By Roger Lanse

At its Tuesday, Oct. 14 meeting, the Silver City Town Council approved an ordinance which repeals certain sections of the Uniform Traffic Code in reference to penalties assessed to motorists caught driving while texting. The UTO gives judges the discretion to fine a person guilty of texting while driving, anywhere from $0 to $500 with increasing penalties for repeat offenses. The new ordinance provides for a penalty assessment of $100 for the first and any subsequent offenses.

 

Silver City Police Chief Ed Reynolds told the Grant County Beat that this new ordinance is simpler for his officers to enforce since they don't have to determine if the offense is the first, second, or third – the fine is the same no matter the number of offenses.

Mayor Michael Morones proclaimed October 2014 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month," however, there was no one present to receive the certificate.

Patricia Cano, mother of District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano, brought up the issue of illegal parking in handicapped spaces. Cano said it is a problem here in Silver City and in other municipalities across the state. She suggested the town form an accessibility board to deal with the problem.

G. Cano praised the SCPD for responding quickly when illegal parking in a handicapped spot is reported.

District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison displayed the heavier, reusable plastic bags which businesses will have for patrons to carry their purchases. "These bags can be used up to 100 times," Bettison said. She assured town residents that the ordinance, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2015, outlawing non-reusable plastic bags in Silver City, is not an attempt to make customers use only paper bags. "There are other options," she stated.

Terry Timme of the Office of Sustainability reported that the reusable bags will be passed out to town and county residents and that the Girl Scouts will help in the distribution.

District 3 Councilor José Ray advised that another toy run sponsored by local and nonlocal motorcycle clubs will be held at the Walmart parking lot on Nov. 15. The toys will be taken to the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department on 32nd Bypass Road for distribution, Ray said.

George Dworin, executive director of the Silver City Arts and Cultural District, in his quarterly report, said that the district has received a $40,000 grant from the state and said they are working closely with the Grant County Tourism Department. G. Cano asked "Can the events occurring locally be placed on the New Mexico Tourism website?" Dworin answered, "Yes, they can. I just spoke with Jordan Gunther who is the digital media person for the state in Santa Fe about this. We are looking to populate wherever possible every free listing that the state provides."

Town Clerk Ann Mackie suggested a single voting convenience center, the Woman's Center on Silver Heights Blvd., be provided for the 2015 municipal election, rather than have multiple voting places. Mackie said this would result in significant savings as the town would have to print fewer ballots and fewer poll workers would be required. All the clerks that have adopted the voting convenience center concept that Mackie has talked to say, "It's great." With the existing system, Mackie said it's difficult to find enough poll workers.

"It's quite costly for a small community like ours to run an election," Bettison said. "Any savings we can accrue would be a help. I think it would streamline everything. It's a great idea."

Morones said, "The single concept would eliminate a lot of confusion."

Anita Norero, deputy finance director said converting the town's recent purchase on Pope Street to the town's fuel center should be completed this month or next.

In new business, the council approved two public celebration permit applications for Little Toad Creek Brewery and Distillery's OkToader-fest (Octoberfest) on Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 11 p.m. on Bullard Street between Yankie Street and Broadway.

Councilors also approved a resolution, amending a 1999 resolution, to permit the town to purchase bulk fuel for the new station being converted on Pope Street. Norero said this would give the town a little more control over the price it pays for fuel given the constant fluctuation in fuel prices. This resolution would also enable managers to better track fuel use in individual vehicles.

District 2 Councilor Linda Aiman-Smith asked Norero, "How much savings would accrue with approval of this resolution?" After some encouragement, Norero estimated somewhere between 10-50 percent.

Town Attorney Robert Scavron stated that in conversations with Town Manager Alex Brown, Brown desired to sell gas at cost to other local entities such as Gila Regional Medical Center and Grant County. Scavron stated Brown was not looking at the new Pope Street fuel station as a profit-making venture.

Aiman-Smith reported on the financial situation of Corre Caminos and the Grant County Transportation System. Corre Caminos began in 2001 and consisted of a loop within Silver City and reasonable extensions serving the Mining District, she said. In 2007, the town's participation in the Joint Powers Agreement with associated funding changes began. Aiman-Smith stated the service "has now grown beyond the town's ability to pay," and cited increased routes and fuel costs.

Scavron stated, "World-wide, public transportation is subsidized. We cannot be expecting federal subsidies to continue. They are likely to be diminished. Do you want a tax increase to subsidize Corre Caminos? Do you want to issue up some bonds, and borrow money? Is there an alternative with a readily identifiable cost? It's unlikely the town would want to take over a losing proposition.

"We first have to answer, What's best for Silver City?" Scavron stated. "Some modeling needs to be done, where you figure out exactly what it's going to cost, what you can charge people and what the subsidy is going to be."

Scavron continued, "The agenda item is to terminate our involvement. In conversations with Councilor Aiman-Smith, she feels, and I agree with her, that it would be premature to terminate now."

Aiman-Smith then requested the mayor to direct the town manager to enter into discussions with the county and other JPA entities to decide how to proceed, or if to proceed, to determine the town's future involvement with Corre Caminos.

Morones informed the council that the county wants to resolve these issues saying, "In light of the losses they've suffered, I don't blame them."

The council then approved a motion to postpone indefinitely the resolution dealing with the town serving notice of termination in the Corre Camino transportation system.

Lastly, the council approved changing the town council meetings scheduled for Nov. 11 and 25, at 6 p.m., to only Nov. 18, at 6 p.m., and to cancel the meeting scheduled for Dec. 25, citing the nearness of those changed and cancelled meetings to holidays.

 

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