Raton City Commission Meeting
By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
It was another short meeting for the Raton City Commission Tuesday night, Feb. 11 as they moved through the three items on the agenda.
Commissioners introduced Ordinance 988. The reason for introducing the ordinance is to amend a loan agreement with the New Mexico Finance Authority. The changes deal with monies used for purchasing equipment for the transfer station as well as the new trailers and other equipment needed to handle solid waste. This was an introduction and further discussion will happen at the next commission meeting.
Commissioners approved an amended lease agreement with Baca Valley for the tower site on the old pass. Baca Valley is going to lease space on their tower to another entity and that will bring the city an additional $100 a month.
They also agreed to an MOU with the Pecos League. This MOU will allow the Raton Osos to use the city facilities and in no way binds the city to commit additional funds to the league or the Osos.
In the city manager’s report Butch McGowen informed the commission that the exit audit meeting had been completed and that the audit would be made public when it is accepted by the state auditor.
The Colfax County day is scheduled for Feb 12 at the La Fonda in Santa Fe while the New Mexico Municipal League district meeting will be in Santa Rosa on March 18th. Election information has been posted with various media sites and posted in other public places. Training has been conducted on Professional Conduct.
McGowen then went into a list of things the current and new commission will have to be aware of and deal with in the upcoming months and years. That list of things included work at the Lake Maloya on the water system as well as dam repairs that will cost millions.
RPS will work on additional generation for the city as well as looking at alternative sources. A sanitation study, closing the landfill, streets and overall cleanup as well as the aquatic center debt service and health insurance costs going up by 10% are on the list of things to deal with. McGowen added the city may be hard pressed to keep up the 80/20 health insurance or family plans.
In the good news area the city has adjusted vacation schedules. Lines have been replaced on First Street and 2nd street paving work will be coming soon. The MCMC hospital is expanding services to include a new Behavioral and Pulmonary Clinic. Commissioner Sandy Mantz also reported that she and Raton City Economic Coordinator, Christopher Reed, had conversations with Jim Flint from Bohannon Huston Engineering/Architecture, and the City’s Multi-Modal Project on first street near the train station will go out to bid this March.
Commissioners will meet again on February 22, at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers.
