No opposition to either action

On Sept. 20, the McKinley County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a mental-health contract for Elizabeth Terrill of Gallup, whose work deals with detainees at the McKinley County Juvenile Detention Center on Hassler Valley Road. The action took place at the regular commission meeting. Donna Goodrich, MCJDC director, briefed commissioners on the matter.

“This is basically about renewing a contract,” Goodrich told commissioners. “That’s pretty much it.”

McKinley County Attorney Doug Decker explained that Terrill’s contract has been in place for more than a year. Terrill is paid via Medicaid.

Decker said Terrill’s work involves correctional psychological services. He called the contract a professional behavioral-health and social-services agreement. There was no word from Goodrich on how many detainees are served as per the agreement.

Youth correctional counselors provide counseling services to juvenile offenders and their families, and act as liaisons between their clients and the courts, schools, and jails.

DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER HIRED

At the meeting, commissioners announced the hiring of Brian Money as deputy county manager.

The county had advertised the position statewide and on the New Mexico Association of Counties website. The county received four job applications from area candidates. Those candidates were John Chapela, a former tribal judge with the Pueblo of Zuni; Chester Carl, the current executive director of the Hopi Tribal Housing Authority in Polacca, Ariz.; and, Deputy McKinley County Treasurer Robert Griego. No other candidates sought the job, which was open for several weeks.

“It’s a job that is definitely needed,” Commission Chairman Tony Tanner said. “I’ve seen the quantity of work that comes through the county. The work load is such that the job is needed.”

Tanner pointed out that Cibola County, which is significantly smaller than McKinley County, has a full-time deputy manager.

“You look at a county the size of Cibola County,” Tanner said. “Cibola County is a lot smaller than McKinley County and doesn’t have the same number of employees that we have. That says something about quantity of work.”

Decker said an interviewing committee for the deputy county manager job consisted of Cibola County Deputy Manager Tony Boyd, Rio Arriba Deputy County Manager David Trujillo, and current McKinley County Manager Anthony Dimas.

Decker said Money officially began the job Sept. 19. Money’s salary is between $74,000 and $91,000.

Money’s a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University and was previously the assistant director of human resources for McKinley County. Decker said advertisements for the assistant human resources job will go out within weeks, and the position will be filled soon after.

The Board of Commissioners met in closed session for about 30 minutes to discuss a matter associated with the disposition of real property. The next regular county commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 4.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent