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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 09 September 2017 09 September 2017

The Village of Santa Clara Regular Meeting took place Thursday, September 7, 2017 in the Village Hall. All Trustees attended, as well as Mayor Richard Bauch.

Bauch reported that a new energy economy group approached the Village to assist with wind and solar projects. The group helps communities receive grants and Bauch suggested the trustees consider working with them. Members agreed that they had an interest in pursuing a project, possibly using solar energy to cut utility costs at the Armory. More information will be gathered and presented at the next meeting.

New business included reformatting the lease agreement for the Veterans’ Service Officer. Previously, trustees approved the lease terms. However, the state requires a new design and format.

Trustees also considered a variance at the corner of Bayard and Maple Streets. Robin Hogan presented the idea of having the commercial property at that location as a living museum, which would include miniature horses, goats, and chickens. This type of living museum provides an educational opportunity for the town, teaching residents about farm life and arts and crafts. Hogan’s project includes a nature center, pond, and butterfly house. The plan would put these elements within a compound-style structure at the location and the variance would allow for the horses to live there in pens. Bauch recommended that Hogan get in contact with Code Enforcement and to provide full drawings next month.

Addressing old business, M. Yvonne Gonzalez reported to the Council that any agreement between Western New Mexico Communications and the Village of Santa Clara needed to be a license agreement rather than an ordinance. This is still in negotiations with legal counsel.

Additionally, Gonzalez will rent office space at the armory. This does not include utilities and will be a locked office. Resident Horace Jaramillo inquired about multiple independent leases in the Armory, asking what would happen if a proposal comes through that would require renting the entire square footage of the building. Bauch explained there are 30-day severance requirements no matter when the agreements were initiated.

Jaramillo also thanked the Trustees for addressing hazards on Hutchinson Street, but asked that compaction be monitored to ensure the integrity of the surface. Bauch said they are taking steps to improve the surface and are looking into chip sealing.

Jaramillo then inquired about the addressing system, which Bauch said the project is underway and that two public meetings have been held to review duplicate streets and how to eliminate confusion with 911 dispatch and emergency vehicles.

Resident Mike Dowell asked for an update on the speedbumps on Encino Street. Bauch explained the previously allotted hot mix was used to repair a water main break and that the Village was waiting for a new shipment from Southwest Concrete and Paving Inc.

Bauch announced the next Regular Meeting of the Village of Santa Clara for Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the Village of Santa Clara Village Hall located at 105 N. Bayard Street.