JANUARY 2017 Volume 8 • Issue 1
BernCo at a Glance
BernCo's re-elected and newly elected officials took the oath of office on Jan. 1, 2017 at the Hiland Theater
Steven Michael Quezada won his first term as
District 2 county commissioner. Quezada is a life-long resident of New Mexico and a Screen Actors Guild award-winning actor, producer and comedian with a long record of public service for Bernalillo County children and families. Quezada has worked with
the gang intervention, Mi Voz and Elev8
programs through Youth Development Incorporated.
Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins has served on the Bernalillo County Commission since May 2009, representing the District 3 neighborhoods she has called home for
more than 50 years. In her seven and a half years on the commission, Commissioner Hart Stebbins has focused on ethics reform; expanding local economic opportunities through responsible job creation; feeding hungry children; improving access to mental health
and substance use treatment services; supporting at-risk students and their families through the ABC Community School Partnership; protecting Bernalillo county's great open spaces including the county's first urban open space at the UNM North Golf Course;
increasing the county minimum wage; and working to make sure men and women receive equal pay for equal work.
Commissioner Lonnie C. Talbert has decisively won his second term to represent District 4 on the Bernalillo County Commission. Since 2012 he’s worked tirelessly
to create new jobs and help companies grow and expand in Bernalillo County. His consistent support of industrial revenue bonds and other economic incentives has created an environment that’s attracted more than half a billion dollars in new private investment
to our community, and thousands of new jobs. In his first term, Commissioner Talbert was instrumental in creating stronger investment policies to better protect Bernalillo County tax dollars from investment losses and establish a better working relationship
with the Bernalillo County treasurer.
Bernalillo County voters definitively chose
Linda Stover to serve as the next Bernalillo County clerk in the fall of 2016. Stover brings a long history of public service to New Mexico and Bernalillo County. As clerk, Stover pledges to increase community outreach to increase registration
and voter turnout, as well as ensure all records are accurate and easily accessible for the public.
Nancy Marie Bearce pledges to bring fresh, competent and proactive leadership to the office of the
Bernalillo County Treasurer. This approach, coupled with her longtime neighborhood and community involvement, cemented her victory in the fall 2016 general election by a resounding margin. As treasurer, Bearce pledges to work closely with the Bernalillo
County Commission, taxpayers and county employees to restore public confidence and advance financial literacy for all in the community.
Important County Meetings Set for January:
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR HEARING
Second Wednesday of month
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 at 9 a.m.
BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS
Administrative Meeting
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 at 5 p.m.
Administrative Meeting
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 at 5 p.m.
All meetings listed above are held in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers, located in the basement of the city/county government bldg., One Civic Plaza, Fifth Street and Marquette NW.
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Here’s an important County Holiday Office Closing notice:
County offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 in observance of the
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.
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Not following us yet? Find us
on Facebook (Bernalillo County
NM) and Twitter (@BernCounty)
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Calling all young readers to join BernCo Bernie’s reading challenge!
Win a copy of BernCo Bernie’s new book, The Adventures of BernCo Bernie -- Another Day to Play, that will be released in early spring 2017 and be invited to the book’s unveiling premiere event!
All elementary school-aged children, kindergarten to fifth grade, are eligible to participate. Read 10 age-appropriate books between Jan. 4 and Feb. 1, 2017 and then send BernCo Bernie a reading log that
lists the books read.
The first 100 kids to turn in their completed reading logs will receive their very own copy of BernCo Bernie’s new book, The Adventures of BernCo Bernie – Another Day to Play, and will be personally invited
by BernCo Bernie to a red carpet book premiere event happening this spring at the historic Hiland Theater. Visit www.BernCoBernie.com for more details and to print out the reading log to keep track of books read.
As an added bonus, a second drawing will be held from among the attending participants at the premiere event and that lucky child will get to be a character in BernCo Bernie’s third book that will be released
in 2018.
For questions or more information, please call Brenda Cisneros at (505) 468-7025. You can also
Visit
www.BernCoBernie.com for more details.
Bernalillo County Officials List:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Debbie O’Malley, Member, Dist. 1
Steven Michael Quezada, Member, Dist. 2
Maggie Hart Stebbins, Member, Dist. 3
Lonnie C. Talbert, Member, Dist. 4
Wayne A. Johnson, Vice Chair, Dist. 5
Main office: (505) 468-7000
COUNTY ASSESSOR
Tanya R. Giddings
Main office: (505) 222-3700
COUNTY CLERK
Linda Stover
Voting - (505) 243-VOTE (8683)
Recording & Filing - (505) 468-1290
Marriage Licenses - (505) 468-1243
COUNTY TREASURER
Nancy Marie Bearce
Main office: (505) 468-7031
COURT OF WILLS, ESTATES & PROBATE
Probate Judge Willow Misty Parks
Main office: (505) 468-1232
SHERIFF
Manuel Gonzales III
Main office (non-emergency): (505) 468-7100
Visit
www.bernco.gov for more information
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Public Hearing on Property Tax Rebate
The BernCo Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on adopting the municipal and county property tax rebate for low-income residents on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers
at 1 Civic Plaza NW in Albuquerque. The rebate would refund a sliding percentage of a resident’s property tax liability for the year, from 35-percent to 75-percent, up to $350 total, based on their modified gross incomes, should they meet certain requirements
including: filed an individual New Mexico income tax return; had a modified gross income of $24,000 or less; physically present in New Mexico for at least six months; not an inmate of a public institution for more than six months; not a dependent of another
individual and the property tax liability incurred is on their principal place of residence.
