Milan Board of Trustees Recognizes Exceptional Police Training Achievement

MILAN, NM – The Village of Milan Board of Trustees gave updates regarding projects, they approved a contractor to make repairs to the former village hall and they gave direction regarding the sale of fill dirt by the Public Works Department and two officers were awarded for their shooting scores during training.

Village Manager and Finance Director Candi Williams gave the finance report for the Village of Milan for February 2024. During February the village made 82 payments with 145 payables. The total GRT for the month of February was $254, 974.56. The village received $9.81 in ITG, $3,781.16 in CMP and $1,842.60 in Cannabis Tax. The Board approved the finance report for the month of February.

There were a few budget adjustments made for Bar #12 which include adjustments for insurance recoveries, swimming pool physicals, state fire allotment increase, testing on hydrants, hoses and ladders, utility service garbage, increase in fees, increase in public works overtime, increased call outs, increase in new water account deposits and increase in health care coverage.

The Board approved the decision regarding the salary scale, and also gave direction for the public works department to be able to sell fill dirt. The board also decided to table a decision regarding signing a document for the New Mexico Self Insurer’s Fund JPA. According to the JPA the Village of Milan failed to sign a document for the JPA and is now required to sign the document, however the board decided to table the decision to research the JPA document and ask questions regarding it.

Archuleta Restoration and Remodel, LLC will be in charge of repairs for the former Village Hall, following a vehicle being driven into the building. The repairs will include exterior and interior repairs as well as resurfacing the mural that is currently on the former village hall. The total cost for the restoration totals to $40,363.23.

The board approved to sponsor the Easter Event which will be taken place at McElroy Park on April 6 and 7. The event named the Village of Milan Spring Bazaar will take place on April 6 and 7. The event will include an easter egg hunt and carnival games.

Police Chief Carl Ustupski gave updates regarding the Milan Police Department. During the month of February, the department received 314 calls for service, 131 offense reports, 18 arrests, 113 traffic stops, nine auto accidents, nine alarms and 21 medical calls. The department also received several applications for an uncertified officer and will soon begin to process for hiring. During February the department received a potential threat call at a local church, the officers coordinated and planned for the potential threat to assist and make sure the community was safe. An arrest was made on a male subject who had been sending graphic videos to a 12-year-old female. Officers obtained search warrants for various social media platforms during the investigation. Arrest warrants were issued in reference to the recent shooting in Milan where a male subject had been shot several times. An arrest was made in Albuquerque and the male subject was released on the same day. A search warrant was executed at a residence in Milan in reference to stolen property and officers were able to recover several pieces of stolen property taken from several businesses and residences in Milan and surrounding communities.

Two officers were also acknowledged for their performances in their shooting training. Sergeant Nickolas Candelaria and Officer Cameron Elkins were both awarded with plaques for their high scores in their recent shooting training. The training included shooting covered and uncover targets, targets with hostages, prone shooting, and tactical reloading. Candelaria placed second and Elkins placed first in this training.

Fire Chief Daniel Urioste gave updates regarding the Milan Volunteer Fire Department. In the month of February, the fire department received 62 calls which included 2 fire calls, 37 EMS calls, 3 accidents, and 20 combinations of calls for service, good intent, false alarms, extrication, burn permits, and special incidents. The fire department will be doing Wildland RT130 refresher training to keep everyone certified, they will also continue in house training as long as volunteers show up. Bryan Robinson who is a volunteer at the department is continuing his EMT-Intermediate certification. All the apparatus are in service and in very good shape and the department did very well on the State Fire Marshal’s inspection. As for the fire department overall, volunteers have been reporting to call outs, meetings, and trainings but it is a struggle to schedule and better responses due to volunteer’s other responsibilities. The department is working to go down another point on their ISO rating, their goal is to be a three and keep that score to be eligible for more fire protection funds and lower homeowner insurance rates for the community. The department is also continuing to improve the looks of the stations and they are working to move equipment and furniture and also to possibly repave the parking lots and put new signs outside each station.

Projects Manager Denise Baca gave updates regarding projects in Milan. Airport Road Phase two and three was awarded to Compass Engineering and construction began on March 11 and is expected to run through March 26, 2025. The funding for Airport Road is from WTB in the amount of $2,500,000; TPF in the amount of $1,135,250; and MAP in the amount of $407,067. Wilson & Co. were approved a task order for design of the swimming pool, the design is set to include the roof over the pool, interior renovations to multiple areas of the building, humidity control throughout the building, electrical system improvements, lighting, seating around the pool area, pool access lift, overhead door replacements, refinishing the pool and replacing the attached steps into the pool as well as broiler replacement. Once the design is completed the project will be sent out to big. The funding for the pool is from Capital Appropriation in the amount of $2,560,000.

The meeting ended with announcements, The Village of Milan Spring Bazaar will be held on April 6 and 7 with easter egg hunt and carnival games on April 6. A budget hearing of outside fund requests will take place on April 18 at 4 p.m. The Board of Trustees will hold their next regular meeting on April 18 at 5:30 p.m. and the Village will hold a Spring clean up on April 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.