By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening October 27, 2020 for their regular meeting and heard good news on the financial front as the Raton city budget continues to see better than expected GRT results.
The October GRT came in at 1.19% above budget or $31,516.01. While this isn’t much it is still above budget as the city moves into the slow time of the year. (Link to FY21 1st Qtr Financial report)
The budget adjustment also brought good news in that the city was able to help 16 local businesses with CARES Act monies. City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci noted that there are a few more businesses that the city has have applications for and she is hopeful they will be able to help those businesses as well. Antonucci noted in her report that she was inspired by the 16-business owner’s hope and optimism for the future. $718,875 in CARES Act money was available to help the local businesses. (Link to FY21 Budget Adjustment #3)
Commissioners heard from City Manager Scott Berry about an update to the vacant building ordinance that they city wants to implement. The main change in the ordinance is the registration fee which will range from $100 to $500 over a five-year period for small buildings and from $500 up to $1000 for larger buildings. The registration fee is to help encourage owners to be more responsible for their buildings and hopefully push to have the buildings occupied and kept up.
Berry also noted that there will be costs involved with this process such as legal fees and dealing with taxes on abandoned buildings. There may also be costs associated with hazardous materials abatement. The ordinance is in the process of being looked at for legal issues and will be presented to the commission after some public input is received.
The city will spend $459 to advertise in the NRA Whittington Center Guest Guide that is produced each year, the money will come from the Lodger’s Tax promo fund.
Commissioners also postponed approving the Capital Assets Inventory as the city is now in the process of their annual audit. The inventory is part of the audit but was put on hold as other more important info was being requested by the auditors.
Both RPS and Raton Water Works boards are discussing the suspension of the convenience fee for credit card utility payments. Once these two boards make their decision on the matter the city will then bring their recommendations to the commission for a final approval. Berry noted it is likely that the both boards will continue to suspend the fee until at least March 2021.
Berry noted in his report that there has been a lot of construction projects in town this year and that many of them are winding down. The Aquatic Center mechanical project will begin the first of November with the water line project coming to an end in November. The Shuler and Convention Center projects are close to completion as well.
Berry noted that the Chipper which was the cause of the fire at the Landfill was a total loss. He said there will be insurance coming on the chipper but by no means enough to replace the machine so other funding will be looked at for the replacement of that unit. Until the chipper is replaced the city will be unable to chip wood for mulch or landscaping.
Berry also noted that the city crews did a great job on clearing the snow despite the extremely cold temperatures. Mayor Neal Segotta also added that he encourages local hotels and eateries to go thru the New Mexico Safe Certification (https://nmsafecertified.org) so that they can remain open at an expanded capacity.
Commissioners will meet again on November 11, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers for the next regular meeting and city hall will be closed on November 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day.
