Preparing for the next emergency in Ruidoso

Jan. 27--In a public health emergency such as a flu pandemic, the Ruidoso Convention Center would be converted into a distribution site for medications and medical supplies, vaccinations and emergency triage, under a memorandum of understanding approved by the village council with the New Mexico Department of Health.

The agreement also lays out how emergencies would be handled to protect the civil rights and the liberties of individuals.

Village staff would have three hours to vacate the designated facility after notice from the state of a need to respond to a transmissible disease or other condition of public health significance, a declared public health emergency or other emergency or disaster events, Ruidoso Fire Chief Harlan Vincent told councilors at their meeting earlier this month.

The village will not be paid for the building's use, but may be subject to reimbursement, depending on a declaration of emergency by the governor or president.

Vincent presented the MOU to the council and Councilor Denise Dean offered the motion to approve, which passed unanimously.

Councilors also approved an Emergency Operations Plan for the village. Vincent said staff has worked on the plan for years.

"It's been written for a year and a half," he said. "About the time we finished writing the plan based on 2010-2011 questions, the Department of Homeland Security issued a new group of 128 questions, five parts per question for 2014. They want them identified in the plan to ensure that communities are prepared for anything."

The Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment is a tool that allows a jurisdiction to understand its threats and hazards and how the impacts may vary according to time of occurrence, season, location and other community factors, Vincent wrote in a memorandum to the council.

"The knowledge will help the village fire department establish informed and defensible capability targets," he said.

In a fire department related action, councilors also approved the purchase for $184,287 of a Pierce Mini Pumper for the fire department. Vincent said the piece of equipment will be bought with a $100,000 grant from the state Fire Marshal's office, with the remainder coming from a state fire grant.

The small four-wheel drive truck with large pumping capacity will give the department the versatility it needs to reach fires in steep areas when its snowing, he said.

"This is a very unique vehicle," he said, noting that it carries the Jaws of Life for extrication from cars and, "It has the same pumping capacity as big rigs as long as it can tie into a hydrant. It can pump as much as 1,000 gallons per minute."

"That's one of things that's been lacking, the ability to get to high places," Councilor Gloria Sayers said.

The addition of the mini pumper also will improve the village's rating for fire insurance premiums, because it will receive the maximum number of points, Vincent said.

"When we finish our fleet, we should go down to a 3 rating and save the community (money on premiums)," he said. "We have some aging engines now and we have plans for a new set of truck. We're working on that now and you will probably see (the results) in the next four months."

In rating a community on fire preparedness, a low number from the Insurance Services Office is preferred.

Other council action

In other action, councilors:

-- approved a resolution authorizing the village staff to submit an application to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, Local Government Division, to participate in the Local DWI Grant and Distribution Program.

-- approved an agreement with the Humane Society of Lincoln County for the operation of an animal shelter for an annual cost of $63,000, with no increase from last year.

-- approved a memorandum of understanding between the village, the city of Ruidoso Downs, the 12th Judicial District Attorney, and the county of Lincoln for the development implementation and operation of a drug enforcement task force, the White Mountain Drug Task Force, also known as the Lincoln County Narcotics Enforcement Unit.

-- approved a third renewal agreement with Gina Kelley to act as tourism director for the village at an annual salary of $65,718.

-- approved an agreement with The Agency for professional services for creative design, to replace the services provided by the late Brad Cooper. The agreement will not exceed $19,000, plus applicable taxes and has an option for a one-year renewal based on an evaluation by the Lodgers Tax Advisory Board.

-- approved a second renewal of an agreement with URS Corporation for professional services for the Alto Dam Evaluation and Preliminary Engineering Report project. The Office of the State Engineer, Dam Safety Bureau, required the village to evaluate options to improve, rebuild or relocate Alto Dam for dam safety. The village contracted with URS on Jan. 31, 2012, and approved a first renewal that expires on Jan. 30, 2014. The preliminary engineering report was submitted to the OSE and New Mexico Finance Authority for review and approval, A time extension was requested by staff to address any concerns submitted by those agencies.

-- approved the dedication of portions of Chavez Road to the village requested by Santoga Trust, Gazi Moises Trustee.

-- unanimously approved the appointment of Danny Sisson to the village Cemetery Board on a motion by Councilor Denise Dean. As director of the La Grone Funeral Chapel, he has the expertise, Mayor Ray Alborn said. The mayor also again thanked Realtor Bill Pippin for putting him in touch with the family that donated 22 acres for new village cemetery named Gavilan Memorial Gardens. They wish to remain anonymous, he said.

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