By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met with RPS board members Tuesday evening, February 12th for a special joint meeting before moving on to the regular city commission meeting.
In the special joint meeting RPS board members and Commissioners approved an assignment of an agreement with Guzman Energy LLC retroactive to February 8. They also postponed an approval of an agreement with Twin Eagle Resources Management to transfer the remaining power contract to Excel Energy due to some issues with that transfer and instructed attorneys to resolve those issues and to defend any legal action Twin Eagle may bring as a result of those talks. (KRTN will have more information on the agreements when we get the information from RPS)
During the regular meeting, Commissioners approved the agreement with FAA that spells out the goals that should be used with disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) companies for construction work to be done at Raton’s Crews Field Municipal Airport. The DBE goal is 6.69% of the work to be done by a disadvantaged business, defined as a minority or woman-owned business. Total cost of the construction work is $563,272.62 for repair on the taxiway and apron at the airport.
Commissioners approved an MOU with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Raton Police Department for assistance at the VA Clinic in Raton. City Manager Scott Berry noted that if any incident was to happen at the VA Clinic, the city would respond anyway.
Commissioners then approved the agreement on the brand Raton Your Pass by spelling out how and in what fashion the brand can be used. (Link to Your Pass Brand Agreement)
Commissioners approved a $1000 a month lease agreement with Mastec North America, Inc. to store materials and construction equipment on the Hereford Ave lot contingent on ironing out insurance issues. Mastec will be working on a Fiber Optic line from Denver to El Paso.
Commissioners approved a bid for two SUVs for the fire department from Phil Long Ford in the amount $108,620. Fire protection fund monies will be used for the purchase. Commissioners then approved the purchase of bunker gear for the fire department at a greatly discounted price from Municipal Emergency Services on a government contract. The total cost of the purchase for 18 pants and coats is $49,500.
Commissioners approved a new agreement with Raton Country Club to administer the city liquor license at the Convention Center. RCC was the only respondent to the City’s RFP (Request for Proposal).
Commissioners approved a Local Government Roads fund application with NMDOT and a NMDOT Municipal Artery Program (MAP) application. The COOP agreement will be used for street reconstruction on Kearney Ave at a cost of $150,000 with the city’s portion being $37,500. The MAP project will be for $300,000 to repave and improve drainage on Fifth Street from Tiger Drive to Moulton Ave. The city’s match for this project is $75,000.
Commissioners approved the Economic Development grant with Grow Raton for a $10,000 to help pay for a Community Coordinator. According to Paul Jenkins, Patricia Duran has already made an impact by helping three individuals who have made requests for services. She has also helped one local business setup payment by credit card all on her own.
The agreement with Hi-Bay Enterprises still has some finishing touches needed and will be back before the commission at the February 26 meeting.
Commissioners approved the agreement with the Center for Community Innovation for $21,000 to help get Creative Startups under way. According to Geoff Peterson the project will get underway this week and will bring in eight entrepreneurs to work on their projects.
RBC Capital Markets LLC will be advising and helping to secure the financing for the Solid Waste Transfer Station. Monies from the Solid Waste tax will go to help with the 15-year loan. Berry noted that construction should start sometime in 2020.
Commissioners approved the new records retention schedule that the state has put out. City Clerk Michael Anne Antonucci noted that they needed to get with it and destroy several records that had passed the date of retention.
Budget Adjustment #9 for FY 2019 includes an election fee payable to the Secretary of State for the city to move to the November election cycle. Antonucci noted the other items on the adjustment are line item changes. (Link to FY 2019 Budget Adjustment #9)
In the city manager’s report Berry noted that both Raton Water works crews and the city crews have been busy fixing water lines and patching potholes. City crews have been working on a drainage problem on Price Street this week. Berry noted that he and some of the commissioners attended the meeting about the efforts to establish 20,000 acres of Fisher Peak Ranch for outdoor recreation. This will work in with the work that Berry hopes the State Parks can do in Sugarite Canyon and he will meet with State Parks on Friday.
The next regular meeting of the Raton City Commission will be on February 26, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on KRTN AM 1490.
A quorum of commissioners may also be present in Santa Fe February 19-20 for the Annual Municipal Day at the Legislature and again on February 27 for the regular RPS meeting where there will be a solar energy presentation.
