Volume III
·
November 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you hopeful and well. As we move into the holiday season, it is vital to remember the important things in life - family, friends, and of course, our community as a whole. The Village works hard to earn your trust. That is a difficult task, especially in a time where trust in government is scarce. We work hard to remedy the failures and appreciate your compliments on the successes. This newsletter contains information on some of the many projects, programs and issues we are addressing from workforce housing to the wild horse population, bridges, water projects, finances and staffing issues.
Mayor Lynn Crawford
I would like to thank the Council members for their tireless efforts and selfless giving of their time. Working with staff, the Council has voted to lower a portion of your wastewater bill and retire $8 million of debt on the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This was done with hard work and planning, and everyone should be included in the success of the Village. We are experiencing increases in Village revenue, and that is due to the success of our local businesses. Our businesses need help. They need workers to be more successful. To that end, the Council is steadfastly working to attract workforce housing, housing that comes in many forms including apartments, duplexes, and condos to name a few. In closing, we look for your input with projects that are being planned, i.e. White Mountain Sports Complex, Moon Mountain, Alto Lake and others. Join us by volunteering for a board, attending a Village Council meeting in person or via YouTube. I hope you enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.
VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS
Recent Actions
» Discussion and possible action on Resolution 2021-49 with a formal action direction to pay-off long-standing debt issued for the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant and temporarily reducing wastewater rates until a master plan and rate study is complete. With one of the strictest discharge permit requirements in the United States, the Village of Ruidoso and the City of Ruidoso Downs have built the most advanced wastewater treatment plant in the State of New Mexico. The Village’s share of construction approached $19M in 2009. The outstanding debt on the plant is currently valued at $8M. This means a rate reduction of $17 per month starting with the billing cycle sent out October 28, 2021 for customers on the wastewater system. Resolution 2021-49, Adopted and Approved by Council
1
» Approval of Grant Agreement with New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department on Legislative Capital Appropriation (A20E5242) for renovations to the Ruidoso Community Center in Ruidoso in Lincoln County, in the amount of $44,077. GRANT AGREEMENT NO. A20E5242 New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department. The grant funding is to be utilized for new ceiling tiles, insulation, and LED lighting in the Ruidoso Community Center. Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of Resolution 2021-48, Municipal Officer Election on March 1, 2022. RESOLUTION 2021-48, MUNICIPAL OFFICER ELECTION ON MARCH 1, 2022. The Resolution provides for: • One Mayor for a four-year term to be elected at large. • Three Councilors for a four-year term to be elected at large. • One Municipal Judge for a two-year term to be elected at large. • Question: Shall the Village of Ruidoso issue up to $3,000,000.00 of General Obligation (G.O.) bonds, to be repaid from property taxes, for the purpose of enlarging, improving and/or extending the production and distribution components of the Village’s water system? • For General Obligation water system bonds • Against General Obligation water system bonds
Ruidoso Village Council Members
Rifle Salas – Mayor Pro Tem, Susan Lutterman, Dr. Gary Jackson, Tim Coughlin, Joe Eby, John Cornelius
Resolution 2021-48, Adopted and Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of Resolution 2021-45, a Resolution Allowing Participation in Local Government Transportation Project Fund Program Administered by New Mexico Department of Transportation and for Approval of Project No. (Control No. LP20006) for Village of Ruidoso and County of Lincoln Roadway Improvements, in an Amount of $3,500,000. Joint project between the Village of Ruidoso and County of Lincoln. GRANT AGREEMENT CONTROL NO. LP20006 WITH NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,500,000. The project scope includes pavement rehabilitation, roadway striping, utility cover adjustments, traffic control, construction observation & testing on Gavilan Canyon Road, Warrior Drive, & Paradise Canyon Road with a 1.5” mill, 1-1.5” remix of existing road, and with a 2” overlay though the use of a Heater scarify process. Resolution 2021-45, Adopted and Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Approval of Memorandum of Agreement between the Village of Ruidoso and the County of Lincoln, related to Grant Agreement Project Award Control Number LP20014, for Roadway Improvement on Gavilan Canyon Road. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT between the Village of Ruidoso and the County of Lincoln is related to Grant Agreement Project Award Control Number LP20014, for roadway improvement on Gavilan Canyon Road. Joint project between the Village of Ruidoso and County of Lincoln. Approved by Council
