Taos County commissioners approve multiple contract amendments, sheriff communications system and revised job description

Taos County commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to approve a set of contract amendments and purchases related to county facilities, affordable-housing infrastructure and the sheriff's office, and to adopt a revised accounting specialist job description for the finance department.

County staff presented a series of procurement items before the board, including amendments to architectural and engineering contracts for the Taos County Detox Center, civil engineering work for a planned 90-unit affordable housing development, and renovations to the Taos County Sheriff’s Office. Elsa Vigil, a county staff member, described each amendment and the additional fees requested. “The additional services are coordination of engineering associated with the kitchen renovation and coordination of consulting services associated with Via Postiva. Altogether, the total fixed fee is 30,300,” Vigil said about the detox center amendment.

The commission also approved a contract to purchase a SkyMira satellite-based communications system for 30 sheriff’s office vehicles. Mike Bridal of the county IT department said the system includes a recurring service subscription; he described the service fee as part of the expected annual cost: “It's part of the $45,000 a year. That includes the service piece of it too.” Vigil told commissioners the total purchase price quoted was $374,552.64, with funding drawn from MIS/IT budgets, Law Enforcement Protection Funds (LEPF), and sheriff’s office funds.

County Manager Brent Jaramillo and staff summarized timelines and funding sources for several items. On the sheriff’s office remodel, Jaramillo said staff met with the architect and expected to have final pricing in April, with bidding or use of a state price agreement expected by May or June and construction completed in the fall timetable discussed at the meeting.

Nut graf: The combined approvals fund design and preparatory work for several county capital projects and key equipment purchases; commissioners emphasized fiscal tracking and interagency coordination, and the SkyMira purchase establishes a new communications capability for patrol units in areas with limited cellular coverage.

Supporting details and context: The amendments include additional fees to existing purchase orders or contracts rather than new separate procurements. For the 90-unit housing development, staff said the added scope is civil engineering for grading, drainage, utility plans and a required traffic study; the amendment added a fixed fee of $85,100. For the sheriff’s office remodel, staff described work that includes replacement of asphalt and concrete, a solar carport structure, window and door replacement, exterior stucco and raising a site wall; an amendment increase of $61,247.18 was described in the meeting and reflected in the related contract item presented for approval. Living Design Group is the architect of record on several of the related projects and holds amended contracts for design and civil engineering services.

On the SkyMira system, staff provided a funding breakdown: roughly $99,000 of the purchase will come from sheriff-controlled funds for radio hardware, $42,000 will cover the subscription/service line item, and the balance (about $237,000) will be paid from MIS/IT capital lines. Bridal confirmed a recurring service fee and that the county will enter both a purchase/install contract and an ongoing annual service contract.

Votes at a glance: - Amendment 1 — additional architectural services, Phase 2 Taos County Detox Center (increase $30,300). Motion: Commissioner Hill; second: Vice Chair Romero. Roll call: Commissioner Hill — yes; Commissioner Romero — yes; Commissioner Brush — yes; Commissioner Vigil — yes; Vice Chair Romero — yes; Chair Mascarinas — yes. Outcome: approved. - Contract TCC2024-51A1 — Living Design Group, renovations for Taos County Detox Center (contract amendment). Motion: Commissioner Hill; second: Vice Chair Romero. Roll call as above. Outcome: approved. - Amendment — additional civil engineering and traffic study for 90-unit housing development (added fixed fee $85,100). Motion: Commissioner Romero; second: Commissioner Brush. Roll call: Commissioner Cahill/Hill — yes; Commissioner Romero — yes; Commissioner Brush — yes; Commissioner Vigil — yes; Vice Chair Romero — yes; Chair Mascarinas — yes. Outcome: approved. - Contract TCC2024-25 — Living Design Group, civil engineering for housing project (contract amendment). Motion: Commissioner Brush; second: Commissioner Vigil. Roll call: all present voted yes. Outcome: approved. - Amendment 1 — Taos County Sheriff’s Office renovation (added amount $61,247.18; new contract total presented as approximately $120,001.58 inclusive of GRT). Motion: Commissioner Romero; second: Vice Chair Romero. Roll call: all present voted yes. Outcome: approved. - Contract TCC2024-26 A1 — Living Design Group renovations at the old BLM site for the Taos County Sheriff’s Office (contract amendment reflecting the same increase). Motion: Commissioner Romero; second: Vice Chair Romero. Roll call: all present voted yes. Outcome: approved. - Purchase — SkyMira communications system for 30 sheriff vehicles, total quoted $374,552.64 (funds from MIS/IT, LEPF and sheriff funds). Motion: Commissioner Veil/Hill; second: Vice Chair Romero. Roll call: all present voted yes. Outcome: approved. - Revised job description — Accounting Specialist, Finance Department (restructuring to focus duties in finance). Motion: Commissioner Brush; second: Commissioner Vigil. Roll call: all present voted yes. Outcome: approved. - Consent agenda — Items A through K as presented. Motion: Commissioner Romero; second: Commissioner Brush. Roll call: all present voted yes. Outcome: approved.

Clarifying details: The SkyMira purchase includes hardware and an annual subscription/service fee (staff cited a $45,000-per-year service figure in discussion). The 90-unit housing amendment covers civil engineering and the required traffic study; staff said these funds will come from capital outlay awarded earlier for affordable housing. The sheriff’s office remodel is intended to be funded against LATCF funding and requires finalized pricing before construction procurement.

Staff and commissioners asked that project teams coordinate with local partners: Commissioner Brush asked that designers keep an eye on water movement and coordination with the Rio Fernando Collaborative while working on the housing site; staff confirmed the architect of record (Living Design Group) is involved on both the housing and trail projects.

Ending: Commissioners said they expect more detailed designs and final pricing in the coming months and that staff will return to the board with procurement steps and contract solicitations as pricing is finalized.