Council approves purchase of downtown parking lot

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 27 September 2017 27 September 2017

photo 1 rsMayor Ken Ladner declares Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 as Southwest Festival of the Written Word weekend. Jeannie Miller, co-chair of SWFWW accepts proclamation.By Roger Lanse

At its Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017 meeting, the Silver City Town Council approved the purchase of a vacant lot downtown next to the Gila Theater for $52,000, which Town Manager Alex Brown said was the appraised price. Brown also said the town's downtown action plan recommends acquiring property downtown when it becomes available, especially vacant property. "The bank came to me and asked if we were interested in purchasing it. It's a bank parking area which we will open to the public," Brown stated.

photo 2 rsLiz Lopez, holding proclamation, wife of founder Michael Lopez,
accepts proclamation from Ladner declaring Saturday, Sept. 30,
Walk for the Heroes Day.photo 3 rsSilver City Fire Chief Milo Lambert, center, and Silver City Fire Investigator Kylle Marshall accept proclamation from Ladner
declaring Oct. 8-14 Fire Prevention Week.District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith reported that traffic through the intersection of Broadway and Bullard is flowing smoothly past the new stop signs.

Aiman-Smith also mentioned that a number of groups will be coming into the town tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 27, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Acting Director and his staff to preside over Grant County Renewable Energy Day with a ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. at the Western New Mexico University Student Memorial Building. "Also there will be about 100 people coming in tomorrow," she said, "to participate in the New Mexico American Planning Association conference. They will be walking all over town and going into businesses, so if you see people wandering around looking at things, greet them in our usual Silver City friendly manner."

Lt. James Cruzan, of the Silver City Police Department, confirmed that while the county does allow OHVs on county roads, those types of vehicles are not allowed on city streets.

District 4 Councilor Jose Ray Jr. advised that he will be presenting again an ordinance, which would allow OHVs on city streets, as he is still getting requests from his district to open up city streets to those vehicles. Ray brought his OHV ordinance before council earlier this year but it was soundly defeated.

Mayor Ken Ladner advised council that, "the Grant County Water Commission is a finalist for a national award as a result of its involvement in the creation of a regional water delivery system, the first phase of which is the delivery of water from the Silver City well field near the airport to the Town of Hurley." He went on to say that ever since that commission was formed the chair has been either Brown or Ass't Town Manager (former mayor) James Marshall. "Well done, Mr. Brown, and if you'd pass that on to Mr. Marshall, I'd appreciate it." Ladner said.

Grant County Assessor Raul Turrieta stated that the Tri-City area will see 2017-2018 property taxes go up because of bonds passed.

Anthony and Ronald Quintana came before council requesting approval of a transfer of location of a liquor license from Eagle Nest, NM to Dahl Enterprises LLC, DBA Q's Southern Bistro, 101 E. College Avenue, Silver City. Council approved.

Council also approved two public celebration permit applications, submitted by Teresa Dahl-Bredine, for Oktoberfest, to be held Oct. 7, at Little Toad Creek, 200 N. Bullard Street, with alcohol service from 2-11 p.m.

A resolution approving the 2017 Town of Silver City Comprehensive Plan was passed by council. Aiman-Smith advised that the plan can be viewed on the town's website.

J&S Plumbing of Silver City was awarded a sewer-line project in the Ridges area off of Ridge Road. Brown said there was enough money in the grant to complete the project including sewer connections and septic tank abandonments.

A resolution to support Corre Caminos transportation services was passed by council. District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano expressed concern that residents in her district were not always served well by the bus because of stop and time scheduling. Brown said the NMDOT has recommended to Corre Caminos to make their route more accessible and this resolution from the city is needed to reinforce those recommendations. Grant County, Deming, and Luna County have been contributing matching funds to NMDOT's funding, along with Silver City's $72,000/year, to operate Corre Caminos. Brown said councilors and town staff need to get together with Corre Caminos staff to decide which routes and times would best serve each town district.

Council voted to change the Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, meeting date at 6 p.m., to Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, at 6 p.m.

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