By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton City Commission met on Tuesday evening April 22, 2025, for their regular meeting and tackled a very long agenda where they covered the audit, housing issues including dangerous buildings and vacant buildings.
At the beginning of the meeting several proclamations were presented before the business items were tackled. The audit report from Jeremiah Armijo with SJT Group, LLC was presented with no significant findings reported, the city received a clean audit report with only one concern which is a carryover from last year.
Commissioners then approved Resolution 2025-24 accepting the audit report.
Commissioners then opened a public hearing and discussion on the Codification Ordinance #1029 Thirteenth supplement. This is a housekeeping requirement to bring ordinances up to date and have them published online with American Legal Publishing Corporation.
The introduction of the Affordable Housing Ordinance to implement the Colfax County Affordable Housing plan which addresses affordable housing in the City of Raton was introduced. The ordinance will be discussed at later meetings for final approval at a later date.
Commissioners heard a request for an ordinance granting a franchise to Resound Networks, LLC a Texas Corporation, for the purpose of installing and maintaining fiber optic network in the northeast section of Raton. The franchise will be 4% of their net income in the City of Raton.
Commissioners also introduced Ordinance 1018 which deals with water and sewer rates in Raton. The rate increase is for construction water use rates only.
Hydrant or manifold meter non-potable fixed per meter- $50.00 per month and $12.50 per 1000 gallons and Chapter 53 of the city of Raton Code of Ordinances Section 53.059 Application for Water Service is amended to read as follows
Hydrant or manifold meter non-potable a $900 cash deposit and a $100 fee shall be made with each hydrant or manifold meter owned by the water utility and checked out by authorized contractors. Only utility owned meters are allowed to be connected to the water utility system. This ordinance is to be reflected in water/sewer rates for meter readings done on July 1, 2025.
The property at 805 North 4th Street was brought up again for discussion with Jeremiah Trujillo appealing the decision of the commission on the property until he can clear the deed for the property. He purchased the property in a delinquent tax sale and has not been able to clear the deed at this time. He is requesting the demo be done on his dime as he wants to build on the property after it has been cleared. He is planning to have it cleared by this winter. Commissioners approved the request with a December 31, 2025, deadline for the demo.
Cynthia Mora was present to contest the Vacant Building designation of her property at 1358 Brilliant Avenue in south Raton. Mora indicated that property is currently in probate, and she is asking the city to reset the vacant building designation since she is the new owner. Commissioners agreed to reset the designation to year one which is only $100 versus the $600 she has been accessed due to it being vacant for three years.
Commissioners heard from the Raton Arts and Humanities Council for Lodger’s Tax non-promotional funding for operational expresses for the organization for FY 2025-2026. The total request is for $18,000 for the year.
Commissioners approved the event form for the Independent Riders Run for the Wall event that will take place on May 17, 2025, beginning at 8:00 a.m. that morning.
Commissioners approved the proposal from High Tech E&D, LLC, for a study on the Raton Senior Center convection oven issues. The cost of the study is $8438.
Commissioners heard about two Lodger’s Tax requests from the Raton Little League ($3000) to help with funding for this year’s Allstar Tournament to be held in Raton again this year and the request to renew billboard contracts with Lamar and Lindmark. The city will keep the billboard on Clayton Road at the east edge of town. The city will let the billboard at the Armex building go along with the ones in Dalhart Tx and Dumas Tx.
Planning and zoning brought recommendations for a request at 1001 Snead Street to sub-divide and also for sub-division at 200 and 208 Canyon Drive. These requests will also affect the property vacation on De Maret Street and Zaharias Road.
Commissioners received a request to vacate property on De Maret Street and Zaharias Road, both unimproved properties and the streets do not exist, they are only plated.
The resolution 2025-25 adopting the Colfax County Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved. The plan is used to help with funding for hazard issues that might come up after natural disasters or other events.
Mosark, LLC provided an estimate on the heating and cooling system at the Tourist Information Center utilizing the state price agreement 30-00000-23-00084. The estimate includes work to replace the HVAC systems including testing and operational checks for a cost of $57,376.90.
A bid for the demolition of the property at 801 N 4th from SL Hayden Construction came in at $15,750 but does not include hazardous material abatement which will be acquired separately.
A recommendation to work with Chinook Architecture who garnered the highest rating out of seven firms for work on the Climax Canyon/Old Pass Trail System development project. This vote is to agree this firm is qualified to do the work for a project at Climax Canyon.
Code 3 Service, LLC. Provided a proposal for the purchase of P25 digital radio system and dispatch consoles for the Raton Police Department utilizing the state purchasing agreement #10-00000-20-00048. The total cost of all the new equipment is $220,604.85 including $5,154.84 of NM GRT. The funding comes from the state emergency capital outlay.
The FY26 Interim Budget was opened for discussion and public input. This is the first of two hearings for the city budget.
The FY25 3rd quarter financial report was gone over and accepted which includes a 1.77% above budget GRT increase but sees a continued decrease in the gas tax. FY25 Budget Adjustment #12 includes adjustments to the budget that include line-item changes to cover some of the items approved in the meeting.
City Manager Rick Mestas started his report noting that the city is involved in several projects, and he will keep the commission informed as time goes by. There is ots of work going on to the parks and ball fields which he noted are in excellent shape. Mestas noted there will be a groundbreaking at the Maverick gas station site on South Second Street on Tuesday April 29, 2025.
The next regular meeting of the Raton City Commission will be on May 13, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Raton City Hall commission meeting room.
Christine Valentini, President, Devin Barton, VP(not present), Melissa Medina, Secretary, Jennifer Portillos(not present), Treasurer, Lynette Simpson, Rebecca Sakelaris, Vaughn Vialpando, Ayden Hall, Linda Headley, Serena Lannon(not present), Robin Pais, Executive Director Brenda Ferri (Link to Proclamation 2025 Great American Main street)
