Staff Report

A resolution designating Election Day polling places for all statewide and special elections conducted in 2024 and 2025 and establishing the County Canvassing Board through the end of 2025 was passed during Tuesday night’s Los Alamos County Council meeting, but not unanimously.

The resolution passed 5-1, with Councilor David Reagor opposed and Councilor Randall Ryti absent.

Reagor asked County Clerk Naomi Maestas if Republicans were boycotting the canvassing board. Maestas said she hadn’t heard that. Reagor also questioned if canvass members were not allowed to look at materials and if they were aware of any guidelines for the board. Maestas said the board’s actions are set out by the Secretary of State and that she never received requests for any items. She added that there is no mandated training, but members are given the law that prescribes what they can do and offered to share it with Reagor who said he would like to see it.

In an unrelated matter, a series of ordinances to support Los Alamos County Public Works taking part in the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Local Government Road Fund were unanimously approved 6-0.

The funds will go towards reconstruction and improvements of roads in the County, Public Works Director Juan Rael said.

According to agenda documents, for Fiscal Year 2023-24, the NMDOT awarded a combined amount of $302,504, comprised of a 75 percent state share, and a 25 percent County match under the County arterial program, the cooperative agreement program and the school bus route program. The funding will be utilized for pavement preservation improvements of 45th Street, 46th Street, 47th Street, 48th Street and Yucca Street. These improvements include crack seal and fog seal, as part of the Pavement Preservation Project.

Additionally, council unanimously approved an ordinance to amend the procurement code. County Manager Steven Lynne explained that since the adoption of this procurement code, there has been a substantial rise in inflation resulting in rising costs. The revision to the procurement code would adjust authority levels in an amount similar to inflation over the same period and is needed to meet the County’s changing needs, improve the efficiency of the procurement process and ease administration.

The proposed changes include:

• Allowing the County Manager or designee, as well as the Department of Public Utilities Manager or designee the authority to execute contracts in the amount of $300,000 or less (previously was $200,000 or less)
• Granting the authority to the Board of Public Utilities to approve contracts when the amount is $100,000 or more (previously was $50,000 or more)

Adjusting small purchase thresholds to $20,000 (previously $10,000) and $60,000 (previously $50,000) and these guidelines will be consolidated for goods and services.

In other business, council:

• Introduced an ordinance to modify compensation to councilors.
• Learned during the County Manager’s report that the next order of bear roll carts has come in and will be distributed in order of who is on the list. Lynne also reported that fire restrictions were instituted, and everyone is encouraged to be careful and mindful of the dry conditions and the restrictions. Finally, the Oppenheimer movie is scheduled to be released next week and a number of events are being planned, including a joint event hosted by the County and the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation on July 20.
• Learned from Department of Public Utilities Manager Philo Shelton that water restrictions are in effect and people need to follow the department’s rule W-8, which alternates water days based on odd and even addresses.