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Eddy County commissioners swear in officials, elect Cordova chair and approve several consent items
Summary
At a regular meeting, Eddy County officials swore in newly elected officers, elected Commissioner Sarah Cordova as board chair and Commissioner Bowen as vice chair, and approved minutes, reports, a personnel reclassification and grant assurances tied to a DWI grant application.
Eddy County commissioners on a January meeting swore in newly elected officials, elected Sarah Cordova as chair and Commissioner Bowen as vice chair, and approved routine consent items including minutes, purchasing reports, a personnel reclassification and grant assurances tied to a DWI grant application.
The swearing-in included the newly introduced county manager, Mike Gallagher, and newly elected commissioners. Immediately afterward the board opened nominations and elected Commissioner Sarah Cordova chair following a motion and second; the board recorded unanimous affirmative votes from Commissioners Philip J. Trost, Hailey Klein, Bowen, Cordova and Carlson. Commissioner Bowen was then elected vice chair with the same affirmative vote pattern.
The meeting moved through several consent items. The board approved the commission meeting minutes for Dec. 17, 2024; the roll call recorded Trost, Cordova, Bowen and Carlson voting yes and Klein recorded as absent. The board approved the November purchase card report and the travel-request consent agenda by recorded affirmative votes. A motion to convert a full-time licensed mental health professional position to part-time and to reclassify a reentry education coordinator was presented as a personnel reclassification; the board approved that reclassification, with the county staff member noting the change would be funded by converting one officer position salary so no new budget appropriation was required.
During the resolution and agreements portion of the consent agenda the board approved a “statement of assurances” that staff said accompanies the FY26 DWI grant application submitted through the state Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). Miss Hampton, a county staff member, described the statement as certifying compliance with local DWI program provisions, the procurement code and financial accounting and reporting requirements needed to receive and expend the funds.
Not every agenda item moved forward: the sheriff salary discussion was pulled from the agenda for later discussion, and the board took a short break after installing the new chair and vice chair to take photographs of the newly sworn-in officials.
Public comment included remarks from resident Norbert Rempe urging the commission to adopt local ordinances similar to those enacted in nearby counties to restrict abortion access; Rempe told commissioners, “We either mean what we say or we don't,” referring to welcome signs that list “honoring God, family and country.” The board did not take action on that request during the meeting.
County staff and elected officials also reported project updates: a new drug task force building was reported as nearing completion and the courthouse seventh-floor work was described as finishing with carpet and ceiling tiles installed and inspectors scheduled to allow tenant moves. County manager Mike Gallagher introduced his family to the board and said he looked forward to working with staff and the commissioners.
The chair adjourned the meeting after commissioners offered brief comments welcoming new members, noting plans to travel to Santa Fe to meet legislators about infrastructure funding, and extending condolences to the family of a recently deceased former mayor.
