Mayor reports housing rehab program, Lodgers Tax review after St. James Hotel closure

CIMARRON — Mayor Eloy Brazil told the Village Council on Sept. 11 that he and Councilor Ernie LeDoux met with North Central Council of Governments staff about a program to buy, rehabilitate and resell houses, including a 15% incentive for first-time homebuyers in the region.

The mayor said they drove around to identify possible units for the program. He also reported the insurance company has released Archuleta Restoration from a local project and that a new contractor will be hired to finish work on a village project. He invited the governing body to a final walk-through of the Water Treatment Plant project scheduled for Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Mayor Brazil said Village Hall would be closed for two days for sanitizing and announced the St. James Hotel and restaurant would close Sept. 16. "I hope someone will open it back up," he said, expressing grief over the closing. He said the village will analyze Lodgers Tax revenues, budgets and expenses in December to determine whether allocations to events and the Chamber should be reduced given that loss of lodging revenue.

Administrator Shawn Jeffrey reported a hauling option for white goods from Arthur Roll Off at $300 a load and said she would check whether refrigerants such as freon must be removed prior to hauling. The mayor also raised traffic-enforcement concerns and said he will seek a speed trailer and request a patrol schedule from Sheriff Baca; Councilor Ernie LeDoux suggested an NMDOT grant might be available to address the highway-related issue.