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 Volume 4 | Sept. 9, 2021
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Under a public health order issued by Acting Health Secretary David R. Scrase, M.D., the re-implemented mask requirement applies to all individuals aged 2 and older in all indoor public settings — except when eating or drinking.
Masks will be required to everyone in school buildings regardless of vaccination status, which aligns with the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Public Education Department has been in the process of updating its toolkit for schools and district personnel.
The indoor mask requirement will be effective Friday, Aug. 20. It will remain in effect until at least September 15. The governor, acting upon the counsel and analysis of the state Medical Advisory Team and state health officials, may decide to extend or lift the requirement as necessary.
Businesses, houses of worship and other entities may enact stricter requirements at their discretion.
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To schedule a COVID-19 test or register for the COVID-19 vaccination go to: https://cvtestreg.nmhealth.org/
We are in Phase 2
All New Mexicans age 16 and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine.
To schedule a COVID-19 test or register for the COVID-19 vaccination go to: https://cvtestreg.nmhealth.org/
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We Have Moved!
The county’s new administrative headquarters located at 415 Silver Ave. SW is now open to the public.
Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square is 282,000-square-feet, has eight floors, a basement and new adjoined 12,000-square-foot commission chambers that will seat 200 people. The original building was formerly owned by Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM).
Customers can now take care of county business with the clerk, assessor, treasurer, probate judge, commission, Planning & Development and more in one building.
There is also free public parking available across the street at Fifth and Silver.
(click image to enlarge)
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2nd Annual Memorial Honors Service and Sacrifice of First Responders
The Bernalillo County Fire Department presents the 2nd annual Fallen Heroes 9/11 Memorial this Saturday, Sept. 11. at BernCo @ Alvarado Square, 415 Silver Ave SW, Albuquerque. BernCo honor guards will stand silent watch over 343 sets of firefighter bunker gear for a total of 343 minutes in remembrance of the 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers who lost their lives while answering the call for service.
The 9/11 Memorial will take place in front of Bernalillo County’s new administrative headquarters on Silver Avenue and will begin promptly at 6:46 a.m., the local time at which the first plane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center and NYC emergency dispatchers sent police, paramedics and firefighters. Ceremonial procedures will be conducted throughout the memorial marking the second plane impact into the south tower (7:03 a.m.), the Pentagon impact (7:37 a.m.), collapse of the south tower (7:59 a.m.), the crash of flight 93 in Pennsylvania after passengers foiled hijackers on the way to Washington D.C. (8:03 a.m.), the collapse of the north tower (8:28 a.m.) and at 343 minutes from the start of the memorial marking the end of the ceremony (12:29 p.m.) BCFD firefighters will also strike the four-fives on a ceremonial bell on the hour starting at 9 a.m. following the laying of wreaths.
Silver Avenue will remain open so viewers may drive by the memorial between Fourth and Fifth streets. Pedestrians may pay respects in person. Chaplains will be present. The memorial will also be streamed live on the Bernalillo County Fire Department Facebook page.
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Bernalillo County will hold a three-day flea market at 111 Union Square SE on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to sell surplus furniture and equipment available due to the county’s move to Alvarado Square.
The flea market will take place Friday, Sept. 10 thru Sunday, Sept. 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some of the items that will be included is this upcoming sale are: desks, file cabinets, bookcases, shelving, office supplies, chairs and more. About 200 items are available for sale. Prices will range from $1 to $10. All sales are final and must be picked up the day of purchase. The county will load the items for customers. Cash or card only.
COVID protocols will be in place for this event and face masks will be required to enter the building.
All flea market sales will benefit the BernCo Quality of Life Fund, which provides financial support to unfunded Bernalillo County quality of life initiatives. Customers will be able to designate the beneficiary of their sale.
Those unable to attend the flea market, can always visit GovDeals.com, where there’s additional furniture for sale. The county has collected more than $200,000 from online sales of surplus furniture and office supplies.
Over the summer, Bernalillo County moved over 800 employees out of several office buildings to consolidate operations at Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square, located at 415 Silver Ave. SW.
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Bernalillo County CARES Response: COVID 19 Pandemic
In 2020, with the help of the CARES Act, Bernalillo County immediately swung into action by providing support to the community through public safety, economic development, behavioral health, housing and more. This video outlines what it took to accomplish the task at hand. All of this, with the support of the county's Finance Division who made sure all the i's we're dotted and t's were crossed in reporting to the federal government.
Special shout out to Tessa Mentus and KOB-TV 4 News for their coverage of the parks and recreation workers at the vaccination sites and to Better Call Saul's Bob Odenkirk and late night host Jimmy Kimmel for promoting the vaccination clinics in New Mexico.
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Furthering substance use treatment services for incarcerated individuals
In celebration of September National Recovery Month and in support of evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the Bernalillo County Department of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) announces the implementation of the buprenorphine maintenance program at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). DBHS has been actively working with MDC and Recovery Services of New Mexico (Recovery Services) to provide buprenorphine maintenance dosing to individuals incarcerated at MDC and diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. This effort is part of a system-wide approach to expand the availability of behavioral health services through the Behavioral Health Initiative to community members, families and individuals with behavioral health needs within the county.
