By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton City Commission met Thursday afternoon July 10, 2025, for a special meeting to discuss the termination of lease and associated agreements with Ramel Family Farms followed by a budget work session.
At the request of Kayvan Khalatbari, Manager of the Ramel Family Farms, the city commission discussed the termination of the lease agreement with the city and Ramel Family Farms. In a letter to the commission Khalatbari noted that the city has falsely asserted that the lease agreement had already been terminated and that the mediation effort has been undermined by this unfounded claim.
The letter went on to say Ramel Family Farms will vacate the Armex Building by December 31, 2025. This deadline will give them adequate time to wind down operations and ensure an orderly departure with community members and business partners. They will also be terminating operations at their other properties, including the Heirloom Shop, El Raton Theater and the Traders Building. (Link to Ramel Family Farms Termination Letter) (This is a link to the Letter dated July 2, 2025 to the Raton City Commission from Kayvan Khalatbari asking for the termination of the lease)
Commissioner Lindé Schuster was fully prepared to reject the letter written to the commission dated July 2, 2025, however Khalatbari was not present at the meeting to respond to the rejection leaving the commission with the only option to accept the request to terminate the lease. Commissioners accepted the request from Khalatbari to terminate the lease agreement. It was noted that Khalatbari was the one who pulled out of mediation that had been scheduled for July 7, 2025. Mayor Neil Segotta noted that Khalatbari was the one who brought up the idea of mediation at the last commission meeting in June and now he was the one to pull out of the negotiations.
Commissioners introduced Ordinance #1013 to rescind the ordinance creating the Ramel Family Farms project at the Armex building as an economic development project. The Ordinance will be advertised and acted upon at the first August meeting.
Commissioners heard from City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci about the status of the final budget. Antonucci noted that she is still waiting for a check from Raton Water Works and a couple of other changes. It was also noted that the city has several computers that are compatible with Windows 11. Most of the computers are Toughbooks that were bought with grant monies and will have to come out of the general fund to update those computers with new ones. Several grants have been awarded to the city since the interim budget was approved so those will be added to the budget. There are still a few questions about dipping into the general fund and in part will depend on residual transfers from Raton Water and RPS. Antonucci and her staff will continue working on the budget and bring the final budget to the commission at a later date.
The commission will meet again on July 22, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers at City Hall.
