ALAMOSA — At the Alamosa County Board of County Commissioners meeting on June 26, County Administrator Roni Wisdom spoke about a Community Development Block Grant the county obtained through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs for La Puente Housing to purchase the building formally used by Atencio's Market in Alamosa.

Wisdom said, “Alamosa County helped to purchase the building at 802 State Avenue in Alamosa on behalf of La Puente Housing Corporation to be used for the new food bank for new food bank network for the San Luis Valley. La Puente Corporation will own and maintain the building. The county does not own this building, it was transferred to them. There are no remaining actions to be done. The national objective that serves is to benefit low- and moderate-income persons.”

Wisdom added the total amount of the grant was $287,000, other input was $80,000 through La Puente. The total for this project was $367,000. In August 2022, La Puente agreed to purchase the market and repurpose it as a food bank.

There was no public comment on this item.

Commissioner Vern Heersink said, "It is nice to see this project is completed on our end, and look forward to some action out there at the old Atencio's Market. Hopefully, that is a useful tool for that community."

Commissioner Arlan Van Ry asked Wisdom if the project was finished and if La Puente "were looking for more grants to finish it up."

Wisdom added she thought La Puente had all funding in place and that the building is currently being worked on.

Commissioner Lori Laske offered, "I'm just excited to see this coming about, and I have noticed there is work taking place, they have cleaned the property and that is a good start on it."

Commissioners then approved a motion on "the project report competition — exhibit 9-C," regarding the building.

Alamosa County Sheriff Robert Jackson introduced a new employee, an investigator.

"As you know, we've been in a long search for a quality investigator, we didn't want to jump too soon on this, and our search has been justified. I'm happy to introduce Zack Decker as our new investigator,” said Jackson.

He added that Decker has experience and has already jumped into the position and has been working with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the City of Alamosa Police Department on several active cases.

Jackson said Decker fills many roles in the department and, "We're very excited and this is something we really need.”

Decker addressed commissioners and said he has about 11 years of law enforcement experience in the Valley, starting as a law enforcement park ranger in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. He then moved to the Alamosa Police Department, where for over five years he was the team lead for the honor guard and an operator with the SWAT team. He then worked at Adams State University.

Decker said, of his new job, "We've been busy the last two-three weeks. I started June 1 and as the Sheriff said, we've been getting quite a few calls. I'm glad to be here and glad the Sheriff took a chance on me.”

Commissioner Vern Heersink welcomed Decker and said, "We're happy that you are here, and thank you for taking a chance on us too. It doesn't sound like Sheriff Jackson took a chance on you. It sounds like you were the one he was looking for. Welcome to the team.”

Both Commissioners Laske and Van Ry welcomed Decker to the job.

Alamosa County Treasurer and Public Trustee Amy McKinley gave an update and reminded commissioners that due to needed software changes, the treasurer's office will be closed to the public for the weeks of July 24-28 and Aug. 14-18.

Beverly Strnad from the Public Health Department gave commissioners an overview and introduced their new employee, Ashley Salazar who brings her experience of working at Alamosa State Bank and Friday Health Plans to her position as a scheduler.

Salazar said she is excited to be working for the county adding that the job is "pretty cool," and her coworkers are friendly.

Commissioner Heersink responded, "We're pretty cool."

Commissioner Laske made sure that comment was on the record. With that, it is now on the record that Alamosa County is a cool place to work.