Council approves event contract, airport design work and road‑inventory resolution; generator purchase tabled

The Town of Taos Council voted on a series of business and procurement items during its Aug. 26, 2025 meeting. Major outcomes included approval of an events contract, authorization of engineering design work for an airport runway rehabilitation, certification of the town's maintained road mileage, ratification of marketing committee appointments and tabling of a proposed generator purchase pending procurement review.

Desert Rhythms event contract (approved) The council approved entering a contract with High Desert Entertainment LLC for the Desert Rhythms event at Kit Carson Park on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $100,000 inclusive of New Mexico gross‑receipts tax. The contract structure discussed at the meeting described staged payments (the agreement described a $50,000 payment a month before the event, $40,000 before the event and a final $10,000 after receipts are submitted); staff said the final contract would be circulated by email to councilors. Recorded votes at the meeting show Council Member Oswald, Council Member Fernandez and Mayor Pro Tem Fambro/Ambrose voting yes.

Airport Runway 422 rehabilitation — Task Order E (approved) The council approved Task Order E with Lochner for professional engineering services to design rehabilitation work on Runway 422 and to relocate a power control unit for the PAPI system, in the amount of $409,575 inclusive of gross receipts tax. The item was presented as design work required to support an FAA grant application; council recorded votes show Mayor Pro Tempeau, Council Member Oswald and Council Member Fernandez voting yes.

Resolution 25‑51 — Town‑maintained road mileage inventory (approved) Council adopted Resolution 25‑51 certifying the town‑maintained road mileage inventory. Staff reported the inventory lists approximately 59.3 miles of town‑maintained roads and includes start/end coordinates and surface types; staff noted the dataset supports grant applications and asset management. A motion to approve was made by Mr. Mariano and seconded; recorded votes show Mayor Pro Tempeau, Council Member Oswald and Council Member Fernandez voting yes.

Marketing committee appointments (ratified) The mayor's appointments to the marketing committee — Larry Scheck, Christian Wetzel, Lindsay Fafane, David Mapes and Cisco Corvado — were ratified by council. The motion passed with recorded yes votes from Mayor Pro Tem Fambro, Council Member Oswald and Council Member Fernandez.

Easement agreement regarding Calle Del Oso Road (approved) Council approved an easement agreement related to Calle Del Oso Road. The council attorney reported the matter discussed in closed session was proper under New Mexico law and no action resulted from closed session; the easement approval vote was recorded with Council Member Oswald, Mayor Pro Tempeau and Council Member Fernandez voting yes.

Purchase of two generators (tabled) Council considered a proposed purchase of two new 70 kVA (initially described) generators from B & S Power Services using a state price agreement in the amount of $139,300 exclusive of gross receipts tax. During discussion staff and councilors identified ambiguity in the statewide purchasing agreement attachments and whether the specific vendor and line item for "new/replacement generators" included the vendor on the contract. The town attorney and staff advised tabling to allow staff time to pull the statewide pricing documentation into the record. Council voted to continue the item to the Sept. 9 meeting; the tabling vote was recorded with Mayor Pro Tempeau, Council Member Oswald and Council Member Fernandez voting yes.

Consent agenda and other routine business The council approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting; the roll call at that time recorded Council Member Ambrose (yes), Council Member Fernandez (yes) and Council Member Oswald (yes). The council also approved a motion to adjourn at the end of the meeting.

Why it matters: the approved contracts and resolutions affect event operations, airport infrastructure planning, road asset inventories that underpin grant applications and advisory committee staffing. The tabled generator purchase reflects a procurement compliance check and will return to the council with clarified documentation.