One thing's for sure: Socorro County needs a new jail facility.

How that can be accomplished was the purpose of a special meeting of the county commission on Jan. 13. The hourlong meeting was dedicated entirely to allowing Gerald Martin General Contractors of Albuquerque to make a presentation regarding building a new judicial facility and detention center in Socorro County.

County Manager Delilah Walsh and Jail Administrator Evangel Maldonado joined commissioners Phillip Anaya, Juan Gutierrez, Rumaldo "R.J." Griego and chairwoman Rosie Tripp for the morning session at the Socorro County Annex Building. Commissioner Daniel Monette was absent.

Robert Martinez, a director of construction management for Gerald Martin, led the presentation.

"The reason we're here is to help get your project off the ground," he said during his opening remarks.

Martinez said building a new detention facility would create new jobs and help the local economy. He said his company would be able to walk them through the entire process, from identifying needs to completion of the project.

The 33-year old company's Web site lists the Rio Rancho City Hall, Volcano Vista High School, and the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa among its completed projects. Martinez said the company was currently engaged in such notable projects as the judicial complex in Santa Fe and the Spaceport facility near Truth or Consequences.

Martinez said the first thing to consider was the scope of the project.

"You know you need a new facility," he said. "One of the key questions you need to ask is: Is this just a Socorro County facility or is it a regional facility?"

It's an idea that's been considered for a long time. Socorro County has had discussions with Catron and Sierra county officials about a regional jail in the past.

"This has been tried for the last 15 years, and we could never get others to agree," Gutierrez said.

The commissioner said he believed a regional facility would work for everyone's benefit. As it is now, the counties are having to transport detainees as far away as Gallup and Roswell and it costs money to do that, he said.

Walsh said discussions of building a regional facility with Catron and Sierra counties broke down last year. One of the challenges of a joint enterprise is the turnover that occurs with election cycles, she said, and what's needed most is a commitment from the other entities.

A regional facility appeared to be the commissioner's preference, as opposed to Socorro County having to go it alone. Commissioner Anaya wanted to know what Martinez thought about it.

"What's more feasible for us in our county as you see it now?" Anaya asked.

"Funding sources will look more favorable for a regional," Martinez responded.

Commissioner Griego asked how soon financing could become available, and Martinez said it could take four to eight months.

D.D. Boone, who handles business development and funding for public projects for Gerald Martin, told the board about the funding options that are available.

Boone said the Central New Mexico Council of Governments is a good resource for the county.

"One of the things they bring is they can chaperon funding the project," she said.

Boone said COG can assist with obtaining Community Development Block Grants and grants through the Economic Development Administration. She said low-interest loan planning funding is obtainable and cited the Department of Agriculture as a good loan source.

Walsh said it would take about $200,000 just to cover planning costs. She said the county has limited resources of its own and doesn't have a planner on staff.

Walsh said the county was eligible for CDBG planning grants, but opportunities for those come in cycles and it could take a year or two to get funding secured.

Anaya said Socorro County shouldn't have to pay for the whole thing.

"Someone has to foot the bill, not Socorro County itself," he said, adding that it needed money from state and federal sources.

Another thing to consider, Walsh suggested, was whether the facility would also include a judicial complex. Consolidating court facilities in proximity to a detention center would increase efficiency and open the current courthouse for administrative offices, she said.

But the big question was what to do about a detention center.

"At the core, we need a new jail," Walsh said. "The bottom line is do we start the planning?"

In his closing remarks, Martinez said Gerald Martin can provide the planners, architects and engineers to get the project going. The company has expertise in building all kinds of facilities and can shorten the time frame for building a facility in Socorro County, he said.

Martinez said it would take a "minimal investment" by the county to get the planning process started. He said Gerald Martin was ready to proceed as soon as it got the go ahead.

Tripp said the commission couldn't make a decision on it now, but it was something that should be put on the agenda for a meeting in the near future. She also said the commission should establish a target date for getting the project done.

"We need to set a future goal. It could be four years, it could be five, but we need to have that goal," she said.

In the end, Walsh asked the Gerald Martin representatives to come back with a proposal that would include the amount of money it would take to start planning.

The next County Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, Jan. 26, 6 p.m. at the Socorro County Annex Building at 198 Neel Ave.

Walsh said in a phone interview on Jan. 21 that an item pertaining to the jail will be on the agenda for the Jan. 26 commission meeting.

Contact T.S. Last