Megan Cullip, Community Health and Social Services director, right, and Jennifer Johnson, a new intensive case manager, were introduced to the commission. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record
Megan Cullip, Community Health and Social Services director, right, and Jennifer Johnson, a new intensive case manager, were introduced to the commission. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Recordcca

Just in time to close the books on a tight fiscal year, San Juan County received a $2.9 million windfall in federal PILT funding – news that County Manager Mike Stark said came as a last-minute relief after months of uncertainty.

The lengthy meeting also brought reports of infrastructure improvements, renewed grants bolstering behavioral health services and input from the general public demanding answers about a sewer line, gratitude for fire services and golf for veterans success story.

Stark said the $2.9 million fills the hole in the fiscal year 2025 budget.

“I’m so proud that we were part of eight restoration projects,” said Commissioner GloJean Todacheene, adding that $1.2 million was received from the New Mexico Historic Preservation division, so Salmon Ruins will receive money to prevent storm erosion.

Stark said, “$75,000 to be exact, plus a match.”

Megan Cullip, Community Health & Social Services director, provided an update about the Navigation Center. She said the Behavioral Health Services Division extended their grant for another year, and that 100% San Juan put together “a sort of a grant meeting with Anchorum Health Foundation, and she received a $100,000 grant.

Combined, the two sources brought in $600,000.

Some of that money will go to a 20-hour-a-week intensive case manager to deal with “very severe” cases. Jennifer Johnson, a Fort Lewis College graduate in sociology and political science, will follow up with those difficult cases for at least the year of the grant term.

One such case was a man with severe substance abuse issues. He had been kicked out of Oxford House, but after support from Cullip and Johnson, he said, “Now that I have Jennifer on my side I think I can do this.”

Public Works Director Nick Porrell provided an update on two bridge projects. One is on County Road 3500 in Flora Vista and the other, on CR 3000 between Aztec and Flora Vista.

Public Works Director Nick Porrell provided an update on two bridge projects. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record
Public Works Director Nick Porrell provided an update on two bridge projects. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Recordcca

The CR 3500 bridge: The floor slab is curing, and upcoming work includes forming and tying rebar in the walls, pouring concrete and backfilling the road opening. They struggled with groundwater and surface water discharges for six weeks.The Road 3000 bridge. Support piles were installed last week. Current activities involve forming and rebar for the grade-beam foundation for the bridge’s arch. Arch construction could begin in the next three weeks.

Porrell said completion is “weeks” away.

Additionally, Porrell announced that the county received a “Clean and Beautiful” grant for funding an additional free dumpster weekend for residents. This is the third or fourth year for the funding.

Porrell deferred information about the Pinion Hills extension to Stark and city officials.

Fire update

John Gilbert Deputy Fire Chief of Operations, gave an update on the fire situation.

Oak Ridge Fire: Southwest of Window Rock, this fire was estimated at more than 10,000 acres, with significant evacuations. An interagency incident management team is on site. San Juan County has not received requests for assistance.Laguna Fire: About 50 miles east of the county line on the Santa Fe National Forest, this fire has a planned management area of 13,000 acres.Local fire activity: San Juan County fire departments have been “very busy” with initial attack efforts. They have been successful but with a significant strain on the county, Farmington and Aztec fire departments.Monsoon outlook: The outlook is “hopeful,” but the timing is uncertain. The National Weather Service suggests a favorable monsoon season, but the timing is “up in the air.”

John Gilbert, deputy fire chief, gave commissioners an update on fire conditions. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record
John Gilbert, deputy fire chief, gave commissioners an update on fire conditions. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Recordcca

Gonzales said he’s had many requests for a completion date of the Pinon Hills Boulevard extension and asked Stark for an update.

Stark responded with the following points:

The city’s contractor is obligated to finish their portion of the project by March or April. However, Stark said they could finish this year.
He said the county’s “big gap” is extending “the portion of the project up the hill and to connect to County Road 390.” The portion is the “number one item on the ICIP list” and is estimated to cost another $29 million. Stark expressed hope that the legislature would provide the funding.He deferred to Porrell and the city engineering department for details, as it is primarily the city’s project at this stage.

Porrell had no additional information.

Input from general public

Dennis Walker addresses commissioners during input from the general public. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record
Dennis Walker addresses commissioners during input from the general public. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Recordcca

Dennis Walker, who lives in Middle Lakes Heights subdivision, said he has an issue with the sewer line on his property.

He has been without sewer service since Sept. 4. He believes the line sank because of road drainage issues.

Walker has contacted the New Mexico Environmental Department times and filed a claim with the Public Regulation Commission about 20 days prior but has not heard back.

Walker, who has a background as a project manager trained by the military, said “nobody has properly diagnosed the line except myself.”

He invited commissioners to visit the site to observe the road and the situation firsthand to help find a solution. He noted that he has spoken with Commissioner Lanier and Stark.

Fortner acknowledged that it sounded “very frustrating” and asked staff to follow up.

Jerry Sims, a representative of the PGA Golf Sun Country Golf Association in New Mexico and ambassador of the Four Corners PJ Hope program for veterans, spoke to express his gratitude for the programs benefiting veterans through golf.

He highlighted:

The PGA Hope program “Helping Our Patriots Everywhere” offers free six-week golf lessons for veterans, active-duty, and reserve personnel, taught by PGA professionals. About 75 veterans from the county have participated in three years.The Four Corners Veterans Golf League provides free golf for veterans, with sponsors paying for green fees and carts. This helps both veterans and Riverview Golf Course.More than 100 veterans play golf in San Juan County through the league. They range in age from 20 to 90 years old.He thanked San Juan County for providing veterans a discount for green fees on Tuesdays and Thursdays and praised the staff at Riverview Golf Course for their help.Sims acknowledged the “heart and soul” of the Veterans Golf League as Tom Yoast and Tina White.

Jerry Sims talked about the PGA Hope program and the Riverview Golf Course. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record
Jerry Sims talked about the PGA Hope program and the Riverview Golf Course. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Recordcca

The commission went into a closed executive session to discuss the county manager’s evaluation.