Department heads ask: Where's all the money?
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Budget hearings for the city government began Thursday
with a lot of department directors asking a simple question: What
happened to our funding?
In his state of the city message before the hearings began, City
Manager David Ruiz said that since gross receipts tax revenue
is still down and the economy remains in a slump, city staff were
operating on the assumption of flat revenues for next year.
But this does not mean that city departments would be looking
at budgets at about the same level as last year. Because of some
shifting needs, most departments received a cut, with some of
the smaller departments seeing reductions of more than 20 percent.
Ruiz said that while total gross receipts revenues — which
brings in more than $1 million a month to city coffers —
for this year was up, when the extra quarter of a cent that was
added this year to repay a bond was factored out, the actual revenues
showed a decline of .36 percent.
So the budget submitted to the city council Thursday from Ruiz
was just under $18.7 million. This was about $50,000 higher than
the budget approved by the council last year but an additional
$750,000 was added during the year so this budget will cause a
reduction in department spending.
Outside agencies were hit hard under the proposed budget.
Last year, the council had approved spending $84,000 on outside
agencies. This year that amount was reduced to $69,000 with $50,000
of that going to the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments.
One of the city departments that was hard hit was public works.
Public Works Director Stan Henderson supplied the council with
figures that showed that his street operation services went from
$699,492 last year to $649,979 this year with Ruiz's budget calling
for another decrease to $543,500 next year.
That's a reduction of $155,992 over two years and Henderson said
that the decrease would "seriously hurt asphalt paving"
for the next year.
He strongly urged that the city council return at least $75,000
of that money back to his budget.
The problem is, however, said Ruiz, that to give Henderson $75,000
back would require the council to approve an additional $75,000
in cutbacks to their departments, many of them reeling under cuts
of their own.
Ruiz said that city officials were still hoping that the local
economy would rebound over the next few months, which would provide
an increase in gross receipts revenues.
If that happens, he said the council could revisit the budget
in December and replace some of the monies that have been deleted.
Henderson said this would work for his department since asphalt
paving depends on good weather conditions and that a good portion
of the paving is done in the latter part of the fiscal year.
But what happens if gross receipts tax revenue doesn't rebound?
Mayor John Pena suggested that in a worse case scenario that the
council look at reducing its reserves.
Under state law, the city is required to keep 8 percent of its
revenues in reserves in case of an emergency but the city council
has been maintaining the reserves at 11 percent, which next year
would be about $2.1 million.
If necessary, Pena asked, couldn't the council reduce its levels
of reserves to 10 percent, which would free up another $200,000
or so.
Ruiz said that was possible, pointing out that when he was appointed
city manager 11 years, the reserve level was at 13 percent and
the council eventually reduced it to 11 percent. So the council
could reduce it down as far as 8 percent if members so desired.
Another department that was hit hard — but by accident —
was the parks department.
Parks Director Esco Chavez pointed out to the council that his
money for hiring part-time workers for the summer to clean up
trash around the city was wiped out. This year, he had received
$50,000.
This apparently happened when the city was preparing the budget
and was looking at expenditures for February and just carrying
that sum throughout the year, multiplied by 12. Since the program
spends no funds in February, the account was listed as zero when
Chavez did not put in a special request for the funding.
City officials agreed that the program was needed and Chavez said
that he could get by with $30,000 so efforts will be made to find
funds elsewhere in the budget to replenish that account.
The budet hearings will be continuing today and Tuesday.
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WWC Construction top bidder on Patton
Drive job
Staff Report
GALLUP — An Albuquerque firm, WWC Construction, was the apparent
low bidder for reconstruction work on Patton Drive.
Only two companies, WWC and Wauford Construction, located here in
Gallup, bid on the project and there was some confusion Thursday when
it was reported by local radio stations that Wauford had won the bid.
Wauford was the apparent low bidder for the base proposal, bidding
about $1,035,000 to WWC's bid of about $1,116,000.
But Public Works Director Stan Henderson said that the companies were
also asked to bid on two options that the city wanted to do if money
was available.
Since the city had set aside $1.5 million for the reconstruction,
money was available to do the complete package.
When the total bids were considered then, WWC's bid ended up at $1,297,590
as compared to $1,378,270 for Wauford.
That's a difference of just over $80,000...
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House may be linked to murder
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Defense attorneys in the Eric Leyba murder case are
searching for clues about a connection with the house across the street
from the murder scene, where Leyba got the gun and where a rape occurred
11 days after the murder.
