Hidalgo County roundup: Hurley appointments, prescribed burns, Columbus projects

Hurley Town Council moved to stabilize local government by appointing Aron Phillips as mayor pro tem on the recommendation of Mayor Maynes and filling its remaining vacant seat with Grant County Animal Control Officer Jason Cox. The council also reappointed Darlene McBride as town clerk/treasurer, Kevin Vigil as police chief, and Jay Madrid as fire chief, signaling continuity in municipal operations and public safety leadership. Council members approved a resolution setting Hurley’s governing body rules of procedure, clarifying how meetings are run and who presides over them.

These changes matter for residents because consistent staffing at the clerk’s office, police department, and fire department affects permit processing, law enforcement visibility, and emergency response. The rules of procedure aim to reduce confusion at meetings and ensure orderly decision-making as Hurley tackles local priorities.

Meanwhile, the Gila National Forest announced plans for prescribed fire operations across the Black Range, Quemado, and Reserve Ranger Districts. Planned activities include burning slash piles in the Indian Cienega area along New Mexico Highway 59, treating machine piles from past logging south of Luna near Sawmill Road, and addressing machine piles in the Sign Camp area near Forest Service Road 141. Fire personnel will monitor weather and environmental conditions over the coming month and will carry out targeted burns when conditions are appropriate.

Residents along Highway 59, near Luna and Forest Service Road 141 should expect occasional smoke and temporary road or trail restrictions during operations. Prescribed burning is intended to reduce hazardous fuels and lower the risk of larger wildfires, but it requires coordination and patience from communities that may be affected by smoke or access changes.

In Columbus, the village mayor announced a suite of community improvement projects now underway. Work includes roadway improvements on Taft Street, new public murals to enrich visual character, extension of electrical infrastructure to serve the new Industrial Park, and demolition of the former Columbus public pool to make room for future redevelopment. Those moves aim to improve village infrastructure, support economic development, and enhance public spaces for residents and visitors.

At the state level, the New Mexico Lieutenant Governor made road upgrades a top priority for the 2026 legislative session and helped present Senate Bill 2, a proposed New Mexico Department of Transportation infrastructure budget that includes a $1.5 billion transportation bonding package. If approved, the package is designed to fund critical state-managed road projects and to free up additional resources that could benefit local road improvements across counties including Hidalgo.

Hurley’s appointments set a steadier course for town governance, the Gila National Forest’s prescribed burns seek to lessen wildfire risk in vulnerable canyons and forests, and Columbus’s projects aim to modernize streets and infrastructure to attract investment. Residents should follow town and forest service notices for meeting schedules, burn updates, and construction timelines as these initiatives move forward.