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Colfax County commissioners approve series of resolutions, hire interim county attorney; multiple votes taken
Summary
At its regular meeting commissioners approved a package of budget and grant-related resolutions, hired an interim county attorney and acted on contracts and agreements including inmate confinement MOUs. Several personnel and policy items were postponed for later review.
Colfax County commissioners voted on a cluster of resolutions, contracts and personnel matters during their regular meeting, approving reimbursements and budget adjustments, hiring an interim county attorney and adopting a resolution opposing a proposed federal corridor. Several personnel compensation and policy items were postponed for later review.
The commission unanimously approved hiring Daniel I. V. Sotos as interim county attorney. Commissioners recorded their votes as Commissioner Kern: Yes; Commissioner Trujillo: Yes; Chairman Tatum: Yes.
Commissioners approved a temporary transfer to make the final TIGER-9 grant payment (Resolution 2025-031). They also approved a multi-line budget adjustment ordinance (Resolution 2025-032) that included increases for road equipment leases, IT contract services, audit contract funding and payroll adjustments for the YES program. Vote tallies on these resolutions were recorded by roll call as all voting yes.
Multiple state cooperative-agreement actions tied to local road projects were approved, including acceptance of the Bartlett Mesa local government transportation cooperative agreement and associated extensions and amendments (control numbers LP40039 and related resolutions, recorded as Resolutions 2025-025, 2025-026, 2025-029, and 2025-022). Commissioners also approved a cooperative-agreement extension for the Blosser Gap project (LP40023) and corresponding amendment (Resolutions 2025-027 and 2025-030). All of those motions passed by roll call with the three commissioners voting yes.
The commission approved an amendment extending an aircraft hangar construction and repair contract (Resolution 2025-028) and accepted related local government transportation funding amendments.
The board approved a set of intergovernmental inmate housing agreements — single contract terms executed with Union County, Roosevelt County, Taos County, San Miguel County, the Village of Angel Fire, the City of Clayton and the City of Raton — and approved an MOU renewing Alternatives to Violence services at the B. Hill Maldonado Detention Center. Those items were adopted by roll call vote.
The board approved routine administrative items including minutes, expenditures, and a clinical affiliation agreement between Santa Fe Community College and Colfax County Health Care. A requested postponement on indigent care claims was granted; commissioners moved that claim work to the next meeting so staff could gather additional information.
Personnel and policy items: discussion produced these formal outcomes — the motion to postpone consideration of solid waste coordinator compensation until job descriptions and budget review was adopted (Commissioner Trujillo abstained on that vote); a motion approved a $1 per hour raise for the indigent care coordinator (Resolution 2025-023). The board directed staff to advertise a county manager position with an updated job description and to proceed with the posting schedule discussed at the meeting.
The commission recessed for a closed session on pending litigation under NMSA 1978, Section 10-15-1(H)(7) (Colfax County v. Roadrunner Health Service LLC and Mary Lou Kern). The board returned to open session and reported that no action was taken.
Votes at a glance (motion text shortened to essentials; vote tallies reflect roll calls recorded in the meeting transcript): - Hire interim county attorney: "Hire Daniel I. V. Sotos as interim county attorney" — Outcome: approved (Kern: Yes; Trujillo: Yes; Tatum: Yes). - Resolution 2025-031: Transfer various funds (temporary transfer for final TIGER-9 payment of $103,941) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Resolution 2025-032: Budget adjustments, various funds (multiple line-item adjustments across road fund, general fund, YES program, TIGER grant, clerk, airport, maintenance, maternal and child health, Miami Fire) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Approve expenditures (general roll-call motions) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Approve expenditures pursuant to Resolution 2022-49 — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Postpone indigent care claims to next meeting — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Clinical affiliation agreement with Santa Fe Community College — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Approve assessor protest board appointments — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Reassignment of old Treasurer's Office to NRCS/FSA if their office becomes unavailable — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Resolution 2025-021: Amend Open Meetings Act posting procedures (as discussed; include emailed notices) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Postpone solid waste coordinator compensation until job descriptions and budget review — Outcome: approved (Trujillo: Abstain; others yes). - Resolution 2025-023: Indigent care coordinator compensation (approved $1/hour increase) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Resolution opposing federal corridor (NEPA cooperating agency participation/support for local control) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Acceptance/extension/amendment of multiple state road and local government transportation agreements (Bartlett Mesa LP40039, Blosser Gap LP40023, aircraft hangar project AXX-24-01) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Accept first amendments extending Bartlett Mesa and Blosser Gap projects (Resolutions 2025-022, 2025-029, 2025-030) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Approve agreements for inmate confinement with Union County, Roosevelt County, Taos County, San Miguel County, Village of Angel Fire, City of Clayton, City of Raton — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Property-use and liability agreement with Raton Main Street for the International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Lodgers tax promotional funding — Charcoal Burner Race at Vermejo Park Ranch — Outcome: approved (committee recommended; commission approved by roll call). - Fill two sheriff's office vacancies (approve hiring to fill two positions) — Outcome: approved (all yes). - Advertise and post county manager job with revised description and wide circulation (multiple outlets requested) — Outcome: motion carried (all yes). - Closed session under NMSA 1978 Section 10-15-1(H)(7) on pending litigation — Outcome: closed session held; no action taken in open session.
The commissioners recorded roll calls for each motion; where the transcript notes abstentions they are reported above. The meeting packet included multiple resolutions and cooperative-agreement control numbers cited during the motions.
Ending: Commissioners said they will continue finance- and grant-related follow-up in coming weeks, advance budget work ahead of the fiscal year, and return to several postponed personnel and policy items at the next meeting.
