MILAN, N.M. – Several groups are requesting funding from the Village of Milan Board of Trustees, these agencies all provide a service of some kind to the village. The requests came during a budget meeting for the village on July 14.
Village staff had worked for months, tinkering with the budget to make sure the village both saves money and funds necessary projects. Budgeting is being done with a conservative touch this year so the village staff doesn’t become “over hopeful” about the budget. The groups requesting funding from the village will see a change in how they report to the village. Agencies which receive funding from the village must be accountable for every single dollar spent, and send in regular reports to show the village what they are spending money on. The village is the last entity in Cibola County to have agencies report in this manner, the county government was the first to initiate this change, followed recently by the city. What’s different about the village’s ordinance from its counterparts, is that the village’s ordinance has teeth. If an entity violates the reporting agreement with the village, they will not be eligible to request additional funding for two years.
No funding was approved at this meeting, only the requests were heard. Funding will be approved or denied at the meeting on July 21 at 5:30 p.m.
The Lava, Soil, and Water Conservation District requested $2,000 from the village. The district did not request money from the village last year, because this funding will go to a new project that will focus on attacking pest vegetation, like Russian Sage and thistle, among other types of weeds.
The Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation asked for $40,000, this is the same as their request last year. Last year, CCEDF only received $25,000 from the village.
The Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce asked the village for $25,000; this is their first-time requesting funding from the Village of Milan.
Recycle Cibola requested $1,500 this year, last year they requested $1,000. Former Trustee Ellen Baca rose to speak on behalf of Recycle Cibola. She joked about how different it was on the opposite side of the room, and she asked the village to consider fully supporting Recycle Cibola this year, because the money will go toward improving all of the current recycle operations in the community.
Community Complaint
Before the meeting adjourned, the trustees did hear a complaint from the community. A village resident complained that the Milan Animal Control was not doing their job, and instead of taking atlarge dogs to the animal shelter, they were taking them back to their homes. She explained that a pit bull tried going through her dog’s doggy door, and that the pit bull was blocked by a barricade in the doggy door. Manager Linda Cooke
Manager Linda Cooke explained that the village is currently advertising for a full-time animal control officer and will be addressing the at-large dog situation with the current animal control department.
The Village of Milan Board of Trustees will convene a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. on July 21 where they will vote on whether to approve the proposed funding requests.