VILLAGE OF MILAN, N.M. –
The Village of Milan Board of Trustees gathered for a workshop on Thursday, April 14, at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Felix Gonzales, Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Brumbelow, and Trustee James Mercer were all present, while trustees Chris Archuleta and Roseanne Lopez were absent. A prayer was offered, then the pledge of allegiance, and there were no citizens waiting to address the board. The board moved on to
The board moved on to the discussion portion of the workshop, and Village Financial Director Candi Williams went over some budgetary items that the trustees will take action on during the next regular trustee meeting on Thursday, April 21. Williams told the board that after meeting with each of them individually, collecting their input and thoughts, she made some changes to and compiled a salary schedule to be voted on at the next meeting. Williams also informed the board that she learned the minimum wage could now be raised to $12, and that that information changed a few things. Trustee Mercer then confirmed with Williams that the revenues from legal marijuana sales in the next year were not factored into the budget, to which Williams responded that it was not factored in. “There’s no way for us to predict what that income is going to be, it’s brand new,” said Williams, who said those revenues would have to be evaluated in the future.
Williams also discussed an option included in the salary and budget documents, titled Option Four. Williams explained the option, “What Option Four does is it gets us up to at least the midline. Using salary studies for the county and our area and municipalities our size, we set the salary schedule to levels that we can afford as a small municipality. So, Option Four gets [village employees] at least to midway. We do have employees that should be at the max, but we can’t jump. As Linda said, we don’t have to do it all at once, we have to take steps, so we’re going to take some steps.”
Williams concluded, “I think it’s something that we can sustain, and we can sustain long-term. It’s something that every employee is going to see the benefits from that, and it’s not going to break the bank.”
Before moving on to announcements, Village Clerk Denise Baca went over some additional information with the board. According to Baca, at the next regular trustee meeting Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation Director Eileen Yarborough will be coming in to give a presentation, along with Mt. Taylor Quad board member Les Gaines, who will be giving a separate presentation on the Rural Communities Recreation Grant. Baca said the board will also review finance reports as usual, a flood plain ordinance, contracts for two interested on-call electrical companies, an Airport Road Construction Management task order, and bids for reroofing the old TBK Bank, and future Village Hall, building.
Finally, Baca briefed the Board of Trustees on some issues that arose with the ongoing soccer field project. Right before the project was going to finally break ground, a flood line was discovered in the area that buildings were going to go. According to Baca, the buildings can no longer be put there, and the discovery might call for an entire redesign of the project. Baca said a few options were available, and that a meeting would be held Monday, April 18, to go over them, but that only one option stood out as feasible. In order to keep the project afloat and moving, Baca said the village’s best bet would be to put handicap parking and facilities on the east end of the soccer complex.
Baca concluded that some decisions would have to be made regarding that issue soon. The board asked Baca if the village would have to pay more for the redesign and change of plans, but Baca reassured the board that it shouldn’t cost the village anything considering they already paid for it and considering the issue was overlooked up until this point. Both Baca and the Board of Trustees were not happy with the circumstances, adding that the project was supposed to be completed already, not returning to the design phase. Baca stated that the details of the project will have to work out, because otherwise, “We don’t want it.”
During board comments, Mayor Pro Tem Brumbelow wished everyone a safe and happy Easter, and Mayor Gonzales reflected on the elected officials’ time in Santa Fe for a recent training. Gonzales joked that aside from the awful coffee, the trip was productive and successful. Gonzales shared his optimism for the board and how he thinks they will all work well together “for the betterment of the village.” Finally, Gonzales asked that the community keep Trustee Roseanne Lopez in their prayers as she fights through medical battles.
The next Board of Trustees regular meeting will be on Thursday, April 21, at 5:30 p.m. A Milan Planning and Zoning meeting will be held on May 5, at 4:30 p.m.