By Roger Lanse

Retired Air Force Colonel Susan Beck told the Silver City Town Council at its Oct. 22, 2019 meeting that a draft environmental assessment (EA) is being prepared for a personnel recovery training program out of Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. These training flights, Beck said, are to prepare flight crews to recover military personnel who have gone down or are trapped behind enemy lines.

Four southwestern states are involved in this training proposal; Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico, Beck stated. In New Mexico, the White Sands Missile Range, the Melrose Range near Clovis, and several locations in the western and southern portions of the state have been selected for these exercises. Beck said this training would be over forested land, including wilderness areas. Aircraft to be deployed would be A-10s, C-130s, helicopters, and F-16s and F-15s. “Training will include small groups of people, and aircraft, and ground forces as well as medium forces and large forces,” Beck stated, “And training sites are chosen in consultation with the appropriate land managers. It’s not something that the Air Force just does. They consult and get agreement to use the land each time -- it’s not a blanket agreement.”

Chaff and flares will be deployed during the exercises, according to Beck. The flares have a burn time of about four seconds, she said. This type of training has already been happening, Beck said, however, the training discussed in this draft EA will be an improved and more comprehensive program.

Thus far, Beck said, the Air Force believes there will be FONSI (Finding Of No Significant
Impact), which makes a higher-level environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Davis-Monthan program unnecessary. The draft EA was released in late September 2019, is 1211 pages long, due to it being available in English and Spanish, and is available on the Davis-Monthan AFB website and at the Silver City Public Library. The public is invited to comment, through this Saturday, Oct. 26, according to Beck.

The Davis-Monthan program could overlap with the proposed Holloman AFB F-16 training program in the future, Beck said in answer to a question from Mayor Ken Ladner. According to Beck, the draft EIS for the Holloman proposal has been printed for limited distribution and may be generally available within the next two weeks. The period for public comment on the Holloman AFB proposal may be as long as 60 days, Beck stated.

District 1 and District 3 councilors, Cynthia Bettison and Jose Ray Jr., announced they will be seeking re-election in March. Due to changes in election procedures by the state, councilor terms are now four years, rather than two, Town Clerk Ann Mackie said.

Bettison encouraged residents to come out for District 1’s Territorial Charter Day on Nov. 16, 2019, at 9 a.m., at Yucca and 23rd streets. She cautioned they will be painting so wear work clothes. A light lunch will be served. Silver City Police Chief Freddie Portillo said that kids and law enforcement will be working side by side on this traffic calming project.

Ray had good things to say about the Western New Mexico University football games with the tailgate parties and nice surroundings, and praised WNMU President Joe Shepard for his leadership.

Portillo told council about a Hallowe’en Trunk and Treat event to be held from 5-9 p.m. on Oct. 25, at the Stout Elementary School parking lot. A haunted house will be set up in the gym with an entry charge of about $1 per child. The event is sponsored by the Silver City Police Department and Stout Elementary. Hotdogs and drinks will be provided free courtesy of the Silver City Police Officers Association and FOP (Fraternal Order of Police). Last year about 500 kids attended the event, Portillo said. The Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority and the District Attorney’s office also have assisted.

Council approved a memorandum of agreement between the town and the Pinos Altos Mutual Domestic Water Consumers’ Association, and two resolutions amending the adopted fiscal year 2020 budget.

A resolution authorizing a Colonias Infrastructure Project Fund Loan/Grant agreement was approved. The loan/grant agreement would embody a grant of $196,776, a loan of $21,864, and a matching $21,864 from the town for the purpose of constructing wastewater treatment plant headworks and digester improvements.

Mackie noted that the March 3, 2020, municipal election will have districts 1 and 3 councilor positions on the ballot.

James Marshall, Assistant Town Manager, was appointed to the Board of the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority, and Town Manager Alex Brown was appointed as alternate.