Sandoval County outlines $72 million in facility projects, gives timelines for resource center and judicial complex

Charles Martinez, Sandoval County’s construction and special projects manager, told the county commission that roughly $72,000,000 has been allocated to a portfolio of facility projects and gave timelines and funding sources for the largest items.

Martinez said the county is following a plan–design–construct process and has recently adopted Procore as its project management information system to track budgets, RFIs and submittals. He listed projects in varying stages of planning, design and construction and said many are funded through a mix of ARPA, legislative grants, USDA grant dollars and local capital outlay.

The presentation provided the county’s schedules and cost summaries for several projects that affect multiple communities. Martinez said site work for the county resource facility will have utilities and grading complete around July 1, 2025, and that the county has placed a $10,000,000 maximum allowable construction cost on that facility. He said the facility construction is expected to go out to bid in early summer 2025 and finish in November 2026.

Martinez described project highlights and current status for other county facilities: a nearly finished design for an animal resource center, about 50 percent construction completion for dispatch facilities, site improvements underway at Pena Blanca Community Center (parking and drainage), a $45,000,000 maximum allowable construction cost (MAC) for the Judicial Complex addition, and a $1.4 million Phase 1 public works administration addition of roughly 2,700 square feet. He said a Cuba Road and Fleet Building expansion was completed to allow on-site maintenance of large equipment and that a $90,000 legislative grant paid for an exhibit hall at the Cuba County Fairgrounds.

Martinez also said the county submitted an application to the Bureau of Land Management to acquire roughly 206 additional acres for the fairgrounds; the current master plan covers about 66 acres. He described efforts to coordinate with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and consultants to secure access and to relocate utilities at the judicial site.

Commissioners asked for additional detail on funding gaps and next steps. Commissioner Brock thanked Martinez for the detail and asked whether any current delays were blocking progress; Martinez said the plan–design–construct process gives more accurate cost estimates as design advances but noted that industry conditions, tariffs and supply-chain issues can change final costs. Commissioner Jones asked which projects are fully funded; Martinez said several projects—such as some phases of the commissions’ chambers and BOE warehouse—have design funding but lack full construction funding, and that some projects “could probably use some additional funding.”

County staff and commissioners discussed sequencing for projects that are interdependent. County leadership said some projects will require additional programming and phasing decisions before construction can be scheduled. County staff also noted that utility extensions associated with the site work could enable local businesses along Hill Road to connect to sewer and natural gas as lines are installed.

The presentation closed with commissioners requesting regular updates; several commissioners suggested quarterly briefings to track design progress, funding status and funding shortfalls.

For documents and drawings referenced in the presentation, Martinez listed team members who support projects: Community Services Director Jamie Espinosa; Michelle Trujillo, contract administrator; Rebecca Sheck Schneider, grant writer; Christine Cruz; and others. Martinez said he is currently the only staff member fully dedicated to project delivery.

The presentation was informational; no formal action was taken by the commission on the projects during the meeting.