By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening September 10, 2024, to discuss de-annexation of property near exit 450 interchange and deliberate on repealing an ordinance dealing with labor relations that was approved in December of 2020.
Alicia Grubelnick was present to talk about the business task force committee that had been recently organized. She also spoke about the talking trash project. She asked when will the city make safe community a priority. One complaint was that the police department won’t post information about crimes that have happened, not just arrests or tickets.
Ron Schuster was present to talk about the local Crimestoppers program. He stressed the need for local citizens to call in and become involved. Rewards that have been paid out are from $50 to $1000.
Commissioners approved the event form for the upcoming Raton High Homecoming parade in October before moving on to discuss the de-annexation of 132.6 acres of property near the I-25 450 interchange. The property is east of the interchange. According to the gaming compact with the State of New Mexico and the Indian tribes and pueblos trust land cannot be located inside city limits. This 132.6 acres has been set aside for the government-to-government transfer has not changed and the remaining 244.2 acres will remain inside the city limits.
Commissioners discussed Ordinance 1027 repealing section 33.28 of Ordinance 1010 which was enacted on December 8, 2020, and deals with labor management relations. Repealing this ordinance which no longer meets state statutes will push all future labor issues to the NM State Public Employees Labor Relations Board.
Commissioners discussed modernizing the Convention Center elevator. TKE presented the city with a proposal that will modernize the elevator by increasing durability and reliability as well as reducing operating operational costs. The city will utilize the state purchasing contract for the work that is estimated to be $107,091.36. The city had received help from the NM Tourism Department with up to $121,718.02 for eligible expenses on the project and the city will meet a match if the costs go over what we already have.
Commissioners discussed appealing Resolution 2024-50 which deals with 120 South 1st Street. The resolution designated the building as dangerous requiring its removal within 60 days. Block #8, the current owners, are appealing the timeline of 60 days. Their proposal, based on conversation with their engineer, Block #8 will completely demolish the building. There are steps along the way that will allow an engineer to determine if the front façade can be saved. The project will have three phases and should be completed in four to five months thus they ask for the appeal. The first two steps require state environmental compliance, which has been added to the timeline as well. Commissioners moved to amend Resolution 2024-42 to show the extended timeline. The city will also block off the sidewalk in front of the building for safety reasons. Commissioner Honeyfield voted no due to insurance issues and shoring up the building walls.
Commissioners approved the application of a digital equity grant application to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Kearney Film and Media Training Center will partner with the Arthur Johnson Memorial Library and the Center for Community Innovation to address construction and completion of projects at the Kearney School. The city will partner with Chicanos Por La Cause, a non-profit founded by Colfax County native Delores Huerta and a sub-awardee for the grant. The grant request is for $4,075,000.91 with a match of $600,000 from the existing unencumbered funds from the capital outlay funding that has already been secured for the training center. The funding will allow completion of 5000 square feet of the building that has yet to be programmed into the current costs.
City Manager Rick Mestas presented a recommendation for painting and railing work at the Arthur Johnson Memorial Library. The only bid for the project came from Desert Vaugh LLC for $54,400 plus $5,500 bid alternate excluding GRT.
Commissioners approved a grant agreement with the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department for emergency funding for a commercial oven for the Raton Senior Center. The grant agreement is for $13,573.40.
Commissioners approved Resolution 2024-51 declaring surplus property and approving the transfer of said property to the North central New Mexico Economic Development District for the Restoring our Communities Program. The property at 904 Sugarite Ave was transferred to the city by the previous owners to terminate their liability. By donating the property it would eliminate the need for the city to demolish it at tax payers expense.
Colfax County has provided $100,000 to the program. This program is part of the solution to creating more housing in Colfax County and Raton. Each property will be completely remodeled to meet code including electric and plumbing. It is estimated that the cost to remodel the property would be about $120,000 and the program would then sell it to eligible home buyers.
City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci presented the commission the FY2025 final budget for their formal approval. The budgets for the city, Raton Water Works and Raton Public Service have all been finalized.
Commissioners heard about the first budget adjustments for FY25 which includes mostly line item adjustments to meet city spending needs. Other items include grants that the city has received. (Link to FY25 Budget Adjustment #1)
In the city manager report the city will now prepare for the annual audit which will be due in December. City Engineer Jaden Welch applied for and won a DOE Sparking Communities grant of $2,000,000 to complete the 1Megawatt solar array. Raton is one of 12 awardees across the country.
There will be an Economic Development summit on October 16, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. where citizens can learn more about upcoming capital outlay, congressional directed funding and grant availability. The following day there will be a Summit of Governments for 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. where they are inviting representatives of municipal and regional governments in northern NM and southern Colorado. Together they will explore regional collaboration to advance community goals and meet the needs citizens.
Mestas then went on to mention the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks where 2977 innocent individuals lost their lives. He noted that the number 343 is displayed on the back of all the Raton Fire Trucks to commemorate the loss of 343 New York Firefighters.
The city commission will meet again on September 24, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers at City Hall.
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