MILAN, NM – The Board of Trustees held a hearing and a regular meeting on May 16, at the hearing the trustees discussed a conditional use permit for a new business on Uranium Avenue and sign variances for the Maverick being built on Motel Drive, and at the regular meeting the trustees approved the contract to officially make Candi Williams the Village Manager, they approved the Interim Budget and a Resolution for Utility Increases.
With the end of the fiscal year nearing, so comes the interim budget. Williams gave a report on the current interim budget for the next fiscal year. For fiscal year 2024 the village set goals for them to reach by the end of the fiscal year. The goals included employee pay raises, employee satisfaction, motivated hard-working employees, put surplus cash to work, and to purchase new vehicles for joint utility, finance, IT, parks, and a dump truck. The village completed all of these goals that they set for fiscal year 2024. For fiscal year 2025, the village also set some more goals for them to achieve. These new goals included, acquiring three more vehicles, vehicle maintenance, parks/building maintenance, and animal control, employee satisfaction, to be fully staffed, to hold more safety training, to be fiscally responsible, close out at least five projects, and to start repairs on old Village Hall.
The village completed many projects during fiscal year 2024, and have plans to begin many more projects for fiscal year 2025. The projects completed during fiscal year 2024 are, Airport Road phase I, Stanley lift station, Kearns field, soccer field, Cottonwood design, swimming pool (small roof), fire department phase II, Stanley bridge design, gym HVAC, clean and beautiful, public works equipment, police department vehicles, fire department off road vehicle and fire department drive pad. The projects that the village are looking to begin in fiscal year 2025 are, Milan Industrial Park phase I Mill Road, park equipment, 40-year water plan, clean and beautiful, transportation safety action plan, master drainage plan, Stanley bridge, Stanley Road/drainage, Airport Road phase II and III, sewer system design, swimming pool design/construction, former village hall, water system improvement (well), Willow Pinon design, and all pending Capital Outlay/ GRO.
The interim budget also includes outside funding that the village awarded two of which are the Council of Governments in the amount of $20,000 and Cibola County Economic Development Foundation in the amount of $20,000. The village also is expecting a total projected carryover of $7,283,231, but this amount is expected to change by the final budget. The total projected revenue for fiscal year 20242025 is $21,762,340. Following the revenue and expenditures the village is looking to have a decrease of cash balance to $5,739,255.70, with projects accounting for all of the decrease in cash in the amount of $3,274,237. The village also has set a goal over the last few years to have salaries be 60 percent to 80 percent of the overall budget, this year the village is hitting the 50 percent mark and is hoping to hit the 60 percent mark within the next couple of years.
The board of trustees passed a resolution to increase the cost of utilities of water and sewer. The utility increase will be five percent across the board. The resolution states, “Whereas, fuel, equipment, and supplies are increasing, and the Village of Milan must meet the utility needs… the Village of Milan must increase utility rates for water and sewer… the Board of Village of Milan Trustees must maintain fiscal responsibility for all village department including the utility department.” The resolution will come into effect in the next billing period for utilities. The service fees have also increased after an account is past due, a late fee or collection trip will cost $15, a one turn-off and one turnon will cost $40, and a pull and replace meter will cost $45.
Following the meeting last month with Police Chief Carl Ustupski speaking about the police department losing grant funding monies from being short staffed and salaried individuals being able to work overtime with grant money, the board of trustees passed a change to the personnel policy. The policy states, “Salary exempt employees may be eligible for overtime compensation if their work is directly tied to projects funded by grants or reimbursements. This eligibility is contingent upon the terms and conditions specified by the funding source.” Williams reiterated that all village employees are included in this change in personnel policy and are able to receive overtime payment when it comes to grants received for their department.
With the improvements still being made to Fire Station One of the Milan Fire Department, a quote was requested regarding driveway pavement for Station One. The trustees approved a quote from Compass Engineering for the construction in the amount of $23,632.23. A change order was also approved by the trustees regarding the replacement of gate valves, fire hydrants, and a new water service. The change order will also increase the length of the sidewalk and curb and gutter to include sections added to the north side of Motel Drive. The change order was in the amount of $47,480.
Police Chief Ustupski gave updates regarding the Milan Police Department. They are still looking to fill the position of Code Enforcement, one of the individuals that they interviewed stood out and they are hoping to fill the position soon. Officers have been doing more foot patrols and trying to be more visible around businesses, there has also not been as many shoplifters as last month. There are still parking issues with semitrucks on Motel Drive and Horizon Boulevard, but not as bad as it has been. Ustupski said that they need to take further steps to improve the issue such as repainting the curbs, and placing more street signs. Ustupski has also been appointed to the New Mexico Planning Committee and Academy Training Committee that consists of several New Mexico Police Chiefs.
Fire Chief Daniel Urioste gave updates regarding the Milan Volunteer Fire Department. During the month of April MVFD responded to 83 calls, nine of them being fire calls, 30 EMS, six accidents, and 38 combination calls. Firefighters are continuing their training with three of them signing up for Fire Instructor training. All personnel are up to date on EMS licensures. Currently MVFD has three first responders, one EMT Basic, and two EMT Intermediate. All apparatus is in service and in good shape. Urioste also said that they are hoping to receive some grant funding which will allow them to hire one volunteer fulltime, but they are still looking into it. With ISO inspections coming soon Urioste is hoping that they are able to improve their score from a four to a three.
The meeting ended with some updates; Village of Milan offices will be closed on Monday May 27 in observation of Memorial Day. The Planning and Zoning regular meeting will be held on June 6 at 4:30 p.m. The next Board of Trustees Regular Meeting will be held on June 20 at 5:30 p.m. Village of Milan offices will be closed on June 19 in observation of Juneteenth.