By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners began their meeting on Tuesday, June 26th by honoring Pete Vigil with the “You Rock” Award and 11 youngsters who volunteered their time to help out at the Convention Center during the Ute Park Fire evacuations.
Robert Walton spoke to the commission suggesting that the money that is earmarked for the transfer station could be better used fixing the sidewalk in front of the post office, buying the old buildings just south of International Bank and doing something with them since the property owners probably won’t, and fixing up the Armex Building.
Commissioners heard good news about the Senior Center despite the recent federal cuts to senior services. Mayor Segotta who attended the Municipal League conference indicated that the Municipal League will be proposing legislation to change the law concerning threats to schools. He noted that it is a felony to call in a bomb threat to a school but only a misdemeanor to call and say you’re going to shoot the school up and kill students. They want to make that a felony offense as well.
Commissioners approved the Lodger’s Tax advisory board recommendations for $2000 per month for the Center for Sustainability to continue maintaining the website and google adwords. The center has spent $119,000 in advertising through the google adword grant according to Jessica Barfield. The ads have been seen over 1.7 million times with over 81,000 people visiting the ExploreRaton web site and 55 people reserving rooms through the website just this month.
Commissioners also approved the MainStreet request for the Gate City Music Festival with Diana Sanchez noting that Pepsi has not come thru as a sponsor and that the Whited Foundation has reduced their funding leaving the event with $10,000 less from those two entities. The request is for $18,641.59 of which $11,227 will come from this fiscal year and the remaining $7,413 will come out of fiscal year 2019.
Commissioners approved the dispenser’s permits for the Run to Raton event coming in July. Left Turn Distilling, Palmers Brewery and Colfax Ale Cellar will be the vendors for the event. They also approved the closure of the street in front of the VFW for their July 4thstreet dance.
Commissioners also approved the lease agreement amendment for the city liquor license with the Raton Country Club changing the agreement on how the city’s compensation is calculated. It will now be calculated by counting the adults at the event instead of all those attending an event which included children who do not drink and therefore shouldn’t be counted for the liquor license compensation.
Commissioners also approved the vector agreement with Colfax County for $3000 to spray for mosquitos in some areas of Raton, namely the ball fields and places with bad drainage. City Manager Scott Berry also noted that if there are any bee keepers with bees to let them know so that the contractor can work around those areas as the spray is also detrimental to bees.
Commissioners heard that the city will have a slightly bigger surplus going into fiscal year 2019 as they continue to run below budget and the gross receipts have once again come in 2.52% above projections. City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci noted that April was the first month without K-Mart and the GRT wasn’t that bad but that they would have to continue to watch the GRT report over the next couple of months. (Link to May FY 2018 Financial Report)
Commissioners also approved budget adjustment #16 which transfers monies around in preparation for the end of fiscal year 2018. She also noted that DFA has approved the city’s interim budget for FY 2019. (Link to Budget Adjustment #16)
Commissioners approved the use of CoBank for the interim loan on the Raton Water Works Filter Plant project which Raton Water Works General Manager Dan Campbell hopes to go to bid on in July.
Commissioners are planning on meeting with the Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board on July 9 at 4:00 p.m. at the convention center to continue working on a plan for using lodger’s tax monies.
City Manager Scott Berry noted in his report that they are planning to start the chip seal project July 2ndon Apache Ave, Galisteo Ave, one block on South 3rdby the intermediate school, South 4thStreet between Pecos and Apache. Commissioners will get the bid for Hospital Drive next month with construction to begin on that project in September to try and prevent as much inconvenience as possible to the hospital. They will begin a pared down version of phase one of the Great Blocks plan to meet available funds. Bids for phase two of the renovation work of Taxiway A at Raton Crew Field Municipal Airport will be brought to commissioners at the second July meeting.
Berry noted that he will be attending a couple of meetings and that the news on Amtrak is not good. Berry has written a letter to all of our congressional delegation concerning the importance of Amtrak. Senator’s Udall and Heinrich have both reported not much progress on conversations with Amtrak officials including President Richard Anderson. One plan being put forth Amtrak is proposing to go to busing riders from Albuquerque to Dodge City, Kansas, bypassing the tracks along that area. Berry suggests that it is time to write letters to the CEO of Amtrak, Richard Anderson, as well as others to try and change minds.
Commissioners will meet again on July 10 at 6:00 p.m. for their regular meeting which can be heard on KRTN AM 1490.
Handing out the certificates to the youngins was Commissioner Lori Chatterly, Front row; Tess Chatterly, Chance Kamp, Chase Kamp, Carson Chatterly back row Crede Chatterly, Jimmie Ann Mascarenas, Justine Mascarenas and Reyes Aragon.
