[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6292001,"mediaKeyId","2528474-9ffd0a4e7b6ad731ac4ccd706e0708d0","parentId",2528474,"title","County reviews updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan; consultant recommends public outreach and grants work","audioSeconds",664,"startMs",508000,"endMs",1172000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528474-9ffd0a4e7b6ad731ac4ccd706e0708d0&start=508&end=1172","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528474-9ffd0a4e7b6ad731ac4ccd706e0708d0/thumbnail_508000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6292001/Eddy-County/New-Mexico/County-reviews-updated-Community-Wildfire-Protection-Plan-consultant-recommends-public-outreach-and-grants-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292001-94db2ef4744e2b298f9023fb2576b992/orig.mp4?Expires=1775573841&Signature=LZK4e08waH9DtbAXtGOGzQn-vyx5faagnJWZbiNSDQ808eBacddGWrNnr3gCKQByOLidaNLDoscVaGoKLCAyCyiYoRN~5Igf3NbLTaXR4KfwXcMEEUKbdTDQBECGuqc-2elk8jIMf7cTrom1wAjKqsRdnQwds5ipYRNYaCMIwuOIhU3upXz34L6ybPoVFAMJa5NMlvG9CYX9hI7xEGl~2yJWQHnjUVAmQEuXZirhnufKYxiPp1D2UBZQbCMmiOzW94IiLvA9XteMtKbCFKNa1ThEHP-JkUc-4Jm~J0p5PZVfKl8gU2Em-8ouQPJSURbo-9udcEbczeFsq2My8szQCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Eddy County, NM","date","2025-03-07T18:59:16Z","article","Eddy County commissioners received a presentation on an updated draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan intended to replace the county’s 2008 plan.

Craig Daugherty, a retired fire chief contracted to assist the county, told commissioners the plan rewrite updates jurisdictions, community‑at‑risk ratings and priority projects. Daugherty said the 2008 plan — prepared by Walsh Environmental Services — was largely still valid but due for the five‑year federal review cycle that supports funding eligibility. He noted the plan documents shifts in vegetative fuels and development that led the draft to lower risk ratings for White City, Loco Hills and Malaga, while Queen retained a high rating.

Chief Josh Mack and Daugherty told the board the plan emphasizes homeowner defensible‑space actions, roadside mowing and interagency fuel management. The plan includes maps showing that most historical fire starts in the county cluster along main road corridors, which supports requests to state transportation authorities for continued mowing as a fire‑prevention measure. The plan also recommends community education (the Ready, Set, Go program), closer coordination with federal partners (BLM, National Park Service at Carlsbad Caverns, U.S. Forest Service) and seeking mitigation grants. Daugherty suggested the county consider creating a wildland coordinator position to pursue grants, lead public education and coordinate fuels‑management projects.

Daugherty told commissioners the plan must be reviewed in three public meetings this week (Carlsbad, Artesia, Queen) and then signed by the county and the state forester, and by federal partners as applicable, before the county can use it to meet pre‑eligibility requirements for federal funding.

Ending: Commissioners did not act on the plan at this meeting; staff will host the scheduled public meetings and return a final plan and signature packet after partner reviews.

