SunRay racino relocation, illegal dumping cleanup, 4 H leadership and infrastructure

San Juan County commissioners moved through a packed agenda on December 24, hearing updates on the proposed relocation of the SunRay Park and Casino license, new staff and leadership at the county extension office, efforts to curb illegal dumping, and ongoing bridge repairs. County Manager Mike Stark reported the New Mexico Racing Commission hearing set for December 22 in Clovis had been postponed, and that officials are still accepting comments on the matter through the Racing Commission website. A closed session addressed matters pertaining to threatened or pending litigation related to moving the SunRay 'racino' license to Clovis, and Stark said the commission and public will be informed as soon as a new hearing date is set.

The meeting also marked the ribbon cutting for the new County Extension Office at 400 Gossett Drive in Aztec. County program director and adult agriculture agent Bonnie Hopkins Byers introduced Lena Sanchez as the new 4 H agriculture agent, who will oversee livestock instruction, rodeo programs and other 4 H activities as needed. A second extension position remains open and advertised on the county extension website. 4 H County Council officers Mary Frank and Cadence Anderson thanked the commission for its support and described plans to use the new building for project meetings, camps, leadership events and educational workshops. Commissioners noted San Juan County supported more than 250 4 H events at McGee Park and helped sponsor the State 4 H Rodeo.

Public Works Director Nick Porell introduced Joseph Myers as the county s new Beautification coordinator, funded again through the New Mexico Department of Transportation Que Linda program. Myers said, "I m super excited to be here and looking forward to engage the community to help address the problem of illegal dumping," and added, "So it gave me an eyeful of what I m up against, but I m excited to look for solutions to this problem and also volunteer events." Myers reported joining crews last week to collect more than 35,000 pounds of trash.

Porell provided bridge updates, saying Hasse Contracting was conducting night work on the CR 3500 bridge while crews backfill the deepest part of the trench and that a 24 hour operation would run until midnight the next day. He said an engineering evaluation allowed work on the CR 3000 bridge to resume last week after a stop work order on December 3, noting, "The strategy has changed from a full opening to a single lane opening to get traffic flowing as quickly as possible." County Clerk Alyssa Kuhn reported an audit completed December 1 and a recount held December 2 for Aztec School Board District 3, Farmington School Board District 3 and Bloomfield municipal judge, with no changes to outcomes.

The meeting underscored local stakes in regulatory hearings and infrastructure schedules, with the SunRay license question carrying potential legal and economic implications for residents, workers and county revenue. Commissioners encouraged public engagement on the Racing Commission comment process and highlighted new staff and facilities that will support agriculture youth programs and neighborhood cleanup efforts going into the new year.