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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 09 April 2018 09 April 2018

mayor ladner

By Mary Alice Murphy

Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Derek Ratcliff, to open the luncheon meeting on Thursday, April 5, 2018, announced the next chamber luncheon on May 3, 2018. "Our program will involve giving out $450,000." He went on to explain that Kevin Cook, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. community development manager, would be handing out the annual grant awards from the Freeport Community Investment Fund.

Ratcliff also announced the Tour of the Gila would be in Silver City and surrounding areas from April 18-22.He introduced Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner as the featured speaker.

Ladner explained that Silver City's style of government is run by a manager, mayor and council. "The manager carves out the issues. The council makes the laws. My philosophy as mayor is that what I can't do by legislation, I try to do by persuasion."

He described the council as a "great one. Each member brings his or her own vision to the city."

"One of my greatest blessings occurred when my wife Becky agreed to marry me," Ladner introduced his wife. "I married up."

He said: "Alex Brown, our manager, is one of the truly amazing administrators. He not only is manager, but also financial manager. No matter what Santa Fe tries to do to us, he keeps essential services going in Silver City."

The town's operating budget is $32.356 million, with 83 percent of it coming from gross receipts taxes. "They are up this year over this time last year."

"My heroes in Silver City include those who deal with fire, crime, finance, animal control, utilities, and lots more," Ladner said. He said the Silver City Annex, in the Washington Federal Bank building, houses Community Development, which also deals with infrastructure projects.

He listed several such projects for 2018--19, including the Pinos Altos Road, New Mexico 15, a NM Department of Transportation project, costing more than $11 million, which will include sidewalks, bike lanes, a new water line, and curb and gutters. It is scheduled for completion in June of 2019.

Another project for $400,000, which is also a NM DOT project, will complete the first three blocks of Silver Street from Silver Heights Boulevard northward.

The College Street project is underway, at a cost of $1.6 million. Silver City pooled money with funding from Western New Mexico University to enhance the street leading to the university. It is slated for completion in August 2018.

"You remember the line of large trees next to the sidewalk?" Ladner asked. "Women were afraid to walk through there at night. The trees are gone, but they will be replaced with new trees that are easier to see through. We are also installing new conduit for electricity to power the streetlights like ours downtown. It is planned as a walking corridor from town to Western. This is the upper leg of the corridor. It will be landscaped. A water line will provide drip irrigation to the trees, shrubs and landscaping. And we'll have a brand new road."

He showed photos of the one-block portion of Market Street, which leads from the pedestrian bridge from the Visitor Center into town and onto Bullard Street. It was completed in 2017. "It gives a better first impression for visitors." He said it also addressed some drainage issues which had often led to water into basements.

Ladner said Councilman José Ray got a group together to repaint the railing of the bridge. "We may also want to add a small arch, like there used to be."

Another project is on Ridge Road. For $196,000, the project to do surveying and a sewer project will stretch from Highway 90 to the end of Silver City property on Ridge Road. It will involve four streets—Mobile, Mountain View, Sky View and Pheasant Drive. "All the users were on septic. The city got a grant for $1,832,000, which the state tried to take away from us, but the Legislature saved it. All the homes on the streets will connect to the Silver City sewer system."

Chip-sealing and fogging of streets for $125,000 will take place in July and August this year. "We have to redo streets every seven years. We have a schedule of which streets when. We are asked why we continue to chip seal. It would cost $125,000 for just one piece of street to lay asphalt, curb and gutters."

Ladner said he is often asked about the town's water supplies. "We have three good operating wells. We own 4,600 acre-feet of water rights. We estimate 100 years-worth at the current use. We are using only about 2,800 acre-feet annually. Our water use has been decreasing since 2006. We have fewer multiple water-user families. We also have tiered water rates, conservation programs, leak detection and electronic water meters."

He said the new water meters have been instrumental in discovering leaks and saving the town's water and customers' money.

