Volume VIII
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April 2022
Hello Ruidoso, and welcome to Spring! We are thankful for the snow we received this winter and now are looking forward to warmer weather. The legislative session has ended, and the Village fared well, better than most. The Village lobbied hard and is prepared to use the funding received for some of the many shovel-ready projects we have. Thanks again to the Village Council, the VOR staff and our citizens that helped get our message to the lawmakers. As you are aware, the Paradise Canyon project has started along with the inconvenience that comes with projects like this. I would like to thank Mayor Lynn Crawford everyone for their patience, all the calls and emails are appreciated. The Center Street refurbish has started as well and will be complete by Memorial Day Weekend. The old Water Shop building is now removed, and the Municipal Court building will soon follow. Municipal Court and Judge Potter will be temporarily housed at Village Hall while their permanent home is being constructed at the Horton Complex. It is hard to imagine all the work that is being done to complete these projects. Think of the money generated by these improvements and the gain to the community in the near future! Another jewel in the crown of Ruidoso has been acquired, as we have been able to purchase the property at the corner of Sudderth and Country Club. This vacant lot will soon have a Master Plan with public input as to its future use. The property reaches from the roadways to the river, and it has been envisioned that a fish habitat with river restoration be employed to improve the function and use of the river. I am sure there will be additional parking with the majority used for green space and the continuation of the river walking trail. Imagine outdoor activities, small concerts, plays, and places to relax and enjoy nature. I would like to thank Nancy Canning for making this available to the Village for all to enjoy. With the conclusion of Spring Break, it was very evident that we have a severe shortage of workers to operate our shops and restaurants. It will take all of us to remedy this problem. Please continue to support the Workforce, Multi-Family and Single-Family Housing initiatives as it affects us all. Businesses cannot be as profitable, and experiences will be less pleasurable with long waits and fewer services offered. This problem is not exclusive to Ruidoso as it is an issue affecting businesses across the country, however, it is often more noticeable in a small community like ours. I am confident we can work together and make significant strides to conquer this issue. After all, I saw this community thrive during the pandemic, and I expect us to continue to thrive through inflation and labor shortages as well. Don’t forget to tune-in to Mondays with the Mayor on 1490 AM every Monday from 8:00 – 10:00 AM. It’s the news you can use. We love it when you call in with questions! Until next time, let’s continue to be positive, help our neighbors, and be polite.
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VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS Recent Actions
At the March 8, 2022 Regular Council meeting, the Governing Body: » Mayor Lynn D. Crawford Proclaimed March 25, 2022, “Alicia Pirelli Annala Day in Ruidoso”. » Approved a Sewer Line Extension Project for new Region 9 Education Cooperative Facility, to be Located at 12011217 Mechem Drive (NM Hwy 48).
Ruidoso Village Council Members
» Approved Award of ITB #2022-004B to Pavement Sealants & Supply, Inc. for the Lazer Roadpak Striping Machine or Equivalent, in the Amount of $63,777.00. » Approved purchase from Badger Meter for Endpoints for Water Meters, in the Amount of $477,427.50. » Approved Letter of Operating Agreement between the Village of Ruidoso Sierra Blanca Regional Airport and the Department of the Air Force 27th Special Operations Group (27 SOG) Cannon Air Force Base New Mexico.
Rifle Salas – Mayor Pro Tem, Susan Lutterman, Dr. Gary Jackson, Tim Coughlin, Joe Eby, John Cornelius
» Approved Village of Ruidoso’s 2022-2023 Strategic Plan. » Approved Rules for the 2022 Ruidoso Adventure Tours Sweepstakes. » Approved Final Change Order No. 3 for IFB #2020-007B Apple Orchard (H-1979-S14) and Middle Gavilan (H-272-S3) Well Improvements with General Hydronics Utilities, LLC., Decreasing the Contract Cost by $46,311.01, Including Gross Receipts Tax. » Approved Ratification of Purchase Agreement - Commercial Vacant Land - Located on the Corner of Sudderth Drive and Country Club Drive, Lots B, C, D, Replat of Lots 8,9,10,11,12,13, Block 13, Riverside Addition Amended, in the Amount of $1,900,000.00. » Heard an Update on the Hope Harbor Transitional Home Project by Pastor Rick Hutchison.
COUNCILOR EBY ELECTED TO NMML BOARD OF DIRECTORS At the recent New Mexico Municipal League District Meeting held on March 10th, Councilor Joe Eby was re-elected to serve on the Board of Directors. Eby has served for a total of 8 years on the board representing the interests of Ruidoso and other municipalities in the district. Many thanks to Councilor Eby for his continued service.
Councilor Joe Eby
We appreciate Councilor Eby’s continued willingness to served on this board and look out for the interests of our community, said Mayor Lynn Crawford. 2
Congratulations to Mayor Lynn Crawford, Councilor Gary Jackson and Councilor Tim Coughlin for their successful re-election bids!
The 2022 Municipal Elections
Mayor Lynn Crawford
Councilor Darren Hooker
Councilor Darren Hooker was elected to fill the Village Council seat that is being vacated by John Cornelius. Councilor Hooker will be attending the New Mexico Municipal League MOLI and Newly Elected Officials Training that is scheduled for April 7-8 in Santa Fe. The training provides newly elected officials with information on the forms of municipal government along with statutory roles and responsibilities.
