Los Alamos County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Los Alamos County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Myrtle Street Pickleball Court
The Board heard where the Myrtle Street pickleball court project stands. Pickleball players in town are watching this one closely.
Youth programming gap for sixth graders
A parent flagged that sixth graders, kept on elementary campuses but considered middle schoolers, can't access middle-school library programs like anime and manga clubs.
Library software migration
The library's system migration is going well, with staff training set for the week after Labor Day and go-live still scheduled for September 3.
Betty Ehart Senior Center renovation
A $3.64 million task order with All Rite Construction moves the senior center HVAC replacement forward, with the total project budget now $9.12 million.
De-accession Policy Overhaul
Nine artworks, including the broken water fountains and Dino World, are now ranked on a multi-year priority list so each gets focused review instead of spinning wheels. Working groups will tackle them one at a time.
Equestrian and Livestock Working Group Final Report
The Los Alamos 4-H Club wanted a banner on the Oppenheimer and Groves statue for National 4-H Week. The board allowed temporary green lights but refused the banner, worried it would set a precedent for every group asking the same thing.
LA Mesa Trail ADA accessibility
The trail rehabilitation adds guardrails, a wider switchback, and a connection to the assisted living community at East Park — a big win for residents with limited mobility. Estimated at $1.2 million, already in the budget.
Sports field line painting by county crews
Youth soccer, baseball, softball and lacrosse leagues want the county to take over painting field lines, freeing volunteer coaches and potentially making fields tournament-quality. They gathered 200+ petition signatures and say better fields could draw sports tourism.
Artwork deaccession or relocation
The county can't reach the artist of the aging "Dino World" piece (from 1998) despite months of trying, including a social media plea. The board may vote to deaccession it at the September meeting once the new policy process is clear.
Summer Concert Series contract
A new seven-year, $1.37 million deal with Sancre Productions keeps the popular series running while easing sponsorship demands on local businesses. Costs rise sharply each year, which two councilors found hard to justify.
Digitizing the Los Alamos Monitor newspaper collection
A board member who works as the Historical Society's archivist proposed exploring a partnership to make the library's digitized Los Alamos Monitor searchable online through newspapers.com, instead of only on-site. Staff responded enthusiastically.
Library board vacancies and recruitment
Three seats open at the end of August; two members have reapplied and two candidates are in the pipeline, so the board is recruiting one more volunteer ahead of August interviews.
Possible Purchase of Los Alamos School of Gymnastics
The dissolving Los Alamos School of Gymnastics offered its building (on county land) to the county below appraised value; public input will be taken before a June 30 decision.
Summer Reading Program and Library Programming
The library's two-month summer reading program launched with 100+ registrations on day one and includes four youth challenge levels, a simplified adult challenge, and roughly 126 hours of extra programming. It's the library's busiest season, typically boosting circulation 20–25%.
Outdoor Classroom Project Redesign
The library's outdoor classroom plans hit a snag — utility lines discovered on site mean built-in concrete stages and seating aren't allowed under code. The project will move forward in a scaled-back form with crushed gravel, portable shade, and outdoor furniture, possibly this summer.
2026 Work Plan Quarterly Discussion
The board was scheduled to review progress on its 2026 Work Plan, which guides parks and recreation priorities for the year. No outcome can be confirmed from the available record.
Guaje Pines cemetery phase one begins
After two years of ordinance and fee work and a completed master plan, phase one — including two new columbariums — is kicking off. Columbarium niches are sold out, making this urgent for families.
Sports field renovation pushes July Fourth event off Overlook Park ballfields
The three-year sports field renovation means the Spirit/Overlook fields won't be ready for the Fourth of July; the event moves to North Mesa and the southern Overlook baseball and softball fields, with the north side closed for fireworks and drone safety.
Lifeguard shortage closes leisure lagoon Saturdays
A lifeguard shortage means the aquatic center's leisure lagoon stays closed on Saturdays so county staff can run Piñon Pool, which offers five Saturday hours versus the lagoon's three.