Amerika Rougemont, Reporter
The Grants City Council meeting on the 21st lasted a little over five hours with its long agenda list, having discussions concerning the Chamber of Commerce, Golf Course, Senior Center, Library, and Community Pantry.
Chamber of Commerce
The chamber has made changes within the last six weeks. President Heather Porter admitted they have always struggled, but they came to the conclusion that they needed to terminate the contract between the City of Grants, the Mining Museum, and the State. The 40 year old contract, she explained, no longer worked with everything that has changed. They intend to reorganize agreements and to partner with the city instead of being obligated by contract and collaborating with the Rodeo Association. “Chamber gets to focus on business.” Porter said. On the 22nd, they were scheduled to vote in more members.
Vice President Melinda Salazar added that the chamber plans on doing shop local events every quarter and has nine highway billboards that they will offer to businesses with either a one time payment or a monthly payment for as long as they want their business advertised with their custom design. If a business does not want to pay the full amount, they can partner with another business to split the payments and both receive advertisement.
Additionally, monthly half hour long luncheons are another thing they want to have, with it being free for members and a fee for others.
Golf Course
The Golf Course is undergoing changes. The back restrooms, which is the worst of the two, will be remodeled, using $55,748.54 from unused lodgers tax.
The sprinkler heads, as of the 21st, were being evaluated and repaired. The greens have been fertilized and sprayed to help them grow. The PH (salt) is to be removed from the water to ensure that the grass is able to grow. The pump station is being updated and they are identifying and purchasing components for irrigation needs.
Three part time positions are open, though they want to transition from part time to full time season employees who would work from May to October.
Senior Center
The Senior Center has several projects planned for 2027, which includes replacing the flooring and carpet, redoing the entry ways, designing and expanding the current plumbing system so it may be on the east side as well, purchasing and equip- ping vehicles, repairing the parking lot so it is safe which will likely require a complete redo, having a security system and access gates and doors, getting kitchen equipment to include a soup and salad bar, oven, new water softener and much more.
A project planned for 2028 is to complete the master plan of improving and updating the senior center.
The total cost of these projects is estimated to be $1,515,000.
Library
Nathan Franklin was reappointed to the library board for a 2-year term at the NMSU college library. He has extensive experience, having worked in libraries for the last 20 years and it being the 6th he’s worked at. He has assisted with other libraries in the communities he has lived in, though he wasn’t employed by them, he helped them organize and work together. “The public library is an essential resource for Grants.” He stated, wanting to continue his work to resolve different issues.
“Libraries are hard, but if we can support it with some other stuff around it to track in a lot more people it’s just [going to] get better.” Mayor Garcia stated, after informing them that there may be a new business added to the building.
“I’m glad to see there’s still people wanting to go to the library and get a hardcover book and actually read it.” Councilman Garcia said.
Joan Klonowski addressed the board about the public libraries changes. The library has doubled the price of making copies from the copy machines, eliminated fingerprinting, and decreased the library hours. Starting June 1st, it will be closed from 12:30pm-1:30pm for their lunch break, despite having enough staff to take turns for their lunch break, managing to stay open. Instead of closing at 5:30pm, it will be closing thirty minutes earlier.
The decrease of hours particularly at noontime she explained is an inconvenience, as the afternoons are when most people go. Klonowski suggested adding a few extra hours after the usual closing time on different days. “I really think the library is important to the citizens and this would be a real inconvenience to them.”
Ms. Peterson, another citizen who addressed the board on this matter stated “We need to be more consumer, citizen, [and] worker friendly… it truly is a gem in this city’s crown.”
Community Pantry
The Grants Community Pantry has moved into its new facility on Sakelares Boulevard. On the 21st, it served 70 families, while on the day before 120 families.
Volunteers to put up the fence for 1.5 acres are very much needed.
Fundraising through Pizza 9 for food purchases was scheduled for the 27th.
The pantry is currently developing referral plans by collaborating with the schools and home health care nurses to provide food for those in need, as well as finding transportation to do drop off spots. The mayor asked if they would be able to do the food drop off with the Senior Center as well, which is something they will now consider.
Clean Public Spaces & July 4th Fireworks Display
The discussion of how to remove the graffiti throughout the city has been a discussion at several city meetings. Finally the decision has been made to hire Surfpro. The work is to take eight hours, as two employees will be doing it, with the main focus on bridges. They have not yet been called to deal with the graffiti, as it is planned to wait till there is more for them to do.
The July 4th fireworks display will take place at the old Grants jail grounds on the hill above Roosevelt Avenue and Iron Street, as it did in 2024. It costs $40,000, half of which covers the additional cost to buy to product. However, if the weather makes it unsafe to do, it will be done during a different event.