By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday June 8, 2021 and approved bids for projects and renewed agreements for services and started the process by approving a resolution for land acquisition to expand Sugarite Canyon State Park.
Commissioners approved the collective agreement with AFSCME Local 1601 which gives those employees a four-year agreement with a 3% pay increase followed by smaller increments over the four-year period of the contract.
Commissioners then approved the full amount for the project on Whittier and Byron Streets as well as a parking lot project at the Depot. Because of increased oil and asphalt costs both projects will have to dig into the gas tax fund to cover the higher costs. Bids for both projects went to Rocky Road Gravel and Well Drilling. The engineer’s estimated costs of the Whittier/Byron Street Project is $344,493, Rocky Road bid $316,475. Rocky Roads bid $148,461 for the Depot project which was $7535 over the available funds. The funding for the depot project is left over money from federal grants that covered the Multi-Modal Center.
Commissioners renewed the agreement with the Shuler Restoration Committee for Shuler Theater management. Billy Donati told commissioners the committee was happy with the agreement and looked forward to getting kids back into the theater as they begin the process for a children’s play this summer.
Commissioners approved the agreement with the Colfax County Senior Center for operation of those services in Raton. The agreement spells out what the city is responsible for as they own the building and what the Senior Center is responsible for such as utilities and rent. The rent is covered by in-kind services that are provided for local senior citizens.
Raton Fire and Emergency Services requested approval for the purchase of a Pharmaceutical Dispensing Machine which will help with inventory control and security of meds that the ambulance crews have access to, based on their level of training. Emergency manager Dusty Russell noted that several other agencies are moving to the system thus there is a shortage of the equipment at present.
City Manager Scott Berry asked Russell to comment on the vaccination rate which Russell responded that 58% of Colfax County has been vaccinated with one shot while 52% have received both shots. This was in response to a meeting Mayor Neal Segotta had with other mayors and the governor concerning possible changes in the color system the state is still in. Segotta noted that there are three counties that could have been put back in the yellow with one even going as far as red. The mayors managed to talk the governor into keeping the whole state in Turquoise for the remainder of the month of June in hopes we can open up completely with 60% vaccination. Anita Flores with Grow Raton spoke and told commissioners that most all the businesses she had spoken with are in hopes that the goal posts will quit moving so that they can plan and move forward.
Commissioners approved the subcontractor agreements under the JJAC contract with Human Resources Development Associates Inc and Peace Through Education.
Commissioners approved the election resolution which will move the election to the county clerk’s control and the November 2, 2021 election date with three 4-year positions up for grabs this year.
Commissioners approved Budget Adjustment #15 for FY21 that includes several line-item adjustments in the general fund to help closeout the year end finances as well as start closing out projects that have been completed recently. (Link to FY2021 Budget Adjustment #15)
Resolution 2021-43 is in support of the acquisition of the Bartlett Mesa Ranch property to expand Sugarite Canyon State Park. The parcel of land covers 2,224 acres adjacent to the park. A request to Senator Ben Ray Lujan has been made to help with funding. Berry is hoping to raise about $4 million to purchase the land and make improvements for hiking camping and other outdoor activities. Berry has also spoke with many other organizations to help raise the needed funds to purchase the land. (Link to Resolution 2021-43 Bartlett Mesa Ranch Aquisition)
City Manager Scott Berry noted in his report that the frontage road project and Sugarite Ave project ranking in the top seven on the NMDOT call for projects meeting that was held recently. Berry said we will wait to see what gets funded. He also noted that the 44th Army Band will be in Raton on July 3rd for a 3:30 performance at Veteran’s Memorial Park and then at the La Mesa airfield at 7:00 p.m. to play for the balloon glow that evening. Members of the band may also play the National Anthem the morning of the 4th at the balloon rally.
On the bad news side of things Berry noted that Raton Natural Gas has asked the Public Regulation Commission to approve a recovery of costs plan because of extraordinary costs incurred during the cold weather event in Texas this last February, which they did. RNG was forced to pay an additional million dollars for natural gas due to gas price increases of 5000% during that period. Berry noted the city received very short notice of the PRC virtual meeting and was not allowed to testify during the meeting only allowed brief comments. The recovery period will cover 48 months where Raton rate payers will see an increase of about 17% in gas rates according to Berry. It is hoped that RNG will provide more details concerning the increase which Berry noted may be tough for some customers to deal with after Covid problems have left some short on money.
Commissioners will meet again June 22, 2021 for their next regular meeting in June.
