By JO LUTZ
Daily Press Staff
Thursday’s Grant County Commission meeting focused heavily on law enforcement and public safety issues — both on and off the agenda. It opened with a hearing for an ordinance to continue funding 911 communications in the county, and shortly thereafter, no fewer than 10 sheriff’s department employees spoke during public input, along with a private citizen and a Bayard town councilor, all asking for increased pay for deputies.
County Manager Charlene Webb explained that the ordinance under consideration would ask voters to repeal a 10-year sunset clause on a 2012 law that funds the county’s emergency communications system using an increment of gross receipts tax.
“It’s critically important that this ordinance passes, and this is the first step in moving it forward,” Webb said. “We will also see a special election on August 22.”
District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne emphasized that this would not mean a tax increase, simply the continuation of an existing tax.
After the hearing, Commission Chair Chris Ponce opened the floor to public comment.
First, Grant County resident Bobby Sherling praised the professionalism of the Sheriff’s Department in responding to an encounter he had, and said he was speaking out in support of increased funding for the department. Then Bayard City Councilor Jose Diaz spoke, the first of many to compare their wages to those of officers in municipal police departments.
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