By Linda Gray
Silver City's Town Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 6 pm.
COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilor Jose Ray congratulated the Copper Little League on their successful season. Councilor Cynthia Bettison announced that the Mimbres Region Arts Council will have two youth mural project dedications: at Penny Park on Saturday, July 27 at noon, and on August 3 at the 12th Street Bridge, a mural worked on by WNMU students.
Reports: Arts & Cultural Director George Julian Dworin reported that the metrics for the 4th quarter tourism show that tourism in Silver City is alive and well: the Visitor Center showed an uptick of 12.5%, Gila Cliff Dwellings 11.7%, Silver City Museum 18.5%. The top cities visiting Silver City are Albuquerque, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Las Cruces, Dallas, New York and Los Angeles. The Arts & Cultural District has plans to update the website, and create an Image Library. Dworin emphasized that working with other communities is key to the area's tourism. The Southwest New Mexico Clay Arts Trail, for example, is an innovative art and economic development initiative designed to market clay artist communities in Grant, Catron, Hidalgo and Luna Counties, as a premier destination for cultural tourism in the Southwest region. This project could become statewide, benefitting all of New Mexico. The Clay Festival, http://clayfestival.com/about/, which starts this weekend, is now a full week of adventure, from July 27-August 4.
Police Chief Ed Reynolds reported that the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive will be held this weekend, July 26 from 2p-6p, July 27 from 9a-2p, and July 28 from 10a-2p, at WalMart. Vote for your favorite department: Police, Fire, Sheriff and get a free T-shirt.
New Business:
1. The Council approved three public celebration permit applications for the Mimbres Region Arts Council’s Fifth Annual Pickamania! to be held September 13-15. The License Holders are High Desert Brewing Company, Little Toad Creek Brewery and Little Toad Creek Distillery. The Beer Garden will be located on Pope Street in front of Wells Fargo.
2. The Council approved three financial resolutions: 2013-27, 2013-28, and 2013-29. Town Manager Alex Brown reported that the Town’s financial standing is healthy with an annual budget of $28.3 million.
3. The Council endorsed the candidacy of Councilor Cynthia Bettison for the position of director-at-large of the New Mexico Municipal League Board of Directors. The New Mexico Municipal League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association, representing and serving New Mexico’s cities, towns and villages.
4. The Council also approved that Councilor Cynthia Bettison would attend the New Mexico Municipal League’s Annual Conference, August 28-30 in Taos, with Mayor Marshall as an alternate.