By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday February 11, 2020 for their regular meeting to approve applications and agreements as well as a Liquor License Application.
Left Turn Inc., doing business as Gate City Craft Bar, has received preliminary approval from the state for their wine grower 1st offsite location liquor license and a craft distiller 1st offsite location liquor license at 224 South First in Raton. Commissioners heard from Jim Stern, owner of Colfax Ale Cellar, who had read in a newspaper that the Gate City owner was going to sell his beer of which he had not been contacted about. Mayor Segotta suggested the parties to get together and stated that all the Commission could do was either approve or reject the application and that the City promotes new businesses. The Commission then unanimously approved the application.
Commissioners also approved the Joint Utility System Improvement bonds which is the final phase of financing for the water filter plant project. The final amount of the bonds will be $1,754,000.
Commissioners approved Ordinance 1008 which adopted the supplement to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Raton. This procedure is a formality to keep the city ordinances up to date.
Commissioners approved the grant agreement with the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration for a Community Development Block Grant project. They also approved Engineering Analytics as the engineers for the project who graded higher than Bohannon Houston. A complete scope of work and cost proposals will come before the commission at a later date.
The CDBG project will include improvements on South 3rd Street from Cook to Parsons. Work on Cook, Park, Clark and Savage from 3rd to 2nd Street which will be milling of concrete and replacing it with asphalt as well as some gutter and sidewalk work.
The city will also apply for Local Government Road Funding from NMDOT for a project on Kearny Avenue. The city had requested $150,000 last year for the project but only received $50,000. That $50,000 will go to chip seal streets and hopefully this year the city will receive the full amount to do Kearney Ave. The city portion of the application is $37,500 which will come from the gasoline tax with the state providing $112,500.
Commissioners approved the expenditure of $26,799 for asbestos remediation at 224 S 2nd St. The city received ownership of the building from the current owners who got the building in an estate. After looking at things Berry noted that restoration of the building was not an option so they city will have the asbestos removed and tear the building down. They are also looking at obtaining ownership of the old JC Penny building and do the same with it. There are back taxes due on the building that Berry will work with the state to have forgiven.
Commissioners approved the purchase of defibrillators to be placed in high traffic city buildings such as the Shuler, Convention Center and City Hall. The Fire Department which will be using Fire Funds to purchase their units to be placed in fire trucks and RPS will put a couple in their line trucks which they will purchase with RPS funds. Total cost of the purchase is $26,817 plus the cost of one unit to go at the Raton Senior Center.
Budget Adjustment #7 for FY2020 was approved which included moving monies for the Shuler Office Renovation, Fire fund money for a copier at the fire department and expenses for public works. (Link to Budget Adjustment #7 FY2020)
City Manager Scott Berry noted in his short report that a “Pat on the Back” for a job well done goes out to the public works department for their snow removal work, but it will however, come with a higher price tag. The 3rdStreet water project has had a first meeting and are beginning work on a comprehensive plan and are planning meetings at the Convention Center in March to get public input for the plan.
The Raton City Commission will meet again on February 25, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers, which will be broadcast on KRTN AM 1490.
