Preparation for wildfire season

The Otero County Commissioners took a different approach in their plea to Comanche National Grasslands to relocate their fire fighting equipment to a place nearer maximum risk areas on the Grasslands or to alternate the position of the equipment. As first responders, the Otero County fire districts are the ones who incur the most expense for fighting fires on unincorporated land such as the Grasslands and are not compensated for the first 24 hours of service, when the question is fight a thousand acre fire or let it expand to a ten thousand acre fire. The issue will also be discussed at a meeting planned for 1 p.m. on Feb. 23, the Annual Operating Meeting for fire districts. Joe Libiando, State of Colorado Department of Emergency Management, has been asked to attend.

Otero County Economic Development Coordinator Danelle Berg reported a successful manufacturing tour for sixth, seventh and eighth graders and also a tie being developed with this year's ninth graders, who took the tour last year. Coordination with the Ogallala Commons Youth Survey may yield a possibility of further development with ninth through 12th graders with the Daniels fund. The point is to spread the concept that well-paying manufacturing-related jobs in this area are available to local youth on graduation from high school and college.

County Administrator Jean Hinkle said arrangements are being made with the building on the southeast corner of Third and Santa Fe to house the Adult Services Department while the remodeling of their offices is taking place and to establish a system of communications, possibly through Viaero. The hope is to have them moved late February, early March. The remodel will take three to four months.

The county hopes to have its new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in operation by June 30, said Hinkle.

A Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy Board meeting concerning winter water distribution is planned for Tuesday afternoon at the Otero Junior College Banquet Room. The Arkansas Valley Farm/Ranch/Water Symposium is planned for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Gobin Community Building in Rocky Ford.

Sheriff Shawn Mobley will be receiving his new vehicles from state bid probably late March to April. They are a transport van, a Dodge Charger and a Dodge pickup.

All county, landfill, courts and driver's license offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 15, for Presidents Day. The Otero County Board of Commissioners will hold their Public Hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 1:30 p.m.