by Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
RATON — Raton City Commissioners heard from RPC CPAs + Consultants Tuesday evening at city hall, who reported city staff, Raton Public Service, and Raton Water Works received a great audit report with no significant findings and remedying issues discovered in last year’s audit.
Ben Martinez and Luis Gomez of RPC were on hand to give the report to city commissioners, noting it only took them a week to do the audit as opposed to two or more weeks as in previous years. The only minor audit finding was a stale check over one year old had to be voided and a new check reissued.
Commissioners then approved the report and made it a public document.
The report gave Raton a good grade for this year’s audit.
Commissioners postponed action on an agreement for a community garden on the El Portal property at the request of David Stafford; approved an agreement with the Center for Sustainable Community for the operation of the community kitchen. Geoff Peterson noted he has passed his food manager’s certification program and is ready to manage the kitchen. Peterson said Bernadette Apodaca, of Sugar Me, is one of the first enterprises to use the new kitchen.
Commissioners approved a recommendation by the Labor Management Board to appoint Eric Honeyfield to the board. The board will be made up of Sarah Kowalski, William Dailey and Honeyfield.
Commissioners approved the disposal of surplus equipment including a broken 2-door freezer and several SCBA units. According to Fire Chief Chris Espinoza, the department was able to get several surplus units from Albuquerque who got a grant to replace all of their units.
Commissioners approved Budget Adjustment #8 which included money transfers in the sanitation department for tire recycling. City manager Scott Berry said they have disposed of a large number of old tires and still have more to go.
In the city manager’s report Berry noted the state legislature will be ending soon and the Municipal League will have a district meeting on March 19 in Santa Rosa to go over the results of the latest legislative session.
Berry has heard from Sears Holding Company that they have received the petition and letters but the decision to close the local K-Mart is final.
Berry reported Chris Espinoza has been selected as the new city fire chief. Espinoza will command a staff of 15 full-time employees who respond to a multitude of fire and emergency situations. Espinoza began his career in 1996 and joined Raton Fire in 1998 serving in a variety of assignments.
Commissioners will meet again on February 27 at 6 pm for their next regular meeting.