Councilor Gary Jackson
Judge Frank Potter
Councilor Tim Coughlin
Judge Frank Potter was elected to serve for two more years as the Municipal Judge after serving a one-year appointment. Judge Potter’s court has been relocated to Village Hall until the construction of the Horton Public Safety Complex is completed. 3
UPCOMING EVENTS
As we move into Spring, here are some upcoming events to check-out! April 16 3rd Annual Bunny Run/Walk & Easter Egg Hunt at Cedar Creek April 23 The Everly Brothers Experience at Spencer Theater
April 24 Guided Tour of Mescalero & Three Rivers Mission Churches April 29 Country Comeback Tour with Shenandoah, Billy Dean and Wade Hayes at the Inn of the Mountain Gods
For more information visit DiscoverRuidoso.com
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VILLAGE HOSTS OPEN HOUSE TO HIGHLIGHT REMODEL/EXPANSION/ADDITION PROJECT The Village hosted an Open House event on March 24th to showcase the newly remodeled facility. The new building now offers citizens a one-stop-shop for many of the Village’s administrative operations in addition to improved safety and security mobilization.
2022 LEGISLATIVE CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS The 2022 Legislative Session has concluded, and as a result of the 30-day session, various capital outlay projects were authorized. The Governor has approved the bill, and the Village of Ruidoso will receive funding for the following: » E-911/Consolidated Dispatch/Public Safety Facility ($3,500,000) » Workforce Housing Development ($980,000) » Ruidoso Community Center Renovations ($94,000) The Senate Bill 48 “Junior Bill” received a VETO. It included $230,000 to restore murals in Ruidoso and $80,000 for the Main Street Program in Ruidoso. Governor Lujan Grisham had until March 9th to sign bills.
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RUIDOSO MIDTOWN ASSOCIATION UPDATE from Executive Director Kendra King Hello Spring! Keep your sweaters close though as we are reminded that in New Mexico, we are not frost-free until the middle of May. But we know that warmer days are on the way. Ruidoso’s Team Tourism is looking forward to a prosperous summer. There is going to be something fun and exciting for the whole family every weekend from May September. Our partners at the Chamber of Commerce do a great job of keeping us informed of upcoming attractions and activities. The official “Ruidoso App” is also a great place to browse for current events happening as well as access information on all the diverse businesses we have. Not only in the Village but the surrounding areas as well. The Ruidoso App is available to download for free in your app store. Once you use it, you will see that it is easy to navigate. You can type in specific search-related questions and the app will give you directions, and you can save your trip plans when mapping out multiple stops. It is a handy little tool to have at your fingertips for locals and visitors. I also want to welcome Elizabeth Ritter to the team! Elizabeth has been named as Director of Tourism for Ruidoso, the leading resort destination in southern New Mexico. As a 6th generation New Mexican, she graduated from New Mexico State University. After graduation, she began her career in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she served the hospitality, tourism, trade shows and corporate event industry for 28 years. In 2020, Elizabeth and her family returned to Ruidoso and immediately fell back in love with the area. She and her husband Todd are proud to have purchased their home here and plan to enjoy it for many years to come. As the Director of Tourism, Elizabeth is passionate about helping others see the inimitable magic that our smalltown destination has to offer. Thanks to her hospitality background and personal connection to the area, Elizabeth is uniquely equipped to connect others from all over the world and highlight Ruidoso’s charm and beauty. If you have any questions for her or would like your ideas or concerns heard please reach out by contacting her directly at (575)-258-4343 ex. 1007 or email her at ElizabethRitter@ruidoso-nm.gov RMA is in full-swing planning Brewdoso, our signature beer and wine festival. There will be a large variety of breweries and wineries from across the state coming together right here in Wingfield Park for a 2-day event on Father’s Day Weekend (June 18-19). The park will be packed with family-friendly entertainment, live music, hands-on activities, one-of-a-kind vendors as well as food and beverages. We are still accepting vendors for this event. You can find a vendor application to download on the Brewdoso.com website or you can contact me directly. I want to take a moment to thank everyone that has reached out to me from this newsletter for any reason. I really enjoy answering your questions and making contacts. As always please feel free to contact me or any board member at any time for anything. Kendra King (575)-973-0967 or via email at kendraeking@gmail.com. Follow the Ruidoso Midtown Association on Facebook for regular posts and updates. 6
THE RUIDOSO ADVENTURE TO URS ARE BACK IN A CTION! The tours are self-guided in and around Ruidoso, allowing you to discover around our village! There are six categories, each with five trails and stops mapped out along the way. Download the Discover Ruidoso app, register for and complete the tours and be entered to win one of the Grand Prizes! Every completed tour gets a sweepstakes entry.
Download the Discover Ruidoso App Complete the Tours Enter to win a Grand Prize
urs Complete to fore any time be 022 October 1, 2
DiscoverRuidoso.com
Cinco DE Mayo celebration
MAY 5TH
MAY 6TH
LITTLE JOE Y LA FAMILIA
RUBEN RAMOS
Mariachi Amigos, De Nuevo Mexico Asi Se Baila Folklorico Dancers
Mariachi Xochil Asi Se Baila Folklorico Dancers
May 5 & May 6 • Ruidoso Convention Center VIP Experience - $80 5:00 PM Cocktails (cash bar) & appetizers with strolling mariachis 6:00 PM Plated Mexican dinner with strolling mariachis & Folklorico dancers 8:00 PM Concert
General Admission - $45 7:00 PM Cocktails (cash bar) & Mexican Buffet with Folklorico dancers 8:00 PM Concert
For ticket information and pricing, visit
Eventbrite.com DiscoverRuidoso.com