The Raton City Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, April 23 and had several action items to consider. One of the main considerations was to pass an Ordinance (No. 1003 which authorized a solid waste loan between the city and the NM Finance Authority in the amount of $642,882. The commission also unanimously passed and Ordinance (No. 1004) in the amount of $3,186,000 in order to refinance the Aquatic Center Loan. Evan Kist of RBC Capital Markets explained to the commission that the separate loans of 2007 and 2009 would be consolidated with the new loan and they would deliver the refunding approval request to the DFA and should get approval by Thursday.
The Commission also heard from Raton Water Works General Manager Dan Campbell about how an increase in chemicals, labor, and regulatory impacts has made it necessary to ask the Commission to approve a 3 % increase in water rates and a .25 cent increase in fixed rates for Raton water customers. Campbell explained that the requested increase in rates would result in an average $1.37 per month increase on each 6,000 gallons used for combined water and sewer rates for an average household. Campbell went on the say there are 1,400 water utilities in the state and mostly because of the city’s gross receipts tax contributing to water infrastructure, Raton’s residential water rate is 54 % lower than state average, its residential sewer rate is 38% lower than state average and for commercial users, the water rate is 43.6% lower and sewer is 73% lower than state average (2017 NMED Rate Survey Comparison). The Commission unanimously approved the introduction of the ordinance, which will begin the process of making it official.
Campbell also stated that Raton is very lucky to have no discharge upstream of the Sugarite watershed, but warned that waste water issues are looming on the horizon because of governmental tightening of regulations.
A public hearing for the city’s FY2020 budget was held and City Manager Scott Berry told the Commission that the NM Tax/Rev distribution of gross receipts tax has been consistently lower that previous three years. The trend has been puzzling because the other metrics to gauge economics has been strong including Lodgers Tax and the Gas Tax (2 cents per gallon goes to the city). The shortfall appears to be in construction with retail sales also looking fairly constant. Berry also noted it is difficult to get information from the state, so with the new budget process looming, Berry said the priorities would be to maintain the services the city has and hopefully some legislative relief would come through, but the city may have to rely on its reserves to maintain services.
In her committee reports, Commissioner Lori Chatterly said that at the recently concluded NM Municipal League meeting, it was reported that tax changes that were passed by the recent legislature (HB6) would mean Internet sales would be taxed. This will benefit Raton, but it’s going to take a couple of years to implement, not going into effect until 2021.
Budget wise, City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci reported that income for February was 3.3% below projections which translated to $90,000 below estimates so far.
In other business, the commission heard from Jason Phillips on the city’s CBDG program and he reported that there was not much public input at the two meetings in April, and it is a very demanding application. After discussion, the commission passed the Downtown Area Streets Project for submission as Raton’s CBDG program with a deadline of June 20.
The Commission also heard from Chamber President Dee Burks as the chamber requested $5,600 from the Lodger’s Tax Non-Promotional Fund to paint a mural on two outside courtyard walls of the Visitor’s Center. The chamber felt it would help encourage travelers to take pictures and share on social media and would be a great addition for little money. After some discussion on the building’s condition and need for repair, the commission approved the request and local artist Carl Swanson will work to have it possibly done by the Memorial Day Weekend.
The bid award for the Fire Station #1 upstairs renovation was postponed and there will be another meeting on the project on April 30.
The Commission also unanimously approved the CYFD FY20 Alternative to Detention Service for JJS agreement in which the city acts as fiscal agent for the program.
In his report, City Manager Scott Berry informed the Commission that the contractor for resurfacing of Taxiway Alpha at the Crews Municipal Airport, has been on site for a couple of weeks and it should be finished in the near future.
The Raton Water Treatment Facility has had a few surprises as work begins on the project, but surprises are to be expected from a facility built in 1948.
The Great Blocks Program on First Street should be resuming construction in May with HO Construction set to wrap it up in the coming weeks.
The next regular commission meeting is Tuesday, May 14 and it will be broadcast on KRTN AM 1490.
Independent Riders accept a proclamation declaring May 12 thru May 18 as “Run for the Wall Week” The Raton City Commission also approved the Parade Route and road closure for the May 18th event.
Arbor Day Celebration is set for April 26, 2019 as proclaimed by the Raton City Commission.
