VILLAGE OF CORONA
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Regular Meeting
April 14, 2009
5:30 PM
A Regular Meeting of the Corona Village Council was held on April 14, 2009 at 5:30 P.M. at
Corona Village Hall, Corona, New Mexico.
PRESENT:
Mayor Hignight
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Samuel Seely
Kimberlee Smith
Sherrill Bradford
Terri Racher
EMPLOYEES:
Janet Verna
Turner Wilson
VISITORS:
See attached list.
ABSENT:
The Mayor called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance
FIRST ON THE AGENDA
Approval of Purchase Requisitions and Review of Purchase Vouchers
The Mayor stated there were no Purchase Requisitions to approve.
The Mayor asked if there were any questions regarding the Purchase Vouchers.
The Mayor explained to the Council the office supply purchase was for a new color laser printer.
The Mayor stated the fax machine had broken, and he had shifted printers around the office.
The Mayor stated the Clerk’s printer/scanner/fax was now connected to the fax line. It was
decided the best option was to purchase a new laser printer for the front desk. He stated he had
networked all the printers so they could be accessed from any computer.
There were no other questions from the Council regarding the Purchase Vouchers.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Approval of Minutes
The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the Minutes.
Councilor Seely made a motion to approve the Minutes from the Special Meeting on March 24,
2009.
Councilor Smith seconded the motion.
Councilor Seely noted a correction on page three - Discussion Items - #5 - regarding the use of
“in opportunity” and correcting it to “an opportunity”.
The Mayor called the vote.
The Clerk called the roll.
Councilor Bradford: For
Councilor Racher: For
Councilor Seely: For
Councilor Smith: For
None Opposed.
Motion Passed.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Approval of Resolution #09-02 regarding Procedural Manual for Operations, Maintenance
and Emergencies for the Natural Gas System
The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the Resolution.
Councilor Bradford made a motion to approve Resolution #09-02 regarding the Procedural
Manual for Operations, Maintenance and Emergencies for the Village of Corona Natural Gas
System.
Councilor Racher seconded the motion.
The Mayor stated the PRC had inspected the Natural Gas System some months ago and had
found problems with the Procedural Manual. He also stated the PRC had assisted the Village by
doing most of the work to correct the Procedural Manual to its current “violation free” status.
The Mayor stated the Procedural Manual had been audited 3 years previously and had been
approved at the time. He stated he thought the PRC felt bad that the Village had been misled
three years ago, and they were willing to help with making the corrections.
The Mayor stated the PRC had recently sent back the corrected Procedural Manual, and Mr.
Wilson had made only a few necessary changes specific to the Corona system.
The Mayor stated the new Procedural Manual had been approved by the PRC and requested the
policy be formally adopted by Resolution by the Corona Council.
The Mayor called the vote.
The Clerk called the roll.
Councilor Bradford: For
Councilor Seely: For
Councilor Racher: For
Councilor Smith: For
None Opposed.
Motion Passed.
The Mayor stated Mr. Wilson had recently mailed a letter regarding his response to the other
violations, but Mr. Wilson had not yet heard back from the PRC regarding his letter.
Councilor Bradford commented by asking Mr. Wilson if he had time to get all the violations
corrected as scheduled before the deadline.
Mr. Wilson answered by saying that the PRC viewed each violation as a critical item, and each
violation had to be dealt with in a timely manner. He stated if he spaced the length of time to
correct each violation too far apart, his response letter would be rejected.
Councilor Bradford stated that she was impressed with the task spacing and hoped Mr. Wilson
would be able to accomplish the schedule.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Approval of Lease Agreement between the Village of Corona and the County of Lincoln
regarding the Health Clinic
The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the Lease.
Councilor Bradford made a motion to approve the Lease Agreement between the Village of
Corona and the County of Lincoln regarding the use of the Health Clinic facility.
Councilor Racher seconded the motion.
The Mayor asked if there were any questions or comment about the Clinic Lease.
The Mayor explained the Lease was the same as the previous year.
The Mayor stated changes had been made three years prior regarding how the utility bill for the
clinic would be split.
Councilor Bradford commented on the third paragraph and asked if there had been any other
changes made to the Lease after the previous agreement.
The Clerk answered by stating there had been no other changes to the Lease.
The Mayor also commented that there had not been any changes since the 2006 agreement, and
although nothing new was being amended, they had to keep the same language in the current
agreement as was used in the 2006 agreement.
The Mayor called the vote.
The Clerk called the roll.
Councilor Smith: For
Councilor Bradford: For
Councilor Seely: For
Councilor Racher: For
None Opposed.
Motion Passed.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Approval of 2006-2007 Audit
The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the Audit.
Councilor Bradford made a motion to approve the 2006-2007 Audit.
Councilor Seely seconded the motion.
The Mayor stated that the Village had finally received approval for the 2006-2007 Audit.
The Clerk commented that the Office of the State Auditor had been two years behind in the audit
approval process. She stated she had heard the Governor had mandated the State Auditor to
complete the 2007-2008 audits first, and that is why the 2006-2007 Audit was approved at a later
date even though it had been the prior year.
The Mayor stated there had been no new findings.
The Mayor called the vote.
The Clerk called the roll.
