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Resident urges support for mining and other economic steps to curb decline in Luna County
Summary
Pete Delaney urged commissioners to back a mining operation and other initiatives to create higher-paying jobs, citing local economic challenges and a state projection the county population could decline to about 20,000 by 2030–2035; county staff said current population is roughly 24,000 and described economic development as a priority.
Pete Delaney told the Board of County Commissioners that Luna County faces long-term economic challenges, including low-to-medium household incomes, limited opportunities for local high-school graduates, gaps in medical care, and high rates of drug-related deaths in New Mexico.
"We have a low medium income in Luna County. We have little opportunities for our high school graduates," Delaney said. He described vacant buildings and declining opportunity as symptoms of the local economy and urged support for a proposed mining operation, calling it a potential source of higher-paying jobs.
Delaney referenced a state projection that Luna County's population could decline to "about 20,000" by 2030–2035; a county speaker responded that the county population is "roughly 24,000 and something now" and noted the county has been fairly stable.
Several commissioners and staff acknowledged economic development as central to the county's long-term outlook but did not take a formal vote on specific economic incentives or the mining proposal during the meeting. Commissioners Chandler and Harvey were thanked by Delaney for supporting the mining effort.
Next steps: no formal motion or vote recorded; discussion signaled continued county focus on economic development and coordination with local initiatives.
