By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a regular meeting November 12, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ed Stevens, councilors Nanette Day, Reynaldo Maynes, Keana Huerta and Pete Ordonez.

Public input

Ted Shinkle has owned a home in Hurley for 20 years and he came to give public comment regarding the license request from DRI Metals. "DRI Metals is a junk yard, and I think it is a very, very bad idea to have a junk yard at the entrance of our town." He felt people would not want a house behind the junk yard and it would devalue the property in town. Junk yards generate considerable hazardous material. He listed what he thought the hazardous waste would be oil, gas, antifreeze and battery acid. It would be dripping on the ground and would smell bad for years. He added that with old cars you have old tires and referred to the fire on Rosedale Road and the resources it took to put that fire out. "We want some cleaner and less offensive businesses, and a junk yard would make them less likely to come to Hurley. It will have a negative effect on the community for years to come." He urged the council at the very least to table the application until further study had been done.

Statements from candidates for municipal judge. They had each submitted a letter of interest.

George Moreno said he felt he had the qualifications for the job. He has an extensive background in management and dealing with unions for 45-years. Moreno has also been involved in arbitrations and has a master's degree in finance and management. It has given him a lot of experience dealing with people. "On a plus I have no compadres here in town that I owe favors to." He could be fair and not play favorites to anyone.

Kevin Thompson said he has been new to Hurley, but he had not moved here by accident. "I am an American immigrant and like most immigrants I want to contribute to my new home." He has lived in seven states counting New Mexico and a foreign country. Every place he has lived he has tried to contribute in some way. Thompson said it has been his nature, and he has been very good at fitting in and making himself useful. He recounted an experience in Savannah, Georgia. He felt it would be relevant because work experience would be good, but life experience would be better especially for the position of municipal judge. "In my travels I have held many positions, some prominent and some not so much. I know what it is like to succeed and to fail. When I fail, I try to understand why and how I can learn from it." His strength has been his ability to relate to people from all walks of life and can talk to anyone comfortably. "As municipal judge I can bring balance and order into a growing community." He asked to be a part of Hurley's future.

Tim Gray has been a resident of Hurley for seven years and his mother has been for the last 30 years. She always instilled in him as a young man, and it had stuck with him and that had been to be involved in the community you live in. When living in Fort Worth he had been involved in several organizations and listed them. Currently he has become a volunteer firefighter for the Hurley Fire Department, volunteers with the Hurley Community Library and the Hurley animal shelter. He had read over the 254-page guide for qualifications and requirements for the position. He felt with the proper training as supplied by the state he would be a good municipal judge. He has no conflicts of interest.

The council approved the consent agenda, which included regular meeting minutes October 8, 2024, special meeting minutes October 23, 2024, maintenance department report, deputy clerk's report, fire department report, animal control report, code enforcement report and library report. It also included the resignation of Sonia Valerio, police clerk and Mateo Madrid, municipal judge.

Maynes read the maintenance report, Blas Rodriguez, maintenance supervisor, had not been present. The department had worked on backup prevention and manholes. The diesel generator had been working well with no issues. They had been picking up trash around town. Rodriguez had received a quote for the remaining street signs. Soon they will be putting up the Christmas decorations. Two maintenance workers will be working on obtaining their level two water certification and two will be obtaining their level one certification.

Darlene McBride, deputy clerk, said they have been working with the auditors. She thanked Corazon de Hurley for the pumpkin patch event for the residents and kids.

The fire department had six calls in October. The thirteen members all have CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and BLS (basic life support) training.

Doug Miranda, animal control and code enforcement, went over the citations and complaints received. They had sent out 44 warning letters. He had not been able to move forward on citations because of the lack of a judge.

Regarding the proposed salvage operation, DRI Metals, Miranda had a couple of things. He had provided the council with a packet. He had some things he felt should be considered. The town has an 8-foot limit on fencing and DRI Metals had proposed a 9-foot fence. The documents DRI Metals had provided said the land is zoned commercial. Miranda said they don't have any commercial zones in Hurley. Cody Graham, owner DRI Metals, said during the construction demolition everything would be cleaned up and moved out daily so Miranda felt code enforcement would have to monitor it daily to make sure it happened. He added that they might have issues with the exit and entry, and they need to look at the department of transportation regulations. It seems to be a four-layer operation and not a single business, so it will not just be the railroad. It could be a 24/7 operations and create a noise pollution issue. In the document provided it says all heavy equipment and transportation vehicles will be stored and maintained on the property. Miranda wanted to know specifically how the waste would be stored and disposed of and would it be done environmentally. He wanted to know what exact waste would be generated.

