By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton Fire and Emergency Services Chief Jim Mathews spoke to the Raton City Commission at their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 10 and gave them a rundown of the activities and duties of the department.
RFES has become a multi-task department that includes not just the basic fire fighting and ambulance services but have now been tasked with code enforcement, zoning, hazmat, community training, building inspections including fire suppression systems and a host of other small jobs. Chief Mathews noted that most of the work being done at the station on West Troy was being done in house by the department’s own men under the eye of a contractor to insure that the construction met code.
The department is certified to do CPR training plus a host of fire fighter training which enables them to train not only their new recruits but also those of other departments. That training includes basic and advanced first aid. He noted that the training for his certified employees is always ongoing and they are working on instructor certifications for other disciplines in the fire service.
Chief Mathews joked that most of the time department heads come asking for money but he wasn’t here to do that instead he gave a run down of the monies that the department actually brings into the city. This last year the department added $1,040,000 to the general fund through the various things it is involved in.
In other commission business they approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Colfax County and Raton Police Department for dispatch services and a Mutual aid agreement with the Springer Fire Department and Raton Fire and Emergency Services. These agreements are renewals of existing agreements that have been in effect for years.
They approved resolution 2015-08, the application for the repaving of Hospital Drive they also approved the cost proposal for engineering services for the drainage issues on Cook and Park Avenues.
They also approved the agreement with the Raton Country Club to lease the city’s Governmental Liquor License and the two permits for Raton Main Street’s Hops and Vines event on April 11, 2015.
City Manager Scott Berry noted in his report that the work on the south interchange off I-25 is expected to begin in the next two to three weeks. There will be some inconveniences getting off the interstate into south Raton during the construction process.
He noted that Congressman Ben Ray Lujan will be in Raton March 12 for a visit dealing with economic development and veteran’s issues.
City crews were gearing up for the summer which includes cleaning out of the many drainage ditches in Raton as well as work on the ball fields. Potholes are also a top priority.
The commission then went into executive session to discuss their collective bargaining session that is up and coming.
L to R Michael Ann Antonucci, Mayor Pro-Tem Neal Segotta, Christina Boyce and Collette Armijo
The commission will meet again on March 24 at 6:00 p.m. and that meeting will be aired on KRTN AM 1490.
