Socorro County attempts to get over the humps of road maintenance

Socorro County Commissioners approved the purchase of a wheel loader, two motor graders and rotary cutter at their Oct. 14 regular meeting.

“This is part of that continuing effort to get the equipment up and running that I worked with Louis Martinez, director of the road department, to put together his wish list as to what equipment is needed to pick projects up and running as quickly as possible.” County Manager Andrew Lotrich said to the commissioners.

He said with the approval the county will have a total of five graders, “We already have the operators hired and ready to sit on these pieces of equipment.”

Lotrich said all weekend long he was giving updates to commissioners on wash outs and road issues throughout the county.

“We still have our road department out there right now addressing the majority of washouts and those issues where we actually had individuals stranded because the roads are no longer there,” Lorich said.

Chambon Road

Lotrich and Commissioner Danny Monette said they surveyed Chambon Road where an “excessive amount” of speed humps were installed.

Monette said the speed humps had negative effects, such as blocking water during flooding, complicating school bus routes and making roads less user-friendly. He said there were 17 speed humps between the store and some are even placed in the middle of driveways.

Lotrich said all residents on the road petitioned to support the removal.

The recommendation to remove approximately one half to two thirds of the speed humps on Chambon Road was unanimously approved by the county commissioners.

Road Complaints

During public comment Donna Harris, resident of Quebradas Road and Scott White of Riley Road raised concerns about maintenance.

White said he’s the son-in-law to an 84-year old who lives on Riley Road and said he’s had long-standing frustrations about the lack of improvement on Riley Road. He said water delivery is difficult because the road conditions only allow travel at 3–4 mph with heavy loads.

“To me, you’re not doing a very good job. There has to be some common ground between us and the county, on how to maintain that road,” White said.

Harris also made comments on the roads.

“I’m sure you are tired of hearing about the Quebradas Road. Too bad,” Harris said, "Three of you commissioners sat and gave the previous manager big raises and watched while he decimated the road department.”

She said the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates 50,000 vehicles use the road every year and questioned the county’s justification for not maintaining it, stating that rural property owners still pay taxes and roads are in use.

Later in the meeting, the consideration of asking BLM for the deed of Quebradas Road with the intention of adding the approximate 27 miles to their maintained road list for 2026 was tabled.

“This is a resolution that we drafted to try to get us over the hump pertaining to the maintenance of Quebradas Road. One of the issues is the fight over who owns the road, who’s able to say what maintenance looks like on the road,” Lotrich said.

Monette said he was contacted by Matt Atencio of the Socorro BLM and due to being on furlough they were unaware of it. He said he would like to have conversations before anything was done.

“I think us being good partners, we need to work with them,” Monette said.

Other business

Lotrich reported the state will be stripping the Village of Magdalena from doing their own GIS mapping for 911 effective that day.

“The state is looking to get into an MOU later on, to have the county’s GIS department do it. So for now, we have approximately 100 to 125 addresses in Magdalena that are questionable,” Lotrich said.

Meanwhile, with any new individuals moving into Magdalena they will be able to go to the county GIS department until the state figures out how to handle all the previous ones, said Lotrich.

Commissioners approved the resolution supporting the continued inclusion of the Alamo Chapter in the Navajo Nation’s contract for BIA Policing Patrol Services.

Commissioner Craig Secatero said there was discussion about a legislative proposal by the Navajo Nation to remove the Alamo and To’Hajiilee chapters from their police patrol contract. If enacted, it would remove law enforcement presence in these areas and place increased burden on the local sheriff’s office, said County Lawyer, Adren Nance.

Secatero said the decision is not final and while he is trying to get more information he would appreciate the county’s support.

“There’s gonna be nobody in regards to policing,” Secatero said, “I also reached out to the sheriff as well, in terms of saying hey, you know this is a possibility and this is something very serious that we’re looking at.”

Commissioners also heard presentations from the Opioid Remediation Collaborative, Socorro General Hospital and New Mexico Tech.

The next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on November 10.