By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening and approved a MOU for Electric Scooters and approved other agreements for ground water monitoring.
Commissioners approved the Memorandum of understanding with Bird Rides, Inc for 50 stand up Electric Scooters. Bird Rides will now look for a local vendor to handle the operation for them here in Raton.
Parkhill, Smith & Cooper will continue ground water monitoring for the city. This is now the fifth year of a 30-year program. Jason Phillips noted that he is hoping to work out a deal so that one of the city employees can do some of the work in order to bring down the $28,900 cost for the sampling.
Janis Schumpert was reappointed and Dee Burks was appointed to the Library Board. Commissioners then approved the Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board recommendation for $2000 for the Center for Community Innovation for the distribution of the Raton Visitor’s Guide.
Commissioners approved the introduction of the Vacant Building Registration Ordinance. The ordinance will require owners to register their vacant buildings in order to try and push owners to keep up the buildings or to get them occupied. If not then to have the buildings demolished. Registration fees will start at $100 for a building under 10,000 square feet. $250 for over 10,000 square feet and will increase each year up to 5 years where it will be capped. The ordinance will require insurance be kept up. Non-compliance will result in a misdemeanor with a fine of $100 not to exceed $200 or imprisonment of 30 Days.
Commissioners approved the purchase of a used roll-off truck for $5,000 from the South Central Solid Waste Authority in Las Cruses. The truck is a 2002 International. Phillips noted they were hoping to find one that was around $20,000 but were pleasantly surprised when they found this one in Las Cruses.
Commissioners approved the February 2021 Financial report which is the first report since the DFA began its change over to a new report form. City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci noted that she had to replace formulas in her spreadsheets in order to create some of her reports. Antonucci noted they received the small cities assistance which was about $150,000 short of what was budgeted.
Budget Adjustment #10 was approved with which included fund transfers for the LED lighting project and the NMDOT MAP project.
City Manager Scott Berry ended the meeting noting that he sent a letter in support of the application for the affordable housing. He noted the NENM Regional Transportation planning meeting will be held soon and the Highway Transportation meeting will be held Thursday with emphasis on District 4 which is the Northeast portion of the state. He also noted the PAPI system is now under construction and should be completed by May 1st.
Commissioners will meet again on April 13, 2021 and city offices will be closed on April 2 for Good Friday.