Attorneys Joseph Campbell and Mark Ernest of the New Mexico Public
Defender's Capital Crimes Division in Albuquerque are looking for
clues to other possible suspects in the March 10 death of Halbert
Brown, 40, at his home, 215 W. Princeton Ave. Their client, Eric Leyba,
18, of 1708 Mesquite Drive, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder
Friday during his first appearance in front of District Judge Grant
Foutz, who kept Leyba's bond at $1 million.
The attorneys received information that their client might not be
the only one allegedly involved in Brown's death.
"We'll investigate every avenue possible," Campbell said.
The Capital Crimes Division investigator, Carlos Herrera, will be
coming to Gallup to check out the situation at the house at 208 W.
Princeton Ave., the attorneys said.
At that location, an alleged rape caused Peter Lujan, 40, of 310 W.
Princeton Ave., to face trial over charges of criminal sexual penetration,
false imprisonment and aggravated battery in the rape of an 18-year-old
woman March 21.
Gallup Police Lt. John Allen said Lujan and Leyba were both common
partiers at 208 W. Princeton, right across the street from Halbert
Brown's home.
The night of the rape, Mitchell Romero, 17, and Shawn Romero, 19,
threw a party. The 18-year-old woman told police she was tired and
went to a bedroom to take a nap.
When she awakened, Lujan raped her and held her prisoner in the room
until Romero and other party-goers came back there
looking for her.
Lujan has not yet been arraigned in District Court.
Eric Leyba was friends with the Romeros and knew Brown as an acquaintance,
according to his confession to Gallup Police. He said the night of
the murder, Brown offered him a ride to the Romeros.
After Leyba left there, he said he went to Brown's house to drink
alcohol. Leyba claims Brown sexually propositioned him.
The come-on angered Leyba so much that he said he ran across the street
to the Romeros' house and obtained a gun from a shed behind their
house.
Leyba told police he went back to 215 W. Princeton, Brown's home,
and shot Brown. Then he searched his pockets, then he shot him again.
Detective Sgt. Rick White also testified about this confession during
Leyba's Magistrate Court hearing March 20.
Gallup Police Lt. John Allen said police don't believe anyone at 208
W. Princeton had anything to do with Brown's murder.
"He (Leyba) said no one knew he hid the gun," Allen said.
Still, detectives interviewed people at the house and investigated
the possibility of partners in crime. "No one else was involved
in the murder, which jibes with Eric's story," Allen said.
Defense attorneys won't be satisfied until they conduct their own
investigation.
Residents of the Princeton area are wondering if the people who live
at 208 W. Princeton were involved in Brown's death. The residents,
who didn't want to be named for fear of retaliation, said people at
this location often disturb the neighborhood.
Friends of Brown say he was bragging about an insurance settlement
and counted $6,000 right in front of them. They wonder if Brown also
bragged to Leyba, and a murder plan evolved.
Brown's family members have declined through the police to speak to
the media. Any other friends or family who have information on Brown's
case or Lujan's case may call the Independent, 863-6811, and ask for
the crime reporter.
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IHS 638 takeover concerns outlined
Jim Maniaci
Din Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Two things will prevent the Navajo Health Care
System Corporation from expanding the number of its affiliates once
the tribal council approves the historic contract to take over some
of the Navajo Area IHS.
According to Lydia Hubbard-Pourier, corporate chief executive officer,
resolutions designating the corporation as the Navajo Nation's entity
for the Public Law 93-638 deal and portions of the contract itself
both forbid what one opponent indicated could be a back door way to
accomplish what high-ranking tribal government leaders wanted from
the beginning.
The Navajo Nation Council will decide the matter next Friday, the
last day of the regular quarterly session, after having heard Tuesday
from the non-profit tribal-chartered corporation that would operate
the medical care in three communities.
In an interview Thursday, she said she would meet with that foe, Council
Delegate Ervin Keeswood (Hogback Chapter) who also chairs the Government
Services Committee. She said she would explain how the contract limits
the acquisition to the system corporation and its regional affiliate
corporations for the Winslow-Dilkon and Tuba City IHS service units,
along with the existing '638' program operated by the Utah Navajo
Health System, Inc., at Montezuma Creek.
She added that the tribe has a long successful history of using the
Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638).
