The Española city council passed its municipal project wish list at a special Sept. 30 finance board meeting, but with the city three years behind on its audits, the list itself might be wishful thinking.
The infrastructure capital improvement plan, a list of priorities that every public entity has to submit to qualify for state funding, was created this year by Councilor Pedro Valdez.
This year had a new library tech center once again at the top of the list for capital outlay money. The library was followed by utility improvements to Riverside Drive, sewer line extensions on State Road 76, construction of a rental facility at the Industrial Park business park, and repairs to McCurdy Road.
Before debate began, Mayor Alice Lucero reminded the council that items low on the plan or not listed at all could still be eligible for funding, exemplifying the money the city was appropriated last year from the state for garage repairs to the La Joya Street fire house despite the project not being listed.
Even with Lucero’s admonishments, Councilor Peggy Martinez was still unhappy with the plan.
“I just really, really feel that it’s time for this council to represent the public and wake up because we have a lot of work to do,” Martinez said.
Martinez ally Councilor Robert Seeds supported the plan, if only because the city’s audit situation might preclude them from state funding altogether.
“I believe that the chance of getting any money at all are slim to none, honestly,” Seeds said.
Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Tim Salazar begrudgingly supported the plan, reasoning that the capital outlay money shouldn’t be jeopardized because of his dislike of the plan’s order.
Lucero told the council and the audience she was still trying to work with the Department of Finance Administration to obtain a fiscal agent to disperse state funding.
When put to a vote, the plan passed 7 to 1, with Martinez voting against it.
This was the second time the council passed the plan in as many weeks. At a Sept. 24 council meeting, the plan was adopted on a 4 to 3 vote, with Lucero breaking a tie when Martinez, Salazar and Councilor Cory Lewis voted against it while Seeds and Councilor Eric Radosevich were absent. According to Lucero, they had to vote again because the plan needed five affirmative votes to pass.