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County authorizes manager to assign amendments and convey specific water rights to El Paisano LLC
Summary
After executive session, the Santa Fe County Commission voted to grant the county manager authority to assign amendments to water-rights purchase agreements and convey specified water rights to El Paisano LLC; the measure passed on a voice vote.
The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 25 voted to authorize the county manager and a designee to assign amendments to two water-rights purchase agreements and to sign the documents necessary to acquire and convey specific water rights to El Paisano LLC. The motion, made by Commissioner Justin Green and seconded by Commissioner Hank Hughes, passed after the board returned from executive session.
The resolution gives the county manager delegated authority to finalize assignment and conveyance documents connected to county agreements numbered 2023-0198-PW/BT and 2023-0199-PW/BT, which were discussed in executive session under the Open Meetings Act. County Attorney Boyd notified the board that the matters discussed in executive session related to the acquisition or disposal of real property or water rights and threatened or pending litigation, citing the statutory basis for the closed meeting.
Commissioner Green moved the resolution after the board reconvened; Commissioner Hughes seconded. The motion was adopted by voice vote with commissioners indicating “aye.” The board did not report any additional decisions made while in executive session.
Why it matters: water-rights transactions can affect future development, irrigation and municipal supply in parts of the county. The action delegates final execution authority to the county manager, enabling staff to complete the underlying conveyance and assignment paperwork without returning to the full commission for signature authority.
What the board said and did: County Attorney Boyd asked the board to convene an executive session under Section 10-15-1(H)(8) of the New Mexico Open Meetings Act to discuss acquisition and disposal of real property or water rights. After the executive session, Commissioner Green moved to approve a resolution granting the county manager authority to assign amendments to the referenced water-rights purchase and replacement agreements and to sign all necessary documents to acquire those water rights from Jordan C. and Beverly K. Parejo and Jimmy C. and Christy Parejo and to convey such rights to El Paisano LLC; Commissioner Hughes seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: The county manager will execute the assignments and conveyance documents as authorized. The board did not provide a public timetable for recording or transferring the water rights during the meeting.
(Transcript excerpts: county attorney request for executive session and the subsequent motion to approve assignment and conveyance.)
