By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners heard more about the rezoning requests in south Raton and covered several financial matters including closing the account at NM Bank and Trust and financial reports for August.
Commissioners approved event forms for Raton Mainstreet trick or treat on October 31st and the Alternatives to Violence domestic violence awareness walk/run on October 5th followed by consideration of a subcontractor agreement for the SkillSharp program with the Center for Community Innovation. The agreement calls for support of workforce development for small business. SkillSharp provides thousands of online video-based training courses and contains an extensive library of online video content. The video lessons are supplemented with articles that can be downloaded. The cost of the service is $2000 a month from the economic development GRT. They have helped a few people with training and even a 16-year-old to finish high school and move on to college. The commission approved the agreement.
Commissioners approved the purchase of rescue task force point blank body armor with plates and helmets for Raton Fire from Municipal Emergency Services. The department will utilize fire protection funds and a Sourcewell contract #010424. The cost of the new equipment which replaces equipment purchased around 2005 is $28,549.00.
Commissioners considered a covenant of purpose, use and ownership for the film studio and education center project between the city and EDA. The city has received a Federal Grant in the amount of $2 million for the Film Studio and Education center. The difficulty with the grant arises from the fact that the city is unable to provide the EDA, a first priority lien to secure the award. This is based on the fact that municipalities are created by statute and only have the powers provided in the statute.
The city is responsible for the property it owns and as such a first priority lien could put ownership of said property at risk and could be contrary to the city’s obligation to protect city property. In leu of a first priority lien the city will agree to hold the property. The city will enter a covenant of purpose and ownership that for a period of 15 years from the date of the award will not sell, lease, transfer convey or encumber the mortgage or otherwise alienate the property for purposes other than what is set aside in the award. Commissioners approved the award.
City Manager Rick Mestas brought a revised estimate for the Aquatic Center pump rebuild from Alpha Southwest, Inc. The city will utilize the state pricing agreement for the work on the pumps. The cost to rebuild five electric pump motors is $91,449.74 with funding coming from Aquatic Center GRT. Commissioners approved the work.
Commissioner heard from Mestas about a Memorandum of Agreement with the NM State Game and Fish Commission through the NM Department of Game and Fish for the purchase of Bartlett Mesa to add more property to the Sugarite State Park. The city has received an appropriation of $564,000.00 from the State Legislature to fund part of the purchase of the property by the Game and Fish Department which has agreed to fund the remaining purchase price of the property. The Nature Conservancy and the Game and Fish should close on the property by the end of the year. Upon closing the department will own the property and manage the property as a wildlife management area. Once the property is closed on the city will not have any ownership of the property which will be part of the Sugarite State Park.
Commissioners approved the destruction of records at the Arthur Johnson Memorial Library then approved participation in a transportation project funding program that is administered by the NM Department of Transportation. The city will provide $ 45,000 or 5% for matching funds for the $900,000.00 project that will provide preliminary engineering, design, construction, construction management and testing on the business loop of I-25. The scope of work is for sidewalk, medians, limited pavement rehab and maintenance plus drainage and bridge painting.
Commissioners heard about the rezoning request for property at 2018 La Mesa Drive. The request is to rezone the property from C3 to R1. Additionally, the request then rezones the property from R1 to G (Government Use District) which covers the Raton solar array in south Raton. After studying the zoning map the La Mesa airstrip property contains multiple zoning districts that are inconsistent with the current and future use of the property. With Zoning Board agreement, the Commission approved the changes from C3 to R1 then the R1 area around the Solar Array to G (Government Use District). This is the area that covers the solar array that is just east of the La Mesa Airfield. Butch Priest who owns land on the east side of the area was present to ask about the process indicating it was pushed down the resident’s throat in part due to a lack of communication on the matter. He noted that he only received one letter concerning the rezone issue. Commissioners approved the rezoning.
Another rezoning request covers property at 1133 Price Street to change it from MHS to C3, which is the Tradewinds Mobile Home Park. This property is in a zoning district that is inconsistent with its current use and to adapt to the comprehensive plan the city recommends the change to C3. The Raton Zoning Board also agrees with the request. Penny Lopez brought to the attention of the commission that there is 1135 Price Street, however the legal property description for the property covers the complete 2.66 acres involved in the request. Commissioners approved the rezone 3 to 1 Commissioner Honeyfield voted no.
Commissioners viewed the new zoning map which cleans up some discrepancies and better defines the line for each zone. Commissioners approved the changes 3 to 1 with Commissioner Honeyfield voting no.
Commissioners heard from City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci about closing the city accounts at New Mexico Bank and Trust. Antonucci noted that INBank had won the RFP the city put out and the only reason for keeping the account open was to allow the finalization of all city business such as grant payments that are direct deposit. Another reason for the move included several bank fees that NM Bank and Trust had placed on the account.
Commissioners then heard from Antonucci about the INCODE FY24 final end of year adjustments. The adjustments are necessary to begin the new fiscal year. Antonucci indicates she should have the work done by the end of the week and have all the city financials moved over for FY25.
The August Financial report includes grant payments which will eventually move monies around and back into the general fund. The GRT continues to be above budget, but only by 2% this month. Lodger’s tax and the gas tax continue see a decline in revenues. The gas tax however was over $20,000 this month for the first time in several months.
Antonucci brought the second batch of adjustments for the FY25 budget which includes several line-item adjustments with monies being transferred to cover grant payments.
City Manager Rick Mestas brought up in his report the city’s involvement in the recent incident at Raton High School. He noted that while the incident was positive in that all our kids came home safe but there were things that could have been done better. The school and Police Department will continue to work on the deviancies to make improvements.
City staff is involved in the audit while the police and fire departments were involved in training. The city is hiring CDL drivers and work at the library continues with much progress being made in the basement area. He also reminded people about the October 16th Economic Development Summit and the October 17th Summit of Governments. He also gave a shout out to Danielle Vanderpool and the RAIN volunteers for the efforts they put in on the Recovery and Remembrance Day event.
Mestas’ closing thoughts are especially pertinent in light of last week’s incident. The first casualty in war is the truth. This is a military maxim he learned at the Naval War College attributed to Aeschylus, the father of Greek tragedy. This maxim can be applied to any crisis and example of this occurred last Tuesday here in Raton. Social Media platforms can be a communication lifeline for students and parents allowing them to remain in contact.
Yet as the same time, in this situation, we were dealing with children where youth is bountiful and maturity not so much. There was and continues to be no shortage of misinformation posted on social media. Navigating social media in times of crisis is more challenging than normal. Social media can be both good and bad in times of crisis. But there are many who want to fill a void when officials are trying to gather what is the truth and the best way to disseminate that information. Communication is about trust. We need to trust our officials and be patient with their work.
The next Raton City Commission meeting will be October 8, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers.