"Our recycling program is one of the great things we offer," Ladner said. "It is single stream, so our residents just put everything that is recyclable into their recycling bins. Initially, we had 80 commercial recyclers and 1,400 residential recyclers. Now we have 220 commercial entities and 2,500 residential users. Mr. Brown thinks we will have to get another truck."

He noted the change to Bullard and Broadway from a traffic light to a four-way stop. "It was a dangerous intersection with the light. Now people don't have to wait as long and it's safer. We also installed a four-way stop next to the Food Co-op. That slows traffic down and makes it safer for pedestrians trying to cross."

Ladner talked about the Grant County Regional Water Project, which was begun to provide water to Hurley, but will be expanded, when funding is available to furnish water to all of the Mining District. "Hurley has been getting water from the mines, but they gave notice they planned to shut it down in 2019. The town of Silver City owns more than 700 acre-feet of water rights near the airport. The town donated the water rights to Hurley, as well as the 200 acre-feet of recharge credit water. The first phase to get water to Hurley is in progress. The expansion of the project will give the opportunity to the Mining District municipalities to tap into the water when needed."

A partnership between Silver City and PNM has created a charging station for electric vehicles at the Visitor Center. PNM will furnish the station and it will be free of charge to visitors. Two at-a-time can charge. The town has provided the infrastructure and will pay the electrical costs. The grand opening will take place April 25 at noon.

Another street project is on 32nd Street by Fowler Street. Sidewalks will be installed toward Silver High School.

"We installed LED streetlights downtown," Ladner said. "Scott Terry of the chamber told us it was too dark at night downtown for tourists to be comfortable walking around. For installing them at a cost of $13,000, we immediately realized a rebate of $6,000, so we spent $7,000, with annual savings of $3,200, and they will pay off in 2.4 years. The lights are also more efficient and deflect the light downward where pedestrians need it.

"We are almost at the final design for the Welcome to Silver City signs, too," Ladner said.

This year was the 140th anniversary of the Silver City Territorial Charter. The celebration takes place every year around Feb. 20. "The charter makes us special in the state and the nation. Under the old charter, the mayor could make every male work three days a year for the town. This year, each councilor picked a project in their district to invite residents to participate in."

"Once a month, I hold Mondays with the Mayor," Ladner said. "April's is on April 9 from 8-11 a.m. at The Drifter."

He said at the last one in March, topics ranged from the homeless to noise, new beginnings to ADA access, and potholes to a great concern about litter.

"I talked with Assistant Town Manager James Marshall about a sustainable program that you will hear more about in the future," Ladner said. "One of the issues we deal with and that causes litter is that 30 percent of loads going to the landfill are not properly covered. That was determined in a one-hour period near the landfill.

"I pledge to do the best I can for Silver City as Mayor," Ladner concluded.

Trent Bohl of Cactus Jack announced it will soon be a certified medical cannabis distributor.

Town Councilor Cynthia Bettison announced a groundbreaking at 10 a.m. on April 11 on Bethel near Juniper and 16th for a senior housing development. She also said a Rotary yard sale would take place beginning at 8 a.m. April 14 at 3713 Christian Flury. The proceeds will purchase a memorial bench at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery.

Cook of Freeport-McMoran said the company has a phone line for information on the mines. "It is manned 24/7 to hear your concerns, grievances and questions at 877-629-2609. An email may also be posted at www.freeportinmycommunity.com/contact."

He also warned people not to enter Freeport property. "Pets might run onto our property and people try to follow them. That can cause problems. Please call the Chino security at 575-912-5655 or Tyrone security at 575-912-5886 with your contact information and a description of your situation. Unauthorized access onto our properties is prohibited. This is for your safety and the safety of our workforce."

Cook said he is also always looking for opportunities to speak to groups about the mines and their operations.

Terry announced a Tourism Town Hall on Friday, April 13. An RSVP to the Silver City Arts and Cultural District is requested.

Bruce Ashburn of PNM said the PNM grant cycle is open for non-profits seeking funding. The deadline to apply is May 9.

Ratcliff also asked for volunteers for July 4 festivities.