2
» Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of Resolution 2021-46, A Resolution Authorizing and Approving the Submission of a Completed Grant-Loan Application for Financial Assistance to the New Mexico Finance Authority Water Trust Board for Fiscal Year 2022. RESOLUTION 2021-46, Authorizes the Submission of a Completed Grant-Loan Application for Financial Assistance to the New Mexico Finance Authority Water Trust Board for Fiscal Year 2022 for the Alto 3 (H-1979-POD5) and Alto 4 (H-1979-POD6) Well Improvements. Resolution 2021-46, Adopted and Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of Resolution 2021-47, a Resolution Authorizing and Approving the Submission of a Completed Grant Application for Financial Assistance to the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART: Water & Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2022. RESOLUTION 2021-47, Authorizes the Submission of a Completed Grant Application for Financial Assistance to the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART for Pinecliff Waterline Replacement and Paradise Canyon Lateral Replacement projects. Resolution 2021-47, Adopted and Approved by Council » Upcoming Regular Meeting Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Seeking Public Input on Lincoln National Forest Land Management Plan The Lincoln National Forest is seeking public input on the Draft Forest Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Forest Plan will guide forest management practices for the 1.1 million-acre Lincoln National Forest in Southern New Mexico for the next 10 to 15 years. Some of the proposals in the plan impact the Smokey Bear Ranger District around the Village of Ruidoso including additional wilderness areas, caves, vegetation management, grazing, and watersheds. Comments on the Draft Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be accepted until November 5, 2021. Project documents and additional information about how to comment are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45148 under the Analysis tab. Hard copies of the draft land management plan are available at the Lincoln National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Alamogordo and all district offices.
3
CAPITAL PROJECTS
Eagle Creek Sports Complex Paving Project
In an effort to improve drainage, reduce erosion from runoff, and to improve parking capacity and efficiency, the parking areas around the first two fields at Eagle Creek Sports Complex have been properly leveled, graded, and sloped for maximum efficiency. All necessary earthwork, subgrade preparation, base course and paving was completed on Thursday, October 14, 2021. The parking lot striping and placement of parking bumpers was completed on October 16-17. Cleanup and project closeout is expected to be completed by October 24th. This project is not only going to improve parking for summer and winter activities but delivers a high-quality first impression to visitors. Overall, the project has progressed with minimal issues and is scheduled to be completed well in advance of the original November 14, 2021 project close-out date.
UPCOMING EVENTS
As we move into fall here are some upcoming events around town: November 5 Whiskey Myers at Inn of the Mountain Gods November 6 The Haggard Brothers at Spencer Theater November 20 La Ultima Batalla at the Inn of the Mountain Gods November 25 Ruidoso Winter Park Opening Day (Weather Permitting)
Cree Meadows Trail Project
The Cree Meadows Trail project is back on schedule after delays from the summer monsoons. A lot of progress has been made in recent weeks including the location of utilities in preparation for drainage pipe installation near Cedar Creek, trail construction and the paving of over 900 linear feet of trail from the intersection of Cree Meadows Drive and Mechem. In addition, the entire trail layout has been rough-graded. Substantial completion date is expected to be mid-to-late November.
November 26 White Mountain Christmas at Flying J Ranch Opening Night November 27 Party on the Mountain at Ski Apache November 27 Ruidoso Turkey Trot November 27 Chris Janson at Inn of the Mountain Gods December 3-5 A Christmas Affair at Ruidoso Convention Center December 4 Ruidoso Festival of Lights Parade & Afterparty
Visit DiscoverRuidoso.com for a full list of events. 4
TAX FACTS
What Taxes Does Your Local Government Receive?
In the state of New Mexico, local governments are classified into municipalities (villages, towns, and cities), counties, and the state. Each local government has taxing authority authorized by state statue.
Municipalities predominantly receive revenue from Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) and a small portion of property tax.
Counties predominantly receive revenue from property tax with a small distribution of GRT.
The State of New Mexico receives revenue from GRT, property tax, personal income tax, and severance tax (extraction of natural resources).
