County planning to get state funds

San Miguel County is taking the first steps to seek funding from the state Legislature, which convenes in January.

This week, the County Commission generally agreed with County Manager Les Montoya’s recommendations for requests for legislative funding.

Montoya’s top requests include:

• Hydrological assessment to see how much water there is in high-growth rural areas. This request would be in conjunction with the city of Las Vegas.

• Wood business park utilities. This project designed to boost the wood industry is in conjunction with the Las Vegas-San Miguel Economic Development Corporation.

• Solid waste baler. This equipment would compact garbage, which would mean fewer trips to the landfill in Wagon Mound, saving the county money.

• Community-based reintegration center at the county jail. This would help inmates avoid a life of crime.

• Improvements to fire stations to meet the requirements of the state fire marshal.

Commission Chairman David Salazar said he liked the recommendations because they focused on projects that would benefit the entire area and save the county money in the long run, citing the solid waste baler as an example.

“Let’s get started early,” Salazar said, saying the solid waste baler should be the top priority.