The Truth or Consequences City Commission met in a special session at 9 a.m., March 24, to pass a resolution declaring a health emergency. Mayor Pro-Tem Kathy Clark said, “The number-one intent of this resolution is it allows the city to access state and federal funding.” The second most important reason for passing the resolution, […]
The coronavirus is preventing public oversight of Truth or Consequences City Commission actions and now the five-member board acting as a corporate body as a check on each other and the City Manager will probably be wiped out as well. About two weeks before the new board is set to take over, the old board
Sierra County was first in the area to declare a health emergency, but the City of Truth or Consequences will do so on Tuesday, March 24, with the Village of Williamsburg and City of Elephant Butte not far behind. All local governments must declare a health emergency in order to tap into state and federal
Local entities declare health emergency status Read More »
The Sierra County Commission approved 11 pages of comments on the Gila National Forest’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement at the March 17 meeting without discussion and without making them available to the public. Individuals may still comment on the DEIS, which can be found on the Gila National Forest’s website. The 90-day comment period started
The Sierra County Commission approved a letter asking for fairer compensation for livestock killed by wolves at the March 17 meeting. William Beam, department administrator of farm programs for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, oversees the “Livestock Indemnity Program.” County Attorney Dave Pato drafted the letter and said Beam has “discretion” to decide how much
Sierra County Commission asks USDA for more money for cows killed by wolves Read More »
Claiming the new “Red Flag Law” is in violation of the Second Amendment, the Sierra County Commission unanimously passed a resolution yesterday supporting Sheriff Glenn Hamilton’s intention not to enforce it when it goes into effect May 20. The resolution first declares the County Commission and Sheriff Hamilton “have long recognized the necessity of the
Sierra County Commission passes resolution supporting non-enforcement of “Red Flag Law” Read More »
The Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools’ School Board held an emergency meeting Monday to clarify what they expect school staff to do while students are not attending school, as ordered by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Superintendent Randy Piper said Lujan Grisham sent an email about 20 minutes before midnight on Friday informing all 66
School board expects school staff to work while students are out due to coronavirus Read More »
Sierra County officials weakened their argument for ignoring the new “Red Flag” law as drafted in back rooms without considering input from sheriffs by then passing a scofflaw policy drafted in back rooms while ignoring constituents’ complaints. The new resolution proclaiming support for Sheriff Glenn Hamilton not enforcing the new “Red Flag” law was drafted
The Elephant Butte City Council will consider two main issues during the March 18 meeting, whether to amend the local law on development standards on lots with drainage problems as well as the governing body’s rules of procedure. The City already has laws on the books for “red lots” or lots with drainage and flooding
Truth or Consequences City Clerk Renee Cantin was mysteriously put on administrative leave by City Manager Morris Madrid around the first week of January and a couple weeks later the City posted on its website she had “resigned.” Cantin filled in a few of the gaps during a recent interview. “I never knew why I
Ex-City Clerk Renee Cantin “never knew” what she did wrong Read More »
There are three main items on the Sierra County Commission agenda, which all touch on federal and state intrusion on individual rights. The County has moved the meeting to Truth or Consequences City Commission Chambers, at 405 W. 3rd St., so those not wishing to attend due to coronavirus concerns may listen on the radio.
Preview: Wolves, Cattle and Guns on Sierra County Commission March 17 agenda Read More »
The Truth or Consequences City Commission, in one of its last acts before bringing on three new members, passed a massive water rate increase based on a water-rate study, which in turn was based on non-audited numbers. Several residents urged the City Commission to wait and study the issue more before raising rates in order
The New Mexico Department of Health, as of March 9, confirms there are still no cases of COVID 19 in the state. COVID 19, a strain of coronavirus—which has been around for decades—is a more virulent or dangerous strain discovered in 2019. Sierra Vista Hospital is diligently monitoring COVID 19 on an international, national and
Local preparedness for COVID 19 Read More »
The issue that spurred many of the 13 candidates to run for a Truth or Consequences City Commission seat in the March 3 election was smart meters. The candidates saw dozens of residents go to the mic at City Meetings in the last six months and noted the quick organization and success of a petition
New Truth or Consequences City Commissioners weigh in on smart-meter special election Read More »
At their last meeting for two and maybe three members, depending on how the election turns out, Truth or Consequences City Commissioners handled another zoning issue, as it has done for seven years, without review, consideration and deliberation by a Planning and Zoning Commission. Although the City Commission appointed a Planning and Zoning Commission the
Truth or Consequences City Commission hands out variance, punching hole in law Read More »
Sierra County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution pushing back on the U.S. Forest Service’s treatment of ranchers as renters who can summarily have their grazing cattle kicked off federal land and not respected as rightful co-owners ranching on the lands for generations. Exemplifying generational ranchers were Colette and Scott Chandler, husband and wife who attended
After years without a Planning and Zoning Commission, the Truth or Consequences City Commission finally got around to appointing one, right before a new board will be seated. The last P&Z resigned en masse because information it needed to make fair decisions was held back by City staff and the City would ignore their recommendations,
Truth or Consequences City Commission appoints Planning and Zoning Commissioners Read More »
Sierra Vista Hospital will continue to be governed by two large boards, since a bill failed that would have changed the governance to a special hospital district, one with a board of probably five trustees making decisions. Rep. Rebecca Dow and Sen. John Arthur Smith sponsored House Bill 0222 on Jan. 24 that requests the
Special Hospital District never “called” by Governor during short legislative session Read More »
Water rates will go up and a $9.4-million project will go forward, the Truth or Consequences City Commission comfortably following City Manager Morris Madrid’s lead, despite public opposition. Points raised by the public for delaying the project for more planning and until a new board is seated were ignored. The base rate for the water
The Truth or Consequences Public Utility Advisory Board was presented with some last-minute options on water-rate increases and balked at first on making a decision on the spot, but then did as City Manager Morris Madrid requested and approved a slightly lower rate increase than the published ordinance. The PUAB meeting was held Feb. 24,