Councilor Seely: For
Councilor Bradford: For
Councilor Racher: For
Councilor Smith: For
None Opposed.
Motion Passed.
Councilor Smith asked if the Village was now caught up on the audits.
The Mayor replied yes the Village was current on their audits.
The Clerk stated the Village’s current Auditor was still under contract for one more year.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Approval of Request for 2009/2010 Rural Bookmobile East Financial Support
The Mayor asked for a motion to approve $250.00 for financial support for the rural bookmobile.
Councilor Bradford made a motion to approve the request for $250.00 for the Rural Bookmobile
East.
Councilor Seely seconded the motion.
The Mayor stated the Village supported the bookmobile each year, and even though the Village
now had a Library, the bookmobile still supported many people in the community.
The Mayor asked if there were any other questions regarding the bookmobile.
Councilor Bradford stated the bookmobile offered resources to the community that the Library
did not have, and she thought it was a good idea to continue support.
The Mayor called the vote.
The Clerk called the roll.
Councilor Smith: For
Councilor Seely: For
Councilor Racher: For
Councilor Bradford: For
None Opposed.
Motion Passed
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Public Works Update- Turner Wilson
Brown Water: Mr. Wilson stated the Village was currently experiencing a brown water problem.
Mr. Wilson reported a power failure had occurred on the previous Saturday night and caused the
Red Cloud storage tanks and miles of pipeline to be drained. Due to an existing bacterial film
inside the pipeline, turbulence had caused the film to dislodge and mix with the water when it reentered the pipeline.
Mr. Wilson stated the water had been very dark, and he had no other explanation other than the
power failure.
Mr. Wilson reported the Adedge system was otherwise working very well, and he expected the
brown water problem to be on its way out by the following day.
Mr. Wilson suggested a future project involving the purchase of a generator for the well site so a
power outage would not cause the storage tanks to drain and jeopardize the water system.
Treatment Plant: Mr. Wilson stated he was having problems with the current chlorinator, and he
was planning to purchase a new system that was more suitable for the current arrangement in the
well house.
Mr. Wilson reported the NMED would be in Corona on Thursday April 16th to do a sanitary test
on the water system. Mr. Wilson reported the routine test was conducted every three years by
the NMED. Mr. Wilson did not anticipate any problems to result from the inspection.
Mr. Wilson reported Adedge had replaced the problem computer chip and the filtration system
was now fully working as designed.
Mr. Wilson publicly thanked the Rachers for the use of their excavator to break the rock for the
Huey Lane Water Line.
Gas System: Mr. Wilson reported several of the Natural Gas System violations involved El Paso
Natural Gas. Mr. Wilson stated he would be meeting with Charlie Lueras from El Paso the
following day, and he expected to solve several of the violations caused by El Paso paperwork.
Solid Waste: Turner stated the solid waste department was operating ok. However, the
situation continued to be a balancing act in order to keep the recycling bins and compactors
emptied and exchanged on a regular basis.
Mr. Wilson reported he had changed the oil in the compactors, and their operation had greatly
improved. Mr. Wilson stated he thought the compactor oil had not been changed for the past 10
years.
Wastewater: Mr. Wilson stated the treatment plant and head works had been completed. He
reported the electrician and plumber were currently working on the building pad. He also
reported the landscapers would start the on the athletic field drip system the following week.
Councilor Bradford mentioned she had seen motorcycles and 4 wheelers at the athletic field
during the past weekend, and suggested the gate be locked during and after the drip system was
installed.
The Mayor stated the Clerk had been working on the gas brochure and was almost finished. She
planned to have it ready for mailing in the near future.
The Mayor noted a sample of the brochure had been given to each Councilor.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Discussion Items from the Mayor
1. The Mayor stated he would be attending the District 6 Municipal League Meeting on April
15, 2009 in Cloudcroft. He stated Councilor Bradford, Councilor Seely and the Clerk would also
be attending the meeting with him.
2. The Mayor stated he would be presenting a new Natural Gas Ordinance at the next meeting.
3. The Mayor stated he would present a new Trash Ordinance as soon as Lincoln County Solid
Waste Authority announced their rate increase.
4. The Mayor stated he would also be reviewing the water rates during the budget process and
would also present new water rates if it was necessary.
5. The Mayor reported he and the Clerk would soon start working on the 2010 Budget, and their
focus would be on building a conservative plan to build reserves in the Enterprise Funds.
The Mayor asked if there were any other questions or comments.
Councilor Bradford inquired about purchasing a new truck for the Public Works Department.
The Mayor stated it would also be a priority to increase payroll and benefits to make room for an
additional full time employee in the Public Works Department.
The Clerk updated the Council on the plans for the statewide Free Fishing Day.
Councilor Bradford mentioned the Muncy sign installation.
Mr. Wilson mentioned the Clerk had received an award from the Rural Water Association for
Office Manager of the Year.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Adjournment
Councilor Seely made a motion to adjourn.
Councilor Racher seconded the motion.
The Mayor called the vote.
The Clerk called the roll.
Councilor Racher: For
Councilor Bradford: For
Councilor Smith: For
Councilor Seely: For
None Opposed.
Motion Passed
Approved
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William E. Hignight, Mayor
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Date
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Janet L. Verna, Clerk/Treasurer
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Date