Commission Meeting January 16 2025

The Chaves County Commission held a meeting on January 16, 2025, which included the election of the chairman and vice chairman for the year, with Commissioner Taylor elected as chairman and Commissioner Perry as vice chair. The meeting featured presentations from local organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Cooperative Extension Service, and updates on the National Championship Air Races, highlighting ongoing infrastructure improvements at the Roswell Airport and related economic development efforts. The commission also conducted a public hearing on a proposed property tax rebate ordinance, ultimately voting to deny the ordinance. Additionally, the commission approved a resolution for the annual public meeting schedule and discussed grant applications related to DWI programs, which were tabled for further review. The Planning and Zoning Commission members were reappointed, and the commission approved payment of checks totaling nearly $3.9 million, including progress payments for the Macho Draw project. A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to appointing a replacement for the vacant New Mexico House seat 59, with multiple candidates presenting their qualifications and answering commissioners' questions. The commission voted to recommend Mark Murphy for the appointment. The meeting concluded with public comments regarding local infrastructure needs and flood mitigation, and commissioners expressed appreciation for staff and community involvement. No new contracts or procurement awards were reported, but ongoing capital improvement projects and grant applications were discussed.