GRANTS - Only positive remarks were made on Sept. 23 as Recreation Board Chairman Frank Merrick reported to the Grants City Council that his board wanted to rename the San Jose Park football field for Tom Gutierrez.

    Gutierrez, a lifelong resident of Grants was well known as a coach in the community. He coached many sports and supported Cibola County athletics personally and through the family owned business, Diamond G, which he managed.

    “I think this is a no brainer,” said Mayor Joe Murrietta. The mayor suggested to the city clerk for the football field rename item to be added as an action item for this evening's regular council meeting.

Merrick noted Gutierrez's passion for coaching, both youth and high school.

    “Tom was involved in youth football when I started,” Councilor Martin Hicks said. “Let's do it… I think Tom Gutierrez Football Field sounds good,” he added.

    Other councilors echoed Hicks' and the mayor's positive remarks. The item is expected to pass tonight.

Cemetery Board update

    Member Fred Padilla updated city councilors on the board's activity. The board recently requested an eternal flame at the cemetery. Because of the high expense of a gas flame, the board brought the idea of a electrical flame to be lit 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    The electric flame bulb is estimated to cost only $94.

Padilla also requested parking blocks to be used around the roadway inside of the cemetery because vehicles tend to go off the road resulting in a mess, “to the extent of driving over graves and hitting headstones,” the board member said.

    Finally, Padilla informed the council that the cemetery is due for a new Master Plan. Councilor's agreed and suggested Manager Bob Horacek to begin the process.

Animal Board update

    Member Lindsey Elkins informed the councilors that the Animal Board is working with the Animal Care Center in creating a volunteer schedule for the center. She also noted that the board is working on ordinances that it will soon bring before the council.

    During Elkins' report, Gerald Curtis, a member of a local animal group, was asked to brief the council of what his group wanted from the council. “There are lots of feral (wild cats) in Cibola County, and we (For the Animals) are requesting to use $200 of the funds that you (City of Grants) provides us on an oral contraceptive,” Curtis said.

    Curtis went on to explain that the contraceptive is a chemical that is added the cats' food and works quickly, and long term, to “save the city money,” he added. He also informed the council that the group has two people who are well trained in using the chemical and they would be very careful and simply “experiment for now.”

    Mayor Murrietta agreed with Curtis. “Let's see how it works, let's place it as an action item for Tuesday.”

    Other action items include:

• Award bid for jet rodder hoses

• Approval of Infrastructure Comprehensive Improvement Plan

• Approval of engineer for infrastructure

• Resolution for supporting Grants MainStreet Project

• Biennial Memorandum Of Understanding for Grants MainStreet Project

• Approval of Cibola Regional Communications Center third quarter expenses

    The city meeting starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at City Hall in downtown Grants.