Individuals with a disability in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter or any other aid to attend or participate should contact the County Manager’s Office at (505) 468-7000 or TDD
(505) 468-7088 at least one week prior to the hearing or as soon as possible. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. Contact the County Manager's Office if a summary or other type of accessible format
is needed.
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$2 Million in Additional Behavioral Health Initiatives Approved
The mobile crisis teams and scattered site supportive housing program were both approved and the county will now begin to solicit requests for proposals to implement the initiatives. The housing program will
increase supportive housing throughout Bernalillo County specifically for persons with behavioral health conditions who are homeless.
The mobile crisis teams will respond to individuals experiencing a nonviolent behavioral health crisis that necessitates a 911-response. There will be three teams formed, one by Bernalillo County and two by
the City of Albuquerque. Each team will consist of a crisis intervention unit deputy paired with a master’s degree level behavioral health clinician.
The scattered site supportive housing program will consist of providing housing and case management services for persons with behavioral health conditions who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless.
A minimum of 55 supportive housing units will be available throughout the county.
For more info about the behavioral health initiative program, please visit
www.bernco.gov/health-and-public-safety/frequently-asked-questions.aspx
.
BernCo Hotline Numbers
To report a road maintenance issue:
(505) 848-1503 or (505) 848-1504
To report graffiti:
(505) 243-7273
Park Watch Program:
(505) 468-7777
Or send an email to:
ContactCenter@bernco.gov
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Route 66 Visitors Center is Coming
The future Route 66 Visitors Center site is located on West Central Avenue at the apex of Nine Mile Hill and will capitalize on the historic nature of the Route 66 national scenic byway. The visitors center
will encourage motorists to get off the interstate and drive down the old Route 66 highway to learn all about Albuquerque’s heritage and all that the city has to offer.
The city, county and state are partners in this joint project with just over 3.5 million currently appropriated toward the future visitors' center. The 4.3 acres where the visitors' center will be built has
already been purchased. Community meetings are being planned to gather public input and comment about the visitors' center design and function.
Once the center is operational, visitors will once more travel down Central Avenue and tout the fact that they drove down the longest urban stretch of the historic Mother Road, enjoyed the culture, restaurants,
shops, and other attractions Albuquerque has to offer.
The Route 66 Visitors Center is a community driven project led by the Southwest Alliance of Neighbors and the West Central Community Development Group who have spent the last 20 years advocating for and securing
public funding from state, county, and city government.
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BernCo Website and Social Media Handles:
www.BernCo.gov
www.BernCoBernie.com
Bernalillo County NM
@BernCounty
@BernCoBernie
Bernalillo County
bernalillo.county
Like Us! Follow Us! Videos! Photos! BernCo at a Glance
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Winter Weather Tips to Keep You Safe
At home…As the weather gets colder, fires increase due to people trying to keep warm. Here are some cold weather reminders for the home:
• Check that heating appliances are in proper working order.
• Make sure there is no carbon monoxide leakage.
• Inspect heater cords for frays and/or damage. Do not use it if it is damaged. • Plug the heater directly into the outlet and never use extension cords.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can catch fire or is damp or wet, and be sure to use only a flat, level floor surface.
• Keep space heaters away from high-traffic areas, and never leave them unattended or in rooms with unsupervised children or pets.
• Make sure the circuit where the heater is plugged in can handle the added demand.
• Do not use charcoal or propane indoors.
On the road…Prepare yourself and your vehicle; pack an emergency winter car kit:
• Wool blanket, extra hat and gloves.
• Jumper cables.
• Water in small bottles (easier to thaw if frozen).
• Food – such as protein/candy/granola bars; high in calories and ready-to-eat.
• Extra cell phone batteries or charger.
• Make sure your automobile/truck/RV, etc. is prepared for winter traveling:
• Winterize your car and keep it well maintained.
• Always travel with at least half of a tank of gas.
• Never leave your home without a charged cell phone.
• Tell someone your route and when you are expected to arrive.
• Know where you are going and avoid unfamiliar routes during inclement weather.
• Check the weather before you travel.
• Check the road conditions.
• STATE ROADS | New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT)
• Road Advisory Hotline, call 511
• http://nmroads.com/ to see the most updated road conditions
• Also, sign-up for email/text alerts by downloading the NMDOT mobile app
• For information about NMDOT snow removal schedules, call (505) 222-6590
• COUNTY ROADS | Bernalillo County, unincorporated areas, outside of the city
• Call (505) 848-1503 for status reports about county roads or to submit a county
road work order request
• CITY ROADS | City of Albuquerque, within the city limits
• Call 311
For your pets…It’s a common misconception that dogs and cats won’t get cold because of their fur. If your pets have to be outside, here are some outside housing tips for your pets:
• Do not use fabric blankets or bedding. Once wet, they ice over when temperatures drop, and become wet again with your animal’s body heat.
• Place the shelter’s entrance facing south to southeast to help protect the interior from wind, rain and snow and to maximize exposure to the sun.
• If the opening is uncovered, consider attaching a thick piece of rubber, doormat or carpet scrap cut to size to block the wind, rain and snow.
• Make sure the shelter is as airtight as possible.
• Check the water bowl frequently for freezing.
Remember - if it is cold for you, it is cold for your pet!
Does your Neighborhood Association need resources, public speakers on many topics, etc.?
If so, contact Neighborhood Coordinator Darrell Dady at (505) 468-7364 or at
ddady@bernco.gov.
That’s the BernCo at a Glance for January. We’ll see you again in February!