Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commission met Tuesday evening July 9, 2024, and discussed the introduction of an ordinance to repeal ordinance 1010 which deals with the labor management relations and discussion of a dangerous building on First Street.
Commissioners heard from City Manager Rick Mestas about Ordinance 1010 which was approved December 8, 2020, and covers Labor Management Relations for the city. The city was notified by the state that the city no longer met the specific requirements laid out by the state labor board and needed to repeal the ordinance. All labor matters from this point will have to be handled through the State Public Employees Labor Relations Board.
Commissioners approved a resolution supporting Raton Mainstreet’s application for the Great American Main Street Award. The award is given to only three local Mainstreet organizations nationwide for their efforts and work. Each Mainstreet organization submits an application that is judged by a panel of Mainstreet professionals. According to the national Mainstreet organization the award “winners represent the diversity of communities in the Main Street America network — small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts from every region in the country — and demonstrate the power of the Main Street Approach™. Since the inception of the Great American Main Street Award in 1995, over 110 Main Street programs have been honored.” (American Mainstreet Web page)
Resolution 2024-42 deals with the Golden Rule building at 120 South First Street where the back part of the building has collapsed all the way down to the basement. Commissioners heard from Block #8 Properties, the current owners of the building. They are talking to the state concerning the historic value of the building as they are looking to try and at least restore the façade of the building. They have not received word from the state on the building. Liability insurance for the building is one of the concerns the commission has especially in its dilapidated state. Block #8 Properties had an engineer evaluate the structure and in his report, he recommended the building be demolished possibly leaving the front façade intact. Commissioners voted to move forward with the dangerous building designation and that gives the owner 60 days to appeal and present plans on what they want to do with the building.
Commissioners heard about participating in the local government road fund administered by NMDOT for improvements on the north underpass by Ripley Park. The state will provide 75% or $301,133 and the city will put in 25% or $100,378. The scope of work includes everything from planning and design to repair of the pavement and drainage under the overpass.
Commissioners approved the reappointment of Randy Madison and the appointment of Lynette Simpson to the Raton Planning and Zoning Board. Commissioners also appointed Ashley Nuerauter to the Financial Advisory board.
Commissioners approved designating City Manager Rick Mestas as the Certifying Official for the EPA’s Brownfield Grant which is designed to help small towns deal with dilapidated and abandoned buildings in town that have become an eye sore and safety problem.
Commissioners heard about a change order request from Alpha Southwest for the rebuild on the Aquatic Center pump motors. The cost of the change order comes to $23,858 for labor and materials to change bearings on motors.
The bid for the electrical vault at Crews Field was approved with Bixby Electric as the only bidder with their bid coming in over the original bid specifications. The project will be paid for with an FAA grant and moneys also coming from the state aviation department to cover the overrun. The bid came in at $642,319 with GRT of $37,468.
Commissioners heard requests for out of state travel for:
- Mayor Pro-tem Lori Chatterley to Dickinson, ND for the Ports-to-Plains Annual Conference September 9th–12th
• City Engineer Director Jaden Welch and Economic Development Advisor Ann Theis to Dallas, TX for the EPA Region 6 Brownfields Conference July 23rd–25th. Welch’s travel will be paid for by EPA.
• Deputy City Manager/Public Works Director Jason Phillips to Pittsburgh, PA for the ICMA Annual Conference September 21st–September 25th with Phillips costs being covered by the city managers travel fund. All requests were approved.
Commissioners approved the Capital Appropriation Project No. 24-12899 for the Raton Animal Shelter in south Raton from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration’s general fund. The appropriation is only $180,000 and will give the city a start on the planning process and do some plumbing that needs to be done. The city has requested $1 million to cover the cost of building a new animal shelter.
Commissioners heard from City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci about Agreement No 25-690-3000-79544 with NM Children, Youth and Families Department for FY25-FY27. The city is the fiscal agent for this program which funds the JJAC Program. The three year agreement is for $1,049,775 with the yearly costs being $349,925 for each year.
Commissioners then heard about the JJAC FY25-FY27 Subcontract with Youth Heartline and New Hope Family Counselling, LLC to provide counselling services for at risk students. Commissioners approved the contracts for the first year with the option for annual renewal.
In the city manager’s report City Manager Rick Mestas thanked the public works crews for all of their hard work during the little league tourney, 4th of July events and the Balloon rally. The city has received $121,718 for the elevator repairs at the Arthur Johnson Memorial Library. The job for Economic Development Director is once again open and will close on July 15th. Mestas encouraged all potential employees to apply and with Cyndi Parker the HR director for the city.
The next regular city commission meeting is scheduled for July 23, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.
