Smiley recognized for contributions to Magdalena community

Linda Smiley of Magdalena was recognized at the Socorro County Commission meeting on November 12 for her contribution to the MagE board, an email-based information service she has provided for free to the community.

“It’s amazing what she has done out of her heart; she helped many people, and I’m glad that we can acknowledge her,” Commissioner Chair Ray Martinez said, “This is an above and beyond award presented to Miss Linda Smiley for an absolutely exceptional performance.”

Public Comment

Rebecca Dow, elected as District 38’s representative, spoke during public comment and extended an invitation to discuss legislative priorities, capital outlay, junior money and any other needs the county may have.

“We got an $8.6 billion budget. Most house members, if the trend continues, we’ll get about 2.6 million to decide to divide between three counties. In this case, for District 38, that’s a big budget and lots of other ways that we can bring money to the community, and I’m ready to partner with you to do that,” Dow said.

Department Reports

During department reports, Sheriff Lee Armijo reported a meeting between County Manager Andrew Lotrich, chair Martinez, the Magdalena marshal’s office, the mayor, and their attorney.

“We figured out that our communication was off a little bit and we need to work together on that,” Armijo said “We are talking about the possibility of contracting with the village in Magdalena and putting some sheriff deputies in overtime in Magdalena.”

Armijo said the conversations are still in the works but the meeting was good.

Martinez said he initially requested the meeting not to point fingers but to try and help Magdalena out for emergency calls.

“At that meeting, we all agreed on certain items, and the attorney for the village is typing out those items that we all agreed on,” Martinez said “I requested for the mayor to present those to the public of Magdalena of what we discussed so people know what’s going on.”

Martinez said once they get it back from the attorneys they will announce it at a commission meeting. He also recommended that the commission schedule a meeting with Alamo law enforcement to see how they can help them as well. Commissioner Craig Secatero reported to Martinez that Alamo no longer has a local law enforcement agent.

During the county manager’s report, Andrew Lotrich announced a new road director had been hired and that he had started his first day that morning. The EDC confirmed Louis Martinez was hired as the road director. Lotrich said for the last month they didn’t have a road director or second in command due to health reasons.

“Complaints about our roads have dropped dramatically from six months ago,” Lotrich said “We had some training that has happened, and so all of the road department really needs to be commended on stepping up and what they have accomplished over the last month.”

Elected Official Salary Proposal

The elected official salary proposal was discussed again in a presentation by County Clerk Betty Saavedra and Manager Lotrich.

Lotrich said the state previously set maximum salaries for elected officials, but now, each county commission will set salaries they deem appropriate.

“This has implications for us,” Lotrich said “It kind of leaves us with two different scenarios. Scenario one would be we can continue to do what we’ve done in the past, which is the step increases with our salary schedule or two, it would require the new salaries to go out for a salary study, which would impact everybody’s salaries here in the county.”

He said that fulfilling the request to pay all 13 elected officials to the previously set maximum would be a budgetary hit for the county of $211,000 for this current fiscal year, which ends June 30. He said double the $211,000 is what it would cost for a whole fiscal year. He also clarified that not all elected officials would get a raise because they are midterm.

“If you did a 10-year projection, we’d be looking at a little over a $2.1 million budget hit over the next 10 years, just for these 13 employees by themselves,” Lotrich said.

County Attorney Adren Nance clarified that there is still a constitutional provision that does not allow for a change in salary for elected officials during their term. A new salary would have to be approved before their term to receive it. He said the new constitutional provision that allows the county to set salaries will go into effect immediately once the state approves it because it is a constitutional amendment. He expected it would be approved next week.

Nance suggested that if they consider a salary increase, it should be evenly distributed by a percentage.

“The legislature set out that the sheriffs get paid more than all the other elected officials,” Nance said “I think to be safe. You do it by percentages, and the percentages even across the board, so that you stay in place with that same statutory scheme, that may or may not be what comes out of this, but I think it’s what’s most likely,” Nance said.

The commissioners decided they needed more information and discussion before they put it on the agenda for a vote.

“We really need to sit down and really take a look at this,” Commissioner Craig Secatero said.

Other business

During the meeting, the board convened as the county canvassing board and approved Saavedra’s canvass for the 2024 general election. She reported that everything went smoothly and thanked the sheriff’s office for its support.

Martinez, Secatero, and Commissioner Joe Gonzales were in attendance, and all items on the agenda were approved unanimously, including a service agreement with Puerto Seguro to reimburse meals for the sick and indigent.

During the executive session, the pending or threatened litigation of Jesse Chaves versus the board of county commissioners, New Mexico Ethics Commission versus the County Livestock Loss Authority and the Charles Gonzales cause was discussed. Personnel matters discussed included county manager, emergency manger and fire marshal.

The next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. November 26 at the Annex.