Tri-City Tribune 07122013

Page 1

JULY 12, 2013

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED • SERVING THE SAN JUAN BASIN

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Annual Rod Run Block Party set for July 20

A9

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Most county offices will soon be closed on Fridays LAUREN DUFF Tri-City Tribune Most San Juan County government offices, beginning in 60 days, will close each Friday after County Commissioners unanimously approved a four day, 10 hour work week during a July 2 regular meeting. County employees will work Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and they will have Friday off. This will be done on a one-year trial basis. The employees originally worked Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In April, the county conducted

For cost-saving measures, San Juan County offices will be closed on Fridays. County departments that will remain open on Fridays include the Clerk’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, Parks and Facilities, Adult Detention Center, Juvenile Services, and Alternative Sentencing Division.

were in favor of the new schedule. “If this was a sole benefit for (county) employees it would have been hard pressed for me to want

an employee survey as a way to receive feedback on the new work schedule. Out of the 184 county employee responses, 79 percent

to bring this to you,” Carpenter explained to commissioners. “But looking at it from the standpoint

* hours A2

DEBRA MAYEUX Tri-City Tribune The Farmington Animal Shelter is a “department in crisis” with problems that include everything from having too many animals to not enough staff, according to Farmington City Councilor Mary Fischer. “I am extremely concerned with what I am being told is happening at the animal shelter. Not a day goes by where I am not receiving horror stories,” Fischer said during the July 10 Council meeting. “We have three different factions at the shelter. I call them rogue elements – they all seem to be going off in their own separate directions and they are not a cohesive unit.” Those elements include the shelter staff, the city run spay/neuter clinic and the animal control officers. The shelter has been without an active director since February 2013, and shelter consultant Marcy Eckhardt has been attempting

DA wants Willis here for Sept. court date Bobby Willis should appear in a San Juan County Courtroom in mid-September as the district attorney’s office moves forward with plans for a preliminary hearing. Willis is charged with Willis multiple counts of embezzlement, racketeering, securities fraud and fraud in two cases, where it is alleged he stole and misappropriated money, stole jewelry and defrauded people who invested in a proposed Veterans’ Hospital in Kirtland. The victim in the first case is Mike Atchison, who reportedly gave Willis $1.5 million as an investment, but it is alleged Willis

* Willis A2 Reporting donations

Council OKs campaign finance plan; caps donations DEBRA MAYEUX Tri-City Tribune

This is one of many groups of kittens available for adoption at the Farmington Animal Shelter. They are available for a discounted price of $25 each Wednesday. – Debra Mayeux photo

* shelter A7

Wildlife pickup stops

Game and Fish works to end spread of rabies DEBRA MAYEUX Tri-City Tribune

“I am being told by a reliable source that we are no longer picking up traps and we are leaving dead animals on the street,” Fischer said, asking for a report from staff about the animal shelter and animal control practices within the city. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Director Cory Styron confirmed that he put the new prohibition into place after receiving a June 2013 memo from

Farmington Animal Control has been told to stop its longtime policy of removing dead, injured and trapped animals from the city’s rights of way and from public property. The issue was brought up July 9 by Farmington City Councilor Mary Fischer, who was concerned about the new practice. * wildlife A7

Calendar.......................................A4 Editorial ........................................A6 Pawsitively Pets .........................A10 PRCA Tracks ..............................A11 Fort Lewis concerts ....................A12 Sports.........................................A13

The Farmington City Council approved campaign finance legislation that mandates campaign contributions and reporting of those contributions for municipal elections. The issue was brought forward by City Councilor Jason Sandel, who wanted to make municipal elections more transparent. It was a process that took several months to complete and was the subject of debate up until its approval during the July 9 Council meeting. “My overall view of this is what started out as a simple, noble and, I think, needed resolution … has ended up creating a whole new

* finance A2

Blues & Brews Inside

50¢

Preliminary hearing

DEBRA MAYEUX Tri-City Tribune

Director search ongoing Shelter facing continued staffing, capacity problems

Animas River Blues Fest this weekend in Aztec

VOL. 3 NO. 41

Pets of the Week........................A16 Real Estate.................................A17 Business.....................................A19 Classifieds..................................A20 Nosey Nellie ...............................A21 Games........................................A22

Lemonade fundraiser

Keely Stockham determined to help find a cancer cure

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