Council Vice Chair Theresa Cull Recaps May 2 Meeting
Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Theresa Cull presents an update on actions taken at the Tuesday, May 2 council meeting during an interview Wednesday morning at the Los Alamos Daily Post Newspaper Office. Video by Clara Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Board Of Public Utilities Location Changed For Tonight’s Closed Session To Suite 130
COUNTY News:
The Board of Public Utilities will hold a CLOSED SESSION and a WORK SESSION this evening, May 3. The Closed Session will begin at 5:30 p.m. for one hour.
The public Work Session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Members of the public may view proceedings online or attend and provide public comment for the Work Session in person or via Zoom.
The agendas for both sessions are attached and the complete Work Session packet, Zoom link, Webinar ID and call-in mobile/phone numbers are available online: https://losalamos.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Read More
Scenes From DPU Hosted Emergency Exercise April 26
Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities (DPU) contractor Ascenttra led players from DPU, fire, police, Public Works and Los Alamos Public Schools through an emergency exercise April 26 in which a fictional contractor hit a natural gas main in front of Aspen Elementary School. The exercise scenario was planned as a circumstance of the 33rd/34th Street Roadway Infrastructure Improvement Project to make it more realistic for players. The players talked through the circumstances, actions they’d take, expectations, etc. The exercise, including the hot wash at the end, lasted for Read More
County To Host Public Meeting On Rose Street Reconstruction Project Thursday May 4
COUNTY News:
The Transportation Board and Public Works Department will hold a public meeting Thursday, May 4 to discuss the reconstruction improvements on Rose Street (Central Avenue to Peach Street).
The project consists of a full reconstruction including drainage and ADA safety improvements of Rose Street between Central Avenue and Peach Street. The scope of work includes removal and replacement of asphalt surface, new curb and gutter, drainage inlets, sidewalk, ADA ramps and detectable warning surfaces, drive pads, utilities valve adjustments, and sewer manhole cover adjustments, Read More
Ozment: Who benefits?
By CAT OZMENT
Los Alamos
Who benefits from development policy that allows for increased building heights and decreased parking requirements?
Even the “intellectual and skilled human capital the lab needs” will benefit from service industry and retail staff, County employees, mechanics, teachers, health care providers, and other critical members of the fabric of our community having the option to live in the same town where they work.
Instead of worrying that some people may have to choose between their “toys” and their extra car, I am worried about those in town who right now have to choose Read More
Chandler: Let’s Push Back…
By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos
When I came to the Lab 49 years ago, a popular aphorism posted on the walls in group offices where reports and documents were put into final form by overworked typists said, “A failure to plan on your part does not constitute a crisis on my part.” Los Alamos County might post such a sign on the Omega Bridge.
The 2016 Comprehensive Plan notes a housing shortage and anticipates population growth driven by the laboratory. The unilateral decision by NNSA to turn a scientific laboratory into a manufacturing plant has accelerated that growth to wholly unanticipated levels. Read More
Op-Ed: Modern Climate Science Is Junk Science
By Stephen McLinMost of us are keenly aware of numerous climate prophecies appearing in the media. In some ways they are recycled versions of the old doom-and-gloom outlook borrowed from economics. These climatic predictions are based on computer simulations that have enormous shortcomings, including a glaring lack of agreement with long-term climatic observations.
Kevin Trenberth, former head of modeling at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., has implied on numerous occasions that these modeling simulations contain significant uncertainties Read More
Local Democrats Participate In Clean Up Los Alamos 2023
Standing from left, County Assessor George Chandler, Janet Harris, Terry and David Izraelevitz, County Council Vice Chair Teresa Cull and Councilor Randall Ryti and local Democratic Party Ward Chair Michael Dolejsi. Courtesy/DPLA
DPLAC News:
Several local Democrats answered the call to civic service during Clean Up Los Alamos 2023 and spent this morning picking up trash around the Los Alamos Coop Market, N.M. 502, and local trails.
Interesting items picked up included a discarded Manhattan Project National Historical Park large car magnet. Read More
County COVID-19 Community Newsletter: April 28, 2023
The Epidemiology Corner – COVID-19 Update; ‘Ask An Epidemiologist’ Q&A Link; News from the White House, CDC & NMDOH; COVID-19 data; and more. Visit https://conta.cc/44fbtkq Read More
County Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meets May 3
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Historic Preservation Advisory Board meets 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 in room 110 at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.
The meeting is open to the public.
