By Hallie Richwine

The Village of Santa Clara Regular Meeting took place Monday, January 29, 2018 in the Village Hall. Trustees Olga Amador and Victor Arambula attended as well as Mayor Richard Bauch. Trustee Richard Esparza joined via speakerphone, and Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza was absent.

Bauch reported that he is hopeful the Fort Bayard legislation goes well this year. After being in Santa Fe for Grant County Days he believes the transfer will happen during this legislative session.

In New Business, the trustees appointed the precinct board members for the March 6, 2018 municipal election. Nominated and approved by the board were precinct judge Rosalie Munoz, precinct workers Yvette Carbajal and Virginia Apodaca, and standby precinct worker Rosie Delfin. Due to the small amount of absentee voters in the municipality, the absent voter and precinct board members are one and the same.

Several of the precinct workers have been involved in the process over the past three years and the mayor thanks them for their service. "It's a tough job, they work from 6 in the morning until 7 at night, never leaving the room," Bauch said.

The other action item before the board was awarding the RFP for professional services for the CDBG grant awarded in 2017. The project itself is for the Bayard Street sidewalk and lighting improvements. This stage only names the firm that the village will use for the professional services, and any negotiation of funds for the project happens at a later date.

Two bids for services were received, one from Horrocks Engineering and one from Occam Engineering. After the final review, trustees awarded the contract to Occam Engineering.

The next Village of Santa Clara Regular Meeting happens Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 3 p.m. in the Village Hall located at 105 N. Bayard Street.