Grants to remove prairie dogs
from ball fields
Jim Maniaci / Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS—City Councilman Modey Hicks is ready to declare war on prairie dogs.

"They've had enough chances to get them. But let's give them another chance this time. If they don't get them, we need to get rid of them because they are not only a hazard to the kids out there playing, but they are also a health hazard to everyone who lives in this community... One way or another they've got to go," he said. The newest city councilor made his declaration of war Tuesday night during the citizen's comments portion at the start of the agenda.

The one more time will be a second attempt by a woman who travels the country trapping the animals who have claimed three of the four fields at the Candelaria Complex on Sakeluras Boulevard south of the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Hicks said, as the father of youth ball players, he spent seven years filling in the holes which gobble up baseballs and softballs as well as being notorious for twisting ankles of people and pets.

City Manager Bob Horacek said because Grants "tries to be environmentally friendly" it needs to bring back Paula Martin. Last year he said she trapped at least 30 of the rodents with the help of about four volunteers which wasn't nearly enough. He indicated a much larger number could be trapped with more help this year.

Charma Chavez, the new president of the Cibola County Amateur Baseball Congress, raised the topic during her report that Grants once again had been awarded a lower-level tournament July 6-9. Last year seven teams competed, including four local squads. She added that Councilor Walter Jaramillo is a coach in the local league.

As to the eviction of the troublesome prairie dogs, she noted that previous attempts to flood them out have failed. And, she said, she wouldn't be surprised if the one village has 300 of "the pests."

Three other citizens talked to the council during the 90-minute meeting.

Former council member and two-time mayoral candidate Shirley Taylor reminded the city's governing body that the newly-approved charter requires each agenda to include a separate opportunity, besides the call to the public, for citizens to point out charter violations. The mayor and manager promised to seek legal advice on her point.

Jean Devine of the Rio San Jose Drain Committee gave a report which notes, among other things, "The current condition of the 'ditch' did not happen overnight, but many of our residents are counting on a definite improvement quickly to avoid another situation like that of last summer."

The torrential downpour into the Mount Taylor watershed resulted in heavy flooding, cutting sections of the city off. The council tallied at least 18 heavily damaged homes. In his district, which includes the Nimitz Drive bridge, which acts like a dam, Hicks made the city's response a key in his campaign, unseating Gene Green.

Barbara Wesley and mayoral candidate Michael Lewis advised that the Rural Economic Development Through Tourism committee will ask the city, Milan and Cibola County for $4,000 each to pay $20 to participants in a front-line employee training campaign to tell visitors about local attractions and facilities and how to get to them.

REDTT, through Rick Best at the North West New Mexico Visitors Center south of I-40 at Exit 85, will conduct the monthly 2-hour sessions for 30 people. Lewis said the money is to compensate the employees for taking off work. Wesley reminded the council that Cibola County really is the fabled land of the seven cities of gold. She added Gallup and Farmington are jealous of Grants for landing the regional visitors center.

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).