MILAN, N.M. – Village of Milan trustees and Wilson & Company staff discussed natatorium repairs, reviewed current projects, and considered future undertakings.
(Milan officials contract with Wilson & Company Engineers & Architects, Albuquerque, for a wide range of services.)
Indoor pool
Wilson & Company staff identified structural problems with the indoor swimming pool, which was constructed in 1992. The engineering firm recommended replacing the entire roof. Previous delays in routine maintenance have resulted in large areas of rust on the steel girders plus the failure to routinely upgrade the mechanical systems has caused additional problems.
The proposal included a nine-month timeline– three months for design plus six months to complete repairs – with a budget expenditure of $417,000. The trustees unanimously approved moving forward with the natatorium safety project.
Kern’s Field and Mirabal Park
The contractor completed Kern’s Field phase one, budgeted at $372,000, on March 31. Wilson & Company staff will review the contract “punch list” before issuing final payment. Mayor Felix Gonzales pointed out that Mirabal Park has a walking track and there is no need to develop one at Kern’s.
Phase two includes installation of a modular restroom building along with a concession stand and storage building. Those two will utilize re-purposed railroad cargo containers. Trustee Roseanne Lopez expressed concern about whether the re-purposed structures would provide enough ventilation for those operating the concessions. The engineer responded that the buildings are designed to provide adequate air circulation.
The engineering firm recommended delaying the design process for parking and handicap-accessibility for Kern’s until a future date.
Mirabal Park phase one has been completed and $32,846 remains available from the state in Capital Outlay funding.
The engineering firm, on behalf of the village, has applied for $260,403 in New Mexico Department of Transportation Co-op funding for soccer field access and parking.
Village parks include Kern’s, Mirabal, Metcalf, Elkins, and the Soccer Complex.
Wastewater treatment plant
Milan was awarded $300,000 in 2019 Capital Outlay funding; the wastewater treatment plant design is scheduled for completion by August reported the engineering staff. The design process is currently 60 percent complete and the topography survey has been finished. Approximately 75 percent of Milan’s water use is for wastewater. The engineers discussed 10 items in detail including site development as they described progress on the wastewater treatment project. They reminded village officials that discharge permitting by state and federal agencies is a lengthy process. The proposed site is slightly south of Interstate 40, near the Grants/Milan Municipal Airport.
Transportation planning and industrial park mapping
The New Mexico Council of Governments is the lead agency for developing the Milan/Prewitt Transportation Master Plan. The process, which began in January, includes a total budget of $149,994. The planning project is scheduled for completion in April 2022.
The board approved creation of the Airport Road Improvement design taskforce. The proposed upgrade is part of the New Mexico Municipal Arterial Program. The engineering firm recommended that the village plan three phases for the proposed Airport Road project to maximize funding opportunities.
Wilson & Company staff have been working with Cibola County Floodplain Administrator Anna Larson on mapping the Milan Tract Farms site that includes the village industrial park. They are preparing to submit the Letter of Map Revision to the Federal Emergency Management Administration. The engineering firm reported that $54,680 remains in the $80,000 budget.
Capital Outlay
The village did not receive Capital Outlay funding from the state legislature for the lift station or the Berryhill water and sewer upgrade project. Capital Outlay did award $40,000 of the $800,000 Milan had requested for water meter upgrades.
Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan
Governmental entities review and update their ICIP annually. The engineering firm rated 15 projects for the Milan 2022-26 ICIP. The top priorities were replacement of four bridges within the village that span the Rio San Jose. Two items were designated as the lowest priorities: #14 was the access road and parking for the soccer field; #15 was updating the Grants/Milan Drainage Master Plan.
All five trustees participated in last week’s meeting; four were present and one participated by telephone during the special April 5 session.
Upcoming meetings
• April 14 trustees’ workshop
5:30 p.m., village hall, 623 Uranium Ave., Milan.
Public access is available at https://www.facebook.com/villageofmilannm/
Meeting notices and agendas are available at https://towncloud.io/go/milan-nm/
• April 22 trustees’ regular meeting
5:30 p.m., village hall, 623 Uranium Ave., Milan.
Public access is available at https://www.facebook.com/villageofmilannm/
Meeting notices and agendas are available at https://towncloud.io/go/milan-nm/
Visit villageofmilan.com or call 505-285-6694 for more information.