More than $200 million of the tribal budget this year comes from that
act in which tribes contract with federal agencies to take over those
programs. Existing '638' money amounts to nearly twice what the Navajo
government generates on its own.
As to last summer's referendum, which resulted in a 4-1 margin against
the country's largest tribe acquiring the IHS's largest remaining
direct medical service area, Hubbard-Pourier referred to the two gambling
referenda.
"The council approved a waiver for one community, To' Hajiilee,
that really, really wanted to try gaming" at the satellite Canoncito
Navajo Reservation. Because the people believe "it would be good
for their area," she said.
The same situation holds for the western Navajo communities and their
Utah neighbors.
"I don't see the difference — the three communities feel
it would be really, really good for their communities. One is for
health and one is to improve their economic development base. These
three communities have solid political support for the contract. They
are convinced it is a good way to go," she said.
Hubbard-Pourier added that several delegates have told her that the
three communities want the transition to local control so much, they
will vote to approve the deal.
As to the tribe's notorious record with failed major enterprises,
Hubbard-Pourier sees a difference because the medical care field receives
heavy regulation and monitoring by the federal government, compared
to a sawmill.
She said another key factor is the high level of professional training
involved. "We just can't take someone from off the street,"
she said.
And entering into the contract would not involve a risk to Navajoland,
she said, because the federal government would be required to again
provide medical services, if the council were to decide to get the
tribal corporations out of the deal.
The corporate CEO answered concerns about the system corporation's
control of the funding by saying the council's Health-Social Services
Committee wants one focused accountability point instead of nine.
She added that by having the system corporation handle non medical
functions, such as personnel recruitment, the subsidiary corporations
would be free to concentrate all their efforts on providing the direct
delivery of medical care.
"This will keep from overloading our regional affiliates,"
she said.
The corporation agreed with the IHS to buy an expensive computer system
to form a bridge with the existing federal computer system which has
a hard time extracting financial information from patient care data
— something Medicare requires.
Because the IHS hasn't been able to determine precise costs for outpatient
(ambulatory) care, it negotiated $120 per person.
She said private and non-profit corporations can determine that its
costs $280 per ambulatory patient visit. Since they can document and
amount, they can bill Medicare for more than twice what the IHS does.
She said this would be part of how additional funds can be raised
if the council approves the '638' contract. The CEO cautioned the
increased revenue won't come in overnight because it will take time
to install and train people on the new system.
The corporation still figures it can earn an additional 3 percent
in interest on what the IHS will pay up front in a lump sum.
Hubbard-Pourier said this would mean an additional $750,000 for this
year, if the council Ok's the contract on April 19.
Every time there is a delay it alters the figures and changes the
dates. The initial proposal for eight service units, which the council
rejected in January, would have been for 9 of this fiscal year's 12
months. Now it is down to 5 months, she said.
The contract would be for 5 years, including the shortened 2002 fiscal
year.
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Area Sports
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — Rehoboth softball coach Rita Romero hopes that her team's
overall performance will help it gain the confidence it needs.
The Lady Lynx beat the Wingate Bears 18-6 in non-district softball
action at Veterans Memorial Field on Thursday afternoon.
"We have had trouble with batting," said the second-year
coach. "We have had trouble the last two or three games. I hope
this will give the girls confidence. We just need a tune up for what
comes ahead."
"I am glad the girls finally realize and know that they are bringing
to the field what they do at practice. They made some key plays offensively
and defensively that pumped up the rest of the team," Romero
added.
"The plays were just falling in place for (Rehoboth)," said
Wingate coach Richard Camp. "We just got down and didn't hold
our heads back up. We let the little things bother us."
"We didn't hit when we needed to. We didn't have good hits or
make good base running choices. We needed key hits. Offensively, we
didn't make our plays," Camps added.
The Lady Lynx offense had a total of 14 hits, took nine walks and
struck out only twice. They also stole home nine times to score, scored
two times on walks and left four runners on base to give Bear Tammy
Martinez the pitching loss.
Defensively, Rehoboth's pitcher Kim Kaminski went five innings for
the win. She finished with four strikeouts, nine hits, walked seven,
and left seven Lady Bears on base.
The Lady Lynx had to work their way back from a 6-0 deficit in the
bottom of the first inning when the Lady Bears scored their only runs
of the game.
At the top of the first inning, Cel Perez and Hilary Wilson opened
the game with singles to centerfield. Jenelle Woody took a walk and
Rachel Wilson got on base on an error that brought in two runs.
