Raton City Commission Deals with Routine Business
By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening for their last regular meeting of September to deal with mostly routine business. However during committee reports a couple of matters with the water department and Raton Public Service were reported.
Dan Campbell, Raton Water Works Director reported that there will be an inspection of the water conduits at Lake Maloya. He noted that some of the piping is 100 or more years old. He also noted that the emergency spillway will have to be widened which will be difficult in the rocky hill around the spillway.
It was also noted that a meeting with Enserco will take place next month on October 28 at the next RPS board meeting to discuss both Wazilla and transmission issues into Raton. Mayor LeDoux noted that residents are welcome to come to that meeting to learn more.
In other commission business commissioners approved the Annual Professional Business Women’s and Kiwanis Domestic Violence Awareness walk. The walk will cover a one, three, and five-mile route. The event will occur on October 5, at 9:00 a.m.
Commissioners approved Resolution 2013-37, which lays out the capitol improvement projects the city would like to tackle over the next five years. On the top of the list is drainage work, street reconstruction, the transfer station, continuation of the Sugarite Canyon watershed rehabilitation and a new medical response unit. Rail line repairs among other repairs are also on that list.
Commissioners also approved two Lodgers Tax funding requests for radio advertising proposal from KRTN and KFUN. KRTN will produce and air 1,400 radio ads at a cost of $5,000 and KFUN will produce 720 radio ads for $3,600. They also approved a request for $1,587 for reimbursement of Explore Raton advertising at the New Mexico State Fair and the Professional Cowboys Association National Finals in Las Vegas in December by Miss Rodeo New Mexico Ashlee Rose Mills.
Approved the financing of a new ambulance through the New Mexico Finance Authority. They also approved Resolution 2013-38 for the disposal of city owned property. (see list below)
Commissioners also approved the city financial report for August and then approved Resolution 2013-40 in support of keeping open Red Hills road, access to White’s Peak.
City Manager Butch McGowen reported that Amtrak and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad is seeking $100 million to replace rails through Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico and also $100 million for road bed maintenance over the next 10 years.
He then explained how Lodger’s Tax funding works with 3% going to both promotional and non-promotional funding while 2% goes to tourist type city building maintenance, such as the Shuler, Old Pass Gallery and Information Center.
The federal Environment Department had gotten involved in the Second Street repair and delayed that repair work. They hope the paperwork will be completed and work will resume soon. Memorial Lane, barring any weather or other issues is expected to be paved by Friday evening.
There is conversation going on about a Veteran’s Cemetery in Raton. Three to five acres is the minimum needed and both the state and VA will have to give their approval if a site is picked in Raton.
Work is continuing on the timeline and deadlines for the transfer station and trailers as well as the closure of the landfill. There will also be a survey done to see if they can find any more room in the landfill to keep it open just a bit longer.
Commissioners then adjourned and will meet next on October 8, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
