Marathon Meeting

CITY OF GRANTS, N.M. –

Holding a marathon meeting of over three hours long, the Grants City Council powered through a long agenda to accomplish significant work for the people of Grants, New Mexico on May 19. In their efforts, the council funded multiple projects and non-profits across the city and heard a series of reports. Due to the incredible length of the city meeting, portions of the meeting were unable to fit in this story, and will be included as separate stories over the next two weeks in the Cibola Citizen. In this edition, membership on the Cibola Communities Economic Development Corporation Board, mosquito repellent, and the funding for multiple nonprofit agencies.

Economic Development

Due to conflict issues, a decision made by the city council to make Manager Donald Jaramillo an envoy from the city to Cibola Communities Economic Development Cooperation could not stand. Instead, the council unanimously voted to make Melinda Salazar from Farmers Insurance an envoy for the city instead. Salazar will be working with Councilor Beverly Michael as the representatives of the City of Grants to create economic interest in the city.

There was no argument or discussion about Salazar, with Mayor Erik Garcia saying that Salazar has a desire to see the City of Grants grow, she is a business owner and can be an asset to the economic development board.

Mosquito Repellent

Councilors needed to renew a contract with Roadrunner Public Health, a company which has historically managed mosquito control in Cibola. The board voted unanimously to approve the contract renewal, but not before Councilor Michael asked about the chemicals used by RPH. Michael wanted to make sure that no toxic chemicals were being used by mosquito management, and recalled a time when the spray would choke out a household if the windows were left open on a summer night. Dr. Paul Sandoval, owner and manager of RPH, explained that the company stopped using chemicals like that and have moved to a more ecologically friendly water-based chemical that increases mosquito kill rate and is not as noxious as other chemicals.

Dr. Sandoval said that RPH wants to keep the community safe from mosquitos and the many diseases they carry. He explained that mosquito which carries Zika Virus is new to New Mexico and will require a change in chemical formula to better tackle it, this will not increase the cost of the contract which is the same as last year. The total cost of the RPH’s services comes out $94,930 to the City of Grants.

Funding non-profits

To make funding nonprofits less of a challenge and to remove any favor biases which may exist in the city council, the City of Grants Charter mandates a Lodger’s Tax Board to make decisions about the funding. After their recommendations were made to the council, a vote was held to determine how much money each agency would receive. The council does have the power to alter the decisions made by lodger’s tax, but did not this cycle. All funding requests were approved unanimously.

To make sure she was fully aware of the recommendations, Councilor Michael watched the lodger’s tax proceedings on Facebook.

The Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce requested $150,500 from lodger’s tax. The money was presented for the 4x4 ATV/UTV event the chamber is putting on. “Do a good job for the community,” Mayor Garcia called upon the chamber of commerce. Councilor Fred Rodarte motoned to accept the recommendation and award GCCCC with the funding, he was seconded by Councilor Zach Gutierrez.

The New Mexico Mining Museum requested $25,000 from the council. This ask is down from last year, Chairman Scott Grey of the Lodger’s Tax Board said this was because there is an agreement with the state that the city recently discovered, and the museum was being paid out of lodger’s tax while they shouldn’t have been. The museum received their full ask after a motion from Councilor Michael and a second from Councilor George Garcia.

Grants MainStreet Project requested $10,000. Discussion was held amongst the councilors, who debated about MainStreet. They discussed GMS as an institution, determining that it is currently in a rebuilding stage and is in need of volunteers. The board approved their funding, with a motion by Councilor Rodarte and a second from Councilor Garcia.

The Mount Taylor Quadrathlon requested $43,500. The councilors all agreed that the quadrathlon is an asset to the community. With a motion by Councilor Gutirrez and a second by Councilor Rodarte.

Cibola Trail Alliance requested $8,500 for their non-profit. This tiny but mighty non-profit recently began work on a new trail in Cibola County. With no argument, but an agreement on the promotion of Grants through CTA, the council approved the funding.

The Cibola County Historical Society resides in the Mother Whiteside building on High Street. The non-profit requested $7,500, with no debate, a motion by Councilor Rodarte and a second by Councilor Garcia, the funding was unanimously approved.

The Aviation Heritage Museum sits on the Grants-Milan Airport, which is part of the City of Grants. The museum requested $4,000, which was approved after a question from Councilor Gutierrez about the museum’s location. Councilor Michael urged him, and all other residents who have not been to the museum, to check it out. The museum is located at 1116 N. Dale Carnutte Road. With a motion by Councilor Gutierrez and a second by Councilor Rodarte, the funding was approved.

Cibola Arts Council, located at 1001 W Santa Fe Avenue, requested $5,000. After debate, and an agreement among councilors that the art museum is unique, the funding was approved with a motion by Councilor Rodarte and a second by Councilor Gutierrez.

The Grants Rodeo Association requested $43,500. “This is a gem,” Councilor Gutirrez said. The funding was approved unanimously.

The board moved onto the American Legion Rider’s Chapter 18. The non-profit requested $3,000, which was approved with a motion by from Councilor Garcia and a second from Councilor Rodarte.

Closing the Marathon

Before adjourning, there was discussion about banning fireworks and firework sells in the City of Grants. This will be done to protect the city and the forest from fire, given the ravaging Calf Canyon Fire in Northern New Mexico, look to Page A10 for an update from City Manager Donald Jaramillo about the proposed ban.

With the loud singing of the Grants High School Pirate Fight Song, the Grants City Council Chambers erupted in Pirate pride to celebrate the graduating Class of 2022. With positive comments about the direction of Grants from each council member, the meeting peacefully came to an end.

Look to next week’s edition of the Cibola Citizen for more information on this marathon meeting by the Grants City Council.