Commission renews APHIS wildlife‑services contract after robust public comment and questions about costs

The Grant County Board of Commissioners voted to renew the county's contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services after lengthy public comment and commissioner scrutiny of cost, staffing and accountability.

Catherine Brooks and Ryan McCauley urged renewal, citing public‑health work (rabies monitoring), invasive‑species monitoring and services for livestock and households. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Brooks said, arguing the county has no ready replacement for APHIS if the contract lapses. Ty Baze of the New Mexico Federal Lands Council said Wildlife Services responds to serious depredation events, including mountain lion incidents, and can confirm kills for compensation programs.

Opponents criticized cost and transparency. Glenn Griffin told the commission the no‑bid contract is expensive and cited quarterly‑report figures he called insufficient and suggested taxpayers were overcharged; he urged commissioners not to renew without stronger accountability. Commissioners asked staff for clearer reporting: the county reported 130 total service hours for the year (quarterly breakdowns 86, 30, 16), and staff confirmed the contract totals $82,372.24 with a cost‑share split of 61% federal ($49,872.24) and 39% county ($32,500). The county applies Taylor grazing fees ($18,909.91) toward the cooperator share and budgets the balance from the general fund ($13,005.90 this year).

Commissioner Stevens emphasized the need for quarterly reports and public outreach so residents know how and when to contact Wildlife Services; the county manager and county attorney noted that funding the contract does not automatically impose county liability for providers' on‑private‑property actions. The motion to approve the contract carried; the transcript records a voice vote in favor with no recorded roll‑call tally of named no votes.