Annette Toney, Membership Manager for Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest, receives proclamation from Mayor Ken Ladner declaring March 6-10, 2019 “Girl Scout Week.” With Toney and Ladner are Girl Scout Troops 289 and 323. Photo by Roger Lanse.By Roger Lanse

Silver City Fire Chief Milo Lambert addressed the Silver City Town Council at their Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 meeting about concern over fire safety regarding the Mountain View Senior Living Apartments.

Lambert stated fire department personnel met with the contractors for the project before construction began to discuss the fire safety of the site. Regulations the contractor is required to follow include access for fire trucks and emergency vehicles. “Rest assured,” Lambert said, “We meet with the superintendent at the MVSLA, if not weekly, bi-weekly, to make sure those emergency access lanes are open.”

Continuing, Lambert stated, “They must maintain a means of access and egress for individuals, not just vehicles, and we do verify that.” Beyond that, the town requires that they have portable fire extinguishers, he said.

Lambert stated, he “wanted to step forward and assure everyone that we have taken all reasonable steps to insure the safety of both the construction workers, first responders, and any citizens that may be in the area.”

In answer to a question from District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith, Lambert said, “Yes, Ma’am, there are requirements for sprinklers in the building and they are installing them but during the construction phase they are not charged with water.”

District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison asked Lambert to explain how the fire department goes about making sure there is enough water and water pressure available. Lambert answered, “Under the pretty extensive plan review process, part of that is adequate water supply. We work with several sets of engineers, the Community Development Department, and the water department.” Lambert said “We verify there is adequate water to function for all fire protection devices in the building before they even break ground.”

MVSLA did not originally have sufficient water pressure, Lambert told council, but water lines in the entire neighborhood were improved to assure there would be enough water pressure at the site.

Heidi Ogas of the High Desert Humane Society presented the society’s annual report for 2018. She said 399 dogs and 477 cats were taken in as impounds, strays, and owner turn-ins. Impound fees of $2, 575 and license fees of $5, 565.55 were collected. The society issued 891 spay or neuter coupons.

Due to the very active animal control officer’s (Vickie Toney) efforts to address the feral cat problem, Ogas said, the numbers of cats being brought in have increased significantly over the year before. Ogas also explained that feral cats have a very different personality from those that are born in a household. She went on to say that the town’s ordinance does not provide for trap, neuter and release, and that where that process has been employed it has not shown to be very effective in controlling the feral cat population, Ogas stated the town uses trapping to control the feral cat population in answer to a question from Aiman-Smith.

ACO Toney presented a list of citations she had written between Aug. 1, 2018 and Feb. 15, 2019. They included 92 for restraint and confinement, 73 for unvaccinated animals, 49 for non spay or neuter, 27 for public nuisance, 18 for owner-responsible dog bites, 3 for abandonment, 3 for failure to license, 2 for inadequate care, 1 for failure to affix tags, 1 for vicious animal, and 1 for too many animals. In answer to a question from Aiman-Smith, Toney offered that 75 percent of her job involves education, especially with single-point tie, which many are not aware is illegal.

Assistant Town Manager James Marshall reported on a few bills moving through the state legislature particularly noting that because of amendments to the state’s election code, it seems Silver City will not be allowed to have municipal elections every year, but will have to hold them every other year on odd years. Marshall noted that the status of the 76 bills he is keeping tabs on is always changing so that what he might report today would be out-of-date tomorrow. He urged residents to keep track themselves for the latest.

Council approved an ordinance sponsored by Jamie Embick, Community Development Department Director, which basically makes some housekeeping changes to the town’s Land Use and Zoning Code of 2010, bringing language up to date regarding tiny houses, signs, short-term rentals, and fence heights.

Council approved a public celebration permit application for the annual meeting of the Archaeological Society of New Mexico to be held at the Murray Hotel on April 26 and 27, with alcohol service from 5-7 p.m. on April 26 and from 6-9 p.m. on April 27.

Council also approved cancelling the next regular meeting scheduled for March 12, 2019.