County Government

MESA PUBLIC LIBRARY News:

Best-selling and classic titles available anytime, anywhere, starting May 7!

Los Alamos County Library System has expanded its services with audiobooks and eBooks available to download from the library’s website.

Starting May 7, library card holders can check out and downloaddigital media anytime, anywhere by visiting https:////lacnm.lib.overdrive.com. 

Users may browse the library’s website, check out with a valid library card, and download to PC, Mac®, and many mobile devices.

Users will need to install free software: for audiobooks, OverDrive Read More

COUNTY News:

During Wednesday night’s County Council budget meeting, County Administrator Harry Burgess announced organizational changes within several management positions, following his review of the various County departments and divisions and their relationship to his office.

Burgess was appointed as County Administrator in October 2011.

“I reviewed the organization after meeting with Staff to gather input, then worked to develop the best path forward for the organization,” Burgess said after the meeting, adding that he had also taken the last few months to review the Read More

From left, Council Vice Chair Ron Selvage, Chair Sharon Stover and Councilor David Izraelevitz join the rest of the council in tentatively approving 7-0 the motion for overall funding for capital improvements in the proposed FY2013 and directed staff to look at ways to reduce the larger projects within the County. Council also tentatively approved 7-0 a full time position, which is to be paid from the indigent fund. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

From right, Councilor Geoff Rodgers, Councilor David Izraelevitz, Council Chair Sharon Stover, Vice Councilor Ron Selvage, Councilor Mike Wismer and Councilor Fran Berting tonight in Council Chambers and Councilor Vincent Chiravalle via telephone voted 5-2 to tentatively approve tonight a 3 percent increase in new money be placed in the proposed FY2013 County employee salary pool. That 3 percent increase is to be divided into three components: .75 for inflation, .75 percent for new salary plan adjustments and the remainder is discretionary to supervisors to distribute as merit raises Read More

Los Alamos Municipal Court Judge Alan Kirk at the podium and, from left, Councilor Mike Wismer and Councilor Ron Selvage. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Dave Shiferl and Mary Pat Kraemer. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

County Council candidate Roger Waterman. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Pauline Schneider Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Cheryl Pongratz. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Juvenile Justice Advisory Board Coordinator Kristine Coblentz. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

County Council candidate Pete Sheehey. Photo Read More

Los Alamos County Administrator Harry Burgess just announced that he is eliminating the “Assistant to the County Administrator” position held by Brian Bosshardt. He has moved Bosshardt into one of two assistant county administrator positions. Burgess told the County Council that he has tapped Acting Assistant County Administrator Steven Lynne to become permanent. Burgess further announced that he is folding the Capital Projects & Facilities Department into the Community Development Department and has appointed’ Anne Laurent to be the new director. She has Read More

Utility Manager John Arrowsmith and Deputy Utility Manager of Finance & Administration Janet Bettinger brief the Council on the proposed $75.350 million FY2013 budget and projected $81.128 million FY2014 budget. Council tentatively approved the budgets 7-0. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Director Anne Laurent of the Capital Projects and Facilities Department answers questions regarding her department’s proposed $6.6 million FY2013 budget and projected $6.480 million FY2014 budget. Council tentatively approved the budget 5-2 with Councilor Geoff Rodgers and Councilor Vincent Chiravalle voting against the motion. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Director Anne Laurent of the Capital Projects and Facilities Department fields questions from Council regarding the public Works Department proposed $15.042 million FY2013 budget and projected $16.447 Read More

Los Alamos County Budgets and Grants Manager Gina Coluzzi and Acting Assistant County Administrator Steven Lynne discuss the $7.868 million proposed FY2013 non-departmental budget and the $7.867 million projected FY2014 non-departmental budget. Council tentatively approved 7-0 a substitute motion adding $2 million in the FY2013 budget for economic development loans. The County’s FY2012 budget was $11.996 million. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Acting Administrative Services Director Laura Gonzales briefs Council on the need for the creation of a position for a full time person to handle the overwhelming number of public records requests, which is bogging down the work of other employees in the Administrative Services Department. Council tentatively approved 6-1 a substitute motion for the Administrative Services Department’s proposed $6.873 million FY2013 budget and the projected $7 million FY2014 budget excluding full time positions. Councilor David Izraelevitz cast the sole no vote. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

During its budget hearings, which started Monday and continue tonight through Wednesday night, the Los Alamos County Council is assessing and approving the County’s proposed FY2013 budgets and the projected FY2014 budgets. The County’s objective is to continue to provide the high level of service the community has come to expect, despite anticipated reductions in revenues associated with reduced federal expenditures at the County’s primary employer – Los Alamos National Laboratory. With proposed expenditures totaling $196.6 million in FY2013 and projected Read More

Acting Community Development Department Director Steve Brugger discusses his department’s $1.912 million proposed FY2013 budget and $1.862 projected FY2014 budget before the County Council gave unanamous tentative approval. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Right now members of the Los Alamos County Councilors are considering proposed budgets for FY2013 and projected budgets for FY2014 for five more County departments:

Community Development, Administrative Services, Non-Departmental, Capital Projects and Facilities and Public Works.

Councilor Vincent Chiravalle is participating in the meeting via telephone. Chair Sharon Stover, Vice Chair Ron Selvage, Councilor Mike Wismer, Councilor Fran Berting, Councilor Geoff Rodgers and Councilor David Izraelevitz are present in Council Chambers Read More

Acting Assistant County Administrator/Chief Financial Officer Steven Lynne explains details of the County’s proposed and projected FY2013 and FY2014 budgets to councilors Ron Selvage, center, and Vincent Chiravalle during a break at Tuesday night’s budget meeting in Council Chambers. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County Councilor David Izraelevitz discusses budget fine points with County Administrator Harry Burgess during a break in proceedings Tuesday night. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

  Read More

Los Alamos County Administrator Harry Burgess explains that the point of purchasing ipads for use by designated personnel is to save paper as well as for efficiency. Councilor tentatively approved the County Administratror’s Office proposed $8.799 million FY2013 and projected $10.018 million FY2014 budget 6-1 with Councilor Vincent Chiravalle casting the no vote. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com.

Acting Los Alamos County Attorney Brian James keeps legal check on the budget hearing in Council Chambers Tuesday night. Council Council tentatively approved the County Attorney’s Read More

Council tentatively approved the first group of department budgets in a 6-1 vote with Councilor Vincent Chivaralle casting the sole no vote. The Clerk’s Office, Assessor’s Office, County Council, Municipal Court and Sheriff’s Office, Fire and Police comprised the first group. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Sheriff Marco Lucero told Council that his four deputies served 265 court orders in the last year. He also ask that Council add $25,000 to his budget for the purchase of a work vehicle because he had driven his personnel vehicle 5,3,00 miles in the course of Read More

Los Alamos County Budgets and Grants Manager Gina Coluzzi and Acting Assistant County Administrator/Chief Financial Officer Steven Lynne presented an overview of the County’s FY2013 proposed budget and the FY2014 projected budget. They are now fielding questions from individual councilors. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Susan Mack of Family Strengths Network spoke in support of the Los Alamos County Extension Office at 475 20th St. and its importance to the community. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Former County Councilor Robert Gibson cautioned the Council to rein in spending. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A crowd fills Council Chambers at tonight’s budget hearing. Vernon Kerr addresses Council during public comment. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Vernon Kerr takes his turn at the podium while several citizens line up to address Council as well. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More