By Roger Lanse

Little Toad Creek Brewery and Distillery, 203 E. San Vicente Street, was approved by town council at its Tuesday, Nov. 10 meeting, as a project under New Mexico's Local Economic Development Act and Silver City's municipal code. The council found that the project, within the Silver City Arts and Cultural District, would contribute to local employment, foster economic development and revitalize the downtown area. €œNo, the town is not going into the booze business, € Assistant Town Manager James Marshall said. €œLittle Toad Creek asked the New Mexico Economic Development Department for a $100,000 grant, € and the town approved the filing of the necessary applications and committed the town to the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Little Toad Creek's LEDA project was eased along by council's approval of an ordinance sponsored by District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith, which amended Chapter 16 (Economic Development Plan) of Silver City's Code of Ordinances. The amendments require a substantive contribution from the applicant to protect the town from financial loss should the project go south.

Those speaking during Public Input opposed the town's installation of ‘smart' water meters. Mayor Michael Morones stated that while public input is necessary it does place a burden on staff to address the many issues that are brought forward and adds to the workload of council. “Public input is greatly appreciated and very, very necessary,” Morones said.

Morones continued, ”From past public input there was a lot of information given to us about PNM's San Juan case and in many cases they wanted to see a resolution brought forward and addressed by the town. Resolutions are used to define policy and to legislate for the health, safety and welfare of the community. They are based on informed positions of individual councilors based on underlying evidence or personal knowledge.”

Morones said that he chose not to put the town in the position of being an intervener in the Public Regulatory Commission's deliberations because of the great financial burden that could cause in terms of hiring expert witnesses and researchers. “We did express the town's encouragement to the PRC to conduct a fair and impartial proceeding, which they are already obligated to do,” he said.

For those reasons, Morones stated he, and most likely the four councilors, chose not to sponsor such a resolution, which would undermine the PRC's fair and transparent process and put the town in the position of saying to the PRC that the town doesn't trust them to do their job.

Aiman-Smith added that sometimes public input speakers give erroneous information.

Council approved a resolution for the regular municipal election to be held March 1, 2016. Town Clerk Ann Mackie said that on the ballot are mayor, and the District 2 and District 4 councilor positions - two-year terms. The single polling place will again be at the Silver City Woman's Club.

Morones announced that he would not be seeking re-election, while Aiman-Smith stated that she would be on the ballot.

Town Manager Alex Brown that they recently received a grant, which will enable the town to maintain certain aspects of the wastewater treatment plant, replace sidewalks at various points throughout the town, but focusing on downtown, and expand the Vista de Plata project.

In New Business council approved awarding janitorial services for municipal buildings to Complete Care Cleaning Services of Albuquerque who bid $73, 380/year for a four-year contract. Brown stated that they have always gone above and beyond and hire locally.

Pest control services were awarded to Bug Hunters Pest Control of Silver City who bid $3,981.84/year.

Council approved the submittal of a re-certification application to the Mortgage Finance Authority to continue the House-by-House Rehabilitation Program for 2015-2016.

Council also approved a special dispenser's permit application for the Mimbres Region Arts Council Black Tie Ball fundraiser to be held at Lawley Toyota on Dec. 12, from 6 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Pauline Gomez was appointed to the Museum Board, and Rebecca K. Smith was appointed to the Historic Design Review Committee.