"I was extremely disappointed in the Village of Ruidoso," Doth started off, warming to the subject. "The Village's response was mismanaged ... it was a mess."
Lest anyone in the audience misunderstand his intentions, Doth reiterated that "this was a screw up of major proportions and was something (village officials) should have been prepared for."
Despite near-record low temperatures, Doth said the village routinely experiences broken water main problems at temperatures far milder than those experienced in the recent storm.
"I cannot express my extreme displeasure on how this was handled," Doth said. "Part of this could have been resolved had the village aggressively corrected water main problems after the (2008) floods. We've simply got to do better."
Doth did offer a distinction between his criticism of village management and the crews and volunteers who worked 18-hour days to resume water service as quickly as possible, offering praise to the on-the-ground efforts of all involved in minimizing the crisis.
Later, when asked about his comments during a break, Doth declined to modify the tone of his statements.
"No way ... this was the result of poor planning," he said.
village officials, Doth said, failed to properly use one of the most important tools available -- the reverse 911 system which automatically calls residents in a designated area.
"They could have used the reverse 911 system earlier ... I got a call, or at least I think I got a call, I really don't know. But it was a week after the fact," Doth said, adding he felt "there is nobody there that knows how to use reverse 911 properly."
He was particularly critical in the fact that he felt the village didn't properly repair water mains damaged during the 2008 floods, which he said left many mains exposed when their ground cover washed away.
"They knew they had a problem then and what did they do? Just covered them back up."
When contacted for comment, village officials were equally scathing in response to Doth's statements.
"I think Mr. Doth's comments, made in a Lincoln County Commission meeting, are inappropriate and unprofessional," offered Village Manager Debi Lee.
"It's pretty sad that he feels the need to discredit efforts he has no knowledge of. These people who worked to resolve this emergency killed themselves to serve our community," Lee said. "Our response was very well planned and very well implemented."
Mayor Ray Alborn said if Doth had suggestions to make, he should have come to the village's Emergency Operations Center and offered them.
"Where the hell was he?" Alborn said, "and who is he to make these comments after the fact."
Alborn went on to note that "some people suddenly become a lot more intelligent after they're elected," and said he felt Doth's comments were rooted in discontent over other issues.
"And now he's become a water expert after the fact? I think I'm going to have to have a little chat with Mr. Doth."