By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton city commissioners met Tuesday evening, October 23rd and after many years of back and forth negotiations, approved agreements with Amtrak to obtain the historic Raton train station depot.
Commissioners began the meeting honoring Johnny Volpato with a You Rock Award for his work setting up the Raton Crimestoppers and other involvement in the community.
Commissioners approved the transfer of the liquor license from Kroger to Mini Mart, Inc. the new owner of the Loaf N Jug store in Raton. The license is for package liquor sales only.
Commissioners then heard about the budget transfers for the Lodger’s Tax Promotional funds. The transfer of $20,000 had been approved at the last meeting with commissioners receiving the list of the full recommendations from the Commission/Lodger’s Tax working group at this meeting. (Link to Budget Adj Lodgers Tax Recommendation)
Commissioners approved the contract with Lamar Billboard Advertising that includes a $5505 credit which commissioners applied to the new contract. The contract is $16,860 for billboards in Amarillo and Dalhart Texas and two billboards in Raton. According to Commissioner Chatterly the billboards will include the new branding logo and slogan.
Commissioners approved the deed of easement with Amtrak for the Railroad Depot and the lease agreement for the building. City Manager Scott Berry told the commission after decades of negotiations, he felt the current agreement before the commission was going to be the best deal that the City would see and if the Commission wanted to have the depot under city control this was the plan he would recommend. The shelf life for the state grant money to help renovate is only good until December and while the possibility of Amtrak changing service through the area hangs over the agreement, Commissioner Chavez noted that Colorado is working on a plan to start rail service from Wyoming to New Mexico in a north south corridor.
Commissioners heard that the Capital Asset Inventory is now completed which shows 1673 items and 572 land, improvements and buildings in the database. Commissioners then approved the inventory. (Link to Capital Asset Inventory)
Commissioners approved FY19 Budget Adjustment #3 which included the items from the Lodger’s Tax recommendations. Two of the new items for the transfer include Explore Raton management and Media management. (Link to Budget Adjustment #3)
Commissioners approved the disposal of 125 3-cubic yard EMCO dumpsters and 25 of the 1.5-cubic yard EMCO dumpsters. City Manager Scott Berry noted that some of the dumpsters they have as part of the replacement project have been deemed to have no value other than for scrap. He is hoping the old dumpsters will bring about $100 each.
Commissioners heard about and approved the 1stquarter financial report that included the news of a lower than expected gross receipts tax payout. This is the second month in a row that the GRT has come in lower than budget. The year-to-date budget projection however is only .36% above budget projections. Commissioners asked if Tax and Revenue might have calculated it incorrectly since Mayor Segotta noted that surrounding communities that he has talked to saw increases in their GRT for the last two months. (Link to 1st Qtr Financial Report FY19)
With financing for the Transfer Station running into some bumps, the city will bring Modrall Sperling in to handle the issue for a bond to finish the financing. Their costs for the project will be $15,000 plus GRT and out of pocket expenses. Modrall Sperling helped with the bond issues with the water treatment plant project.
In his report to the Commission, City Manager Scott Berry noted that the street construction along Hospital Drive and the Great Blocks construction on First Street was moving along and that by the time the November meetings roll around, all projects should be coming to a close.
He told commissioners that Raton has made the FAA list for airport construction funds that are 100% grant money and doesn’t require match money.
Berry noted that NMDOT requested that Lincoln Ave stay closed until the repairs on the overpass were completed. Berry will contact DOT on Wednesday (Oct 24) to see how the repairs went and probably open Lincoln Ave at that time.
Commissioners will meet again on November 11 at 6:00 p.m. and it will be broadcast on 1490 AM KRTN and gave notice that there could be a quorum at the NM Main Street Annual Site Visit to be held on November 14 at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall.
