By Roger Lanse

The Silver City Town Council at its Tuesday, Oct. 28 meeting heard a presentation by Scott Griffith, Senior Sales Executive of the Yearout Energy Services Company of Albuquerque in reference to replacing all the water meters in the town with a radio-read meter system, which can be read by meter readers driving by and accessing a radio signal emitted by the meter. All the town's meters could be read in a single day by the town's four meter readers with the new system, Griffith said, while it takes two weeks today.

Town Manager Alex Brown stated that accurate water meter reading is a goal of the town's water conservation plan, and that the water meter system proposed by YESCO would certainly be more accurate than the old meters currently in use.

Griffith said YESCO has audited the town's current system and discovered the town is delivering more water that it is billing for. Billing correctly will result in an annual savings to the town of $237,000 – guaranteed, Griffith said. If the savings are less, YESCO will make up the difference, and if more, the excess is the town's to use as it sees fit.

Switching out the old meters for new will take 6-8 months, according to Griffith. A battery with a lifespan of 22-25 years powers the radio signal emitted by the meter.

Brown said any repairs during the debt-service term would come out of YESCO's pocket.

The town has looked at other options for a new meter system, Brown stated, but is considering YESCO because they get the financing, they buy the meters the town selects, and they guarantee substantial savings to the town when YESCO installs the new radio-digital water meter system.

Brown and YESCO will meet with the state engineer in Santa Fe on Wednesday, Oct. 29, to discuss financing, state law, and regulations, Brown said.

A 6th Street resident spoke about chained, or otherwise tethered dogs, and other pets. She said studies have shown chained or tethered dogs, because they are bored, are more likely to be aggressive and to bark for long periods.

District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison asked residents to contact the animal control officer through the Silver City Police Department or the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority if they have a problem with a chained dog, but that it was very important to have a witness.

District 2 Councilor Linda Aiman-Smith said her next conversation with District 2 residents was scheduled for Nov. 19.

District 3 Councilor Jose Ray encouraged the support of Western New Mexico University by residents attending more of WNMU's games.

Mayor Michael Morones offered that the council has been criticized for not allowing interactions between the council and those providing public input. Morones stated one of the reasons is that we don't want to get into a debate in a limited time setting. "We appreciate residents' public input, but because we don't allow questions, don't think we aren't interested."

Silver City MainStreet President Lucy Whitmarsh reminded the council of a workshop for those who wish to have an entry in the Christmas Lighted Parade. The workshop will be held at the Visitor Center, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Chris DeBolt, Coordinator of the Grant County Community Health Council presented the 2012 Community Assessment survey data saying that Grant County received 5,055 responses, 2,213 from Silver City, and was one of nine New Mexico communities surveyed. Data for five categories; Community and Social Health, Community and Social Health for Children and Teens, Environmental Health, Access to Health Services, and Economic Health were outlined. Those concerns voiced most within the five categories were almost identical for Silver City and for Grant County.

The health information can be used by local governments to apply for grants and such, DeBolt said, while Morones stated the data was also good for planning.

Brown stated the Blackhawk sewer line project should be completed in about a month and a half. It seems hard rock has slowed completion. He also said the new liner for the community swimming pool is complete, the Phase II Silver Street project and the Chihuahua Hill CDBG street project should be put out to bid in early January, and the lodgers tax is right where it was projected to be.

Regarding Scott Park, Brown said the lights are going up beginning today, and a bid is going out for the concession stand to be awarded in December. "We're moving fairly quickly on that, hoping it will be built and ready before Little League and all that stuff starts."

Work continues on the F Street sewer line, according to Brown, and work on the golf course club house, which the town recently acquired, has started, and "we're going for the police cars tomorrow, so, all the funding, which we just secured about six months ago—it's all been spent."

Terry Timme of the Office of Sustainability has 7,000 reusable cloth shopping bags to supply to residents thanks to help from PNM, The Volunteer Center and local Girl Scouts.

Former mayor James Marshall was introduced by Brown as a new city employee charged to develop greater efficiency in four areas; the complex police and fire departments, in community development and in community outreach.

Dorothea Siedentop was appointed by Morones to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

In a final action, the council approved changing the Tuesday, Nov. 18, regular meeting to Monday, Nov. 17—same place and time.