Grants to get new fire truck soon

GRANTS - Two action items on the June 30 Grants City Council meeting were covered in the July 3 Beacon. What follows are several more items of interest.

Downtown Master Plan

The city received six proposals in order to create a needed Downtown Master Plan. On the proposal review committee were Grants Mainstreet Project Manager Randy Hoffman, Mainstreet Office Assistant Ina Hoffman, board members Walter Jaramillo and Jamie Holton and city Project Coordinator Roberta Martinez.

The contract was awarded to Wilson and Company for $85,860 with tax.

“We need a Master Plan for future projects,” said Mayor Joe Murrietta. “Things downtown are already looking good but the plan is required for future development assisted by the state or federal governments.”

The plan will be implemented through a 'public outreach campaign' over a six-month timeframe and is expected to start soon. There will be three public meetings, according to the Wilson and Company proposal.

For more information on the project or the process, call Martinez at 287-7927.

New fire truck

“It was my goal when I became chief to gain a new fire truck,” said Grants Fire Chief Robert Hays. “After a few bumps, we got it.”

Two bids from Pete's Equipment and First In (Pierce) were received and the purchase was awarded to First In for $221,858. Pete's bid was less but a memo from the chief stated that he was not happy with the performance of current equipment from Pete's.

“The Pierce model, I would consider after looking over the specifications, will be a better fire pumper for our department; it will be mounted on a firefighter chassis specifically designed for fire operations,” Hays' memo read. “The cost difference is only 4 percent [more] but in the long run I think we will be money ahead.”

Payments from the city's fire protection fund over a five-year period will pay for the truck.

The truck will be delivered in approximately eight months, according to Hays.

Councilmen also approved the purchase of equipment ranging from hoses to first aid kits for the new truck totaling $16,399.

Other items of interest approved at the meeting were:

• Environmental Impact Study on Nimitz Road Project awarded to SWCA for $12,800 plus tax. According to a Wilson and Company representative at the meeting, there are 16-20 historical sites on Nimitz Road from Santa Fe Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue. The EIS is within a 50 feet radius of the project.

o The city agreed with a letter to participate in the Grants Drainage Management Plan. The total cost of the plan will be $230,000; $115,000 from Corps of Engineers, $55,000 from Cibola County, $55,000 from Grants and $5,000 in matching funds from either the city or county. “The city will serve as a project lead,” said Mayor Murrietta.

It is one of the city's and county's priorities to solve the drainage problem when a good amount of rain falls within the City of Grants limits. The agreement will begin the process for possible major development for proper draining.

o Councilors approved $15,000 from the general fund, which went toward a community firework show on July 4. The county contributed $10,000.

• A wage scale revision was approved unanimously with “minor changes,” according to City Manager Bob Horacek.  A copy of the scale can be picked up at the clerk's office.

• Two new members on the Animal Board suggested by Mayor Murrietta were approved by councilors. Lindsey Bohannon Elkins through August 26, 2009, and Christina Staughtenger through August 26, 2010.

• Councilors approved Lodger's Tax Agreements with four organizations: Grants/Cibola County Mining Museum for $77,100; Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce for $140,000; Grants Rodeo Association for $18,000 and the Fire and Ice Route 66 Bike Rally for $46,000. Other organization requests less than $10,000 do not have to be approved by the council. Approximately $330,000 was earned for the City of Grants this year through Lodger's Tax, according to Horacek.

The next city regular scheduled meeting is on July 28 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers.