Raton City Commission Meeting for September 23, 2025
By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners formalized the sale of property to BTU Block and Concrete as well as handling two dangerous building designations and transportation funding program for their September 23, 2025, regular meeting Tuesday evening.
Commissioners received word at the August 26 meeting that property belonging to BTU Block was not correctly handed over to them back in 1985. Commissioners held a public hearing on the matter and approved the sale of the property to BTU Block for $20,000 which is considered to be a fair market value price for the property.
Commissioners approved the introduction of an ordinance that will regulate Adult Entertainment within the City of Raton which goes back over 20 years when it was first brought up but was never completed. City Manager Rick Mestas noted that the city wants to get ahead of this in order to control where or if such establishments can be licensed in the city. This is also in response to inquiries concerning massage establishments.
Resolution 2025-55 places a 90-day moratorium on the issuance of a business license for adult entertainment until the ordinance regulating such activity in Raton was either approved or not.
Commissioners also introduced an ordinance to repeal municipal court traffic safety and corrections fees. This was originally brought up last year but due to a clerical error it was postponed until that was corrected. The ordinance will be back for public input at a future meeting in October.
Commissioners heard a report from Patricia Duran concerning the SkillSharp program. The program is an online program for training and upgrading job skills. High Set is the beginning part of the program with 16 people enrolled in that part of the program. The Raton program has associated with the Reintegration Center near Eagle Nest to provide training for those reentering the workforce. Several students are requesting training in Excel and bookkeeping. The programs have certified 86 students in various skills.
Commissioners also heard about an agreement for a subcontractor with the Northeast New Mexico Education Foundation. This agreement defines responsibilities for third-party service providers supporting training and job placement services to act as a subcontractor for the Center for Community Innovation.
Commissioners approved the event form for the Raton Mainstreet Safe Trick or Treat event to be held in Downtown Raton on October 31, 2025.
The Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board approved a request from Paul Jenkins for the Raton Community Development Collaborative. The request asks for $900 to cover a Raton Your Pass to Adventure tab on the Ratonian web page. Commissioners approved the request.
Resolution 2025-56 covers the participation in the Transportation Project Funding administered by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The funding request is for $594,232 with the city providing a 5% or $29,711 city match. The funding is mostly for chip seal projects across the city.
Commissioners heard concerns about two buildings, one at 1010 South Second Street, the big vacant building next to Portillo’s more commonly known as the Spanish Bungalow. Also, one at 204 South 1st Street, known as the Carriage Building next to the Coors Building, as dangerous buildings that may require removal. The city has been working hard at getting dangerous or abandoned buildings demolished in efforts to clean up the city. The commission so designated and will send the owners the proper notification.
Commissioners approved the recommendation of bid award to Archuleta Construction for the animal shelter quarantine facility. The facility will be built at the current animal shelter site in South Raton. Archuleta Construction was the lowest bid of two with an amount of $284,000. Funding will come from capital outlay that the city has received.
City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci presented the 2025 final end of year adjustments for INCODE. These adjustments include bank charges that didn’t make it in before the end of year financials were finalized.
Antonucci went over the August 2025 financial reports which show the city in good shape with a 4% increase in GRT above budgeted numbers. Cannabis tax was up however the gas tax continues to decline. The city continues to be concerned and have asked the state Tax and Revenue Department to look into it on their end and is hoping that it isn’t a reporting issue that has occurred with new station owners.
Commissioners approved the FY26 budget adjustment #2 for this fiscal year. Antonucci noted that these are routine line-item adjustments including transfers from the current airport project.
City Manager rick Mestas noted that Jason Phillips suffered a surprise OSHA inspection last week while they were in Ruidoso. Street crews are working on sweeping streets to get ready for fog seal operations that will begin this week.
Mestas also noted that the Police Department is recruiting for five officers and three dispatchers. The Fire Department personnel had a week of training with the fire academy and other agencies here in Raton.
Mestas noted in his final comments “I know a lot of people have said that Raton is fading—that things are falling apart. But don’t believe that. Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of Flam-borough Head, in 1779, when American naval commander John Paul Jones stood his ground and famously declared, “I have not yet begun to fight.” He said that in the face of overwhelming odds, when surrender seemed like the only option. But he didn’t give up—and neither will we. For years, we’ve watched jobs disappear, businesses close, and our infrastructure age without the investment it needs. At times, it feels like the world has forgotten us. But here’s the thing: we’re still here. And like John Paul Jones, some 246 years ago…we’re not done fighting either.”
The next regular city commission meeting will be on October 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the commission chambers at Raton City Hall.
