By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a regular meeting June 13, 2023, beginning with the roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ed Stevens, Mayor pro tem Richard Maynes and councilors Nanette Day and Reynaldo Maynes. Keana Huerta didn't attend.

The council approved the agenda.

Public input none currently.

The council approved the consent agenda. It included the minutes from the regular meeting May 9, 2023, workshop meeting May 17, 2023, and special meetings May 24, 2023, and June 6, 2023. It also included reports from maintenance, clerk, fire department, animal control, code enforcement, police, and judge.

Lori Ortiz, city clerk, said next meeting she would have the letter of release for the audit. The fire department had two grass fires. Animal control said they had been having problems with residents not having their dogs tagged and registered. Ortiz said she would put a notice in with the water bills.

Police Chief Christian McGuinness gave the council a short report. He said he had met with the sheriff. He told the council he wanted to have four officers including himself. He wanted Hurley to have 24-hour coverage, and it would also allow for vacation time and sick leave.

Public input

Representative Luis Terrazas attended the meeting to give the council an update on the legislative session. He had cosponsored four bills that would have helped the community.

One of the bills would allow for retired officers to come back to work and help with the shortage of officers. It would also provide mentorship to the new officers. The unions had pushed back, and it didn't pass. He added that the bill would have required the municipalities to contribute into retirement funds.

The Black Fire caused a lot of problems with flooding and erosion. That money had been needed right away, but will not be available until July.

Terrazas had sponsored a bill to give Santa Clara control over Fort Bayard. By having the control they could qualify for grants and other funding to renovate the property. It has a lot to offer, restaurants, AirBnB, camping, RV parks, offices, etc. "There is infrastructure there to take advantage of." It would help all the communities economically.

Some people don't want to go to college and a vocational school in the area would help the community. Terrazas said he had tried to get the funds for that. Right now, the kids leave because of no opportunities.

Terrazas explained how the Legislature worked. They get very little warning of when a bill will be coming up. He said it made it hard for him to do his job. They have very little time to read long bills and have questions ready.

The council tabled the water agreement with Freeport McMoRan (FMI). Some of the council had questions about the language of the agreement. Specifically, questions about the water rights and the time required to use it or it reverts back to FMI. They also had questions about water quality. Day wanted to know about the termination of the water rights. Stevens explained what would terminate the agreement, nonuse of the water rights and the regional water project not happening. Ortiz said she would have them add a clause in the agreement that would protect Hurley and address the termination more precisely.

The council approved resolution no. 16-2022/2023. This would authorize the execution and delivery of a loan agreement and intercept agreement between the town of Hurley and the New Mexico Finance Authority for the purchase of a fire truck. The down payment amount of $150,000 would come out directly of the fire funding and the remaining $194,389 would be paid at $38,000 a year, no interest, from the fire funding the department receives.

The council approved resolution no. 17-2022/2023. This will be for the town of Hurley to participate in the Local Government Road Fund Program. Ortiz said this would go for the repair of streets with the most need. The town would be responsible to pay 25 percent of the cost. However, last year they received a waiver for the match, and they will request a waiver again this year.

The council approved the purchase order to GT Distributors for the purchase of firearms for the police. McGuinness said, "The current firearms are old." He had worked with this company out of Texas and had gotten a good deal.

The council approved the purchase order to Dell for the purchase of computers for the police department that have been specifically made for law enforcement.

Mayor and councilors reports none currently.

Next regular meeting July 11, 2023, at 5:00 pm

Meeting adjourned.