Miranda spoke to Southwest Railroad president, Dusty Young, and he said DRI Metals did not have a contract with them. The last thing he wanted the council to do would be to have the town attorney review the agreement proposed by Graham.

Day had a report on the library for the council. They had 27 volunteer hours and 42 visitors. The library had received donations of books and magazines. During the month the library had served as a meeting place for multiple small groups. The library has continued musical and sewing instruction to residents. The volunteers have currently been working with local agencies to identify training that the residents have requested free of charge or a reduced rate.

The discussion of the library being soundproof came up due to closed sessions the council has from time to time. Currently when the council has a closed session the residents attending have to go outside and it has started to become cold. They went over some ideas to make it work.

The council approved the business license application for Thompson Realty. They will not have an office in the town but will just be selling.

The next item on the agenda would be consideration of the business license application for DRI Metals. Stevens said they need public input on this issue so they would be tabling it until they could have a special meeting for public input. This would be advertised in the Hurley Herald and in the water bills.

Day said that Ben Young, town attorney, had asked if Hurley had authority because the land in question has been rented from the railroad which is governed by federal law. "We can't fight federal law." Something that needs to be clarified. Stevens said the mayors had a meeting with the GM of the railroad and he had said he didn't want to cause any problems with the municipalities. The federal part of that needs to be looked at before decisions have been made and a lawyer needs to be brought in. Ordonez said he agreed with having public input and the counsel of an attorney. He felt the town still had a right to approve or disapprove the license. Stevens said all the residents needed to know what has been happening on this issue. Day wanted to make sure their lawyer would be present at that public meeting.

Graham said notifying the community would be good. He sees a great misconception of what he would be doing, and he would like that to give out the correct information. "I don't blame you for not wanting a junk yard, but I am not opening a junk yard." He asked for them to look at the proposal. They would not have tires, grease or any of that. It will be a basic contractor's yard. He had not originally proposed a covered fence, but Stevens had suggested that, so he included that and added if they needed an 8-foot fence, he could do that instead of the 9-foot fence. The trucks will be stored within the facility and will be deployed from the facility and sent out to locations for railroad support jobs around the nation. These trucks will be maintained at this location. He went over the three divisions of the company, and it encompasses 75 percent of the operation. They service junkyards and clean them up. "DRI is in the business of cleaning up eyesores not creating them." He went over the times of operation, and it would be 3-4 days a week. It will be a transfer station, no piles of junk or autos. All metals will be separated and loaded into steal containers and loaded into 18-wheelers and hauled out. He went over everything that the facility would have and how it would be used and stored. He had a legal contract written up as requested.

Graham said he would be providing revenue for Hurley and employee opportunities. He added again, "We eliminate eyesores and not creating them." He addressed the entrance exit issue and said they didn't need permits unless it would be on the state highway, and this is not but he has contacted the state engineer to verify it. He added that a contract is not needed to service the railroad as Miranda had implied. Stevens said if the council chooses to have a public meeting, he would like to have the opportunity to address them.

The council tabled the request for the license. They scheduled the public hearing for the next regular meeting.

Huerta requested that they discuss job descriptions for town employees. She wants a little clarification after she had meet with the attorney. She suggested using a specific format and having consistency. Stevens said that would require a work session and they could set that up. Huerta said this would be a good time to look at this and update it because of the open positions. Ordonez said they needed to include the department heads. They suggested after the holidays and will set a date in December at the next meeting.

Huerta requested they discuss the hiring process for the police chief and town clerk.

