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Mesilla trustees hear public‑safety and community projects updates; resident asks to extend bulky‑item pickup service
Summary
Trustees received reports on Fire/EMS call volumes and fall‑prevention outreach, public works traffic work (temporary four‑way stop), community garden and Earth Day cleanup plans; a resident requested extending a Las Cruces bulky‑item pickup ('grappler') service to Mesilla.
At the Feb. 23 Mesilla Board of Trustees meeting, staff briefed trustees on public‑safety trends, traffic work and several community projects, and a resident asked the board whether a bulky‑item collection service used in Las Cruces could be extended to Mesilla.
Fire/EMS representative (speaking for Chief White) reported call volumes of 197 incidents in January and about 130 so far in February; the department said it had transported 143 people so far this year, with two transports to El Paso. Staff also reported an uptick in dispatches coded as 'sick case' (non‑stroke, non‑cardiac illness) and urged residents to get flu vaccines and practice hygiene. The department proposed fall‑prevention outreach and home‑safety surveys to reach elderly residents, and said it would coordinate possible flyers and translated materials with senior programs and meal delivery services.
Public works and operations staff said crews will convert the intersection of New Mexico 101 (University Avenue) in La Mesilla to a temporary four‑way stop beginning this week (referred to in the meeting as the 23rd to the 27th), with work continuing about a month while crews remove existing lighting and install the new control. Staff gave guidance for motorists (first vehicle to stop proceeds; yield to pedestrians) and said signage and public notices will be used.
Trustees and staff also updated the board about community efforts: the town recently signed a deed acquiring a new parcel for community use; volunteers and staff collected 14 bags of trash during a recent cleanup; a community garden and planting days are planned for late March; a charging station and commemorative park are expected to be ready by Earth Day; and staff submitted a letter of intent for a local government road fund (LGRF) project. The community‑garden group 'Adelante' has reportedly applied for additional grant funding to support tools and supplies.
During public comment, resident Laurie Miller asked about extending a bulky‑item pickup service she called the 'grappler' (a service described in a Las Cruces program) to Mesilla to help residents dispose of large items and reduce litter. The mayor thanked Miller and the board moved on; no formal motion to act on the request was recorded in the transcript.
What happens next: staff said they will explore coordination for fall‑prevention outreach with senior programs and consider public notices for the traffic work; the board’s next regular meeting will include a heavier packet and multiple grant and ordinance items to review.
