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County manager to recommend fireworks restrictions after drought and Forest Service stage‑1 order
Summary
Grant County staff recommended a proclamation declaring extreme drought and imposing fireworks restrictions under NMSA authority; the commission is scheduled to consider the measure at its regular meeting following Forest Service stage‑1 restrictions and county drought indices.
The county manager told commissioners the county is preparing a proclamation for the regular meeting that would declare extreme drought conditions in Grant County and impose fireworks restrictions under New Mexico statutory authority.
The county manager said the proposed proclamation invokes NMSA Article 62, Section C 8.1, which allows the commission to determine when conditions warrant fireworks restrictions. He noted that U.S. Forest Service officials had already implemented stage‑1 restrictions and that county drought indexes show the entire county in extreme drought.
Why it matters: If approved at the regular meeting, the proclamation would impose temporary restrictions on fireworks on county property and under county authority; the statute allows the commission to renew the proclamation every 30 days unless conditions change.
The manager said the proclamation is the same mechanism used successfully in previous years in response to dry, windy weather and rising fire activity; staff included Forest Service documentation and the drought index in the briefing packet. Commissioners were reminded that the statute and packet material are the basis for the recommendation and that the proclamation can be rescinded if conditions materially change.
No formal vote was taken at the work session; the item was placed on the regular meeting agenda for further consideration by the commission.
