Emails, Dialogue and a Deep Dive Into TRB Dispatch Authority and Fairgrounds Park Lot Sell Controversy in Alamogordo

Via a request for statement and public records requests AlamogordoTownNews.org has secured a series of email correspondence between the City of Alamogordo and County Officials showing a pattern of escalating dialogue and concerns about the handing of operations and meetings of the Tularosa Basin Dispatch Authority, and dialogue around the sale of the Fairgrounds Parking lot. Two totally unrelated issues but friction points between the City and County political leaders. 

Letters between the city and county leadership show a level of frustration in how the joint powers committee was operating, in the cancellations of meetings, questions around open meetings act compliance and in the escalating costs of the operations with little oversight by the city being allowed. In a nutshell the feeling by city staff to include police and fire department leaders is that $1 to $2 Million dollars is going into a black hole of which is not providing the city public safety departments the level of service needed to ensure safety to officers, fire professionals and citizens.  Further concerns were being raised about the rise in city expenses and no real voice being recognized by the county leadership. 

Attached below are links to a series of correspondence between the City of Alamogordo and County staff related to the Joint Dispatch Center operations and revelations about dialog around the Fairgrounds Parking lot, two seperate issues but each causing friction with the City and County leaders.

Parking Lot Discussions
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WgZA7OL3XaaC9mZl1LSNnAmhnCVagl73/view?…

Parking Lot Discussions 2
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qYul8KAX3hO7FX9B16G6IXH851sb5Z6U/view?…

TRBDA Discussions 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uRCVFKgFJL2Sv4QSiLklrXKpw0Is2V4I/view?…

TRBDA Discussion Issues and Meeting 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u655MzsGOb0_b8WwP0YfsuOx3qJISpL5/view?…

In followup to the data dump from our IPRA requests we asked for a statement from the city. What follows is a statement from the acting city manager...

"Mr Edwards,

I have read the statements from both Commissioner Barela and the City Attorney, and I recognize the concern and difficulty expressed. This has been a tough situation for both entities, and I want to emphasize that the decision brought before the City Commission was not made lightly. It weighed heavily on all involved and was only put on the Agenda after exhaustive efforts and careful consideration.

This decision was not personal. It was not political. It was made from an operational standpoint, with the sole objective of protecting and serving the best interests of the citizens of Alamogordo.

The City raised several legitimate concerns over the past 18 months. In my professional assessment, more effort was spent dismissing or deflecting those concerns than collaboratively addressing them. This created a difficult environment for our Fire and Police Departments, especially given that the concerns were largely operational and directly impacted their ability to serve, including the safety of our Officers and Fire Fighters.

Additionally, it became increasingly difficult to justify continued financial contributions when the City was informed that its input was merely advisory and that ultimate decisions would be made solely at the County level. I believe the letter by County Attorney Nicoles and County Manager Heltner undermines the spirit of a true partnership.

To respond to Mr. Nichols, if anyone listened carefuly to our meeting, we were very open about the unwillingness to pay half of an astronomical budget of 4 million dollars. It was, in our opinion, and we have openly said, fiscally irresponsible to write a “blank” check. If you look at the budget documents on our Agenda, along with 4 million dollars, you will see that he requested an additional amount to expand the building of $750,000, new positions, and several increases, which go unquestioned by the County. This is apparent in the budget hearings they held. His meeting was probably 5-10 minutes long.

We additionally did not provide all the letters of support because in my opinion that had nothing to do with the intent to withdrawl. Those letters are also referenced in his letter, so I feel the jest of support was there. I have stated the current Director is intelligent, and genuinely a good guy, but lacks leadership.

At the end of the day, it came down to our input on operations that protected our Fire, Police, and citizens being dismissed, and our input on the direction and ultimately renewing the Director’s contract became a “recommendation”.

I would also like to address a broader issue that I mentioned briefly: the frequent distinction between “Otero County citizens” and “City of Alamogordo citizens.

The residents of Alamogordo are Otero County citizens. They pay the same county taxes as every other resident—on top of additional city taxes. In fact, based solely on the county tax portion, Alamogordo residents contribute a share roughly equal to the entire remainder of the County combined. Yet at times, it feels as though that contribution and responsibility are not equally recognized.

City leadership—our staff, our Mayor, and our Commission—has an obligation to prioritize the well-being of Alamogordo residents and recognize their financial contribution to the big picture. However, we have consistently made efforts to consider the broader good of the County as a whole.

With the Commission’s recent vote, City staff has already begun implementing next steps. We are committed to ensuring that there is no disruption in our community’s public safety services. Our priority, as always, remains the health, safety, and service of our citizens and those we ask to protect them.

Our Dispatch, prior to Merge was in the Police Department, and it will reopen in the same place. We are developing a six-month plan and hope to be operational well within our six-month plan. We will begin posting positions in the New Fiscal Year and probably hire a consultant to help reactivate Dispatch.

Regarding Mr. Nicole’s discussion to dissolve Dispatch, a comment was made due to the ongoing tension with TBRDA and our parking lot. I won’t speak for RB, but it was probably out of frustration and after Pamela’s and my meeting was canceled.

Pamela and I had set up a meeting to discuss the parking lot and tensions, but she canceled because she did not want to step on the commissioner’s toes. I wasn’t sure what she was referring to, but I found out there was an email exchange between Commissioner Barela and Mayor Payne over the weekend.

I have attached both emails where it was canceled and RB’s comment.

I will say I believe both entities share frustrations, and rightfully so. Operationally, we can handle anything, as the County and the City have great, intelligent staff. Both agenda items (parking lot and TBRDA) became more complicated than necessary.

I hope this answers your questions, and I know I can become wordy. My final statement is that both entities are acting in what they believe to be the best interest of their respective governing bodies and citizens. It would be inappropriate for me to question their judgment—just as I trust they would extend the same respect in return."

What is obvious from the documents uploaded and the recent public statements from city and county officials is a significant level of frustration in interpretations of the joint agreement between the city and the county and the perceived roles of each governing body; from the oversight board to the role of the city and county commissioners.

Further there is a distinct concern with leadership of the operations with the two major government bodies having opposite viewpoints of the metrics of success. In the end publc safety and that of the police and fire personnel hangs in the balance as does fiscal responsibility.  

The decision to depart from the Joint Dispatch Authority, while not popular with some, came on the strong recommendation of the City Police and Fire leadership.

Ultimately, the safety and welfare of the citizens of the city, and those two leaders staff of officers and firefighters rests in their hands. Their recommendation was to depart from the Joint Dispatch Authority, and that decision, was not political, but based on years of experience and leadership. Respecting their experience and advise, city elected leaders had a responsibility to follow that request for the good of the citizens of Alamogordo. 

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