By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening March 28 for their second regular meeting of the month where they approved Ordinance 1021 to create and economic development project with El Raton Media Works to implement a workforce development and film production facility at the Kearney School.
Ken Ryan spoke to commissioners about protecting local bees by limited use of pesticides and creating pollinator gardens that will also repel mosquitos. Ryan asked commissioners to help promote the planting of wildflowers and other plants to help enhance the outdoor experience. New Mexico is number three in the country in the number of pollinators and a quarter of all the bee species in North America.
Commissioners viewed the final plat for the Daniels Subdivision and gave their final ok for the project to move forward. According to Tony Molitar they have two of the homes under construction in Albuquerque and will begin foundations next week. The first two homes will be on Grant Street.
Commissioners held a public hearing and heard from City Manager Scott Berry on the agreement for the Economic Development Project with El Raton Media Works to implement a functional workforce development and film production facility at the Kearney School. This ordinance is a requirement by state law as are the other agreements. The city will have $4.1 million in grant funds coming for the project.
Ann Tice with El Raton Media Works has applied for a USDA grant to help with training. Working on the process for dual accreditation with Santa Fe Community College to offer dual credit to Raton High School students. The ordinance was approved.
In order to use the grant money and public monies a participation agreement is required and other requirements must be met to allow this to happen. Commissioners approved the participation agreement with El Raton Media Works occupying the Kearny School Building.
Commissioners then heard about the lease agreement for the Kearney School building which they approved.
Commissioners postponed authorizing the sale of the Coors building until the next meeting.
Lodger’s Tax recommendations for three requests were approved. The requests included $10,000 for Raton Mainstreet Inc. for the Summer of Color for brackets for banners and other expenses for upkeep of the downtown flower pots. $13,044 to Raton Mainstreet for expenses associated with the Gate City Music festival advertising, security, tent rental and backline equipment rental. Renewal of the billboard rental with Lindmark Outdoor Media for the bill board in Capulin at a cost of $330.75 per month for three years was approved with funds coming from the Billboard expense line item.
Commissioners approved the reappointment of Harold Brewer and appointment of Victor Romero to the Library Board.
Commissioners approved the master agreement for the railroad depot project with Lloyd & Associates who will oversee the various trades that will be required to develop a plan for the renovation. The process could take as much as a year to complete. The total design fee is $94,426not including GRT.
Commissioners heard from Berry about a HUD grant agreement for $3 million to help with the Kearney School renovation project. The grant money was obtained with the help of Congresswoman Teresa Ledger Fernandez. The agreement was approved by the commission.
Berry explained a task order for electrical vault design with Molzen Corbin. This is a design only task order for future work at the Crews Field Airport. This vault is used for electrical connections that supply power to the runway lights and other electrical needs at the airport. The total cost of the design work is $81,208 with the FAA paying 90% and the state and city both providing 5% of the funding.
Commissioners also approved a task order for design work on Taxiway B which runs parallel to the cross-wind runway. The total cost of the work is $109,835.
The bid for the East Frontage Road was approved. The city has received $1.520 million from NMDOT to rework the frontage road. The city will provide matching funds of $80,000. It is a full construction project including curb and gutter and sidewalks. Three bids were received with HO Construction being the low bidder. There is $1.441,760 available for construction with $158,239 being used for design work which was awarded to Engineering Analytics. Commissioners approved the project with a cap of $1,442 million and allow the City Manager to negotiate for a lower bid since HO Construction’s bid was $190k over the available funds. HO Construction told Berry they are willing to work with the city to meet the available funding. Berry is wanting to get this done before the state begins the I-25 Clayton road project.
Commissioners approved the transfer of a Police K-9 Unit to Mora County through LEPF funding of $48,000.
It is that time again where the city is required to prepare and submit a budget to the state with the interim budget due June 1st and the final budget due by the end of July. Berry noted the budget has been very bare bones over the last few years but this year the city has a little more leeway in providing some additional expenditures. Commissioners will schedule a budget workshop to begin work on the budget soon most likely April 15.
The February 2023 financial report was presented and approved by the commission. It was noted that GRT was 20% above budget or just under $600,000. The small cities assistance funding was added to the report. Fluctuating prices, especially for some consumables, will have to be considered in the upcoming budget. The cannabis excise tax was up in February as are others but the Lodger’s tax is trending about 5% down from last year. (Link to February 23 Financial Report)
Budget adjustment #12 was presented with the city receiving $10,270 from an insurance payment for an accident at the fire department where an uninsured motorist damaged a bay door. The city will have to come up with $2500 to finish out the garage door repairs. Work at the Library is continuing requiring some funding to be moved around. City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci noted that the other line items included changes for increased expenses for consumables. (Link to Budget Adjustment #12 FY23)
Berry met with stakeholders in Clayton about I-27 and got approval from the state for $400,000 in matching funds for planning purposes in the state for I-27. The Center for Community Progress a not-for-profit group to receive guidance for some land banking strategies as well as handling delinquent property taxes. They will be in Raton on April 11-12. NM Municipal League district meeting will take place in April 11 to review legislation that was passed this year. NM finance board will meet virtually, and the city has asked for the approval of the transfer of the land, 10 acres, from Colfax County at the La Mesa airport for the solar array. The Arthur Johnson Memorial Library will be closed for improvements from March 30 through April 10.
The next regular meeting will be held on April 11 at City Hall at 6:00 p.m. City Hall will be closed April 7th for Good Friday.
