Milan Approves Decision Regarding Redesign of I-40 to Intersect with Horizon Boulevard

Milan Approves Decision Regarding Redesign of I-40 to Intersect with Horizon Boulevard

Arieanna Crowson, Reporter

MILAN, NM – The Village of Milan Approved a decision regarding the redesign of I-40 in Milan to intersect with Horizon Boulevard with the total cost to be $1.5 million and approved a resolution in support of Cibola County New Mexico Outdoor Recreation.

I-40 Connectivity The board of trustees approved a decision regarding an agreement between the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the Village of Milan. The agreement includes the redesign of I-40 in Milan to intersect with Horizon Boulevard.

The total agreement will be for $1.5 million with $150,000 payments per month that the village will be reimbursed within 10 business days according to NMDOT. The first agreement will terminate on June 30, 2025.

The village received a second agreement from the New Mexico Department of Transportation for the design of additional passenger and freight connectivity to I-40 via Routte 66. This agreement was for the total amount of $3.5 million with roughly $300,000 payments per month that would have been reimbursed. Williams said that although it is possible for the village to also approve this agreement, the amount of this agreement was more than the previous, which would cause the village to use savings in order to make the payments in a timely manner.

The board of trustees decided to decline the second agreement.

Financial Report

Interim Village Manager and Finance Director Candi Williams gave the finance report for March 2024.

In the month of March, the village received $279,332.65 in GRT’s, $9.81 in ITG, $3,454.95 in CMP and $1,999.74 in Cannabis. The village had 127 payables with 69 payments totaling $285,024.27. For this quarter the village has $1,017,419 in investments with $951,733 of that from their savings account.

Other Village Business

The board of trustees approved the proclamation to designate May 2024 as Motorcycle Awareness Month.

Les Gaines and Eileen Yarborough gave a presentation regarding the Cibola County New Mexico Outdoor Recreation. The presentation included information regarding trail usage, a proposed pump park, and events coming up that involve outdoor recreation which includes the Milan Triathlon which will take place on August 10. The presentation also included the four priorities of their action plan, “1. Shape our identity as an outdoor recreation destination. 2. Improve connectivity. 3. Increase attraction, amenities, and infrastructure for staying power. 4. Improve location coordination.” Following the presentation the board of trustees approved a resolution in support of Cibola County New Mexico Outdoor Recreation which will allow them to apply for grants and gives them a better opportunity to receive funding.

The board of trustees approved a resolution confirming the Village of Milan to participate in the New Mexico Department of Transportation project fund call for projects. In the resolution the Village of Milan requested participation in the Match Waiver Program in the amount of $227,829.10 which is five percent of the total requested amount of $4,556.581.92 for the planning, design, and construction of Stanley Road and the bridge replacement.

The Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments came before the board of trustees regarding a intergovernmental services agreement with the Village of Milan for Milan Park Program Service. According to the NWNMCOG following the 2024 Legislative Session House Bill 2 appropriated and enacted by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham contained several appropriations to support park program services in the Village of Milan. The legislation further said that the NWNMCOG would be the fiscal agent and responsible manager of all funding, uses, and administration and provides a range of planning services on behalf of the Village and other entities in the northwest region of New Mexico. According to the agreement total compensation under the agreement shall not exceed $320,000. The board of trustees approved the agreement with the NWNMCOG.

The board of trustees approved for Fire Chief Daniel Urioste to apply for fire protection funds. These funds are used for the operating budget of the Milan Fire Department. The minimum fund distribution that Urioste applied for is $129,502. The current balance of the department’s total Fire Protection Fund account to date is $421,204 and the anticipated rollover amount is $336,317.58.

Police Chief Carl Ustupski gave updates regarding the Milan Police Department. In the month of March 2024, the department received 324 calls for service, 112 offense reports, 14 arrests, 60 traffic stops, 6 auto accidents, 16 alarms, and 23 medical calls. The department is working to hire new officers with one uncertified applicant passing the physical fitness test and four certified officers in the process of applying. There is still a massive issue of the Dollar General in Milan being broken into with Ustupski speaking with their district manager on ways they can improve their security. The department has finally received the equipment for their two new trucks, and they are expected to begin using them soon. They are still working on filling the position of code enforcement/ officer position. The department has also been struggling with being able to use the grant funding that they have received because some of the funding requires two officers to work it. The board of trustees has agreed to work with Ustupski to possibly pass an ordinance or a change to the personnel policy that allows salaried positioned individuals to work overtime when it comes to grant funding.

Fire Chief Daniel Urioste gave updates regarding the Milan Fire Department for the month of March 2024. The department received 64 calls, 1 being a fire call, 25 EMS calls, 2 accidents, and 33 combinations of calls. The department is working on training for Wildland, EMS, and various in-house trainings. All the apparatus are in service and assistant Chief Michael Rivera is keeping up with the maintenance, supplies, and cleaning. Overall volunteers for the department have been reporting for call outs but there is still a struggle to schedule and get better responses due to volunteer’s other obligations. They are still working on the improvements to both stations and they are working to move equipment and furniture following the improvements being completed at the fire station.

The meeting ended with announcements, the next Planning and Zoning Meeting will take place on May 2 at 4:30 p.m. and the next Regular Board of Trustees Meeting will take place on May 16 at 5:30 p.m.