By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a special meeting June 18, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ed Stevens, Councilors Reynaldo Maynes and James Langley. Mayor Pro Tem Nanette Day and Councilor Keana Huerta did not attend. 

The council approved the certification to place a manufactured home at 31 Lea Drive. The home will be for Roy Duvall and Benigna Salcido. 

Lori Ortiz, town clerk / treasurer addressed the fiscal year 2024/2025 budget. In the past meeting some things had come up and those changes had been made. She went over some of the changes. Some of the added costs would be $2,500 a year to send out newsletters, liability insurance increase of $32,000, Medicare insurance increased 10 percent and retirement .5 percent. 

The town has applied for emergency funding to repair the lift station, however they have a back order on the parts. It will be about a year to receive them. Currently they have had to rent a diesel pump and it will cost the town $55,000 for the year. 

Ortiz and Stevens went over the three scenarios they could implement on the budget. Reviewing all the expected revenues and expenditures they had decided on removing the library expense and increasing the utilities. It will keep the town out of the red. 

Stevens spoke on the lift station and the problem obtaining the parts. He had contacted Freeport McMoRan to see if they had any parts that could help them, and they will be looking. The pumps have to run 24/7. Ortiz said they had to have the diesel pumps in the meantime. 

Although public comment had not been on the agenda Stevens allowed for it because many had come and wanted to comment. He told them they could only speak on the budget. 

One of the residents pointed out all the projects they had happening now and, in the future, and they needed to prioritize. They also wanted to make sure the town had a clean audit so they could obtain funding. 

One other resident said they did not understand the utility increase. They wanted to know what options could be taken besides the increase. He reminded the council of the demographics of the town and an increase would be very hard for many. 

Many of the residents attending didn’t feel spending money on a library would be important especially if it meant their utility bills would increase. They encouraged the council to seek grants. A woman that had lived in Hurley for 40 years said they did not need to be burdened with the expense of a library. 

One resident said she had been university educated and had a masters degree. She said the people in Hurley have been important to her and she had lived here 20 years. “We like Hurley the way it is.” She pointed out that students do not read book; they go online. She saw the importance of books, but the town does not have enough of a budget to afford to keep a library. Having a library would be illogical and not feasible. Many agreed with her. 

One of the residents said she had donated books but just found people crocheting and using the internet. No one had been using the library. 

Ortiz said they needed to increase the utilities because of increases to the town for those services. The town had been paying the increased costs for the past two years. 

Both Stevens and Ortiz spoke on the lift station and that had been something out of their control. 

Stevens spoke briefly on the choices concerning the budget. “We work for you, and we need your input. We cannot operate efficiently if we don’t have your input. Tonight is a turnaround of the public becoming involved.”

Langley spoke on the library. He said they could only obtain funding if they had the library open for a time. They will not qualify for the grants if they don’t put out the money to have it open. He said he had problems with some of the people’s comments concerning the library. “Every other community supports their library. It is important, and I am sorry you don’t believe in it.”

Stevens thanked the residents and said now they knew more about what the residents wanted. Most do not support the library. 

Ortiz said if they do not increase the utilities, it will cost the town $65,000 to $70,000. 

Stevens said services do cost money and they have been dependent on outside sources. “We don’t control the cost of the sewer, solid waste and wastewater. We have had to absorb that cost for the past two years. We must move forward.”

Residents still wanted to speak, and Stevens said he would allow the ones who had not spoken earlier to have time. 

A resident had been having problems with the new garbage collection company. She said they seem to find reasons not to pick up her trash so why should she pay. They had used excuses such as the lid had been up, or the cart had not been in the right place. 

Stevens said the bid for garbage collection had been awarded to the lowest bidder. He said they would address her problems; he had not been aware of anyone having this issue. 

Ortiz told them to please call the office with these problems so they can address them. The company had been very accommodating with the town. She told them they could also call the company directly. A resident said the company had been very helpful to an elderly woman and polite to her. They help her put her trash cart out. 

The next regular meeting will be July 9, 2024, at 5:00 pm. 

Meeting adjourned.