Staff cuts hit Salinas monument
The Salinas Pueblo National Monument that covers three units in the Manzano Mountains scaled back hours and personnel recently.
“The closures for the Abo, Quarai and Gran Quivira locations will remain in place as we work through staffing options to reopen the sites,” Park Ranger Norma Pineda said. “The main visitor center at 102 South Ripley St. in Mountainair will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
“All special events and on-site educational programs that have been previously scheduled will take place as planned.”
The monument is a part of the National Park Service. It recently was audited by the federal Office of Personnel Management, which reviewed more than 40 years of hiring practices, Salinas Pueblo National Monument Superintendent Tom Betts said.
“We received word that we cannot hire back our seasonal positions,” Betts said.
This includes living history enthusiasts Dixie Boyle and Donna Deiner. Anyone who has experienced Boyle and Deiner portray 19th century homesteader Clara Corbin and 19th century journalist Virginia McClurg, respectively, can attest they bring the history of the ruins to life.
“We have two resources: physical resources and our staff,” he said.
Betts estimates it will take four to six months for the monument to get into compliance with the OPM mandates.
“This is very distressing,” Betts said. “We’ve lost people who make the monument what it is. We have a guy who traveled 3,000 miles (to be a seasonal ranger). We’re not happy about this. This is not what we are here for.”
Betts said the monument is making every effort to keep special events such as the recent Star Party going.
“We like all of our events and expect that they will go on as scheduled,” Betts said.
Visitors are encouraged to call 847-2585, Ext. 220, for updates on the sites they wish to visit. Information also will be posted at nps.gov/sapu.
A National Parks Service report released in April showed that 32,400 people visited Salinas Pueblo National Monument and that they spent $1.9 million in the surrounding communities. That spending supported 30 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $2.4 million.