By Jim Owen
The Santa Clara Board of Trustees has entered into a grant agreement with the New Mexico Environment Department to upgrade the village's water system.
Officials will use a $174,000 capital outlay, allocated by the state Legislature earlier this year, to rewire the community's wells and install a system to automatically turn pumps off when the tanks are full. The pumps are to be converted to solar power.
In other business during their regularly scheduled monthly meeting Thursday afternoon, the trustees heard a report by the village's newly formed Action Committee. Formerly called the Beautification Committee, it was renamed because the volunteer members will plan community events, as well as coordinate beautification activities.
One such event is the annual Trunk or Treat celebration, which features residents showing off their decorated car trunks on Main Street. Prizes and games are planned for trick-or-treating children. The event is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
Last weekend, the Action Committee worked with the Cobre football team, a high school class and the Tea Club to clean up yards in Santa Clara. The project served elderly and disabled residents who are unable to take care of their properties. The volunteers also worked on the yard of Santa Clara Catholic Church.
The committee, chaired by Trustee Olga Amador, plans to begin a Yard of the Month program to recognize residents who make their properties more attractive. Anyone wishing to join the committee may call City Hall at 575-537-2443.
Mayor Richard Bauch gave the board a report regarding a Thursday ceremony at the village cemetery. The event honored Lt. Juan Arroyos, a "buffalo soldier" and Apache scout who died in Santa Clara (then known as Central City) in 1876. Arroyos was given full military honors, including a 21-gun salute.
He had been buried in an unmarked grave, so the Santa Clara Historical Committee asked the Board of Trustees to spend about $250 for a grave marker. Terrazas Funeral Home donated a plaque.
On another matter, the trustees approved the new village code book, a tabbed binder containing all the community's ordinances. The statutes were organized, with duplications being removed, to make them easier to access.
In response to a recent traffic accident at the intersection of Prescott and Encino streets, village officials plan to assess the possible need for a speed bump to force vehicles to pass through the area more slowly.
The board will consider approving the speed bump during their next meeting, scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13. No one was injured in the accident.
The trustees promoted Alisha McAtee from utility clerk to deputy clerk, and confirmed that two recently hired village employees have successfully completed their probationary periods.
Mary Creese was granted a temporary conditional-use permit to keep horses at her home on South East Street. She reportedly obtained the animals after moving away, but returned to the property when it failed to sell. She plans to move again soon.