Stevens contacted the sheriff's department when they received the resignation from the police chief. They will handle what they can. Day said in 2021 the sheriff's department had made a proposal for contracting them to the patrol the town. They had looked at this as an alternative to rebuilding the police department. She wanted to know if they should look at that again. Stevens said at that time they would have put a patrol officer here; however the department had been short officers and could not do it. At that time the public spoke highly against it. May be different now. Huerta wanted to see if they could present the contract again now with the officers they have available. Ester Gill had been on the council at that time and the community didn't want to do it and wanted their own police presence even though it would have been cost effective. Day said she had been at that meeting, and it had been half and half and maybe they would feel different. Right now, they might be looking at a 25 percent increase in budget to have a police force. Ordonez said he totally disagreed, the residents deserve24-hour coverage. Day said they had not had it in the past four years. Ordonez said the first contract they spoke about would give them a resident deputy but then said no they would just answer the calls. Ordonez had looked at the pay for police officers in Santa Clara and Bayard and it had been a significant difference. Day and Huerta said they needed to look at all factors, a lot had changed in the past three years. Ordonez said he still disagreed and felt the public still wants their own police department and still will now.

A resident pointed out they have three sheriffs deputies living in Hurley currently. Anselmo Tellez brought the agenda to the attention of the council. The current discussion did not meet the agenda parameters, and he read the agenda item and reminded them about the open meetings act.

Day still had not heard back from the company that had been working on the zoning and it had been six months. Stevens said they needed to find someone else to do the job. The council tabled the discussion.

Maynes said this month they would begin the project planting the trees in the park. The swimming pool has been closed for the season.

The council tabled the hiring of a human resource consultant. Ordonez voted against tabling.

The council approved the recommendation of Stevens to appoint Maynes as mayor pro tem.

Stevens recommended appointing Moreno as municipal judge. Day abstained, Huerta opposed and Ordonez and Maynes voted yes. The appointment passed. Stevens thanked all that had applied for the position.

McBride swore Moreno in as municipal judge of Hurley.

The council went into closed session. They went in to discuss personnel matters with a transfer and appointment of town clerk and police chief.

The council came back into open session.

The council approved the transfer of Doug Miranda, code enforcement officer to animal control officer.

The council approved the appointment of Kevin Vigil as police chief at $32.50 an hour. This appointment will be dependent upon Vigil passing the background checks.

The council approved the appointment of Darlene McBride as town clerk at $32.50 an hour.

The council approved the intent to adopt ordinance no. 85. This will be for a town of Hurley Library Advisory Board. Day said last month they had adopted the resolution. It restates the resolution and why the community library had been established. The board will consist of five members who have expressed knowledge and interest in the library. They will be appointed at the recommendation of the mayor and approval of the council. The original members will be appointed for different lengths of time. Two members will be appointed for two years and three will be for three years. Thereafter they will serve for three years. The chair will be elected by the five board members. They shall serve without compensation and shall act in an advisory capacity.

The library advisory board will be responsible for the interview and recommendation for hire of a librarian to the mayor with approval from the council. She continued with the duties of that hire. They had some discussion over the reason for the board.

Mayor and councilors reports

Day did not have anything to report.

Huerta congratulated the attendees. She also wanted to give a shout out to the maintenance department. They had an issue with their sewer over the weekend, and it had been taken care of and they have been keeping the town beautiful.

Maynes said he had attended the pumpkin patch event a few weeks before and it had been a nice event and well attended. His kids had a blast and saw that other kids had also. Maynes added that he really wanted to see some input on the DRI Metals issue. "We want to hear your thoughts. You guys are our bosses, and I want to do what is right for the town. You need to tell me."

Ordonez wanted to thank Day and Huerta for their Facebook posts. They have kept the public informed of different events. Moreno wanted him to take over the Big Muddy because of a lack of participation. Ordonez spoke to the mayor about abolishing the committee and the council can take over.

Stevens said he had met with the department of transportation contractor for the road between Bayard and Hurley. They will have a period of 24-36 hours they have requested the permission to use Carrasco to Diaz to the city limits for a detour route. Stevens had contacted Richard Maynes with Stantec about the project and discussed an agreement that protects the town from any liability and requirement for repair in the event of damage. He didn't know when they would be planning on doing the detour. The detour would be needed when they do the bridge demolition and that will be in a couple of months. It will allow plenty of time for the contract. He did add it depended on the council allowing it to happen.

A resident asked about the solid waste and if it would be increasing in price. Stevens didn't know yet what would be happening with it at this time.

The residents had some questions about the new road construction and the detour. They spoke to the heavy trucks that would be using the detour and the road not constructed for that. Stevens said, "We want to be cooperative, but we need to protect ourselves."

The next regular meeting will be December 10, 2024, at 5:00 pm.

Meeting adjourned.