County keeps trapper

The Otero county taxpayers are going to get hosed on this new Otero County Wildlife Services Department. On the surface its trying to be passed off as a cost effective, great idea who's time has come. Yet the start up cost, plus long term maintence cost are going to pale in comparison to the $33,500/yr now spent in a coop agreement with the USDA. Just in the employment aspect of creating two new county positions, complete with all the benefits (health, retirement, ect) alone way over exceeds $33,500/year. Traps (a huge cost in and of itself), guns, ammo, predator calls, vehicles, fuel, maintence, office space, cell phones, computers...essentially everything these guys are going to need have to be paid for by us the county taxpayer.

Whereas, the USDA bio tech already has all of the above already in place at no additional cost to the county, plus he has a national federal network that will cover anything additionally he may need at no other cost to the county. At first glance we look at $33,500 and think 'oh my gosh, thats alot of money per year for this service'. I can only promise two things: one, it pales in comparison to what we the taxpayers are about to spent and two: the county commission is about to light a $100,000 bill on fire every year for their new fancy Otero County Wildlife Services Department.

Without a doubt, the greatest biological threat to Otero county and this state are feral hogs. They spread disease to our livestock, destroy crops, cause severe damage to riparian areas and pollute water sources, eat the young of wildlife, ect. One of the ways to set a population of feral hogs back is to helocopter gun them. The USDA bio tech and his supervisor have the resources to complete an operation like that: helocopter(s), pilot(s), ground support crew(s), sharpshooters, fuel, maintence and so forth at absolutely no additional expense to the Otero county taxpayer (that would all be covered under the $33,500/yr). So I ask all of you, just how under the newly minted Otero County Wildlife Services Department, how are they are going to fund an expensive/effective operation like that?!?! I hope every county taxpayers wallet is deep in this economic downturn. We cannot afford to do something like that, but the USDA can and does. Then if you really think about it, this USDA cost share program for their bio tech serving us, only costs each of us .50 cents a year. That pretty inexpensive compared to what it is about to become with the Otero County Wildlife Services Department.

Government just keeps on growing...these commissioners have their heads up and locked!

To sum up what Boom said,

We don't need a county trapper, we have a federally funded trapper who works solely in Otero County. We pay a fee for him, but he is a gov't employee.

Price said "It's just been a no-brainer that they renew this contract year after year after year". And for $33,500 a year, the county gets the biological technician, all the necessary licensing, all the technical assistance, all the needed permits that allow the technician to use his tools, plus a truck, gas, equipment and more.

And not only that, but replacing him with someone that's unknown with quantities that will not have the same standing with federal agencies, like BLM and Forest Service and the like.

But here again, how else can they repay their compadres for their political monies spent to elect them to office. Please don't blame for their foolishness---I did not vote for these fools.

Mrs Flores states the county is trying to wean itself from Federal programs and yet she sets up new programs like recycling and accepts more grants? Ending one program but starting another??? Rardin wants to kick the feds out of the county-forest- but still wants to accept federal monies for disptach, the sheriff dept and the jail, and cattail studies. They want to take over a service from another government agency, and think it will cost less, what revenue will be generated? The wildlife specialist they want to hire, which hasnt been hired yet, is another example of growing government and duplicating services. I think their logic is twisted to suit whatever project they like and others be jeopardized. The environment department Rardin mentioned didnt happen, Herrell owns the building the state rents to run the current environment department. Also heard that it would end up costing the county more than it could generate in revenue. In my opinion, they talk the talk and do the opposite.

I never did, or countenanced, in public life, a single act inconsistent with the strictest good faith; having never believed there was one code of morality for a public, and another for a private man.~Thomas Jefferson, 1809

There are those here, particularly one that ought to have his axe sharp from all the grinding by now. Beware, lest you find yourself without tools when YOUR house is blown down, and people see you for what you really are. Your actions will follow you to the polls.

Im glad XRay that someone is writing about the facts so that these Public officials and their inconsistencies can be held accountable. youre right about one thing though, I'll be at the polls to vote them out.

its wonder they didnt kick the usda guy out a long time ago when he has no prior experience nor any clue how to prevent or minimize predator/livestock conflicts.......not to mention how the usda has helped destroy the wool growers in otero county.....money lost or money gained?

what happened to the dog catcher.... why can he do this?

otero needs the goverment now its apparent the county commision has no clue what they are doing
they have now hired a guy with ZERO experience after the previous with tons of experience and who was getting tis in the right path resighned due to bad politics. its a total mess and the ranchers and tax payers are getting hosed there was supposed to be a specielist and two to three trappers but that hasnt and never will happen the county commision is letting your money go to waste as they beleive that the mans job is nothign more then shooting a few coyotes they are very wrong in this and this issue needs more attention

