By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
– Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening, Nov., 14th to work through a fairly short agenda with Mayor Mantz attending via phone.
Commissioners first item was the approval of the minutes and the approval of the Festival of Lights to be held on First Street November 25, shortly after the lighting of the City Christmas Tree at Ripley Park.
Commissioners then approved a traffic safety grant agreement with New Mexico Department of Transportation. The grant agreement covers the police department’s enforcement for 100 days and nights, DWI and seat belt enforcement. The grant is for $8,159.00 which Chief John Garcia noted is down from previous years.
Commissioners approved the MOA with the Shuler Restoration Committee to manage the Shuler through June 2018.
Commissioners held a public hearing for the gross receipts tax that goes to benefit the Raton Water Board. Dan Campbell, General Manager of Raton Water Works noted that the tax will be on the March 2018 ballot and is set to drop from the current rate on one cent to 3/4 of a cent. Campbell noted that the tax has been beneficial to Raton Water Department helping them with funds to upgrade the City’s water infrastructure including a $2.5 million dollar project to upgrade the waste water treatment plant.
Commissioners approved the reduction of the mileage reimbursement rate from 54 cents to 53.5 cents to match that of the IRS.
Commissioners approved budget adjustment #4 for Fiscal Year 2018. City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci noted that most of the adjustment are line item changes. One big note was a $35,000 private donation to the recreation center. (Link to the Budget Adjustment #4 FY18)
Commissioners approved to add the title of Interim City Clerk to Michael Anne Antonucci’s job duties. Current City Clerk Tricia Mascarenas will be leaving her position for another job and she was commended by City Manager Scott Berry for her job performance during her tenure. Desiree Trujillo and Robyn Osborn have been approved as Deputy Clerks for the March 2018 election.
City Manager Scott Berry noted that he attended an opioid forum today that was held at the County Building.
Construction at the Crews Field Municipal Airport is ongoing and should be mostly finished up by Saturday. Weather has been very favorable and kept the construction on time.
Berry and Campbell attended the waste water plant kickoff meeting and will begin the design phase soon. The $2.5 million project is being funded by a USDA grant with matching money from the one cent gross receipts tax designated to the water department.
Commissioners will meet again on November 28, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. for their next regular meeting which will be broadcast on KRTN AM-1490.
