By JIM HALL
Business Owner
Los Alamos

The Post recently published an article by Councilor (Randall) Ryti, titled UnQuarked Board Of Appeals Decision (link).

In the article, a reported accusation against Mr. Michael Arellano, the County Chief Building Official, was that he was “arbitrary, capricious, or not in accordance with the law”. As a citizen who had numerous interactions with Mr. Arellano during the past two years, this characterization is completely at odds with the County employee that I know and respect.

I have found Mr. Arellano to be extremely knowledgeable about building codes and dedicated to the long-term interests of the County and its citizens. While he is clearly firm about conforming to County policies and codes, where we have had concerns (and we have), we have been able to sit down with him and/or his staff and work things out to our mutual satisfaction.

I have found that:

• He keeps his word; and
• The earlier I go to him in a building process the better things work out.

As he has a role of “enforcer of rules” he is not always popular. However, in the end, he is a real asset to Los Alamos County. We should respect him and work with him and his department.