GRANTS - Three properties on Lava Drive in Grants, just behind McDonald's, are being required by the State Solid Waste Authority to be cleaned immediately. The city council, at an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, unanimously approved to have what is left of a home demolished and the property cleaned.

    The site is identified as properties owned by Fermin Baca, the late Henry Montaño and the City of Grants. Grants' property of the cleanup site is minimal.

On the land deeded to Baca and Montaño are many a falling building, couches, many tires, rumble from another building torn down elsewhere, piles of clothes and much more. The property looks like a dumpsite.

    The neighbor backyard, south of the properties to be cleaned by the city, looks similar to those of Baca's and Montaño's. However, Baca has since volunteered to help cleanup his yard.

At the meeting, Grants resident Bruce Latham, who lives just north of the dirty properties, complained to the council that he has tried to work with Code Enforcer Marty McBride but had little success.

    “My cat was bringing rats to my home from the dirty property,” Latham told the councilmen. “I can't get nothing done with the City Hall, just lies and lies,” a disgruntled Latham said at the meeting.

Mayor Joe Murrietta said he was not aware of the issue, however, “We need to rectify the problem.”

Councilman Ronald Ortiz made the motion and the council voted yes.

    According to McBride, there is no asbestos or hazardous material on the properties. He did note that the tires would have to be disposed of properly. McBride estimates there are more than 100 tires on the site.

City Manager Bob Horacek said yesterday that he expects clean up on the property to begin as early as next week. “Ultimately the owners will have to pay because we'll put a lien on the property,” said Horacek. “But at this point because of the health hazard circumstances, the priority is to get it cleaned up.”

    Horacek said the mayor is requesting a letter from the Environmental Department stating the emergency of the project because it will justify just how quickly the city is taking action. The property owners, including the city, are in violation of city ordinances. The ordinances state that when a building or property are considered to be dangerous, the city has the authorization to clean the property within the guidelines and ultimately bill the owner to the extent of putting a lien on the property.

Marissa Stone Bardino, Communications Director NMED they have seen no indication of asbestos at the site, inspector Benny Kling inspected the area.

    “We are preparing a letter of noncompliance for the city because the site poses a health hazard.,” she said through email. “Issues at the site are rodents and uncovered waste. The City must respond to our letter within 10 days. We advised the city twice in past months, in August and October, that it should clean up the site because of those health hazards.”

    At the meeting, the city councilors also approved the tabled item for last week's meeting. The councilor's approved for two Ford Rangers to be purchased at Ed Corley Ford in Grants for $32,826.

The next regular city council meeting will be on Nov. 24, 6 p.m., in the City Hall Chambers.