By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners approved the final budget for fiscal year 2020 at their regular meeting Tuesday September 10.
In the public comment portion of the meeting, Commissioners heard from Frank Cimino representing Phil Long Ford about the intersection at Rio Grande and South Second Street. A lot of discussion has taken place recently about safety issues and he suggested the city make Rio Grande a one-way street going east bound, from Second to First Street thereby reducing the accident risk from parked vehicles on Second Street in front of the Phil Long Service Department. City Manager Scott Berry noted that signage and pavement markings would be required but that it is probably a very workable solution to that problem and one NMDOT would possibly agree to.
As a part of the approval process for the budgets of the City of Raton, Raton Water Works and Raton Public Service it is required that the City Commission show in the meeting minutes that New Mexico Department of Finance has given their final approval of the budgets and that the city has accepted that approval for the budgets to become official which was done with an unanimous vote.
Commissioners approved the event form for the Professional Business Women (PBW)/Kiwanas 25thAnnual Walk/Run for Domestic Violence Awareness to take place on October 5, 2019 beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Commissioners approved the MOU with the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department for WIPP Route preparedness training and adequately equipping those departments along the route. This MOU is similar to ones the city has had in the past with EMNRD.
Jason Phillips is working on the application for a planning grant to update the comprehensive plan that was last done in 2003. The comprehensive plan is a required document for CDBG grants, capital outlay and NMDOT grants. The city match is usually 50% but the final cost has not yet been determined. This is the first step in a long process for grant applications noted Phillips.
City Manager Scott Berry noted that work on repaving Hart Ave and Brilliant Street is now underway and residents in the area should expect street closures and delays as the paving project gets progresses. It is expected to last about three to four weeks and end in October.
Berry will travel to Albuquerque to attend a meeting concerning the Southwest Chief and keeping it running through New Mexico. He will also travel for a meeting on CDBG grants in Albuquerque to stump for Raton in the grant process.
Commissioners will meet again on September 24, for their next regular meeting which will be broadcast on KRTN AM 1490. Berry also reported that there may be a quorum of the commission at a NM Mainstreet annual site visit on October 10, which will be held at City Hall.
