By Roger Lanse
In the Aug. 20 Silver City Town Council meeting, Gregory Bond spoke to the Council concerning signs on Bullard Street for his off-Bullard business. Several businesses on Yankie and Market streets could use some signage to let tourists know the businesses are there, Bond said. His sign meets size requirements, but the only place he can put it so that it doesn't sit in front of another business is in front of a vacant storefront. Allowing signs on Bullard for off-Bullard business would be very helpful, Bond stated.
In answer to District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison's question, Town Manager Alex Brown explained the gravel sweeping part of the chip-sealing project for various town streets did start as scheduled on Aug. 13, but the sweeper broke down and the town has been borrowing Bayard's smaller sweeper, which takes longer. Both are now up and running. Brown said his office will be letting residents know when the sweeper will be on their street, so they can park their cars offstreet.
Kathy Anderson, president of the Silver City Neighborhood Alliance, presented a lengthy Silver City Report and the new Silver City Neighborhoods Award and Recognition Program. Groups of neighbors can create eligible programs such as sexual assault awareness and bullying on playgrounds, which have been proposed in the past, she stated. To qualify to win a recognition award of up to $500, neighborhood organizations need to register with the Alliance, write a mission statement, complete an eligible project, and fill out application forms. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2015, Anderson said.
Councilors approved a bid of $344,833.04 without gross receipts tax by Deming Excavation for the F Street Sewer Improvement Project. Adame Construction out of Los Lunas submitted a lower bid of $330,661, but failed to submit a list of licensed subcontractors as required, so its bid was rejected.
Bettison asked why there was such a variation in amounts among the 8 bids received. Brown said it was because some contractors build profit margins in one area of the bid or another, either the base bid or one of the lots or alternates, and they may not put their profit margins in the same area of the bid. That is why varying bid amounts are seen.
"We actually put the bid out before we got the executed grant agreement because we were told it was coming – because we were getting tired of waiting," Brown stated. This grant did not arrive until about two weeks ago, and it was submitted almost two years ago, according to Brown. The problem is, Brown said, that by the time we get the grant money almost two years later, costs have gone up and the grant no longer covers the entire project. "In the 14 years I've been manager, these last two years have been the worst ever, and the cost always increases," Brown stated.
Bettison said the New Mexico Municipal League, of which the town is a member, is very concerned about just this problem.
The council approved:
1. Special dispenser and public celebration permit applications for the Southwest Chicano Music Festival. The festival is scheduled for Aug. 30-31 from noon to 7 p.m. both days at 12th and Pope streets adjacent to Gough Park, and
2. Public celebration permit applications for the 6th Annual Pickamania Festival. This
festival is scheduled for Sept. 12-14 at Gough Park. The sponsor is the Mimbres Region
Arts Council.
Finally, councilors approved changing the Sept. 23 Town Council meeting at 6 pm to Sept. 17 at 6 pm in the Grant County Administration Building.