Where Does GRT Come From? Municipalities are authorized by state statute to implement increments of GRT. As people purchase goods and services (except for exemptions such as groceries and medical services), businesses charge a GRT % based on location. On a monthly basis, the local businesses remit the collected tax to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department (NMTRD) who then re-distributes each local government their share. How Does the Village of Ruidoso Use GRT? The Village of Ruidoso uses GRT to provide general services that do not have a dedicated revenue stream. These general services include the fire department, the police department, emergency management services, dispatch, municipal court, the public library, and other general services. In addition, a 1% Supplemental GRT is dedicated to water infrastructure projects. The Village was also granted an additional 0.5% of 1/8 Environmental GRT that is dedicated to offset rates charged for wastewater, water shed, and solid waste services. How is the Village’s Budgeted GRT Revenue Performing? Unlike property tax, GRT is one of the most variable taxes and is representative of the local economy. As the economy does well, GRT does well. As the economy does bad, the GRT does bad. Property tax and other taxes are either flat or increase with valuation, making it a stable tax. The Village of Ruidoso’s budget is based on a fiscal year that runs from July 1st to June 30th. The Village’s projected revenue this fiscal year is approximately $14,767,253. To-date, we have received revenue of $4,560,648, or 25% of the current year completed (31% of revenue received).
Our local economy is strong and continues to perform very well!
5
BALL PARK FIRE REVIEW On June 8th, the Ball Park Fire burned approximately 25 acres behind Brewer’s Shell and Winter Park at the intersection of Highway 48 and Ski Run Road. The VOR Department of Forestry has compiled some images from the burn scar to demonstrate how the various areas of the fire burned and how different the mortality rate was in each area.
This picture from the gas station shows the landscape following the the falling of the trees without any green on them. This shows the area with the most mortality due to the steep slope, piles of previous thinning, and thousands of seedlings that grown since thinning had taken place 18 years ago.
This picture shows the area that was in the process of being thinned at the time of the fire. There was substantial slash on the ground, but no reproduction to create ladder fuels. Trees were scorched but not killed. Mortality was approximately 1/3 of what it was where the small trees and piles of debris were.
This is an area within the fire where the slash had been removed. There was virtually no mortality.
This area had a lot of small trees that provided ladders to the larger trees which created enough heat to kill the larger trees. The slash piles and small trees burned but did not crown. Overall, the mortality rate was very high in this area.
Crews were able to salvage logs from the high mortality area that was treated 18 years ago.
6
THE CONTINUED QUEST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING At the recent Village Council meeting, the Governing Body of the Village of Ruidoso awarded the solicitation of a qualified grantee to Mesa Apartments, LLC. A qualified grantee is a developer who is eligible to apply to the Village for participation in a joint application to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority’s various housing programs. Mesa Apartments, LLC has submitted a conditional use application to the VOR Planning Commission. The conditional use permit requested would allow for the construction of affordable multi-family housing on the property. This is the first step in conducting due diligence of the proposed development. We will continue to keep the community updated on the status of this project, and there will be ample opportunities for the public to learn about and comment on the project.
The vacant property pictured at 1100 Mechem owned by the Village of Ruidoso is a proposed site for multi-family workforce housing.
Proposed Process for Mesa Apartments, LLC to Develop 1100 Mechem Drive
Conditional Use Application Hearing
Project Participation Agreement
Submit Tax Credit Application to MFA
VOR Planning & Zoning Commission
VOR Village Council
NM Mortgage Finance Authority
November 2, 2021
December 2021
January 2022
November 2021
December 2021
September 2022
Request Approval for Multi-family Housing Development
Site Plan Application to Planning Commission
Plans & Specifications CompletedObtain Building Permits from NM CID
VOR Housing Board
VOR Planning & Zoning Commission
NM Construction Industry Division 7
7th Annual
TURKEY TROT Saturday, November 27th at 10:00 AM Registration at 8:30 AM Entrance fee is 1 or more cans of food RuidosoParksAndRec.com
Do you have one minute a month to make Ruidoso a better community? Join FlashVote and make sure your voice is heard on important issues!
Sign-up now at FlashVote.com/Ruidoso