by Billy Donati
KRTN Multi-Media
RATON — The Raton City Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Raton City Hall.
The meeting began with items from Citizens Present. Former city manager Scott Berry addressed the Commission with thanks and praise for commissioner Ron Chavez for his service to the city. Chavez was recently defeated by one vote in the regular local election and was thanked by all the commissioners for his dedication to the city.
Commissioners adopted the agreement for the $399,000 Quality of Life Grant the city received from the NM Dept. of Finance and Local Government Division. The money is going to be used for improving the baseball fields including new restroom facilities. However, Public Works Director Jason Phillips said the timeline given to the city is causing some worry, as the funds are supposed to be used by June 30, 2024. Phillips said it was the most concerned he’s been in the 10 years of involvement with grant awards, but the large amount would warrant the effort and advised the commission he would try to see if DFA could extend the deadline.
A lengthy discussion followed on a proposal submitted by Engineering Analytics for design and construction phase services for proposed Pickleball Courts near the Raton Regional Aquatic Center. The proposal was for $117,500 and city manager Rick Mestas commented that it was a lot of money. He would want to do more research and was hesitant in going forward and asked for postponement. Leslie Fernandez of the local pickleball group addressed the commission and expressed frustration at the length of time it has taken to begin the project. After considerable deliberation, the commission voted to postpone the decision on the proposal and bring it up at the second meeting in January.
Discussion for the next agenda item was as short as the previous Pickleball discussion was long. Vigil and Associates, Architectural Group of Albuquerque was awarded a contract for the overseeing of the $2.5 million dollar project for the renovation of the Kearny School Facility as the first phase begins in earnest for a film production and workforce training facility. Vigil’s fee came in at $347,478 with design completion estimated on Sept. 15, 2024 and construction to begin November 15, 2024 with construction estimated to be complete around one year later on Nov. 15, 2025. The film production equipment installation would follow that thru the end of November 2025.
The commission also approved the grant application for Juvenile Justice Program for FY 24-27. The ask for almost $350,000 and according to city treasurer it’s one of the few grants that actually creates jobs with six to seven positions filled with Girls Circle, Boys Council and Restorative Justice components.
The city also approved an upgrade for the Commission Meeting Room for $54,448 with AVI-SPL of Albuquerque, which would include two 85″ TV’s and microphone array and connections to help bring user- friendly zoom meetings and conferences to the City Commission Chambers, which is used for numerous meetings, presentations and workshops.
Michael Brown, owner of the Raton Pass Motor Inn, addressed the commission and informed the members that several dogs at large have been roaming the north side and are posing a health and safety threat to residents and his employees and guests. Brown said numerous calls to Animal Control have resulted in no difference in the situation. Mayor Segotta informed Brown that they would ask city manager Mestas to investigate the situation.
The next meeting will be on Jan. 9, 2024.
