Photo and article by Roger Lanse

"Fire Prevention Week, 2014:" Fire Prevention Week Coordinator Anthony Murillo, left, and Assistant Chief Jeff Fell, right, of the Silver City Fire Department receive a certificate from Silver City Mayor Michael Morones, center, proclaiming Oct. 5-11, 2014 as Fire Prevention Week in Silver City.

On Wednesday, Sept. 17, the Silver City Town Council approved a notice of intent to repeal an existing municipal ordinance dealing with texting while driving and adopt a new ordinance specifying a $100 penalty for a texting while driving conviction. The new ordinance is part of a mass of uniform traffic ordinances put together by the Municipal League for use by municipalities statewide to adopt. According to Town Attorney Robert Scavron, "We got rid of the one we did in favor of the one that was adopted in the Municipal League's uniform traffic ordinance. The only part of the UTO that we're not going to accept, after some discussion," is to suggest in this amendment to raise the fine for texting while driving from $25 to $100.

In other business, Jeff Fell, assistant fire chief for the Silver City Fire Department and Anthony Murillo, firefighter-paramedic, accepted a proclamation from Mayor Michael Morones declaring the week of Oct. 5-11, 2014, as "Fire Prevention Week." Murillo will be the department's coordinator for the week-long event, visiting schools and daycares and having open house at the town's two fire stations, educating children about the need for fire prevention, particularly keeping home fire alarms operational.

In answer to a concern voiced by District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison, Town Manager Alex Brown said that the repair work being done on underground conduits at the intersection of Swan Street and U.S. 180, is taking longer than expected because some of the conduits that operate lights from the construction site east to about Rosedale Road are the responsibility of the New Mexico Department of Transportation and not the town.

"The intersection will be closed for a while," Brown said, "But it's out of our control. It's just like the chip-sealing, you know, everybody wanted it, but when it happened everybody complained about it. We're working with the contractors and the state as fast as we can. And we can't control the weather. So, please be patient."

Bettison also expressed concern over the timeliness of the reverse 911 alert calls in reference to two escapees from the Grant County Detention Center Thursday night, Sept. 11. She not only thought the 24 hours that elapsed between the escapes and the alert was too long, but she also wanted to make sure that all the residents on the reverse 911 list are notified.

Morones asked Brown to speak with the county to make sure it keeps their end of the contract between the town and GCDC "regarding those people that we bring in." Morones also stated that the town needs to ensure the contractor takes care of business and notifies our citizens appropriately. Brown was asked by Morones to "get with the county and let 'em know that we would strongly desire their immediate notification.

"And also as you communicate with the county," Morones said to Brown, "I've heard from some constituents that the county is possibly releasing them right out the doors. They are released and end up having to walk into town, walking through neighborhoods in and around the Ridge Road area. One lady reported a release late in the evening that actually ended up spending the night in her backyard. There is an issue there."