Volume II
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October 2021
Summer in Ruidoso has come to an end, and we are moving into fall which is such a beautiful time of year here in the mountains - it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy Grindstone Lake, Moon Mountain and the many outdoor areas we have. I hope that everyone had a great summer season. I know for many, it is one of the best summer seasons on record, and for that, we are incredibly grateful. I also know that everyone is fatigued and tired after the last 18 months, and we are all just ready for life to return to “normal”....But as we continue to move this community forward, I want to encourage each and every resident to find ways to get involved. Find ways to give us your input on projects. Make yourself available to be on our local committees. Volunteer for one of the many great programs we offer for residents. Most of all, be kind and be patient with your friends and neighbors. We are all in this together. Great things happen when we all work together.
Mayor Lynn Crawford
VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS
Recent Actions
AGENDA ITEMS FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2021, COUNCIL MEETING » Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of Resolution 2021-42, A Resolution for Participation in Capital Outlay Program Administered by New Mexico Department of Transportation and Approval of Cooperative Grant Agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) (F3019 NMDOT Control No. C2213019) to Plan, Design, Construct, Repair and Replace Bridges in Ruidoso in Ruidoso Village Council Members Lincoln County, in the Amount of $200,000.00. GRANT AGREEMENT No. F3019- Control No. C2213019 with New Mexico Department of Transportation in the amount of $200,000. The Grant agreement is to Plan, Design, Construct, Repair and Replace Bridges within the Village of Ruidoso. Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of Resolution 2021-40, A Resolution Authorizing the Assignment of Authorized Officer(s) and Agent(s) for Project Number SAP 21-F2340-STB with the State of New Mexico Department of Environment Ruidoso Sewer System Improvements 1
Rifle Salas – Mayor Pro Tem, Susan Lutterman, Dr. Gary Jackson, Tim Coughlin, Joe Eby, John Cornelius
GRANT AGREEMENT No. SAP 21- F2340-STB with New Mexico Environment Department in the amount of $1,553,000. The appropriation is for Ruidoso Sewer System Improvements. The Grant Agreement is to plan, design, improve, repair, replace, construct, and equip the sewer system in Ruidoso. Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of Resolution 2021-41, a Resolution Adopting the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for Fiscal Years 2023-2027. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2021-41, a Resolution Adopting the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for Fiscal Years 2023-2027. Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Agreement with Renegade Construction LLC, through Cooperative Educational Services (CES), for Paving and Striping of the Eagle Creek Sports Complex, in the Amount of $362,668.84, Including Gross Receipts Tax. AGREEMENT with Renegade Construction in the amount of $362,668.84 is for the paving of the parking areas utilized by both summer and winter events and attractions in the Eagle Creek Sports Complex. Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Contract for Services Between the County of Lincoln and Village of Ruidoso to Provide Library Services to All Citizens within the Boundaries of Lincoln County. Contract with Lincoln Council provides $10,000 for Ruidoso Public Library Services. Approved by Council » Discussion and Possible Action on Mediation Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims on the 2018 Local Government Lawsuit with New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Mediation Settlement Agreement/Release of Claims - The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department reached an agreement to settle a long-standing lawsuit brought by 44 counties and municipalities around New Mexico over Gross Receipts Tax distributions that date back more than a decade. Plaintiffs would share $50 million in Gross Receipts Tax distributions case. Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims Approved by Council. UPCOMING VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS » October 5, 2021: Workshop Meeting, 8:00 AM » October 12, 2021: Regular Meeting, 1:00 PM
Mayor Lynn Crawford is the newly elected Treasurer for the New Mexico Municipal League (NMML). In this position, he will work with the rest of the committee on legislative initiatives that affect municipalities across the state. They will also lobby on issues to the Governor’s office and to Legislators around the state. In addition, they also administer the Self Insurer’s Fund that handles insurance and liability issues. Crawford will serve as Treasurer for one year.
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FINANCE FACTS
Capital Projects
When looking at the budget for FY 2022, the Village’s main source of revenue is from cash balance, which is capital projects that have been funded by intergovernmental grants and debt proceeds and budget savings. Projects that cannot be completed within one fiscal year are rolled over to the subsequent fiscal year along with the funding balances. Some of the projects that are currently in process are the FEMA sewer line, the Alto Plant #3 rehabilitation, and the Town & Country. For a complete list, please see the Monthly Report published on the Finance Department’s webpage at www.ruidoso-nm.gov.
How the Operating Budget is Managed Monthly
The Village works off a fiscal year (July 1 to June 31) and monitors Year-to-Date (YTD) revenues and expenditures to budget and reduces or increases as needed. Currently, two months of FY 2022 have been completed, and revenue received should be around 16.67% as a simple rule. Below is a snapshot of actual revenue receipts received compared to budget. All segments exceed the base percentage except for intergovernmental. This segment is comprised of reimbursement-based grants, where the Village expends the funds and then applies to the funding agency for reimbursement. As we progress through the fiscal year and receive reimbursements, this percentage will rise. Also, the portion of GRT that the state reverts back is also recorded in the segment.