Boom wrote:

The Otero county taxpayers are going to get hosed on this new Otero County Wildlife Services Department. On the surface its trying to be passed off as a cost effective, great idea who's time has come. Yet the start up cost, plus long term maintence cost are going to pale in comparison to the $33,500/yr now spent in a coop agreement with the USDA. Just in the employment aspect of creating two new county positions, complete with all the benefits (health, retirement, ect) alone way over exceeds $33,500/year. Traps (a huge cost in and of itself), guns, ammo, predator calls, vehicles, fuel, maintence, office space, cell phones, computers...essentially everything these guys are going to need have to be paid for by us the county taxpayer.
Whereas, the USDA bio tech already has all of the above already in place at no additional cost to the county, plus he has a national federal network that will cover anything additionally he may need at no other cost to the county. At first glance we look at $33,500 and think 'oh my gosh, thats alot of money per year for this service'. I can only promise two things: one, it pales in comparison to what we the taxpayers are about to spent and two: the county commission is about to light a $100,000 bill on fire every year for their new fancy Otero County Wildlife Services Department.
Without a doubt, the greatest biological threat to Otero county and this state are feral hogs. They spread disease to our livestock, destroy crops, cause severe damage to riparian areas and pollute water sources, eat the young of wildlife, ect. One of the ways to set a population of feral hogs back is to helocopter gun them. The USDA bio tech and his supervisor have the resources to complete an operation like that: helocopter(s), pilot(s), ground support crew(s), sharpshooters, fuel, maintence and so forth at absolutely no additional expense to the Otero county taxpayer (that would all be covered under the $33,500/yr). So I ask all of you, just how under the newly minted Otero County Wildlife Services Department, how are they are going to fund an expensive/effective operation like that?!?! I hope every county taxpayers wallet is deep in this economic downturn. We cannot afford to do something like that, but the USDA can and does. Then if you really think about it, this USDA cost share program for their bio tech serving us, only costs each of us .50 cents a year. That pretty inexpensive compared to what it is about to become with the Otero County Wildlife Services Department.

Good Information, Too bad the County Commissioners do not listed to those who put them in Office, More Change we were promised.

This crew really makes me miss the last commission. the last ones at least seemd professional not just dong whatever the wind tells them to do each day. Flores is not educated and soesnt return calls, Herrell is in it for himself.

Of course the new guy has no experience compared to the "first choice". Lets not point out that self promotion was the focus and not the job. You didnt support the program when you were the program why would that change now! Its a good idea given a chance to succeed.

Don't worry about it.

According to alot of people here, Govt can't create jobs, so obviously this person and his govt created job don't exist.

Ergo nothing for you to worry about since they are mythical.

Im not a part of the program never have been im a private trapper, theres to many flaws in it in order for it to work.what i find mythical about the whole thing is how they expect to do a population reduction on a county that is largely govermment land. not to mention public land if usda cant operate on public lands how is otero county? two guys and the usda trapper aint goin to reduce nothin but public funds focus needs to be on working problems .The grazeing advisory board isnt being told everything neither are the ranchers i might add i know a good many who are pizzed about the whole outfit right off.I dont know the new guy he may have experience and be a dam fine trapper id like to see the numbers of coyotes and hogs tooken at the end of the year
and not a bunch of dumb pups.

Stay the course for $33,500 per year, Or go the county way of who knows per year..

What did Gump say "Stupid is what Stupid does" IMO Looks like the County Commissioner are the latter...

Give us a map where these hogs are a problem, I have hunted ferals for the last 5 years and have yet to take one.

My guess is that they are on private property and that property is more than likely connected somehow to the money and that land owner will get federal dollars for the damage.

perhaps just letting the people in on where these stupid critters are would decrease the population and feed a few families at the same time.

instead of just spending stupid money they could do what they were intended to do when they were elected and work for the larger majority.

Rigid wrote:

Give us a map where these hogs are a problem, I have hunted ferals for the last 5 years and have yet to take one.
My guess is that they are on private property and that property is more than likely connected somehow to the money and that land owner will get federal dollars for the damage.
perhaps just letting the people in on where these stupid critters are would decrease the population and feed a few families at the same time.
instead of just spending stupid money they could do what they were intended to do when they were elected and work for the larger majority.

You're not a very good hunter if you have been after them for 5 years and yet to take one. WOW! LOL!

WARRIOR wrote:

<quoted text>You're not a very good hunter if you have been after them for 5 years and yet to take one. WOW! LOL!

You're still an idiot. after how many years?

Rigid wrote:

<quoted text>
You're still an idiot. after how many years?

Yes but I can kill a hog, a dog, an oryx, an antelope, elk, deer, javelina, bear, you name it I can kill it. Just stick to your food stamps for your next meal! LOL!