By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners opened their meeting with proclamations and commissioners reports before moving on to the audit and budget items.
Morgan Browning with Accounting & consulting Group, LLC presented the audit report to the commission noting that yes it was late, presented to the state auditor in February. One of the reason for that included reconciling the capital assets inventory with the assets cost and balances.
The city only had four exceptions and RPS had one. 11 of the exceptions from last years audit were corrected leaving only the four. With the assets issue being cleaned up along with the other issues the 2015 audit should go more smoothly. The audit is available on the State Auditors web site with the audit exceptions being on page 135.
Browning told commissioners that since the merger of White, Samaniego & Campbell LLP he has been assigned the city’s audit this year and he went to tell commissioners that the audit this year will not be late. The cost of this year’s audit will be $54,858.
Commissioners heard from Colfax County Commissioner Bill Sauble concerning a new Tiger grant that will be applied for by the City of La Junta. According to the company helping with the grant work will be done in all three states on the railroad tracks that carry Amtrak. Sauble was asking for a $12,500 and $3,000 commitment from the city. The $12,500 commitment is subject to a successful bid awarding. The $3,000 is to help with expenses.
The city tabled a decision till the May 12 meeting to get a better handle on the budget.
Commissioners approved the CCJJACB grant budget adjustment with included moving some money from the boys council to the girls circle as numbers are up there.
Commissioners also approved the city’s seventh budget adjustment for the fiscal year. These adjustments included a change in the vehicle line item for the fire department and a change in the sanitation services.(link to Budget adjustment 7)
Commissioners then approved the March financial report. Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci noted that the city is currently operating slightly under budget, which is good since gross receipts taxes continue to run short of projections. (link to March 2015 Financial report)
Commissioners approved $5,000 for Phillips Broadcasting for the Country Music Showdown and $4,000 for Raton Main Street for the Annual Balloon Rally. Commissioners tabled a $12,000 request from the Parks and Recreation department. The request is for recreation amenities surrounding the aquatic center, which will include a 9-hole disc golf course, sand volleyball court, a dog walk park, two zip-lines and two bocce ball courts. $11,000 will come from the parks and rec fund and the money is for a match to $24,472.50 from the New Mexico Community Foundation.
Commissioners heard about bear resistant dumpsters modification efforts then approved the bid from Rolloff USA for $507 per dumpster. Jason Phillips advised the commission that the purchase would be for 36 units at a time.
Commissioners then approved the contract to continue water monitoring for the landfill with Gordon Environmental. Mayor Mantz asked if this would be rebid next year since this was the third year with Gordon. City Manager Berry indicated that some of the work maybe done internally next year to save costs. The contract is for $23,500.
Commissioners then moved forward accepting the educational building. Some details as to who will cover some of the expenses are yet to be determined.
City Manager Scott Berry had a short report indicating that the city would ask for bids to do some improvements on the Wells Fargo Building (art gallery) and that Carol Baca successfully got a $209,000 grant to replace the emergency generator for the police department E911 system.
Commissioners then went into executive session to discuss litigation brought by Mark and Lori Van Buskirk over the landfill.
The city commission will meet on May 12 with a possible special budget workshop before then.
