By Roger Lanse

Silver City Police Chief Ed Reynolds reported that total computer assisted dispatch calls were down in 2017 from 2016, 35,849 from 41,052. The 2017 total is the lowest since 2007, although tied with an equal number in 2015. Motor vehicle collisions, arrests and citations issued were also down from 2016 numbers.

Reynolds stated, stolen motor vehicle calls were up in 2017 over 2016, but so were the number recovered. Larceny from a motor vehicle stats were up in 2017, but shoplifting calls were down. Residential burglaries were up but commercial burglaries were down. Murder and forcible rape calls remained the same in 2017 as in 2016, 1 and 9, while robbery calls numbered 4 in 2017, and 2 in 2016.

Simple assault stats were up in 2017 over 2016, but aggravated assaults, domestic battery assaults, and domestic violence arrests were down, Reynolds said.

According to Reynolds, neighborhood watches can be a help in reducing crime. Report what you see, he said.

District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith stated the town's Report-a-Pothole program, where citizens can report town property that needs fixing, is not limited to potholes. Mayor Ken Ladner agreed saying residents can report on anything that needs attention.

District 3 Councilor Jose Ray Jr. asked Town Manager Alex Brown if he could request some flags to be put up in Gough Park, namely the United States, New Mexico, and Prisoner-of-War flags. Brown answered, "Yes sir, we can do that." Brown said they are trying to figure out the lighting so the flags can be left there.

District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano stated that the Copper Country Senior Olympics Committee would be meeting Saturday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. in the LULAC building and that anyone over 50 is welcome to enter.

Cissy McAndrew spoke to council about code violations in town and filling the code officer positions which are now vacant.

Gary Stailey reported on the community youth building program that he heads. "We're trying to keep people from getting in trouble as adults," Stailey said. He said since October his group worked several times at the Silver City Museum, painted the walk bridge across Market Street, repainted the tops and bottoms of the picnic benches and tables at Lion's Park, picked up 1,390 pounds of trash at a couple of illegal dump sites, worked in the Big Ditch, trimmed the orchard behind the old Office of Sustainability, and took down wooden planters from downtown businesses to get the planters ready for spring planting.

Stailey continued that the youth will be helping on Feb. 17, in conjunction with the Silver City Territorial Days event. He asked the four councilors to submit one project from each of their districts for Stailey's youth to help complete on one of four 2018 volunteer workdays.

Ann Mackie, Town Clerk, stated that Jan. 30 was the final day for anyone who registered as a write-in candidate for the March municipal election to withdraw their name and Nicholas Bobo did so, leaving incumbent Sonja Ruiz as the only candidate for that position on the ballot. Other candidates are incumbent Lynda Aiman-Smith and Patricia Kingsley vying for District 2 councilor, incumbent Guadalupe Cano and Nicholas Prince competing for District 4 councilor, incumbent Ken Ladner running unopposed for mayor, and Ruiz.

Brown recommended council approve a bid of $360,196.20, including gross receipts tax, from Southwest Concrete and Paving of Silver City for a project on Silver Street from 20th Street to Silver Heights Blvd, including road construction, sidewalks, drainage, curbs, and gutters. Brown stated the town has received a $440,000 grant from the New Mexico Department of Transportation for the project, of which $64,064 is the town's share. Brown said the extra funds in the grant will be used to help with construction oversight costs.

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