Asbill wants to fence 'Dead Cow Road' A 2007 legislative appropriation of $125,000 for 26 miles of fencing along a county road is not enough to get the job done. But further delaying the project could put the money at risk of being taken back by the governor, county leaders said. The funds were obtained by Sen. Vernon Asbill, R- Eddy, for fencing along County Road 605, also shown on county maps as Potash Mine Road. But the highway has been dubbed by locals as Dead Cow Road because of cattle wandering onto the road and occasionally being plowed down by motorists. Over the years, collisions between cow and car have caused some serious and fatal injuries. The dilemma for the county is two-fold. The first is the issue of liability should the fence be nstalled. The commission said New Mexico is open range, and by fencing off cattle to keep them from wandering onto the road, the liability shifts to the county for any accident caused by cattle on the road. The second issue for the county is that the $125,000 is not enough to fence the 26 miles and the county would have to dip into its coffers to make up the difference. Frank Weldon, county road department superintendent, said although the county has not yet called for bids, the current price for fencing material is about $5 per linear foot. That would work out to more than $26,000 for a single mile of fence. Commissioner Lewis Derrick, a rancher from Artesia, said based on his experience in the ranching business, $125,000 would not cover the cost of fencing materials, cattle guards and labor. "Not only won't it be enough, it won't work," Derrick said. "Cattle will always find a way to get around or through the fence."....