By Jim Owen
Santa Clara officials on Thursday moved one step closer to securing an emergency, back-up water supply from Silver City.
They approved a professional services agreement for a federal Colonias water-system improvement grant of about $628,000. Ten percent of the funding will be in the form of a loan, which Santa Clara has 20 years to repay.
The grant is for the engineering and installation of a water line, which will extend about 200 yards from a Silver City line in Arenas Valley to Santa Clara's water-storage tanks.
The village Board of Trustees does not plan to tap into Silver City water unless Santa Clara's wells go dry or its water pumps fail. The board and the Silver City Town Council are negotiating rates.
Regional planners' long-term goal is to link municipal water systems from Silver City to Deming, to ensure that all residents are supplied in emergencies.
In other business during their regular monthly meeting, the trustees voted unanimously to approve their "intent to adopt" an amendment to the village's "property public nuisances" ordinance.
Currently, Santa Clara's code-enforcement officer notifies the owner of an abandoned or neglected property that the situation must be addressed within a certain amount of time. If the owner does not comply, the trustees decide whether to order demolition or take other action.
The proposed amendment stipulates that appeals of the code-enforcement officer's decisions are to be filed in District Court in Silver City.
On another matter, the board decided to ask the state Department of Transportation whether a $40,000 grant the village received from the agency may be used to design improvements to Hutchinson Street.
Officials also are seeking approval to apply any unused portion of the grant to projects on other streets.
The village will apply for additional funding (from state or federal sources) to do drainage work on Hutchinson Street, and pave the dirt road's worst four blocks. The project is to take place in stages, beginning next year, as grants are secured.
The trustees voted to approve a uniform traffic ordinance amendment that prohibits texting while driving. The statute now complies with a statewide texting ban that went into effect July 1.
It is illegal in New Mexico for a driver to send or read text messages, or browse the Internet, while a vehicle is moving. A driver may use a hand-held mobile device when parked, or to call for emergency services.
Village officials announced that a lighted parade the evening of Friday, Dec. 19, is to begin at Bataan Memorial Park. The procession will go to the Fort Bayard hospital, and conclude in Santa Clara. A hay ride, appearances by Santa Claus and other activities also are planned.
The event is intended, in part, for veterans at Fort Bayard who are unable to attend the annual lighted parade in Silver City.
Anyone who wishes to register for the parade, or obtain more information, may call Village Hall at 575-537-2443. The event does not have a theme, and no fees will be charged.
Mayor Richard Bauch reported that he met in Santa Clara with New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez, who was in Grant County on a campaign trip just before last week's election.
Sanchez invited Bauch to visit him in Santa Fe, during the upcoming state legislative session, to discuss plans for the future use of facilities at Fort Bayard.