County Passes An Illegal Tire Dumping Ordinance

By John Severance

SOCORRO – Tires and trash were the two main topics of conversation at the Socorro County Commission meeting Tuesday night at the County Annex Building.
The commission passed an ordinance prohibiting illegal tire dumpsites, the importation of scrap tires into the county and providing for the abatement of illegal tire dumpsites.
Fire Marshal Fred Hollis and Solid Waste Authority’s Michael Jojola fully endorsed the ordinance during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Hollis was asked by county attorney Adren Nance how easy was it to put out a tire fire.
“You used the wrong word,” Hollis said. “It’s extremely difficult. Tires are made of petroleum and that is hard to put out. You can’t use water. You have to use foam. And sometimes, they just burn for years.”
Hollis said when there is a tire fire, it is considered to be a hazard response. “You bring everybody in and it gets costly,” he said.
Jojola said, “I am for this ordinance. If people from Valencia County bring tires in, we can stop them dead in their tracks.”
After public comment, the commissioners voted unanimously to pass the ordinance.
A lot of time also was spent on solid waste billing.
At the beginning of the month, solid waste bills were sent to all consumers in the county. Some, though, got more than one bill. In 2009, county manager Delilah Walsh said that 1,600 bills were left out because of Applogix software conversion issues. Those bills also were mailed out at the beginning of the month.
Commissioners, Jojola and Walsh have fielded some angry calls from consumers.
“Every household is liable for the bill,” Jojola said. “I have had some calls and I have explained to them the situation and about 95 percent were OK with it.”
In other business
• Commission chair Rosie Tripp made a plea for everybody in Socorro County to fill out their census forms. Forms can be picked up at the County Annex building and the deadline is April 19.
• The commission approved an infrastructure permitting ordinance and resolutions pertaining to copy fees, and a Pitney Bowes lease.
• Sheriff Philip Montoya said there is a deputy on duty at Socorro High School because of recent trouble.

County Passes An Illegal Tire Dumping Ordinance