FY 2022 BUDGET
YTD 08/31/21
% RECEIVED
TAXES
$15,905,699
$2,764,704
17.38%
CHARGES FOR SERVICE
$14,254,318
$2,884,981
20.24%
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
$16,841,034
$2,197,290
13.05%
FINES AND FORFEITURES
$61,000
$13,472
22.09%
INTEREST
$158,500
$53,188
33.65%
LICENSES AND PERMITS
$340,200
$72,312
21.26%
MISCELLANEOUS
$261,136
$89,751
34.37%
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RUIDOSO GROUNDWATER FACTS
Department of Environment & Conservation, Government of Newfoundland & Labrador (2016). According to the USGS, only approximately 1.2% of the Earth’s freshwater is surface water. Of the remaining amount of water, 68.7% is tied up in glaciers and polar ice caps, with the remaining 30.1% comprised of groundwater. Groundwater is an important resource to the Village of Ruidoso and supports the Village’s drinking water needs when surface water isn’t adequate. Groundwater is recharged through infiltration in natural recharge zones including wetlands and streams and fractured rock formations. Groundwater infiltration is also improved through upper watershed management including proper forest management. The Village is working to improve our groundwater aquifers by protecting natural recharge zones, improving water quality through watershed enhancement projects, and managing forested lands through proper thinning practices.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
As we move into fall here are some upcoming events around town: October 8 Chevel Shepherd at Spencer Theater October 11 Ruidoso Adventure Tours Grand Prize Party October 16-17 Wild West Fest Mountain Bike Race October 16 Indigenous Celebration at Wingfield Park October 24 Wine and Paint at Enchanted Vine October 27 Midtown Trick or Treat November 5 Whiskey Myers at Inn of the Mountain Gods
CAPITAL PROJECTS
Gavilan Canyon Road Rehabilitation
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has awarded the Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County a Joint Roadway Improvement Grant for the rehabilitation of Gavilan Canyon Road, Warrior Drive, and Paradise Canyon Road. This project is scheduled to take place in early spring and will have a total cost of $3,500,000 of which the two local governments matched $175,000 to the state’s $3,325,000.
Annex/Old Water Shop Building Demolition Demolition is scheduled for the Annex/Old Water Shop Buildings on Wingfield Street. The asbestos abatement of both buildings has been completed and Public Works Director Adam Sanchez is in the process of acquiring quotes from local contractors for the demolition. The property will be redeveloped into the Wingfield Park Complex.
Visit DiscoverRuidoso.com for a full list of events. 5
Town and Country Subdivision Improvement
The Town and Country Subdivision project is a $1,681,748 water, wastewater, street, and fire safety project. This project is funded by the Community Development Block Grant program and the local approved water bonds. The project has experienced some delays and is scheduled to be completed in mid-November. The project will provide wastewater availability to approximately 80 existing homes that are currently not on the system. In addition, the project will provide an opportunity for the undeveloped adjoining land to extend services.
Ruidoso Magistrate Court Building
The site plan and architectural rendering was presented to the Village Council and was approved. The District Court will also be operating out of this Court for jury selection and Drug Court. This project was scheduled to go out for bid in October and be completed by July 2022 but due to redesign and increased cost, the project will begin in March 2022 and is projected to be complete February 2023. The current cost estimate is $6,300,000 and the project will be funded by borrowing against the revenue derived for lease payments made by the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts.
Eagle Creek Paving
The Capital Projects Department had solicited additional bids for the Paving Striping Project. The low bid was submitted to Council for approval at the recent meeting, and Renegade Construction was awarded the contract through Cooperative Educational Services. Project completion is expected by the end of November.
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MAYORAL COMMENDATIONS The following individuals/companies received Mayoral Commendations from Mayor Lynn Crawford for going above and beyond their everyday duties. » NMDOT District 2 - Francisco Sanchez » Cabinet Secretary Michael Sandoval » Commissioner Jennifer Sandoval » Commissioner Bruce Ellis » Commissioner Hilma Chynoweth
» Local Government Liason George Dodge
» Commissioner Walter Adams
» Caroline Buerkle
» Commissioner Thomas Taylor
» Susan Walker
» Commissioner Charles Lundstrom
» Cabinet Secretary Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim
COVID-19 has changed the way people travel, but Ruidoso is in a position to benefit from this shift. Ruidoso offers room to roam in nature and a lot of individual lodging properties, which makes us an ideal destination for social distancing, road trips and remote working. As the state began to fully reopen in the spring and summer, we focused our advertising efforts on highlighting those wide-open spaces. This fall and winter, we will continue to highlight our natural beauty, annual events, and outdoor recreation. We continue to target visitors in Texas and New Mexico with an increased focus in Arizona. In working with the New Mexico Tourism Department, the Village of Ruidoso secured over $100,000 in matching advertising placements and marketing services focusing on digital, out of home and print advertising buys. Here are some examples of the transit ads we are running in the Tucson market, billboards that feature the current temperature in Ruidoso in Phoenix, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio, and the fall road trip campaign creative for social media.
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4X4
MOTORCYCLE
Ruidoso Adventure Tours are self-guided tours in and around Ruidoso. There are seven 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.
Grand Prizes MO UNT AIN BIK E
Download the Discover Ruidoso App HIKE
HORSEBACK
RID E
Complete the Tours Enter to win a Grand Prize
$5,000
DG AUTO REPAIR
e m i t y n a s r u o Complete t 021 2 , 1 1 r e b o t c before O OH V
DISC GOLF
DiscoverRuidoso.com