07-22-1997 VETERANS AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD
CITY OF LAS CRUCES
P.O. DRAWER 2000
LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO 88004
22 July 1997
The board convened at 1300 at the Board Room of Branigan
Memorial Library. Roll call was taken. Present were: Chairman
Joe Heintz, Vice Chairman Warren Rogers, VFW Rep Robert Wiley,
AMVETS Rep Noel Cooley, VVA Rep Elsa Baker, Amer Legion Rep J J
Dewey, DAV Rep Fred Frank. This constituted a quorum. Also
present were: Darlene Garcia of Senator Domenici' s office, Keyy
Smyer of Senator Bingamon' s office and Patty Dominguez of Repre-
sentative Joe Skeen' s office.
The minutes of the June meeting were approved.
Unfinished business : The sign at the site of the veterans
park has ben repaired and repainted. The federal government has
approved the regulations controlling gambling on Indian
reservations. With this obstacle resolved, action on gambling at
veterans and fraternal organizations can now proceed.
Police have issued a permit for the Veteran' s Day Parade on
Saturday 8 November at 10: 00 a.m. The parade will form at the
Loretto Town Center, go north on Church Street and disband at the
SOLO parking lot.
Elsa Baker reported on the status of the veteran' s park. Her
report is at encl 1 .
New Business : Clerks at the VA have been misinforming
veterans about submitting claims, stating that no funds were
available. These cases are been investigated and will be referred
to the VA for correction. Personnel from the Senator' s and Repre-
sentative' s office asked for details so that they may see if
corrective action should be requested.
Elsa Baker read E mail reports she has received from
veterans organizations in Washington on the status improved
medical care, changes in eligibility of older veterans, allowing
retirees to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan,
and related matters currently being considered by Congress.
Copies of this E mail was given to Joe Heintz so he will be able
to more accurately counsel veterans on these matters.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at
1335. The next meeting will be here at 1300 on 26 August.
Warren Rogers
Acting Secretary
1 encl: a/s
VAAB
22 July 1997
Veterans Memorial Park. Elsa Baker reported that she contacted Mr. David Flores,
Assistant Landscape Architect, on 21 July, for a status on the Veterans Memorial
Park. Mr. Flores is the assistant to Mrs. Joni Gutierrez, Landscape Architect, who
is not in this week. Mr. Flores stated that he has been given a deadline of end
of summer (end of August) to complete the park re-design. He is waiting on the
surveyors to complete the topographical survey of the additional 5 acres which was
added to the park. He stated that the survey would be completed any day now.
Mr. Flores is not certain what is in the City of Las Cruces approved budget
for the Veterans Memorial Park, but is interested in finding out. The amount in
the budget will determine how much of the park can be completed the first year.
When asked about the grafitti on the sign at the park site, Mr. Flores said
he thought it had been cleaned up.
Mr. Flores was also asked if the City of Las Cruces project "Field of Dreams"
football stadium would be located adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Park. He rep-
lied that the site presently earmarked is adjacent to the former City of Las Cruces
landfill (near the Las Cruces Hilton) , and therefore not near the Veterans Memorial
Park.
Elsa J. Baker