Taos Downtown Community Updates

Below Taos Friction posts Commissioner Tom Blankenhorn’s summary of meetings for the last quarter of 2014. At the Tue. Jan. 6 organizational meeting, Commissioner Blankenhorn was elected chair of the 2015 commission. Commissioner Jim Fambro was elected vice-chair. Fambro will also represent the commission on the NCRTD; Blankenhorn will attend the IGC meetings; Fambro the Landfill board; Commissioner Romero will sit on TCEDC’s board and Commissioner Mark Gallegos will attend LANL community development meetings. Commissioner O’Donnell will serve as alternate on the IGC and TCEDC.

Though I don’t know Commissioner Mark Gallegos, the Mayor of Questa, this county commission, along with staff, County Manager Steve Archuleta and County Attorney Bob Malone, strikes me as a group of public servants more interested in the nuts and bolts of governing than “movida-making.” Though three new commissioners joined incumbents Romero and Blankenhorn, O’Donnell and Fambro seemed comfortable and at home on the dais even as Commissioner Gallegos also settled in to his chair. County Manager Steve Archuleta seemed particularly calm.

Outgoing Chair Gabe Romero mentioned that he would work toward ordinances banning mini liquor bottles, plastic bags, more effective animal control, higher wages, and the renovation of the Historic (old) County Courthouse on the Plaza. Gabe’s refreshing ideas sound like those of a populist and progressive—even a bit shocking to the ears. That’s why they call him “Gabe the Good.”

Town Politics

In comparison to the County, the Town seems stuck somewhere between compound low and low gear. Despite the emphasis on Plaza doings by the Mayor and Manager, it’s no secret that a majority of councilors, and some community members, are growing increasingly disgruntled with the Manager’s inability to communicate beyond what Town custodian Flavio characterizes as governance by “smoke and mirrors.” Even the local weekly has found fault with the manager.

For all the emphasis on clean streets and Christmas Tree lights, which divert attention from the traditional farolitos and luminarias, the “Keep Taos Beautiful” committee deplores the tacky flyers taped to parking meters, a new steel post and red stop sign at the northeast corner of the park on the Plaza, and a variety of corporate canvas seasons greeting signs adding to the clutter of directional, safety, and other unnecessary signs in the Historic District up and down the Paseo. Apparently the bureaucrats are determined to justify their jobs by obstructing the viewshed. The current practice is anti-historic preservation and anti-public art.

Spud Johnson, the founder of the historic Horse Fly and Edward Abbey, who inspired the Monkey Wrenchers, not to mention Lady Bird Johnson of “anti-bill-board fame” all deplored the commercialization and government destruction of beauty. We think the Town Council, in particular, needs to go back to school and learn about their environment, both natural and architectural. This is a damn good-looking town when you can see past the tacky “government” signs. And a lot of these sandwich boards should go, too. Let the people look!

From the Desk of Tom Blankenhorn

Summary of County Meetings

During the final quarter of 2014, the Taos County Board of Commissioners took the following actions during its Regular Meetings.

Emergency Dispatch Center

Taos County opened the new Emergency Dispatch Center at the County Complex on the second floor above the Detention Center. The work was completed in less than a year and cost approximately one million eight hundred thousand dollars, including the cost to re-locate the Sheriff’s department to a separate building, south of the Complex.

The new facility provides state of the art communication equipment and software designed to insure that emergency calls are responded to quickly. It was funded from excess GRT dedicated to paying off the bonds that funded the construction of the complex. It is being operated under a Joint Powers Agreement between the Town, County, Questa and the Taos Ski Valley. The Agreement contains provisions for training personnel, including certifications to provide limited medical advice. This is a huge improvement for Taos County’s dispatch services taking advantage of the latest in communication technology.

Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) Change

The County repealed a 1/8 GRT, which was designated for indigent patient care, and provided the local match for state and federal funding to Holy Cross Hospital. Under new State law, the local match was decreased to 1/12 GRT, which is funded from a separate tax. The repeal allowed the County to enact a new 1/8 GRT, which can be used for general purposes without increasing the tax burden. The tax will generate approximately eight hundred thousand dollars per year and will help the County close budget gaps where necessary, and make road improvements.

Land Use Decision: Blackstone Ranch

The Board of Commissioners reversed the decision of the Planning Commission and granted a permit to Blackstone Ranch to charge guests for overnight stays at their facility. The Blackstone Ranch consists of several large and beautiful buildings, which cost in the tens of millions of dollars to construct. It includes numerous acres of lush land along the Rio Pueblo, southwest of Town, formerly owned by the McCarthy family. The facility had been used solely to conduct seminars prior to obtaining the permit for commercial use.

The Planning Commission had denied the permit based on their assessment that the applicant had not been forthcoming with their intentions. The Board of Commissioners approved the permit because the applicant met all of the requirements of the ordinance, including building codes, infrastructure, water and compatibility assessments. In addition, as a condition of the permit, the applicant agreed to maintain the bulk of the property for agricultural uses.

Collective Bargaining Agreement

The Board approved the annual Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Taos County Public Employees Local. The agreement did not include cost of living increases but some assistance was given in benefit adjustments as were relaxed rules for flex time. The agreement included a provision for considerations of future cost of living wage increases. Negotiations were respectful and not protracted.

Road Projects

The Board, along with the Town of Taos, established the re-paving and widening of 3 miles of Camino del Medio as a capital project priority. The cost of the project will be approximately three million dollars. To date, the State Legislature has provided three hundred thousand dollars to complete the engineering. Both the Town and County will continue to lobby and apply for the necessary funding to complete the project in phases over the next several years.

The Public Works Department paved a one-mile stretch of Millicent Rogers Road for approximately $250,000, and two miles of Abregadero Road in Questa for $500,000.

2014 Budget Audit

The Board approved the 2014 Final Audit of Taos County’s budget. Prior audits contained serious deficiencies pertaining to the Taos County Housing Authority and the Indigent Health Care program. Staff worked hard over the past six months to institute and apply proper accounting procedures, resulting in a clean audit, which the Board gratefully approved.

San Cristobal Fire Department

The Board approved the establishment of the San Cristobal fire department. The citizens of San Cristobal, with help from the Taos County Fire Marshall, did all of the work. Land and some equipment have been donated and certifications are in place for State funding to complete the station. The San Cristobal Fire Department will provide a critical link in fire fighting in the northern, forested region of Taos County.

Egri and Suazo Sculptures

With great assistance from the Taos County Arts and Artifacts Committee, the Board accepted the generous donation of a Ted Egri sculpture by his estate. Mr. Egri lived and worked in Taos for many years as an acclaimed artist. He also volunteered his time and talents to teaching art in our local schools. The sculpture will be placed at the complex sometime next year and will add considerably to its aesthetics.

Again, with the help of the Arts and Artifacts Committee, the Board accepted the proposal of sculptor John Suazo of Taos Pueblo for a piece to be created for placement in the center of the Complex square. The proposed sculpture portrays many aspects of Taos’ multi cultured community, and it too is scheduled for placement in 2015. We are anxious to see both works of art in place and hope that they will give people pleasure for generations to come.