By Mary Alice Murphy
At the Santa Clara monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12, Trustee Olga Amador gave a report on the newly formed Action Committee and what they have accomplished and have in the works.
"We had a successful Christmas parade," Amador said. "We have set a clean up event in April to prepare for a block party on May 9. We also plan to give a most beautiful yard award every month from April through the summer. An enchilada dinner fundraiser is in the works. We are trying to get the word out on Facebook and in the new newsletter."
Mayor Richard Bauch gave his report and said he would elaborate later in the meeting. "On Monday, I met with New Mexico General Services Department Secretary Ed Burckle and the week before with the Lt. Gov. (John Sanchez). They are supportive and want to throw their support behind Santa Clara and Fort Bayard."
He noted that the Interstate Stream Commission has put money toward water projects to create wetlands above Fort Bayard using treated effluent. "We will submit for this application and ask for $200,000 for an engineering preliminary report."
Bauch announced the first edition of the village newsletter, which will be monthly and can be viewed on villageofsantaclara.org. "I've been wanting to do this for quite a while, because we have lots of things going on. I would like to get out to the residents information about funding we have received for projects, so they know what will be happening."
Robert Padilla, resident, gave a report on the Neighborhood Watch Program he is heading up for the village. "We have crime problems, like every community. Our mission statement is to observe and report. We don't want people to get involved in what's happening, but we do want them to report what they see. I have outlined five relevant steps to put the program together. I was thinking of breaking the village into sectors, with each area having a block captain. We need to secure a meeting place, and hope we can meet here in the Town Hall. I have identified the duties of a block captain. I want to emphasize that citizens are just to observe and report from a safe place. We want the police officers to interact with the citizens to enhance their relationship. The most challenging thing is to get people interested and involved in the program. If you leave your phone number at city hall, I will personally call you back. Undersheriff Kevin Flamm is willing to help us get the program going."
Bauch thanked Padilla for taking the initiative to start the program. He said the village could purchase signage for the program. Padilla said he has received a positive response to the effort.
Buzz Montgomery, resident, said when they lived in Albuquerque, they found the best deterrents to crime were the signs.
Rebecca Sedillo had asked to give a report on a request for a streetlight on a "dark corner," but was not in attendance.
Richard Maynes of Engineers Inc. presented agreements for various projects. The trustees approved the four contracts.
The first was for a professional services agreement between the village and Engineers Inc., which was selected through request for proposal so that projects can be taken care of by work order without the need for an RFP for each time a task needed to be completed. Maynes said it was an annual agreement, which could be extended up to four years.
The second was to design the installation of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system on the water wells, as well as well improvements. The projects are funded by a capital outlay of $174,000. The agreement is a separate contract with Engineers Inc., because it deals with separate funding, and, because it is a water project, the village has to work with the Environment Department.
Maynes said the contract requires construction observation, so the budget is based on a 40-hour week for almost 18 weeks, although it may be a shorter time.
Sheila Hudman, village clerk/treasurer, said she thought the project would happen quickly and, according to the electrician she talked to, should take only a few weeks. Maynes said Engineers Inc. will be involved from the completion of project design through project close out, and as soon as the contract is signed and approved by Steven Deal of the Las Cruces office of the NMED, the project could begin.
The third agreement was also with Engineers Inc. for Community Development Block Grant funding for sidewalk and lighting improvements on Bayard Street from Oak to Maple streets. Hudman said the Local Government Division of the Department of Finance and Administration must approve the contract. Maynes said the project would include as much sidewalk and lighting, as the budget allows.
The next item was an amendment to a loan application assistance professional services agreement, again with Engineers Inc. Hudman explained, when the village was completing the drinking water application, it was told it needed a contract with Engineers Inc. Maynes explained the project cost less than the amount paid, so in closing it out, $43 will go back to the village to zero out the contract.
A discussion ensued on vacating a portion of Spring Street. Bauch said the owner of the property had passed away and the family wants to sell it, but the house is built in the center of what would be Spring Street.
"The family owns the two adjacent lots," Bauch said. "But to get a deed, so they can sell it, we need to vacate the property. I believe they may have a buyer. The village does not need the portion of street for utilities, because we have them on both sides."
The trustees approved the vacation of the property by the village.
