Roads shift to complaint-based grading as county plans cleanup of tumbleweed and abandoned grow plastics

Road Superintendent Leonard Lujan told commissioners that extreme dryness has reduced the effectiveness of continuous grader operations and that fuel spending is high — about three-quarters of the fuel budget has been used with potential for a ~25% overrun if heavy grading is forced by an event. To conserve fuel, the Road Department will dispatch graders only in response to complaints and focus on maintenance tasks such as trimming trees and repairing culverts.

In a separate code-enforcement discussion, Planning & Zoning staff and Code Enforcement presented multiple resolutions finding properties a menace to public health and safety and described a new cleanup priority for abandoned cannabis and grow-site plastic. Director Don Goen said priority #1 is removal of plastic within 30 days, followed by metal rib-structures, and warned "Clock is ticking, there's no more fooling around." Staff said road crews perform cleanups on Fridays and Saturdays and that property owners will be responsible for cleanup costs unless the county takes action and seeks cost recovery through resolutions and legal processes.

Commissioners asked about timelines and whether some properties remained subject to lease or trust complications that require court resolution before county cleanup; staff said some sites are under active leases and require additional legal steps before unilateral county action.