By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday July 28, 2020 and recognized the contributions made by two of Raton’s personnel who after many years of service have decided to retire from their jobs with the city.
Raton Fire and Emergency Services Chief Chris Espinoza (link to Chief Espinoza Retirement proclamation) retires after 22 years of service and Raton Water Works General Manager Dan Campbell (Link to Dan Campbell Retirement Proclamation) retires with over 28 years of service to the city. Both men were honored with a proclamation during the commission meeting.
Commissioners renewed the memorandum of agreement with the Shuler Restoration Commission (SRC) for another year. SRC manages the Shuler theater but as President Billy Donati noted, there hasn’t been much to do since March as he read off a long list of cancelled shows. With the help of several local foundations, SRC has secured enough funding to revamp the stage lighting in the Shuler with new LED lighting. The cost of that project will be around $50,000 with grants from the Sloat-Prince Foundation, The George Macaron Family Foundation, The Darden Foundation and the Whited Foundation all coming on board. The system will not only upgrade the look of the stage, but will save the city some 80% in future electrical costs.
The City’s Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for fiscal year 2022 thru 2026 was again brought up for public hearing. City Manager Scott Berry noted the plan is very important as the city and the NM Legislature use it for funding projects base on the priority to the community.
The event form for the Raton High Homecoming Parade was approved in the event that Raton High has a homecoming which is scheduled for October 2nd. That event will most likely be moved to a later date as Raton High Students will not be back in school physically until October 5th.
Commissioners introduced the ordinance that will refund two loans for RPS. The refunding will be done at a reduced interest rate which will reduce the debt that rate payers have to pay meaning that the reduction will be passed on to rate payers equaling smaller electric bills. The ordinance will have two public hearings before final passage in a month.
Commissioners approved the purchase of a new police vehicle at a cost of $37,509.00 and then heard from City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci regarding the last budget adjustment for FY2020 before forwarding the final budget to DFA. (Link to Final FY2020 Budget Adjustment)
Antonucci then presented the year-end financial reports for all three city entities. Noting that the city came in .67% above budget or $16,980.00. Despite the covid crisis the city will begin FY2021 slightly above budget with Antonucci being optimistic that three large construction projects will offset some of the loss in GRT this year. She also noted that it looks like more people shopped in town rather than going out of town which was a big help with revenues. (Link to FY2020 Yearend Financial Report)
Antonucci then told commissioners that the final budget will go to DFA at the end of the week. The budget will begin with some cash balances this year and will total just under $5 million. Total revenues are estimated at $4,946,082 with expenses estimated at $4,934,679. (Link to FY2021 Final Budget City of Raton) (Link to FY2021 Final Budget RPS) (Link to FY2021 Final Budget Raton Water Works)
Berry noted in his short report that Assistant Chief Anthony Burke will assume the duties of chief upon the departure of Chief Espinoza and that Dusty Russell has been promoted to Emergency Medical Service Manager as well as his duties of code enforcement officer.
Raton City Commissioners will meet again on August 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers with the meeting broadcast on AM 1490 and streamed via KRTN’s Facebook.
