Front Page News
Candidates file for municipal and various board positions
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 31 August 2023 31 August 2023
By Mary Alice Murphy
On Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, at the Grant County Clerk's Office, candidates for various municipal, school board and water board positions filed to be on the ballot on Nov. 7, 2023.
Two candidates will vie to serve as mayor of Bayard. They are John L. Ojinaga and José L. Diaz. They will replace the current mayor Chon Fierro.
The village of Santa Clara also has two candidates to replace current Mayor Richard Bauch. Arnold H. Lopez and Alonso J. Romo will face off in the election.
Santa Clara hires city clerk-treasurer
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 31 August 2023 31 August 2023
By Lynn Janes
The Village of Santa Clara held its regular meeting August 24, 2023.
Mayor's report
Mayor Richard Bauch said the regional water commission had met that day and they will finish the PER (preliminary engineering report) by December. The plan creates a good strategy for the mining district.
New Business
Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza and Trustees Arnold Lopez, Olga Amador, and Peter Erickson unanimously approved the amendment to the employee contract for Police Chief Leonel Sandoval.
The council approved the amendment to the employee contract for Village Administrator Sheila Hudman.
Grant County Commission holds special meeting to approve mail-in ballot canvass
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 30 August 2023 30 August 2023
The second item on the agenda elicited discussion on the HMS-managed senior centers' ICIPs.
By Mary Alice Murphy
In a special meeting on Aug. 30, 2023, three Grant County commissioners, District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce, district 4 Commissioner Billy Billings and District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne attended in person, with District 2 Commissioner Eloy Medina and District 3 Commissioner Alicia Edwards attending by phone.
The only item of new business addressed the mail-in ballot election, which ended on Aug. 22, 2023.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the ballot question, which deleted the sunset clause from the original ordinance passed in 2012 to fund the Dispatch Authority through a 1/8 GRT increment. For history and more information on the issue, please visit https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/79609-revised-confused-about-the-mail-in-ballot-you-received .
Grant County Commission holds work session 080823 and regular meeting 081023, part 6
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 30 August 2023 30 August 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 6 of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 8, 2023, and the regular meeting on Aug. 10, 2023. This will continue with the review of the regular meeting agenda and decisions made at the regular meeting.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
County Manager Charlene Webb continued at the work session on Aug. 8, 2023 with the review of the regular meeting agenda for Aug. 10, 2023.
The next agenda items addressed agreements.
The first agreement considered the appropriation agreement from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration for $80,000 to the Grant County Community Health Council.
Major ordinances and resolutions passed by SC Town Council
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 30 August 2023 30 August 2023
By Lynn Janes
The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting August 22, 2023. The meeting started with Mayor Ken Ladner calling the meeting to order and leading the Pledge of Allegiance and salute to the New Mexico state flag. Council members attending the meeting included Jose Ray, Nicholas Prince, Guadalupe Cano, and Rudy Bencomo.
The council approved the agenda.
Ceremonies none currently.
Proclamations none currently.
Council comments
Ray reminded everyone to turn in the mail in ballots. Next weekend they will hold the Fiesta Carnitas, Música y Mas. He wanted to invite everyone. Ray added that, “We try to help all the people no matter what their district is.”
Silver Schools recognizes community partnerships
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 August 2023 29 August 2023
By Lynn Janes
The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a work session on August 21, 2023. President Ashley Montenegro called the meeting to order. Other board members in attendance Michelle Diaz, Patrick Cohn, Mike McMillan, and Eddie Flores. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended. The Pledge of Allegiance and salute to the New Mexico flag took place.
The board approved the agenda.
The purpose of this work session had to do with the history adoption and scope sequence and assessment. Cindy Barris, associate superintendent, gave the board an update on the current status. Barris had gotten a committee together to go over all the curricula chosen for each grade k-12. Some of the materials had not come in yet but they knew what had been chosen. The history curriculum for fourth grade did not include any New Mexico history. They reached out locally to the museum for a way to supplement that area. Barris said the museum has some great resources and said they would be happy to help.
Heavy batteries stolen from equipment
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 August 2023 29 August 2023
By Roger Lanse
A Santa Clara Police Department officer responded Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, at about 7:10 a.m., to Bellm Street and Lariat Road in reference to a vehicle burglary call. According to an XCPD incident report, a representative of Southwest Concrete and Paving stated batteries had been taken from a backhoe and a motor grader while parked at the construction site. The batteries were last seen when the equipment was parked around 5:30 p.m. the previous day.
The officer stated it appeared someone had unbolted the batteries and carried them away. A spot in the site fence was observed that was not secured. Whoever took the batteries, the officer said, was able to walk through the fence and "walk out with the batteries easily."
Grant County Commission holds work session 080823 and regular meeting 081023, part 5
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 28 August 2023 28 August 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 5 of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 8, 2023, and the regular meeting on Aug. 10, 2023. This will continue with the review of the regular meeting agenda and decisions made at the regular meeting.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
At the Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 8, 2023, County Manager Charlene Webb continued with the regular meeting agenda review. The first item of new business addressed the consideration of an ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) allocation in the amount of $1 million for broadband wireless improvements to Fierro and Pinos Altos.
District 4 Commissioner Billy Billings said he would like to table the issue until the September meeting in order to address some questions.
District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne said he, too, had the same questions as Commissioner Billings.