It was appropriate that the Kindess Krew Club from Raton Intermediate School was at the Raton City Commission meeting on Valentines night to receive a proclamation for Random Acts of Kindness week. A packed house of students and teachers were in attendance at Tuesday nights regular Raton City Commission meeting as the Commission cruised through a short agenda.
In his report at the end of the meeting, City Manager Scott Berry noted several pieces of legislation working their way through the Legislature that could effect Raton economically. One pointed out was SB104 which proposes to grant $314 million for NM airports and $5 million of that earmarked for the Raton Crews Field Airport, and Berry said that would essentially fund what the city has on its five year plan.
HB365 would increase a state park pass fee by $1 per vehicle with the extra funds generated being made available on a yearly basis to communities adjacent to state parks with the potential of significant long-term money being made available.
Berry noted the 2 public hearings being held for the Sugarite Ave Reconstruction and the Frontage Road project between Highways 72 and 64. Those projects, coupled with proposed chip seal repair for over 7 miles of city streets would mean over $4 million in road projects for 2023.
Berry said two big projects are nearing completion and except for a couple of punch list items, the Green House project at the Armex building is set to go with Rammel Family Farms reporting they are ready to begin planting and growing right away. The new Hanger project at Crews Field Municipal Airport is structurally complete, but as with the Greenhouse, the back order of electrical components is slowing the project down.
The Commission’s business also included naming new appointees to advisory commissions and boards. The commission followed the recommendations of Mayor Neil Segotta in naming Lynette Simpson to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Dee Burks to the Extraterritorial Zoning Commission and Justin Lark to the Raton Water Board. Mayor-Pro-Tem Linde’ Schuster conducted the meeting as Mayor Segotta participated by phone conference, and she recognized Joe Gagliardi’s contribution and years of service to the Raton Water Board.
The City tabled a consideration to act on a Bee City USA affiliate city. The request for proposal was issued by the Carroll Petrie Foundation of Santa Fe, NM and Public Works Director Jason Phillips said that while he supports the idea of protecting pollinators, the requirements of prohibiting herbicides and insecticides of any kind was difficult to implement on this grand of scale. Given the acres upon acres of grass and parks that the department has to keep both weeds and mosquitos at a minimum, to quit “cold turkey”is not practical given the time frame of the spring season is coming quickly and the grant closure is October 1st.
Ken Ryan addressed the commission and reminded them they at the last commission meeting they passed a resolution for the city to be pollinator friendly and just wondered what else can we do to help and not just let the issue drop.
The commission also approved the public celebration permit for Colfax Ale Cellar to provide alcohol for the GrowRaton After Hours event at Moss Adventures on March 11.
The next Commission meeting is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 28th
