The Bureau of Indian Affairs decision to send prisoners to Yuma, AZ instead of McKinley County Adult Detention Center has left the city and McKinley County in a projected financial bind moving into fiscal year 2016.

McKinley County Finance Director Sara Keeler presented the news to the City Council May 12. She said the total deficit is about $1.3 million.

And the city’s share is 30 percent of the deficit, which equates to more than $3 million.

“This is a disaster,” said Mayor Jackie McKinney.

County Manager Bill Lee said the jail houses an average of 180 to 190 inmates per day and has a capacity to hold 326.

There’s no extra compensation for housing inmates from the area...

To improve the lackluster entry and exit into Gallup from Interstate 40, the City Council is developing a master plan to beautify the area.

Plans involve landscaping the four I-40 interchanges that run through town.

MRWM Landscape Architect drew up some plans that take advantage of existing native grass and add rock, stone features and bosque paintings intended to connect with the multicultural demographic that comprises of Gallup.

It’s in the early planning stages. But the overall concept would be similar to the interstate landscaping program between the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the city of Albuquerque.

Councilors gave mostly positive feedback on the designs, and...