The agenda packet is accessible on the County’s Boards and Commissions website. Also, hard copies are available within the Community Development lobby. Read More
Los Alamos County Library Board Meets Monday May 1
COUNTY News:Video: Chair Denise Derkacs Discusses FY24 County Budget
Los Alamos County Council Chair Denise Derkacs gives a briefing on the recent FY2024 Budget Hearings held in Council Chambers. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
Chasing Identity: Retrospective Work Of Harriette Tsosie Opens May 4 In Step Up Gallery At Mesa Public Library
LIBRARY News:
Step Up Gallery at Mesa Public Library has announced its new exhibit, Chasing Identity: Retrospective Work of Harriette Tsosie, which runs May 4-30. The opening reception is 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, May 6 and all are welcome. Refreshments will be served. The artist Harriette Tsosie will give a 15-minute Gallery Talk at 3 p.m. about her work.
Chasing Identity explores the roles of genetics, language and place in shaping who we are. A retrospective exhibition for painter Tsosie, Chasing Identity covers the last 20 years of her work. Tsosie resides in Albuquerque with her husband Carl Read More
Kite Festival Returns To Overlook Park May 19-21
Courtesy/LACA
COUNTY News:
Kite Festival returns to Los Alamos County the weekend of May 19-21.
Los Alamos Arts Council (LAAC) and Enterprise Bank and Trust are proud to bring Kite Festival back to the community after a multi-year hiatus due to Covid restrictions and last year’s fire emergency. This is the largest Kite Festival in New Mexico, bringing in hundreds of local families to build and decorate kites, learn about kite history and artistic design, watch demos and just have fun in the spring sun!
Festivities kick off Friday night with a private event at Fuller Lodge Art Center for Members, Read More
Los Alamos County Council Wrestles With Increasing GRT
Los Alamos County Council is considering raising the gross receipts tax by .5 percent. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
During the budget hearings for Fiscal Year 2024, Los Alamos County officials predicted a grim looking future for its budget, which has raised the question – what should be done?
Ultimately, County Council directed County Manager Steven Lynne to present council with two ordinances to possibly raise the gross receipts tax (GRT) by .5 percent. One ordinance would make this effective January 2024 and the Read More
2023 Community Services Department Community Tour Continues Today!
Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
The leadership team for the Los Alamos County Community Services Department (CSD) is continuing its Community Tour 10 a.m. to noon today, April 27, at the Farmers Market outside Fuller Lodge.
Attending a different County facility or event each month, the leadership team will avail themselves to citizens for one-on-one discussions and questions on various CSD projects and initiatives.
The main talking point for this month is summer positions and summer activities. Available job openings within Community Services can be found on the County’s website.
Community Read More
Talk On County-wide Sustainability Efforts Tonight At SALA
COUNTY News:
The community is invited to attend a talk this evening by the Department of Public Utilities Conservation Coordinator Abbey Hayward and County Environmental Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule at 6 p.m. today at SALA.
Hayward and Gurule will discuss county-wide sustainability efforts as part of SALA’s Parallel Cinema programming.
No ticket required. Read More
Los Alamos County Water Taste Test Results: ‘Not To Be Shallow … But Our Water Is Well Liked’
COUNTY News:
A-quart-ing to research from the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the community has a thirst for the water here.
DPU conducted blind taste tests at the recent Earth Day Festival in which local tap water was pitted against bottled Evian and bottled Smartwater. Are you curious wet DPU found out in this battle of the bottles?
When taste testers were asked if they preferred to drink tap water or bottled water at home, only 7 percent went against the tide to say they drank bottled water. Admittedly, there were several testers who were spilt between the two, but most of them Read More
County: Utility Bills May Be Delayed
COUNTY News:
The Customer Care Center (CCC) at the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is putting utility bills on hold temporarily while working on a fix to confusing data mapping of the newly adopted natural gas rate structure.
“We’ve had several customers ask us about their gas charges because the calculations didn’t print correctly on their bills,” Deputy Utility Manager Heather Garcia said. “While the totals are correct, the components of those totals are misprinting.”
Garcia said the bills are on hold while CCC works with its billing system vendor on a layout fix. In the meantime, Read More
Council Takes Action On ‘Parking Lot’ Items For FY24 Budget
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Council returned at its meeting Monday night to several budget items placed on the “parking lot” during the FY2024 budget hearing.
Regarding the proposed position for a Human Resources analyst, Council approved the position for $106,741 and an Administrative Services Director (ASD) position for $242,997.
County Council ultimately adopted these while reducing the ASD Special Pay Fund to be used for upcoming retirements by $500,000.
Finally, while discussing the proposed tennis courts capital improvement project, council voted to retain athletic court Read More
