T or C city commission violated Open Meetings Act in handling smart meter appeals and their actions must be reconsidered, AG determines
The AG’s Office determined that descriptions of agenda items involving the appeals either lacked the specificity required to adequately inform the public of the nature of the business to be discussed or to cover actions subsequently taken by the commission. As a result, the commission must reconsider an order denying the appeals and its imposition of a monthly $50 meter-reading fee on residents who wished to retain their analog meters.
“New taxing district” missing from messaging so far on special hospital district
The Joint Powers Commission, the financial overseer of Sierra Vista Hospital in Truth or Consequences, is leading a quiet petition drive to place the question of whether to create a special hospital district on the November ballot. The JPC has yet to make the public aware that, in addition to simplifying governance, a special hospital district has taxing authority that enables it to seek voter approval to hike property taxes.
T or C Manager Swingle tightens city procedures and money belt
With less than a month’s service as the city manager of Truth or Consequences, Bruce Swingle has ushered in good government procedures that reverse years of decision-making by staff behind closed doors instead of by city commissioners in open meetings.
Welcome back: Sierra County Farmer’s Market returns to Ralph Edwards Park
A guide to the market’s 2021 season and its vendors of the freshest locally grown produce and fruits, free-range eggs, delectible baked goods, beautiful flowers and unique handmade crafts.
Reader at Large: May 22–June 4, 2021
A digest of some of the best and most thought-provoking articles and books enjoyed by the author in the past two weeks
Reader at Large: May 8-21, 2021
A digest of some of the best and most thought-provoking articles and books enjoyed by the author in the past two weeks
The Trial of the Chicago 7
In time for Memorial Day reflection, a review of the 2020 film that dramatized the Nixon administration’s attempt to discredit the anti-Vietnam war movement by prosecuting some its most prominent leftist leaders.
Soul
A review of the Disney/Pixar Animation Studios film that won the 2020 Oscar for Best Animated Feature and for the Best Original Score. It was also nominated for Best Sound. Available on Disney+ and Netflix DVD and to buy/rent ($19.99) on Apple TV+, YouTube, Vudu, Google Play and Amazon Prime Video
Come by and say hi
Starting this Saturday, June 12, the Sun will host a table at the Sierra County Farmer’s Market at Ralph Edwards Park in Truth or Consequences.
Why I want to be a reporter
In my high school’s Newspaper Club, I learned that journalism is different from the creative writing I enjoyed. That realization didn’t intimate me, but rather stirred my curiosity and drive to master fact-based reporting.
Wildlife trail or commercial development for Rotary Park?
Please, let us come together to prevent one more desecration. Please let us create, instead, a preserve for wildlife with access for people to the Rio Grande that will stand into the future to preserve the precious, irreplaceable quality of life that we are able to enjoy here.
T or C City Commission abdicates responsibility to select library advisory board members
Municipal code mandates that members of the Truth or Consequences library’s advisory board are to be appointed by the city’s elected representatives to ensure independent oversight of the public library. The public’s interests are not well served when the city commission allows the library board to self-determine its own membership.
Back to the well
Oil and gas funds everything from campaigns to government functions in New Mexico, complicating the state’s transition away from fossil fuels.
Foundation for Open Government determines T or C’s fees to deliver requested electronic documents not allowed under state law
Truth or Consequences has recently begun to charge a fee of 25 cents per page to deliver electronic records requested under the Inspection of Public Records Act. FOG responded to a citizen request to determine the fee’s validity.
T or C police news roundup
The Truth or Consequences city commission has approved a new taser policy, received a briefing on the selection process for the new police chief and discussed behind closed doors possible litigation involving two police officers.
T or C still mum about problems with city’s water wells, despite only two of eight working properly
A legal ad in the Sierra County Sentinel’s May 21 edition was the first public notice and acknowledgment that two more wells in the city’s eight-well field are in trouble. Four others are offline, raising questions about the city’s water delivery capacity and the water department’s transparency about the health of the well field.
