Los Lunas Village Council approves outside security for library, museum

LOS LUNAS — The Los Lunas Public Library will be adding security guards to its daily routine after the village council approved a preliminary contract with Allied Universal Security Services of Albuquerque at its regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 7.

“We decided that we were going to bring in security and set up an RFP,” said Los Lunas Library and Museum Director Cynthia Shetter on Thursday. “We’ve had some issues with not just with homeless individuals, but teens as well.”

According to the agenda item, the scope of services by Allied Universal includes daily unarmed security personnel during library hours and select after-hour events; daily patrols of the library main premises; conflict de-escalation and response to disruptive behavior at the main library and the branch library, the Museum of Heritage & Arts.

Allied Universal, the only company to respond with a proposal, will also be required to report and document incidents, as well as coordinate with local law enforcement when necessary. They will also monitor surveillance systems and enforce library policies, as well as applicable village regulations, while maintaining a visible presence to deter disruptive behavior, vandalism and theft.

“The bad behavior has been escalating over a period of years,” Shetter said, “and I think it’s just a sign of the times. Teens don’t respect adults, and adults don’t respect adults.

“Then with the homeless issue. There are mental health issues; there have been incidents with the unhoused,” Shetter said. “It’s been a little bit difficult for us to do our job whenever we’re having to call the police every day about people coming into the library.”

Shetter said security personnel will be stationed inside the library at the front entrance during regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The guards will not be armed while on duty, she said.

“They’re just going to be a deterrent,” she said. “They’ll help us deescalate. They’re trained in deescalating different situations. It’s just important to us, and the patrons coming in of all ages, that there’s safety. That’s what’s most important, the safety of our staff and the community.”

Following the meeting, Shetter said details of the contract are still being negotiated, but the company sent in a bid of $80,395.92, which would be for 54 hours per week for one year.

In other action, the village council:

• Approved a resolution approving funding for the Panada Drive Improvement Project, which includes stormwater and roadway improvements for Panada Drive in southwest Los Lunas, off Camelot Blvd., as well as the addition of ADA-compliant sidewalks.

Public works director Michael Jaramillo said the project is part of ongoing roadway improvements in the Artistic Park neighborhood. The total cost for the upgrades is $264,131, with the village to pick up 25 percent ($66,033) of the tab. Los Lunas joined N.M. Highway and Transportation Department, District 3, in a funding agreement for the project.

“This is part of the co-op projects that we continue to apply for to improve the neighborhood streets,” he said, pointing out that the 25 percent match from the village comes from the infrastructure fund. Asked how many streets still require improvements, Jaramillio said six remained.

“The (streets) further south are in pretty good shape. I think they have a little bit of time,” he said, regarding starting work on those streets. “I think our team is willing to finish up two more and then try to go on to Los Lentes Meadows,” he concluded.