Sandoval County commissioners approve manager appointment, broadband and disaster grants; vote on public-comment time fails
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Summary
The board unanimously confirmed Chief Eric Masterson as deputy county manager, approved a $99,999 contract phase for broadband planning, accepted a USDA grant of about $4.07 million for post-fire flood mitigation, and authorized a priority-dispatch RFP; a proposal to lengthen public-comment time from two to three minutes failed.
The Sandoval County Board of Commissioners took several formal actions at its meeting on April 23, 2025, including personnel, procurement and grant-acceptance votes.
Deputy county manager appointment: The board voted to concur with County Manager Johnson's selection of Chief Eric Masterson to serve as Deputy County Manager. The commission recorded unanimous support. Masterson thanked commissioners and said he looked forward to the new role; Deputy Chief Chris Bagley was named interim fire chief.
Broadband: The board approved phase 2 of a rural broadband planning project with Hula Zollars (contract amount cited as $99,999) and authorized the county manager to finalize and sign the contract and subsequent amendments, as presented. County staff said phase 1 work is largely complete and that phase 2 will refine plans for extending service in the Jemez corridor and other rural areas; staff estimated the overall build could be a multiyear effort.
USDA flood-mitigation grant: The board accepted a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant award of $4,070,000 to fund flood and watershed mitigation work related to the post-fire burn scar in the Cerro-area community identified in staff remarks. County staff said the award is 100% federally funded for eligible properties identified by the program, and granted the county manager (with an amendment to authorize the deputy county manager) the authority to sign grant agreements and amendments to administer the project.
Priority dispatch software: The board approved awarding RFP FY25-FIRE-03 to Priority Dispatch for an expanded call-taking and dispatch-protocol software platform and authorized the county manager to negotiate final contract terms and approve amendments. County staff said the software is widely used in the U.S. and will standardize questions and protocols for 9-1-1 call-taking across medical, fire and law-enforcement responses.
Public-comment time proposal: A motion to increase the public-comment time limit from two minutes to three minutes (except when 20 or more speakers require a different limit) failed on a roll call vote. The roll call as recorded in the meeting produced two "yes" votes and three "no" votes.
Consent agenda and other procedural items: The board approved the consent agenda and other routine items as presented.
The board concluded without taking additional action on requests raised during public comment about forming a county-led coalition on election litigation.