Kim Mann also took a walk before Shelena Tsosie and Denise Jefferson
both hit RBI singles. The last two runs were scored on RBI hits by
Amy Booquia and Marcy Desiderio.
The Lady Lynx came back to score two runs in the bottom of the first
inning. Christen Sanchez led off with a walk and was later hit in
on an RBI single down the third baseline by Kaminski. Kaminski stole
around to score, then the Bears' catcher overthrew the ball to second
base.
The Lady Bears were held scoreless in the remaining four innings on
four strikeouts and 11 defensive plays for outs.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Lynx scored all three of their
runs on steals at home. Ree Dee Begaye and Hess
Romero were both walked and Christen Sanchez hit a single and all
stole around the bases.
Two more runs were scored in the bottom of the third inning with Kaminski
leading off with a single and stealing around the bases to score.
Erika Romero followed with a successful bunt and was later hit in
by little sister Hess Romero on an RBI single to leftfield.
Ahead 7-6, the Lady Lynx did their damage in the bottom of the fourth
inning, scoring 11 runs and almost going around their batting lineup
two times.
The Lynx had seven hits, took five walks, stole home four times and
had two walks that brought in runs.
Behind 18-6, the Lady Bears were held in the top of the fifth inning.
Desiderio walked and was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice
hit by Perez. Perez later stole her way to third base but was thrown
out at home on a hit to the pitcher by Wilson. A pop up to third baseman
Lindsey DeYoung by Jenelle Woody ended the game.
The Lady Lynx were led at the plate by Kaminski who was 4-for-4 with
two RBI on three singles and a double and scored all four times. Erika
Romero and Begaye were both 2-for-3. Romero had an RBI and Begaye
had two RBI.
Perez led the Lady Bears in hitting, going 3-for-4 with three singles.
Wilson was 2-for-3 with two singles.
"We have had four to five games a week and its been hard for
the girls. We really needed this win. We needed it bad. Wingate surprised
us and the girls were a little nervous knowing they were 3-0 in district.
Wingate gave us a good game, I think they just lost their confidence,"
Romero said.
"This was a test for us to see the character of our ball team.
This will determine if we are a good team or not," Camp said.
Rehoboth (3-5 overall, 1-1 in district) will play Gallup Catholic
in a District 6A game at 11 a.m. Saturday. Wingate (7-4
overall, 3-0 in district) will play Tohatchi today in District 1AAA
action at 4 p.m. Both games will be played at Veteran's
Memorial Complex.
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There goes my truck!
Staff Report
GALLUP — It must have seemed like a ghost rider at 11:30 p.m.
Wednesday when Theresa Fraizer, 46, of Chino Loop in Gamerco, heard
her pickup start and peeked out the window, watching the truck travel
down the road.
Fraizer told McKinley County Sheriff's Department deputies that
she was asleep when she heard the truck start up. "I knew it
was my truck, because it runs very rough when it first starts,"
she said.
She called 911 when she saw the truck head south on Chino Loop.
She said the doors were locked, and she had the keys...
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Launch rescheduled
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE — The Storm target missile launchscheduled
for lastThursday morning from Fort Wingate has been tentatively
rescheduled for Saturday, April 13. The launch will take place between
6:30 and 8 a.m. and can be viewed from Red Rock State Park. Roadblocks
and evacuations will be the same as previously published.
The Storm missile will NOT drop a booster into the Datil safety
zone. However, there will be some short safety roadblocks and evacuations
around the immediate Fort Wingate area, mostly to the south and
east. They will be the same as those used during past target launches.
The roadblocks include the following: New Mexico Route 400 between
the Fort Wingate historic monument and McGaffey Lake; Forest Route
191 between N.M. 400 and six miles to the west; Forest Route 547
between Six mile Spring and McGaffey Lake. In addition, gates along
N.M. 400 will be closed to passage...
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New leads in triple-slaying
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Three vehicles were at the scene where three
youths were shot to death east of Albuquerque nearly three years
ago, police said Thursday.
No arrests have been made in the case, but police in recent weeks
have said they have obtained new evidence.
The three youths, Luis Garcia, Matthew Hunt and Kevin Shirley, were
killed after they left a party on Memorial Day weekend in 1999.
