By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Commissioners met Tuesday evening June 27 for the second regular meeting of June covering agreements and budget items and a full house with citizens in support of the Raton Fire Fighters and their alleged paltry pay.
Elizabeth Hampl spoke to commissioners about the wage that the Raton Fire Fighters receive. They will receive a 2.5% increase in pay. Basic fire fighters receive a base pay at $12.00 an hour. Some fire fighters are leaving because of the low wages. The request from those present is for the city to provide a higher wage in order to support them and keep them on staff. City Manager Scott Berry then informed those present about the Kelly pay schedule for fire fighters noting it’s a complicated pay schedule and cannot be compared to wages paid as a 40 hour a week job. He also noted that fire fighters belong to a union and the pay is established through the union negotiations. Berry also noted that Raton is the smallest city in the state of New Mexico with a paid full time fire department. Most other cities privatize some of those services especially EMS and operate a volunteer fire department.
There were four recommendations made by the Lodger’s Tax Committee. They recommended $19,050 for the Run to Raton from the contingency fund for advertising, music bands, security, radio ads and other advertising expenses. They recommended $5007 for 10,500 Discovery Maps for the Tourist Information Center. $7890 was recommended for Phillips Broadcasting for Radio Ads on three radio stations along with app ads and social media ads for FY24. $11,876 was awarded to the Center for Community Innovation for a pledge of matching funds for NM True Coop Marketing Grants. All recommendations were approved.
Commissioners heard from City Manager Scott Berry about the MOU with Grow Raton for another year. The cost of the MOU will be $2083.33 a month, not to exceed $25,000 a year. The MOU’s intent is to clarify the duties of each entity regarding economic development for the city.
Commissioners heard from City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci concerning the RFP for youth services for the girl’s circle and boy’s council programs. The contract is contingent on CYFD funding the program. The City of Raton serves as the fiscal agent on the grant. Youth Heartline was the only proposal for this year’s grant for the two programs at just over $110,385. The city did not receive a proposal for the restorative justice program so they will go out for bid again hoping to have a proposal for the second July meeting.
Commissioners awarded Rocky Road Gravel and Well Drilling LLC the contract to demolish the Giordano Building located in downtown Raton. Rocky Road was the low bid among three others at $75,400 plus gross receipts tax.
Commissioners approved the contract extension for tipping fees at the GGH Regional Landfill with an increase of 5.7%. The original cost is $27.50 per ton and that will increase to $30.19 a ton.
Commissioners approved the dispatch agreement with Colfax County in the amount of $75,000 a year which is an increase from $49,000 based on call volume for the county.
Commissioners also approved the E911 grant agreement which helps with expenses and equipment upkeep of the E911 equipment at the Raton Dispatch Center that agreement totals $207,552.
Commissioners acted on the contracts for the IT systems services for the city, Raton Water and Raton Public Service with separate contracts for the Raton Police Dept and Raton Fire. Berry noted it is a renewal of the current contracts. All the contracts total at just over $87,000.
Commissioners heard from Berry on potential litigation concerning the health insurance fund that has developed a shortfall due to an ongoing failure to increase premiums to cover rising costs. The NM General Services Department sent out invoices for retroactive employee healthcare benefit costs to help recover the shortfall. The NM Municipal League feels that the GSD does not have the legal authority to invoice local governments for services already paid for and received. The NM Municipal league has asked municipalities to join litigation to adjudicate an injunction against the health Insurance fund to prevent them from collecting monies that have already been paid previously.
Commissioners approved a grant application to the Economic Development Administration for funding for the Raton Film School. The grant is designed to bolster economic resilience for Colfax County and Raton. $2 million has been requested for the Kearney School that requires a match of $400,000.
Commissioners approved the city to utilize the Houston Galveston Area Council purchasing contract for a new ambulance. Dusty Russell requested a budget increase to cover a change from $180,000 to $240,000 the county will put in $40,000 to help with the purchase. The initial costs of the van ambulance that was ordered was $180,000 but that unit was damaged by hail so the increased costs is for a box type ambulance.
City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci presented the May Financial report which shows a 23.08 % increase over the budgeted amount. The interim budget has been submitted to DFA and the city will close out the fiscal year by the end of June.
Budget adjustment #18 for FY23 included line-item transfers for lodger’s tax, library and sanitation funds. Antonucci noted there will be one more adjustment to closeout things for the year end.
Commissioners adopted a lease accounting policy per GASB 87 guidelines. This is a result of the recent audit based on a new accounting rule that went into effect this year. The rules change cover leases that the city has including hangar lease, equipment lease and others.
Berry noted in his report to the commissioners that it is a big year for public works projects. Work has begun on the frontage road going from Clayton Road to the Raton Creek Bridge. Funding comes from NMDOT and will take the rest of the year. The current phase of the chip seal project has been completed on about eight miles of city streets. The fog seal process for the project will be done later in the year.
The contractor has completed the solar panel installation and is working on the interconnection work at this time. The project should be completed in a few weeks and will be providing electricity to the city grid.
The city continues to work on funding through DFA for the Bartlett Mesa purchase.
The next regular meeting of the Raton City Commission will be held on July 11, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers at Raton City Hall.
