By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Commission heard appeals concerning vacant building determinations at the regular meeting on February 8, 2022, made by city staff who are working to help clean up Raton and meet the spirit of the new vacant building’s ordinance.
The property at 201 Galesteo, owned by Robert and Janice Powledge while not a commercial business is occupied as a hobby shop where Robert does engine work and will be restoring an old pickup once he retires. He currently has 2 engines that he is building in the shop. The problem being that he is only able to be in the shop on weekends or when his work allows and his recovery from back surgery heals.
The city staff used the fact that the building is not performing a economically and providing income. They also look at other criteria to determine vacancy. City Manager Scott Berry noted that what the city is trying to do is improve the looks of what you see when you drive down the street. He added what is the impression that a tourist or traveler through town gets when they drive down the street. As Mayor Pro-Tem Lindé Schuster puts it, it’s about the curb appeal. Commissioner Ron Chavez said let’s talk more about this and moved to postpone the decision to the first meeting in March.
The property owners of 324 S 11th Avenue also appealed the vacant building decision noting that they, Carlos Urioste and Bill Patrado are in the house only on weekends and are in the process of remodeling the house to make it a retirement home. In this case the city staff looked at water and electric usage to determine that the residence was vacant noting that the utility usage was nowhere close to what anormal family would use during the month. Again, Commissioner Chavez wants to talk about the situation and moved to postpone the decision to the first meeting in March.
The Raton Visitor’s Center is undergoing a refresh or spot remodeling to improve the visitor experience at the center. Caleb Bradley, Visitor Center Director, also noted that the center has hosted four small events and is now open full time with the help of 11 volunteers with more expected in the spring as they return from winter vacation.
Molzen Corbin was chosen once again for engineering services for the airport. The city received two bids, Dubois and King Inc. was the second bid. Molzen Corbin scored higher on the selection committee’s scoring in part because of the ongoing projects that Molzen Corbin is working on at the airport.
One sealed bid was received for street and infrastructure maintenance from Archuleta Construction LLC for $74,639. The bid will cover various work to sidewalks curb and gutter ans other maintenance needs including shared sidewalk and curb and gutter work with local residents. The projects will be funded with gas tax revenues.
The city received $17,828 in grant money from the NM State Library which received their funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The library will need to use the monies rather quickly to meet the grant requirements.
The city also received $1.1 million appropriation for a new ladder truck for the Raton Fire Department. However, Berry noted that is not enough money to build a ladder truck and will finance the rest through the New Mexico Finance Authority. The loan will be repaid with Fire Fund Monies.
Budget Adjustment #7 for FY22 includes moving the library grant money around and setting aside the bond proceeds for the Cimarron Water project as well as setting up the debt service accounts for that project. (Link to FY 22 Budget Adjustment #7)
Berry noted in his short report that the big news is the 30-day legislative session will soon be over and the city should hear more about what capital outlay funding was approved. Berry noted that the city has had good communication with the area legislators and is hoping for good news.
Berry told commissioners that they city will be looking at some NM DOT funding opportunities as well as discussing where the city is with infrastructure projects at up coming meetings.
The Next Regular meeting will be Tuesday February 22, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers at city hall.
