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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 28 February 2018 28 February 2018

img 2221Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest. From left in rear, District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison, District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano, Mayor Ken Ladner, Annette Toney, Membership Manager GSDSW

Photo and article by Roger Lanse

Kelly Hart at the Silver City Town Council's Feb. 27 meeting, presented council with a study titled "The Frequency and Causes of Sirens in Silver City." The summary of the study states, "A year-long study by four citizen scientists, done in four stages, clearly shows that the sirens we hear in Silver City have valid and reasonable causes relating to an emergency." On average we will hear eight sirens a day, with a range between one and 21, he said. Medical emergencies are the most common reason for siren use (65%), requests for police action are the second most common (14%), motor vehicle accidents are third highest (11%). Seven percent of calls were related to domestic disturbances, while three percent were fire alarms. Very few of them had anything to do with traffic, Hart reported.

Assistant Town Manager James Marshall said that this study has provided a better view for how the town may be able to modify responses to emergencies. James stated, "Sometimes all those sirens we hear are people having the worst day of their life and we should have some tolerance and patience for those people."

District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano stated that Silver Schools are hosting a town hall on school safety to be held at the Little Theater at Silver High School on Wednesday, March 7, at 5 p.m.

Elline Kingsley spoke to council about the need for people to apply for the recycling committee.

Colleen Morton, Executive Director of Silver City Arts and Cultural District said that during the second quarter of FY 2017-2018, Skywest Media was commissioned to provide a marketing strategy report. The findings, Morton said, were the SCACD's website was weak and there was not enough Facebook advertising, but the Instagram strategy was excellent. Morton stated they are rebuilding the website, more advertising has been placed on Facebook and the district is continuing its Instagram strategy. Additionally, she said, they are reviewing print advertising in California and Colorado, adding more digital content on top of print advertising, possibly upgrading advertising in Texas, and introducing some advertising in Spanish.

Origins of 18,000 visitors to the Visitor Center were Arizona -- #1, followed by California, New Mexico (other than Silver City), Colorado and Texas, Morton said.

The trail kiosk is up, and the maps have been installed, according to Morton.

Marshall reported on the recent 30-day legislative session at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. He said that 1,017 bills were introduced, of which 381 passed one house, of which 131 passed both houses, of which 93 went to the governor, where she signed three into law.

Town Manager Alex Brown said the town has contracted with a special auditor to recommend changes in the policies that allowed the recent embezzlement of $12,000 by a town employee.

Council approved a resolution authorizing the town manager to approve or disapprove special dispenser and public celebration permits authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages at public events held at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center. District 3 Councilor Jose Ray Jr., the resolution's sponsor stated, "State law requires that local governments review and make decisions on the issuance of this type of permit. Basically, all the local government does is to impose conditions to assure public safety and compliance with local law. Events occurring at the conference center are highly regulated by the county to such an extent that compliance with those regulations would satisfy the town's concern about public safety and compliance." Approving this resolution would take the burden off the council, Ray said, with no harm done to the town.

Brown stated the town has received a grant 0f $903,000 for the College Avenue Phase II improvements including paving, curbs and gutters and sidewalks between West and E streets. Brown said the project will also include work to beautify and enhance the entrance to Western New Mexico University, including lights with underground wiring, vegetation, trees, an irrigation system and brick crosswalks. The university is prepared to pay for all of what it wants, Brown said. The town's share of the project, Brown said is $666,747, which will allow the town to help the university with their share amounting to $724,962. The $111,335 gross receipts taxes will be split proportionately between the town and the university. "It's going to be really beautiful," Brown said.

Mayor Ken Ladner proclaimed March 11-17, 2018 as Girl Scout Week. Local scouts were present, as the meeting's color guard.

Appointments to the new Trails and Open Space Advisory Committee were; Daniel Dietzel, James Wightman, Peter Gorman, Edwin Ferris, Christian Schlabach, Kenneth Sexton, and Robert Schiowitz.

Elizabeth Miller was reappointed to the cemetery board.