Nicole Brown, Director of the 911 Communication Center, updated the commission on changes. (David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record)
Nicole Brown, Director of the 911 Communication Center, updated the commission on changes. (David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record)cca

Nicole Brown, director of the 911 Communication Center, updated the Aztec City Commission Tuesday about “a pretty significant change” at the center later this month or in early September. The commission also discussed its search for a new police chief and police training.

The changes will help with staffing issues because nonemergency calls, which average about 200,000 a year, will be redirected to the proper department, Brown said. Similar calls in those from people looking for court records and for available animal shelters.

“So we would like to be able to route those calls to the shelters without our dispatchers having to manually do that,” Brown said. Callers will be given three options, with the first being to being emergency dispatch for police, fire or medical assistance. The second is for Aztec or Farmington animal shelters, and the third will be for the jail.

Brown plans public education to prepare people for the change, “because we have prided ourselves that we are kind of one of the last places that when you call, you’re going to get a person.”

Brown said the center is allotted 32 dispatchers and eight call takers and is trying to fill vacant positions for six dispatchers and two call takers.

Commissioner Jim Crowley asked whether the GPS system that tracks cellphones was fully operational. Brown said the center’s Rapid SOS system tracks GPS data.

“So if you dial 911, we have access to that portal and you can see a more accurate location of where you are than if you’re just trading off of cellphone towers,” Brown said.

Hiring new Aztec Police Chief is high priority

During the discussion segment, Crowley brought up the training of police officers, stating that “some of our officers leave because we don’t have a whole lot of training.”

Mayor Mike Padilla agreed, but said “once we get a new (police) chief in place, we can address the other issues.”

Commissioner Ken George said he believed the commission should have some say in the hiring process because the police chief position is “such an important position in our city” and suggested they have a workshop to discuss the hiring process.

“It’s a huge decision … an impactful decision for the community … I agree with that,” said City Manager Jeff Blackburn.

Padilla later told the Tri-City Record in a phone call that although the city manager and human resources are responsible for establishing the hiring process, the City Commission likely would hold a workshop to more fully discuss the matter and reach a consensus. He noted that the hiring could be “contentious.”

Agenda items addressed
Item C, Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments Membership Agreement, stated that the representative and alternate must be proclaimed. Padilla offered to continue as the representative with Blackburn as the alternative. The commission approved his request.Item D, San Juan Water Commission Representative and Alternate Appointment was addressed by Commissioner George. He thanked Mark Lewis, who will vacate his position on the San Juan Water Commission and “step up” and sit on the board. The commission unanimously agreed that George should be appointed to the board, with alternate Community Development Director Andrew DiCamillo.Public input began as William Winter requested that two large stands of elms be removed by the city because they have overtaken an alley nd posed a threat of falling to his property during high winds. Padilla said they cannot make a decision or promise but would keep it under advisement.Business item A, Local Economic Development Act application request for Jacks Plastic Welding, was unanimously approved. Padilla said that the grant “actually includes land acquisition,” but was not in the steps, so he had that corrected, along with changing the amount from $300,000 to $400,000. The motion was approved.Crowley brought up the question of cameras and signage at Riverside Park to help prevent the public from dumping trash in the bins. Padilla agreed, but said staff would need to put something together and bring it to the commission.The meeting clarified the question of discounted electric bills for senior citizens, stating that citizens could fill out an application at the utility office.Regarding the East Aztec Arterial bypass, Blackburn said he’s meeting with New Mexico Department of Transportation officials Wednesday. “They’re calling it a get- acquainted meeting … it’s just another step as we get closer to the arterial taking off,” he said.