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Expanding supportive housing efforts in Bernalillo County
The Bernalillo County Housing and the Department of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) announce the launch of the Hope Village supportive housing project through a collaboration with the City of Albuquerque and Hopeworks, Inc. The single site supportive housing project is part of the county’s Behavioral Health Initiative and is the first of its kind in the State of New Mexico. The site includes 42 housing units with onsite supports for individuals who are homeless, or precariously housed due to extreme housing instability, and have a diagnosed behavioral health condition. Individuals entering the program must be able to independently live on their own and must a have an income level that is at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Additionally, inclusion criteria includes high levels of utilization of the emergency room, criminal justice system, or behavioral health services in Bernalillo County.
The Hope Village project was strategically designed to increase the housing stability of the most vulnerable, chronically homeless individuals with significant behavioral health concerns, while furthering efforts to build a comprehensive housing support network within in Bernalillo County. The 3-story building features behavioral health services and gathering areas for the residents on the ground floor and 42 ADA-accessible one-bedroom, 405 square foot, units on the second and third floors. Individuals housed at the site may remain indefinitely or until such time that they chose to live independently.
Applications for housing supports can be found at: www.bernco.gov/HopeVillage.
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Sept. 26, 12 to 5 p.m., Los Vecinos Community Center
The East Mountain Celebration returns on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 from 12-5 p.m. at Los Vecinos Community Center, 478 1/2 Old Hwy. 66, Tijeras, NM. Following a highly successful 2019 event, the 2020 celebration was canceled due to the pandemic.
Organizers are recruiting additional artisan vendors, nonprofits, businesses, food trucks and alcohol vendors to participate. Download information and the vendor forms. Sept. 3 is the deadline to submit most vendor forms.
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See trash? Have trash? Stop illegal dumping at iHaveTrash.com
 The Illegal Dumping Partnership is a multi-agency task force created to help combat illegal dumping throughout Bernalillo County. The partners include Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, New Mexico Environment Department, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department, Albuquerque Public Schools, Public Service Company of New Mexico, New Mexico Department of Transportation, Mid-Region Council of Governments, New Mexico United Soccer, and Central New Mexico Community College.
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Residents must live outside city limits to qualify for county help
Bernalillo County is accepting online applications for utility and rental assistance through the Bernalillo County Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) assistance program. Paper applications are also being accepted.
The RENT program makes available $5 million to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The funds are provided directly to states, U.S. territories, local governments, and Native American tribes.
The grant, made available to Bernalillo County by the United States Treasury, has been earmarked for qualifying renters outside the city limits of Albuquerque, but within the county. Applicants within the city must apply to the City of Albuquerque’s rental assistance program. Applicants can verify if they are located outside of the city of Albuquerque before applying by using the provided locator Map. Please click here for a short instructional video on how to use the map.
Continue reading....
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 Thursday, Sept. 9 - ABC Community School Partnership at 8:45 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 10 - Sheriff's Office Advisory and Review Board at 11 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 13 - Arts Board at 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 14 - Homeless Coordinating Council at 9:45 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 14 - Zoning Meeting at 3 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 14 - Administrative Meeting at 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15 - Detention Facility Management Oversight Committee at 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 20 - Addiction Treatment Advisory Board at 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 23 - Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Commission at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 28 - Administrative Meeting at 5 p.m.
Stay on top of public meetings click here to subscribe to the new BernCo Public Meetings bulletin.
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 The NMSU Cooperative Extension Service is announcing many upcoming programs both virtual and in-person.
Food and Food Preservation
- Pressure Canning Vegetables – Sept. 8 at 9 a.m.
- Slim and Strong – Tuesdays starting Aug. 17.
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Recent BernCo News Releases
(Click each news release below to read in full)
Bernalillo County Solicits Proposals for Senior Case Management
Sept. 7, 2021 - The Bernalillo County Department of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) is soliciting provider proposals for senior peer case management services to improve behavioral health services among individuals 65 years and older. Services will focus on the behavioral health needs of seniors who are living with a behavioral health issue and need assistance with multiple facets of their lives, including housing, financial stability, food assistance, and access to social and medical services.
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- Bernalillo County Treasurer's Office: (505) 468-7031
- Metropolitan Detention Center (general inmate info): (505) 839-8700
- Roads and traffic: (505) 848-1504 or (505) 848-1503
- Animal Care Services: (505) 468-PETS
- Property Maintenance (report a park or facility that needs cleanup): (505) 224-2119
- Schedule a large item pick-up: (505) 892-1200
- Department of Behavioral Health Services customer service: (505) 468-1555
- Court of Wills, Estates and Probate (general info): (505) 468-1232
- Schedule an appointment: call (505) 468-1229 or email, probate@bernco.gov
- Unclaimed & Indigent Cremation Program: (505) 468-7295
- Accounts Payable general inquiries: (505) 468-7020
- All other calls: (505) 468-7777 or email, contactcenter@bernco.gov
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