By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners approved the application for Jim and Karen Stearns allowing them to move forward with the licensing step of their new brewery Tuesday evening.
Colfax Ale Cellar LLC, owned by the Stearns has applied for a license for a small brewery and wholesalers license to sell their beers. No objections were presented during the public hearing for the applications and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, which lies 297 feet away, also had no objection and a waiver was granted for that distance since it was less than 300 feet.
Commissioners heard from City Treasurer Michael Ann Antonucci who informed commissioners that the gross receipts tax had not declined so far this year as it normally does this time of year. The I-25 interchange in south Raton and other up coming projects should also help keep the GRT strong. They also approved the second budget adjustment for fiscal year 2016. (Links to 1st Qtr Financial Budget Adjustment #2 FY16)
Commissioners approved the grant agreement with NMDOT in the amount of $150,000, which will be used for the repaving project on Tiger Drive east of the railroad tracks.
Commissioners also approved the transfer of the grant and contract from the Service Organization for Youth (SOY) to Valle del Sol of New Mexico, LLC. In a letter to the commission SOY noted that it will be transitioning all of its services to Valle. CYFD has already signed off on the transfer. The Transfer will become effective November 1, 2015. According to Danielle Esparza the transfer will be pretty seamless as all of the staff will be retained and services will pretty much go on as they have in the past.
Commissioners also approved the transfer of the lease for a hangar space at the airport from Marty McDermont to Dan Spuza. An individual builds a hangar at the airport and land the hangar sits on is owned by the city. The city then signs a 50-year ground lease with the hangar owner.
Viveenne Van Sweden requested $384.00 from the lodger’s tax to purchase welcome bags for the Chamber of Commerce. The Lodger’s Tax Board approved the request, as did commissioners.
City Manager Scott Berry noted in his report that work on the drainage work on Park and Cook was progressing. Work crews are installing curb and gutter in preparation for repaving on First Street.
The plumbing work at the Arthur Johnson Memorial Library has been completed. The building permit for the Multi-Model Center has been issued and Berry expects work to begin there in the next week or so.
Commissioners then went into execute session to discuss the landfill lawsuit brought by Mark and Lori Van Buskirk.
Commissioners will meet again November 10, 2015 for their next regular meeting.
