Luna County delays action on Chamber of Commerce funding after commissioners request budgets and accountability plan

The Luna County Commission on Oct. 16 reopened discussion of a previously approved $10,000 payment to the Deming/Luna County Chamber of Commerce and, after an extended exchange with chamber leaders and local business owners, voted to table further action until the Chamber supplies requested financial information and a written plan for cooperation.

Commissioner concerns: Several commissioners said they had been encouraged by the Chamber’s initial presentation when the funding was first approved but later observed turnover in executive leadership and inconsistent reporting. Commissioner comments focused on transparency and whether the Chamber had fulfilled contract obligations to provide regular financial and program reports. One commissioner said, "We need to see kind of your expenditures and that sort of thing," and urged the Chamber to adopt a resolution committing to cooperation with county requests.

Chamber response: Rosella Nannas, the Chamber president, acknowledged operational problems following the departure of the prior executive director and described efforts by the board to clean up office systems, restore access to member-management tools and carry out events and ribbon cuttings. "We are doing it alone now as a board," Nannas said, and she asked for time to hire a qualified executive director and to prepare requested reports.

Local business testimony: Courtney Vida Montes, a local business owner, said the Chamber remains useful to small businesses for advertising, ribbon cuttings and advocacy and asked the commission not to withdraw funding without exploring corrective measures. "We are prepared to work with the Commission to address these concerns and strengthen our accountability," she said.

Commission action: Commissioners requested the Chamber provide its budget and recent financial statements (a financial review from Glendale Patterson was referenced in prior meetings). They also asked the Chamber to propose a cooperation resolution committing to monthly reporting and timely responses to county information requests. With those conditions pending, the commission voted to table any action on funding to allow the Chamber and the commission to meet and exchange documentation.

Next steps: The Chamber will be asked to submit financial statements and a written cooperation plan; the commission scheduled the item to return for further consideration after review of those documents.

Attribution: Quotes and statements are drawn from public testimony given by Chamber president Rosella Nannas and business owner Courtney Vida Montes during the Oct. 16 meeting.