Bauch expanded on his earlier comments about meetings with state officials. "I met with General Services Department Secretary Ed Burckle and his staff and the week before with the Lt. Governor. The village is so interconnected with Fort Bayard. In my meetings, I followed Council guidance, and told them the village would like to do emergency repairs and stabilization to structures, as well as provide security to old Fort Bayard. They seemed to think it was a good idea. We had a verbal agreement to create a memorandum of understanding. They had a document for me, but with language changes, we expanded it to an ongoing arrangement with the state, so we can become caretakers of the property and the fiscal agent for long-term repairs. Once I receive the MOU, we can wait for the next Council meeting or hold a special meeting."
He said the MOU would entail protection of the property by the Santa Clara Police Department with help from the Sheriff's Office.
Bauch said the state was concerned about the fire hazard of dead trees and weeds, which could be taken care of by the village.
"The Department of Health does not have budget for the old facility, so we will take care of the old Fort Bayard and the DOH, the new," Bauch said. "Rep. John Zimmerman, who represents us at the Legislature, is working to obtain capital outlay, as is Sen. Howie Morales with the Finance Committee to generate some funding."
Bauch said the trustees had in the past discussed the possibility of annexing Fort Bayard. The three basic ways it could be done are 1) at the request of the owner; 2) by election; or 3) through the state Municipal Boundary Commission, which would review it.
"I would like to ask the Council for approval, and recommend we do it in the future, once the MOU has been in place for a while," Bauch said. "We could vote to annex it, but place no date for annexation. We would go through the Municipal Boundary Commission. A great deal of economic development for the area could go on at Fort Bayard. We know the state is working on taking water from old Fort Bayard to the new Fort Bayard hospital. If we annex it, we would have input in future developments."
The Council approved the process to annex Fort Bayard in the future.
"I am so happy to see the state take some action on the issue," Bauch said.
The following agenda item addressed the proposed annexation of two parcels of the military reserve, one portion located along New Mexico 152, and another smaller parcel along the eastern side of the road to Fort Bayard. The military reserve was set aside for future economic development for the Mining District.
"To expand the village, we want to make petition to annex two portions of land, more than 400 acres," Bauch said. "If we annex, we can petition the federal government to purchase the property. Between the two parcels of land is the Grant County Shooting Range. There are also two archaeological sites, which are sensitive to Native Americans that we would not annex."
Trustee and Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza moved to approve the petition, which was seconded, and approved by the rest of the Council.
Hudman said the village's Colonias Infrastructure Fund application would provide water to the highway frontages of the parcels of land.
Trustees approved an estimate of no more than $34,000 to build a fence around the village's Maintenance Building. In a recent robbery, equipment was stolen, as well as two vehicles. Bauch said police had recovered some of the equipment. The proposal will build a six-foot cement block wall around the front and back, with concertina wire on the top. A rolling portion of the fence will be wrought iron, with outward curved bars at the top, which can be opened only from the inside. In addition, security cameras, an alarm system and lights have been added to the facility.
The Council member approved cashing in a certificate of deposit for $66,340, to pay for the fence, and replace the stolen equipment, as well as one used pickup. Hudman said insurance was for $54,000 replacement cost, but depreciation would lower the amount received by the village.
Esparza asked when the project would begin. Bauch said, after trees were removed, the project could begin in two or three weeks.
Trustee Hector Carrillo asked for additional patrols, which Hudman said had been put into effect.
Another CD for $100,700, which had matured, would be cashed to pay for planning, design and construction of Splash Park. The area, which could be in one of two sites under consideration, would consist of a large concreted area, with a small wall around it and Astroturf around fountains in the center for kids to play in.
Hudman said the bid was for $125,000, with $75,000 for a restroom and a pump house to run the fountains. A member of the audience asked if the water would be recycled. Hudman confirmed the water would recycle through the system.
"That's why we need the pump house for recycling and treating the water," Bauch said. "We will shut it down, and it will become a dry system in the winter months."
Hudman said a swing set would be placed in the park near the Senior Center, and Viola Stone Park would be completed.
Bauch said Splash Park could be up and running by 2016. "We are also working on sidewalks, which I think will help bring new business. We want a bus stop near Splash Park. Parking will be along the street."
Under old business, an amendment to Ordinance 207 Employee Manual was tabled again.
Trustees approved a mid-year budget adjustment resolution, which Hudman explained needed to be done because of the thefts and other issues, so money could be transferred from one line item to another.
The trustees went into closed session limited to personnel items.
The next regular meeting is set for Thursday, March 12, at 3 p.m.