The Socorro County Board of County Commissioners approved its Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for fiscal years 2022-2026 at its Sept. 8 meeting. The plan will be submitted to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration for consideration during the 2021 session of the New Mexico Legislature.

Funding, if approved by the legislature, will come from either state or federal grants. The ICIP establishes planning priorities for anticipated capital projects. In other words, the ICIP is the county’s roadmap for future capital outlay and Community Development Block Grant funds, allowing the board to better prepare for grant opportunities.

“It’s like our wish-list for county improvements,” County Manager Michael Hawkes said.

The state-coordinated ICIP process encourages entities to plan for the development of capital improvements so that they do not find themselves in emergency situations, but can plan for infrastructure at a pace that sustains their activities.

Topping the wish list for 2022 is money for repair work on Scholle Bridge in the Abo area of Socorro County, which would cost about $1,078,000. Of that amount, $100,000 has already been allocated. Also for next year, the county is requesting $500,000 for the energy improvements to the Socorro County Courthouse.

The third-ranked request is for $500,000 for concrete flood control culverts. The county has already secured $500,000 for the $1 million project.

Funding for drainage and flood mitigation work on the northern part of county road 91 is the fourth-ranked project on the county’s list. Total cost of the project is $1,045,000. Of that, $45,000 has already been approved, while another $100,000 is being requested for 2021.

Looking ahead, $70,000 is needed to begin improvements to Polvadera Heights Road. Other requests, targeted for future years, include: $257,000 for a road grader, $60,000 for a road department wireless network, $500,000 for stormwater drainage control in San Antonio, and $300,000 for improvements to the detention center yard.

In other business:

• Sheriff William Armijo briefed the board on difficulties responding to crime at the Alamo Navajo reservation.

• Hawkes gave the commissioners an update on the progress of the Hot Spot Scholarship program.

• The board acknowledged the CARES Act funding award letter and application.

• The board passed a resolution to dispose of “obsolete, worn-out or unusable tangible personal property.”

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain