By Linda Gray
Silver City's Town Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 6 pm.
Mayor Marshall opened the meeting by reading a proclamation declaring the month of December 2013 “Think Local, Buy Local, and Invest Local” month. Cissy McAndrew, from the Southwest Green Chamber of Commerce, thanked the Mayor and accepted the proclamation certificate. She reported that the downtown merchants saw an increase of local shoppers the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Asking for public input, the Council heard statements from seven concerned citizens concerning what they feel to be excessive noise and speeding throughout Silver City. Larry McLaud, who had approached the Council about this issue this past summer, presented the Council a petition signed by over 200 people who want a high quality of life returned to Silver City. The seven spokespersons, including Mr. McLaud, represented the downtown area, the college area, the area behind the Food Basket, and the Silver Heights area. All complained about excessive dog barking, loud music, loud mufflers, and speeding. “This is noise pollution.”
In 2011 the Town Council passed a noise ordinance, which this group of concerned citizens want enforced. Councilor Morones said that if the ordinance is not working it should be addressed and reworked. Mayor Marshall said that this is more of a social issue. People have lost the sense of being respectful to each other and to each other’s property and environs.
Police Chief Reynolds told the group that the police department does issue citations for these offenses…a thousand or more a month. He, too, agreed with the Mayor that no ordinance can teach what should be taught at home. McLaud and the “”quality of life” citizens feel that not enough is being done to enforce the ordinance and requested that the Council and police department look into what can be done and to consider the taxpayer and not to condone the transients’ and college students’ bad behavior.
The Council thanked the group for bringing this to their attention.
The Council approved the application for both a Craft Distiller license and a Small Brewer license to the owners of Little Toad Creek Inn. Teresa Dahl-Bredine and David Crosley will be opening their new tasting room and restaurant at the former Isaac’s restaurant on Bullard Street. The approval of the licenses met with hearty applause.
Jacob Vega’s application to amend his property on E. 19th St. from commercial to residential was approved. Mr. Varga addressed the Council to let them know that this change would benefit the residents on this street.
The Council approved a special dispenser permit application for the Buffalo Bar to provide alcohol for the Rueben Ramos Concert which will be held on December 28 from 7 pm -1:30 am at the Grant County Business and Conference Center. The Council members asked the sponsor several questions about making sure they had the proper security for the area where alcohol was to be served.
The Council also approved a loan agreement between the Town of Silver City and the NM Finance Authority in the amount of $765,846 for purchasing equipment for the Scott Park Baseball and Soccer Complex (across from the Silver City Golf Course). Work will begin on installing new electrical and lighting around the field.
The Town will save on fuel with the approval of a loan agreement between the Town of Silver City and the NM Finance Authority in the amount of $196,079 for the purpose of financing the costs of converting and upgrading an existing gas station on Pope Street into a government refueling station. The town will be able to buy gas at a bulk rate.
Municipal Elections will be held on March 4, 2014.
The regularly scheduled Council meeting scheduled for December 24 has been changed and will be held on Monday December 16 at 6:30 pm at the Grant County Administration Center.