By Mary Alice Murphy

At a Fort Bayard Restoration and Development Coalition meeting on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Santa Clara Mayor Richard Bauch gave an update on the status of the Fort Bayard National Landmark property. The village of Santa Clara has requested that pieces of the property be transferred or leased to the village.

"We are working out the details of the lease right now," Bauch said. "We are also working on water issues, so that we have access to water for the fort."

He said one of the details of the lease was the time limit. The village is negotiating for a 99-year-lease.

Bauch noted that a fellow from Better Cities, which is on contract with the town of Silver City for economic development, and the village's attorney are looking at the lease language.

He has spoken with Adam Mendonca, Gila National Forest supervisor, who is eager to sublease some of the buildings at the fort, especially the Nurses' Quarters, one of the larger buildings on the site. The offices the Gila is in now are up soon for renewal, and Mendonca wants to move out to Fort Bayard, closer to the forest. Such a sublease would help pay for a loan and other costs of renovating buildings.

As for the village's desire to annex the Fort Bayard property, "letters have gone back and forth."

Bauch said there is some sensitivity about transferring the property from the state to the village. There is a state stipulation that anything that is valued at more than $100,000 requires legislation, but for leasing, value is not a consideration.

Renovations at the buildings for the Forest Service are estimated to cost of $5 million to $7 million, but grants could lessen the amount that the village might need to finance.

FBRDC President Dave Chandler asked about a signing ceremony when the negotiations are complete.

"Secretary Ortiz is the one who suggested a signing," Bauch said. "We've sent the last things required of us, except for the lease, so we are hoping it can happen in August.

"We already have an agreement to lease the theater," he said. "I would say 90 percent of the agreements are done, so it looks promising."