"The East Mountain Triple Homicide Task Force has determined
there appears to be three cars at the scene the night of the murders,"
Bernalillo County Sheriff Joe Bowdich said in a news release...
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Deaths
Raymond Ray Smith Sr.
LUPTON, Ariz. Services for Raymond Smith Sr., 82, will be held at
10 a.m., Saturday, April 13 at Tse Si Ani Baptist Church. Dr. R.O.
Hawthorne will officiate. Burial will follow at private family cemetery,
Lupton.
Smith Sr. died April 7 in Gallup. He was born March 4, 1920 in Rehoboth
into the Red House People Clan.
Smith Sr. was World War II Veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater
Iwo Jima. He was a Navajo Code Talker, council man for Lupton and
Houck Chapters and CEO of Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise. He
was a layman for the Painted Cliff Bible Church, Lupton. His hobbies
included hearding sheep, traveling, reading the bible and books.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille Smith of Lupton; sons, Marvin
Jim Smith and Raymond R. Smith Jr. both of Lupton; daughter, Yvonne
Sharon Murphy of Lupton; brother, Roy O. Hawthorne of Lupton; sister,
Naomi Speirs of Lupton; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Smith Sr. was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Smith and Desbah
Hawthorne; son, Ronald E. Smith; daughter, Karen Smith; brothers,
Clarence Hawthorne Sr., George Moss, Edmond Smith and Gene Smith.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Hawthorne, Rick Murphy, Argus Smith, Brent
A. Smith, Marvin Jim Smith, Raymond R. Smith Jr. and Ronald B. Smith.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Rosenda Jones
CHINLE, Ariz. Services for Rosenda Jones, 86, will be held at 10
a.m., Saturday, April 13 at Chinle Catholic Church. Father Blaine
will officiate. Burial will follow at family land.
Jones died April 10 in Chinle. She was born July 1, 1916 in Chinle
into the Big Water People Clan for the Red Running into the Water
People Clan.
Survivors included her son, Stephan Franci Charley; daughter, Comacia
Gorman; brother, Eddie Brown; sister, Susie Brown; 23 grandchildren
and 17 great-grandchildren.
Jones was preceded in death by her husband, William S. Jones; daughters,
Rosita Jones and Betsy Brown; sisters, Bertha Stevens and Mary Tayah;
and brothers, Leo Brown, Nelson Brown, Vincent Brown and Randolph
Brown.
Pallbearers will be Casey Brown, Richard Charley, Johnson Lewis,
Nathaniel Gorman, Gene Bryant Clark Jr. and Jimmy Tsosie Jr.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Virginia Carroll's residence.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Michael Lee Johnson
WINDOW ROCK — Services for Michael Johnson, 40, will be held
at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 13 at Chi'hootso Nazarene
Church. Pastor Steven Joe will officiate. Burial will follow at
St. Michaels Cemetery.
Johnson died Dec. 12, 1961 in Mexican Hat, Utah into the Honaaghani
for the Dib lizhini.
Johnson attended Window Rock High School and Kayenta Schools. He
was self-employed as an artist.
Survivors include his son, Travis Yellowhair of San Diego, Calif.,
parents, Betty Johnson of Window Rock and Bud Johnson Sr. of Kayenta,
Ariz.; brothers, Lonnie Johnson of San Diego, Gary Johnson and Bud
Johnson Jr. both of Phoenix; sisters, Christine Phillips of Oaksprings,
Ariz., Sherry Johnson of Denver, Laureen Tilt of Seattle, Wash.
and DeeDee Johnson of
Phoenix.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Wallace "Wally" N. Anderson
BLUE GAP, Ariz. — Services for Wallace Anderson, 81, were held
at 11 a.m., today at Ertels Funeral Home, Cortez, Colo. Burial will
follow at Cortez Cemetery, Cortez.
Anderson died April 6 in Casa Grande, Ariz. He was born Oct. 31,
1920 in Swink, Colo.
Wallace served in the U.S. Marines, South Pacific, during World
War II. He was a trader in Two Story, Ojetto, Black
Mountain, Many Farms, Smoke Signal, Tselani and Blue Gap.
Survivors include his children, Linda Randolph of Cortez, Colo.,
Danny Anderson of Wasilla, Ariz., Randell Anderson and
Richard Anderson both of Casa Grande, Ariz., numerous grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.
Wallace was preceded in death by his wife, Ila Sayan, parents, sister,
Theoline and brother, Elton.
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