By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening August 11, 2020 where they approved an MOU and road fund grant agreement after watching Raton PD officer Nicolina Villani-Martinez receive the Enrique Camarena State Award from the Raton Elks Club.
The award recognizes Martinez for her efforts in drug enforcement and training as an resource officer in the Raton Public Schools. The proclamation for Lip-Sync was also read for the contribution made for that program each year, however this year’s Lip-Sync has been cancelled due to the COVID crisis. (Link to Proclamation Lip Sync)
Commissioner will see the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan draft in the next month. During the hearing Dusty Russell noted that the EMS service will be looking for funding to purchase six defibulators at a cost of $175,000. Russell noted that the five the department has now is aged and repair parts are becoming scarce or nonexistent.
Commissioners approved Mayor Pro-Tem Lindé Schuster as the primary voting delegate and Commissioner Lori Chatterly as backup for the NMML State Conference in September.
Commissioners renewed the annual MOU with the Juvenile Justice Continuum Advisory Board with changes that reflect the new year.
Commissioners approved a local government road fund grant in the amount of $300,000 for work on Byron and Whittier Streets. The state will provide $225,000 with the city contributing a $75,000 match.
City Manager Scott Berry noted that construction on the Great Blocks project and the Solid Waste Transfer Station is progressing quite well with the transfer station likely to see an early completion date. The 5th Street chip seal project is mostly complete and the crack seal project will begin next week which will include Tiger Drive and will require street or lane closures during the project. The water line replacement on 3rd Street is under way and will likely inconvenience citizens as the construction progresses. There will be street closures and water service disruption throughout the project. The City will try to notify the public of street closures and other hazards as the project moves along.
Commissioners will meet again August 25, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers for their next regular meeting.
