HARDING COUNTY NEWSLETTER
March 2007  Volume I, Issue 1

Harding County has two new employees, Victor Ray Vigil, a native of Mosquero, son of Rafael & Isabel Vigil, who was recently hired as the custodian for the Courthouse. Ray and his family are happy to be back home. He recently retired from the military and is doing a great job as the custodian! Another new employee is Theresa Trujillo, who worked for the County in the past. Theresa is working for the County Clerk's office with Maria Atencio, County Clerk.

A new grant was obtained from the Mesa Soil & Water Conservation District in the amount of $661.00 for some new trees at the Courthouse and a drip system. A "Scenic Byway" Grant Application has been submitted recently in the amount of $38,000 for a corridor management plan. The County Departments have had their first budget workshop and the next workshop is April 17th at 9:30 am. Requests from the public will be heard on the budget at 11:00 am at every monthly meeting held on the second Thursday of the month.

The Commissioners put a No Ban on Burning Resolution into effect on February 26th. At a special meeting on March 21st the ban was amended to state that parties must notify the respective Fire Chiefs, the Commission office, County Sheriff Department, State Forestry and Tucumcari Central Dispatch at 461-2160.

The Extension Office Staff (Blair Clavel, Extension Agent and Mary Helen Garrison, Administrative Secretary) will be moving into their new offices at the end of the month. The rooms have been freshly painted and new carpet will soon be installed. The Extension Advisory Council met on March 15th and reviewed all the programs and work being done by the office. Comments and suggestions were accepted.

• March 22 - New Mexico Highway Commission Meeting (Tucumcari) will be attended by Commissioner Casados.
• March 23 - Community Futures Planning Meeting (Springfield, CO)
• March 27 - Harding County Economic & Community Development Board Meeting (Office Conference Room - Roy)
• March 29 - Northeast Regional Planning Organization (Angel Fire), will be attended by Commissioner Casados and Barbara Shaw, Administrative Assistant.
• April 10 - HomeTown Competitiveness Group Meeting (5:00 pm HC Community Building in Roy) Everyone is Invited to Attend!
• April 11 - Bravo Dome Royalty Owners Association (1:30 pm Mosquero Court House)
• April 10 & 11 - New Mexico Rural Economic Forum (Clovis), will be attended by Barbara Shaw.
• April 12 - Harding County Commission Regular Meeting (Mosquero), 9:00 am
• April 13 - New Mexico Association of Counties Board Meeting (Albuquerque), will be attended by Commissioner Casados.
• April 16 - Military Veterans meeting on Programs, Services, Benefits (Community Building, Roy, 4:30 PM
• April 18-20 - New Mexico Association of Counties Workers Compensation Board Retreat (Ruidoso), will be attended by Barbara Shaw.

Legislative results are still being reviewed. With the special session being called, the County is not sure of all of their projects so far. To date, we have seen monies allocated in the amount of $150,000 for a new County ambulance and $75,000 for maintenance of county roads.

The HomeTown Competitiveness Group has organized as a "Team Concept" Organization. The following teams have been identified by our community:

• Team 1: Positive/Progressive Outlook & Attitude for our Communities; Public Transportation (Chairman, Mary Libby Campbell)
• Team 2: Services - Store and Gas Station (Chairman Needed!)
• Team 3: Natural Resources; Clean Energy Development; and Water Availability/Quality (Chairman, Tuda Libby Crews) Host for Meeting on April 10 @ 5:00 pm~Community Bldg.
• Team 4: County Emergency Medical Coordinator and Better Medical Facilities (Chairman, Tom Mitchell)
• Team 5: Youth Involvement and Retention; Jobs & Opportunities for Returning Youth (Co-Chairmen, Phillip Trujillo and Gabriel Trujillo)
• Team 6: Touring & Hunting Attractions; Bed & Breakfasts/Motels (Co-Chairmen, Esther Mitchell and Kim Mitchell)
• Team 7: Two Viable Schools, Trade Schools, and School Improvement (Chairman, Esther Mitchell)
• Team 8: Improved Housing, Especially for the Elderly and Temporary Workers (Co-Chairmen, Carol Markey and Terry Trujillo)
• Team 9: Capitalizing on our Cultural and Historical Resources and Arts & Crafts, (Co-Chairmen, Tuda Libby Crews and Barbara Copeland)
• Team 10: Horse Training and Breeding Facility (Chairman Needed)
• Team 11: Thriving Economy for our Communities (Chairman, Mario Gonzales)

Everyone is invited to join the team that interests them and our monthly meetings will be hosted by a different Team each month. We received 89 entries for our "Name That Group" Contest, so we have narrowed it down to the top 12 and we ask each of you to vote! Look for a voting box in your community and VOTE! The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 @ 5:00 pm in the Community Building in Roy. Please join us in helping our communities to THRIVE, not just survive! Coming Soon ~ An Essay Contest for All Ages with Cash Prizes for each level: "Why I Love My Community" Contest rules and prizes will be announced at the next meeting!

A meeting will be hosted by Harding County on April 3, 2007 at 6:30 pm in the Harding County Community Building in Roy. The purpose of this meeting is to bring all the necessary parties together to discuss the need for a "Community Wildfire Protection Plan." This would be funded with monies allocated to the County from the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Harding County was one of seven counties chosen to receive money to develop this plan. It involves land owners, land management agencies, soil & water districts, county residents, fire departments, special interest groups, US Forest Service, BLM and anyone who is interested in helping with the development of the plan. Once in place, the plan will make us eligible for additional assistance in funding and equipment in the future.

The County Commissioners and Chief Deputy Pete Callahan and Barbara Shaw have had discussions with the CO2 companies who are interested in additional drilling and hope to have a meeting in Mosquero the first part of April to continue these discussions. The County of Harding will be participating in an auction with the Villages of Mosquero and Roy. The Auction will be held in Roy at the "Blasi" Building on Saturday, April 21, 2007.

We bid a fond farewell to Bonnie and Keith Long who will be leaving our community at the end of March. They will be moving to a Ranch in Sedan, Kansas and we send our best wishes for success and happiness in their new home.