                     Town of Lake Arthur
Sarapio Parraz Jr.                 Village of Loving
Scott Gandy                       City of Lovington
Judy Stubbs                       City of Roswell
Robert (Bob) Maples               City of Roswell
Gary Williams                      City of Ruidoso Downs
Rene Olivio                        City of Ruidoso Downs
Manuel Barriga II                           Town of Tatum
Marilyn Burns                      Town of Tatum
Fred Tyler                          Village of Tularosa

• We also bid a farewell to John Waters the former City Manager in Ruidoso Downs.  John was a long time Board Member and friend of the District.