Mora County Requests Assistance from State Auditor

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Paula Garcia, 575-387-5279

MORA COUNTY REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FROM STATE AUDITOR

In a recent meeting, the Mora County Commission took an action to request a special audit of the Mora County Complex. The complex is a major construction project in Mora County that has been the subject of criticism because of its cost, size, and delays in completion. “We submitted a written request to State Auditor Hector Balderas to determine whether best practices were followed in the use of taxpayer dollars,” said Paula Garcia, the new Chair of the Mora County Commission.

The proposed Mora County Complex is designed to house county officials and employees, a courtroom, and sheriff’s office. The original estimate for the construction cost was $7 million and was later increased to $13 million. Because the county was able to secure only partial funding, the previous county commission decided to proceed with construction of a shell in the hopes of raising more funds in the future. “The project remains unfinished but the county wants to complete the project. Before proceeding, we want an audit to tell us whether we need to make improvements in the way the project has been managed,” remarked Garcia. “We requested guidance from State Auditor Balderas as the very first action of our new administration. We expect a written reply from Mr. Balderas very soon.”

###

AGENDA - Mora County Commission Meeting February 7th

MORA COUNTY COMMISSION

SPECIAL MEETING

February 7, 2011

10:00AM

MORA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

TENTATIVE AGENDA (Updated February 2, 2011)

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. Approval of Agenda

5. Approval of Minutes

a. Special Meeting – January 4, 2011

b. Special Meeting – January 11, 2011

6. Reports from Elected Officials and Department Heads

7. Presentation by Pablo Sedillo, Office of Senator Jeff Bingaman

8. Action Items:

a. Approval of Expenditure Listing

b. Resolution to award bid – CHET VFD

c. Appointment of three voters to the Board of Registration

d. Approval of DWI grant application

e. Approval of letter of support for CFRP application of Herman Vigil

9. Mora County Complex:

a. Update on Request for Assistance from State Auditor – Paula Garcia, Chair

b. Report on Funds Remaining for Mora County Complex – Doris Casados, Finance Director

c. Presentation on Options for Phasing of Mora County Complex by Ortega, Romero, Rodriguez and Associates

d. Presentation on options for Biomass system for Mora County Complex by Douglas Webb and Harold Trujillo

e. Elected Official and Department Head Comments on Mora County Complex

f. Public Comment Specific to Mora County Complex (3 minutes)

g. Approval of Capital Outlay Request to New Mexico State Legislature

10. Public Comment. 3 minutes per person

11. Indigent Fund Board

12. Executive Session

13. Adjourn

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter or any other form of auxiliary aid service to attend or participate in the meeting, contact the Mora County Administration Office located on HWY 518 Main St. Mora County Courthouse, Mora, NM as soon as possible at 575-387-5279.

Commission Meetings Scheduled for February

Because of the School Board Election, the Mora County Board of County Commission is not able to meet on January 28th nor on our regular meeting date of February 1, 2011. The BCC will meet on February 7, 2011 in Mora for a special meeting to discuss and decide next steps on the Mora County Complex. The regular meeting will take place on Tuesday February 15, 2011 in Wagon Mound at the Village Hall.

Summary of January 11th Commission Meeting

The Mora County Commission is started the year with two important meetings in early January. The Commission includes sitting commissioner Laudente Quintana from Wagon Mound as well as new commissioners John Olivas and Paula Garcia. At their first meeting on January 4^th, 2010, the commission adopted an Open Meetings resolution which specifies public notice requirements of meetings. Also, the commissioners elected the following officers: Paula Garcia, Chair, and Laudente Quintana, Vice-Chair.

At their second meeting on January 11, 2010, which was attended by over fifty members of the public, the commission had long agenda including reports from elected officials, Pamela Garcia from Congressman Ben Ray Lujan’s office, Anna Rael-Delay from Senator Tom Udall's office, and Representative Thomas Garcia. County Assessor Paul Duran reported that the purchase of the Burlington and Santa Fe railroad by the State of New Mexico would result in a significant loss of the tax base in Mora County. As a follow up, the commission and assessor sent a letter to Governor Susana Martinez and legislators requesting that any agreements to purchase the railroad be rescinded.

The agenda item of greatest interest to the public was a presentation by Ortega, Romero, Rodriguez and Associates who serve as the architectural firm for the Mora County Complex. Antonio Ortega and Jake Rodriguez presented the background and current design of the complex and responded to about four hours of questioning. The firm did the design work for the remodel of the old courthouse. After that project was blocked by a lawsuit from Concerned Citizens for Honest Government, Ortega was retained as the architect for the new courthouse, now called a complex.

The original construction estimate was about $7 million and later was increased to $11-$13.5 million after the design was complete. The previous commission chose to do a shell rather than a section after they were able to secure only partial funding in the amount of about $5 million. Ortega and Associates explained that their firm owns the design and are the only architects that can work on the design. If the complex is phased down, it would incur additional design fees.

After hours of questioning, the Mora County Commission and the public came away with a better understanding of the project and the challenges that lie ahead. The Commission faces difficult decisions in terms of shrinking revenue and demands to complete, or partially complete, the complex.

Meeting agendas and highlights are posted at moracounty.blogpost.com temporarily until the official website, www.countyofmora.com is completed.

January 11, 2011 Agenda

MORA COUNTY COMMISSION

JANUARY 11, 2011

10:00AM

MORA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

TENTATIVE AGENDA

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes

Presentation on 2011 New Mexico Legislative Session: Representative Thomas Garcia and Senator Phil Griego (Invited)

Presentation from Office of Congressman Ben R. Lujan, 3^rd Congressional District, by Pamela Garcia, Constituent Services Manager

Reports from Elected Officials and Department Heads

Treasurer’s Office

Sheriff’s Office

Finance Report: Doris Casados, Bookkeeper

Presentation by DFA Local Government Division: John Gallegos and Susan Rodriguez

Action Items

Budget Resolutions

Presentation on the status of the Mora County Complex, Antonio Ortega and Jake Rodriguez, Ortega and Associates

Presentation on ARRA Funds for Mora County Complex, Harold Trujillo, NM Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department

Advisory Task Forces - Discussion

Public Comment. 3 minutes per person.

Indigent Fund Board

Executive Session

Adjourn