Doña Ana leaders outline strategic plan, infrastructure and public-safety investments at 2025 State of the County

Do—Ana County commissioners and staff used the 2025 State of the County address to summarize a recently adopted strategic plan and lay out near-term projects and investments, including an emergency operations center, broadband and transportation upgrades, public-safety staffing and a multimillion-dollar expansion of the Chaparral wastewater system.

The address, delivered by Commission Chair Christopher Shaljo Hernandez and County Manager Scott Andrews with presentations from assistant county managers and department heads, reviewed the county's seven "vital conditions" strategic framework and highlighted programs and capital projects county leaders said they will pursue in the coming months.

The plan matters because county leaders tied the goals to everyday services and economic opportunities: projects they described are intended to improve emergency response, expand Internet access in rural areas, support public safety and health services, and upgrade county facilities and roads.

Officials said the county will ask voters to consider major investments later this year and described several projects in advanced planning or construction. Among the items discussed:

- Emergency operations center: County officials said work is underway on a 7.5-acre site near the New Mexico State University golf course for a new county emergency operations center. Assistant County Manager Jonathan Macias said the facility will serve municipalities and the county and is expected to open in about a year.

- Broadband and communications: Information Technology Director Kent English reported a 28-mile broadband fiber stretch between Hatch and Radium Springs that was described as about 95% complete and expected to serve roughly 1,600 homes and up to 100 businesses. Officials also noted microwave tower work (the Salem Tower) and high-speed Internet for the fairgrounds to support events.

- Transportation and airport upgrades: County staff described runway work at the Do—Ana County Jetport that increased the runway's capacity and noted a recent $20 million investment from the New Mexico Economic Development Department. Road maintenance accomplishments included chip sealing, fog sealing and striping on dozens of miles; commissioners also approved Safe Streets for All recommendations, and county engineers reported a planned $38 million rail crossing project at Industrial Avenue in the Santa Teresa industrial park.

- Public safety and health: Sheriff Kim Stewart and department leaders highlighted improved staffing and equipment. The detention center maintained accreditation and graduated cadets; fire-rescue added three combined rescue/fire units and opened 24/7 staffing at a Fair Acres station. Health and Human Services Director Jamie Michael said the Scribe triage center reopened on Jan. 1 and now operates 24 hours to receive clients and coordinate with law enforcement and hospitals.

- Housing, utilities and infrastructure: Officials described collaborations on colonia infrastructure and work to expand wastewater services in Chaparral. Utilities staff said the Chaparral wastewater expansion has started as a multimillion-dollar project and department master plans were being updated.

- Economic development and workforce: County Manager Scott Andrews said the strategic-plan emphasis on quality of life is central to economic development. Officials announced an RFP for economic development services, continuing internship and fellowship programs with local school districts and NMSU, and workforce training partnerships.

- Finance and assistance programs: Finance Director Asma Dawood reported that the county's emergency rental assistance program served more than 2,000 households and distributed over $16,000,000. Treasurer Marisol Diaz reported roughly $7,300,000 in investment revenue that supports county operations.

- Organizational changes and modernization: County leaders described efforts to reduce paper processes, move to electronic permitting, rewrite human-resources policies, complete a compensation study and open a new county warehouse later this year.

County Manager Scott Andrews said the county intends to "be fast, be friendly, be fun, and be factual" as it implements the strategic plan. Several speakers emphasized community engagement tools the county will use, including a public art board that will earmark 1% of new construction and renovation projects for public art, a youth commission, a citizens academy, and expanded public information efforts.

What was discussion and what was decided

Much of the event was a review and outline of priorities rather than formal policymaking. The county commission previously adopted the strategic plan in a vote on Nov. 14, 2023; at this address staff described actions and next steps to implement it. The board also approved Safe Streets for All recommendations during the period discussed, according to staff remarks.

Next steps and timeline

Officials said funding requests, master-plan updates and project designs will return to the board for approvals and, in some cases, to voters in the fall. Staff cited federal and state advocacy work already underway and said several capital projects are in design or early construction; the emergency operations center and fairgrounds upgrades were highlighted as projects with near-term milestones.

Community context and caveats

Speakers repeatedly framed the announcements as the start of a multi-year effort. Several numbers and timelines discussed at the address were described as estimates: officials said the broadband segment was about 95% complete, Chaparral wastewater work was "under way" as a multimillion-dollar project, and the emergency operations center was expected to open in about a year. County leaders acknowledged ongoing staffing challenges and said some projects require additional funding or partner approvals.