Grant County commissioners on June 26 approved three resolutions that tap the state Local Government Road Fund (LGRF) for county road repairs and improvements, moving forward work on arterial routes, school-bus routes and several special projects.

The county said the arterial project (R-25-43) will cover work on Bill Evans Road and Airport Mesa Road including crack seal, shoulder reconstruction, vegetation control and microsurfacing; the project total was listed in the meeting as $219,705, with the county providing a labor match and NMDOT funding the larger contract costs. The school-bus route project (FBR-25-44, described in the meeting as SBR) was presented with a total cost of $232,037; the county record shows a $174,000 NMDOT contribution and a county match of $58,034. The special-projects item (R-25-45) would fund base course additions, culvert and cattle-guard replacement on Mountain View Road and Bear Mountain Road; the project total was presented as $146,287 while the meeting transcript included an inconsistent figure for NMDOT’s share, which is not specified in the record.

County staff explained the LGRF program typically covers about 75% of eligible contract costs with the county supplying a 25% match, commonly met through labor and use of county equipment rather than cash. Commissioners asked whether county road crews would perform work; staff said most tasks — shoulder work, vegetation control, drainage repairs — are done by the road department while specialized operations such as microsurfacing require contractors.

Motions to approve the three items passed without recorded opposition.

Why it matters: county-maintained roads are a core local service. The projects include school-bus routes and arterial connections that, county staff said, support public safety, school access and economic activity. The meeting record shows the county intends to continue prioritizing road improvements in public outreach and in the county’s capital planning.