By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners honored Adella Garcia Tuesday night at their second regular meeting of August for the many years of service to the city on her retirement as administrative clerk for the Raton Police Department before moving on to updates and agreements.
Adella has spent 16 years working for the city and has decided to retire from her current position as records clerk for the Raton Police Department where she was responsible for publishing the police blotter and other administrative duties.
Brad Corey with the Nature Conservancy was present to report on the progress of the Bartlett Mesa Ranch acquisition and Buck Ridge Ranch property. Corey talked about the acquisitions and noted that the Bartlett Mesa property was transferred to the New Mexico Game and Fish Department for stewardship.
The Buck Ridge Ranch property ties into Sugarite Canyon and Bartlett Mesa to bring the recreation property to the north edge of Raton. Corey then went over the economics of the parks and the tourist revenue that it can bring into the area.
Commissioners introduced an ordinance to allow the sale of public property to BTU Block and Concrete located where the current office building is. Back in 1985 BTU had requested variances and setbacks from the Raton Planning and Zoning board. This request culminated in December of 1987. The city vacated the property and authorized the clerk to create a Quit Claim Deed. However, the deed was never filed and thus has brought up two issues. The lack of the deed and the vacation of the property violated the state anti-donation act. Therefore, the commission is required to fix the previous commission error and the presentation of the ordinance is the first step in the process by solidifying the property ownership and Resolution 2025-52 allows the city to sell the property.
Patricia Duran was on hand to present the bi-yearly report on the Explore Raton web page and marketing for the city. Duran has been responsible for the web page and public marketing the city as a tourist and recreational hub. Duran noted that clicks to our web sites have gone down. The downward trend was discovered to be due to AI controlling where and how people are searching the internet. Facebook and other social media has seen an increased exposure and with the New Mexico True ad campaign Raton has seen an exposure of over 5 million people reached.
Commissioners approved the MOU with the City of Raton Continuum Advisory Board. The agreement establishes roles and responsibilities for addressing community needs. The collaboration will enhance the city’s capacity for dealing with social and community issues.
Commissioners approved the budget adjustment for the CYFD budget to facilitate program funding changes and reallocations needed to support services. The budget adjustments are basic line items adjustments for better use of the funding.
Lita Bernal was appointed to the city personnel board.
The Lodger’s Tax Advisory board approved the request from Raton Main Street Gate City Music Festival for $20,080 and Media Management and Explore Raton request from the Center for Community Innovation. $30,000 will be for Explore Raton web page management and $10,000 for media management. Commissioners approved both requests.
The event form for the homecoming parade on First street on September 6, 2025, was approved. The parade is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. followed by Volleyball at Tiger Gym at 1:00 p.m.
Commissioners authorized Engineering Analytics to begin work for the 2nd Street Rehabilitation project. The agreement authorizes Engineering Analytics to design, survey and construction management. The project is to address roadway deterioration and improve traffic safety. The project is from Hereford Ave to Francis Ave approximately 2.8 miles. The project cost is $100,000
The city will purchase cold mix asphalt from Northern Mountain Constructors utilizing the state price agreement. The city will purchase 300 tons of cold mix at a cost of $34,500.
Resolutions 2025-50 and 2025-51 were presented to deal with two more dangerous building designations at 1466 South Second Street and 323 Lopez St. The property on South Second has been vacant for several years and fallen into disrepair while the 325 Lopez Street property was recently burned and is considered uninhabitable.
Phase one of the Kearney Film School is about to begin as commissioners approved the construction contract. Phase one will allow construction to begin on the Kearney School Building. Franken Construction was the only bid of over $7 million which was above the $6 million available funding, so the project was broken up into two phases with a new bid of $2,297,464 including GRT for phase 1A of the project. Once Phase 1A is completed the city can request the occupancy certificate. However, it will still not be fully ready for course instruction. Phase 1A is mostly structural stabilization and restroom rehabilitation. Due to inflation the costs of the full project continue to increase unfortunately.
Commissioners approved the travel request from Commissioner Linde Schuster to attend the 2025 Ports-To-Plains conference in Lubbock Texas. The cost for Schuster to attend will be $408.30. The invite was sent out to help support the Raton position on the projects.
City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci received word that the budget for the City of Raton was approved and are final for FY26. The Final Budgets for Raton Water Works and Raton Public Service has not yet been received.
City Treasurer Antonucci presented the financial reports for July 2025 followed by FY26 Budget Adjustment #1. The Financial Report, the first for FY26, shows the city is 2.05% above budget or $76,270 on GRT. The gas tax continues to see a downward trend and Antonucci noted this was the lowest she has ever seen it at just over $9000. The budget adjustment covers line items that also include the JJAC funding transfers heard earlier this evening.
Rick Mestas noted in his report that the engineering department has taken on the oversite of Animal Control similar to how the City of Ruidoso is doing their animal control duties. Departments are preparing for the upcoming events including the Gate City Music Festival and RHS homecoming. In closing Mestas found this quote relating to elections “This quote by that I am going to paraphrase by P. J. O’Rourke: We will win an election when all the seats in the House and Senate and the chair behind the desk in the Oval Office and the whole bench of the Supreme Court are filled with people who wish they weren’t there.”
The Next Regular meeting for the Raton City Commission will be on September 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. and City Hall will be closed on September 1, 2025 in observance of Labor Day.