Quotes (from meeting transcript): \"These plans are, by federal law...they're supposed to be rewritten every 5 years,\" said Craig Daugherty, the consultant. \"Most of those are along your roadsides,\" he added when describing historical fire starts on main corridors.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03 04 25 Eddy County Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A contractor updated the county’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan, recommending public education, a possible wildland coordinator position and revised community risk ratings that could help secure federal funding.","taxTitle","Eddy County, New Mexico","taxId",51111,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6292005,"Eddy County commissioners approve grant applications, budget reports and multiple permits; reject renewal of oil-and-gas audit contract",17,3199000,3216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528474-9ffd0a4e7b6ad731ac4ccd706e0708d0&start=3199&end=3216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528474-9ffd0a4e7b6ad731ac4ccd706e0708d0/thumbnail_3199000.jpg","/articles/6292005/Eddy-County/New-Mexico/Eddy-County-commissioners-approve-grant-applications-budget-reports-and-multiple-permits-reject-renewal-of-oil-and-gas-audit-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292005-91d4f2bd87148a428876fa5f1845eeef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775573841&Signature=YHwxOP9ToQ02dtsXoRjpZDSFqTtE9HBTlgi-11DbcALIaJ6anmS7GVoPW~oKP8rIMOaDliKcSzFGZEimJt~wUtevabqWKDg68BOPxio5SNeK0~OmH5NPcP4-9~og6OMDNHYtbtWBfP1rbppIl9d8saO62hxqiQV9298DjxspPxPzun9dG75AP7wimooYzhN-hnDx0-JmbdLZiFtr9efze~NL2x7hfyjfLrxHtkJZ2wTbh5ks7X2QLa9ieVHgBPIdIIHgHsQoGHexyX1or2vB2c4wB5WSHuHOLFLa8V0SfwhpSHNBmu-dAazsVe3ddMwJDLSXaeG0bEWNnVNZXLi7fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eddy County commissioners met to consider routine financial reports, grant applications, event permits and contracts, approving several items while voting against renewal of a three‑year oil-and‑gas personal property audit agreement.

The board approved the county’s revenue report for January 2025 and the January budget-versus-actuals report. Roberta Gonzales reported January gross receipts tax distributions of nearly $5.4 million and year‑to‑date gross receipts of about $40.8 million; oil-and-gas production, equipment and royalty distributions for the October business month (paid in January) were presented as well.

Commissioners also authorized a grant application to the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) for $289,823, and approved the county’s third-quarter Safety Net Care Pool certification. The commission approved an expenditure to upgrade the Eddy County Detention Center’s communications system from existing detention facility funds and authorized the special-use permit for the City of Champions pro‑rodeo event (contingent on the event’s state alcohol license). The board gave formal support for Eddy‑Lee Energy Alliance to respond to a U.S. Department of Energy site RFP and endorsed Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative’s BEAD broadband application.

A contested action on a professional services arrangement drew extended discussion. The commission considered renewing a contract with Total Assessment Solutions Corporation (known in the meeting as “task” or the audit contractor) for oil‑and‑gas personal property field auditing. After debate about whether the state assessed bureau, not the county, has statutory responsibility for state-assessed property and revenue impacts of the contractor’s work, the board voted not to approve the pending contract renewal (identified in the meeting as D-23-157). The recorded vote on the non‑approval motion was Carlson: yes; Trost: yes; Klein: yes; Cordova: no; Bowen: yes.

Other formal approvals on the consent and travel agendas passed without further discussion. The meeting closed with an executive session on a limited personnel matter; commissioners said no action was taken in executive session.

Votes at a glance
- Approve commission minutes (approved, unanimous).
- Approve January 2025 revenue report (approved, unanimous).
- Approve January budget vs. actuals (approved, unanimous).
- Authorize HIDTA grant application SF424 for $289,823 (approved, unanimous).
- Approve renewal / final review for Total Assessment Solutions Corp. contract D-23-157 (motion to not approve passed 4–1: Carlson, Trost, Klein, Bowen yes; Cordova no).
- Approve Safety Net Care Pool certification (approved, unanimous).
- Approve detention center communications upgrade (approved, unanimous).
- Approve issuance of special‑use permit for pro‑rodeo alcohol service at Eddy County Fairgrounds, contingent on state license (approved, unanimous).
- Adopt resolution supporting Eddy‑Lee Energy Alliance submission to DOE RFP (approved, unanimous).
- Adopt resolution supporting Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative BEAD application (approved, unanimous).

Several discussion items — including a draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan update, a proposed county EMS division, volunteer paramedic reporting, and county support for the Eddy County Fair — were discussed but not acted on at this meeting.

Ending: The board asked staff to return several items (notably the proposed fair funding level) for a follow‑up vote at a future meeting.","At a regular meeting, commissioners approved revenue and budget reports, authorized a HIDTA grant application and multiple local permits, and voted not to renew a county contract with Total Assessment Solutions Corporation after members debated state responsibility for oil-and-gas assessments.","actionData","errors"]

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County reviews updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan; consultant recommends public outreach and grants work

Eddy County commissioners approve grant applications, budget reports and multiple permits; reject renewal of oil-and-gas audit contract