By Jim Owen
The National Guard has announced that it plans to close its armory in Santa Clara within a year.
Santa Clara Mayor Richard Bauch recently went to Socorro to meet with National Guard officials. He was named to a board that will decide the future use of the armory building, on the north side of U.S. 180. Some residents have suggested that the facility serve as a youth center or house a private school.
The National Guard, which is consolidating its armories in the state, is building a new one in Las Cruces. The Santa Clara facility is used for meetings and training sessions.
During Thursday's regular monthly meeting of the Santa Clara Board of Trustees, Bauch reported that the security officer at Fort Bayard has asked for a village police officer to assist in patrolling the community around the fort. The trustees took no action, but are considering the request.
On another matter, the recently completed Mill Street crossing has passed its final inspection. A concrete structure has replaced the old dirt crossing, which washed out every time Cameron Creek flooded. Crews have had to repeatedly replace water lines and sewer pipes that pass through the creek bottom.
The state Office of Natural Resources Trustee provided a $280,000 grant for the project. Originally scheduled to be completed in July, the work was delayed by the need to back-order sewer covers. Village officials started applying for funding for the project three years ago. Environmental regulations involving stream crossings complicated the effort.
During their meeting, the trustees voted to expand the role of the village's Beautification Committee to include the planning of community events and activities. The new panel's function will be similar to that of the Hurley Pride Committee.
The group will operate with a New Mexico Clean and Beautiful grant that the village received. One of the anticipated activities is honoring homeowners by selecting a Yard of the Month.
Trustee Olga Amador will chair the committee, for which four others also have volunteered. Anyone else interested in participating may contact City Hall.
In other business, the board amended a village ordinance pertaining to the "repair, closing and demolition of structures found to be public nuisances." The current procedure is to cite alleged offenders, and order them to appear in Municipal Court.
The new ordinance calls for the village code-enforcement officer to give property owners time to make repairs or do cleanup. Then, the trustees will decide what action to take. The alleged offender will have the right to appeal that decision in District Court.