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Town of Taos asked to receive TCDC assets so Mobile Matanza can get environmental permit
Summary
TCDC and Town of Taos representatives asked the county to transfer grant‑purchased assets currently on county books but on town property so the town can apply for an environmental permit to build wastewater infrastructure for a Mobile Matanza; staff noted state approvals will be required for disposition of equipment valued over statutory thresholds.
Representatives of the Taos County Economic Development Corporation (TCDC), joined by Mayor Pascual Maestas and Town of Taos officials, asked the commission to transfer assets purchased with a Food Security Act grant from Taos County to the Town of Taos to enable the town to apply for an environmental (wastewater) permit required for a Mobile Matanza processing and agricultural project.
Mayor Pascual Maestas and TCDC representatives described the project as intended to support ranchers and ag producers and said having the assets on town property creates administrative hurdles for applying for the environment permit. “The assets currently are on the county's books. The assets sit on town property,” Mayor Maestas said, arguing that consolidating responsibility under one government would accelerate permitting and implementation.
County staff explained equipment value and state disposal rules: because the equipment’s value exceeds statutory thresholds (staff cited $1,200,000 and referenced State Board of Finance approval rules and DFA involvement), the county would need to prepare a property disposition package and secure state approvals before transferring assets. Staff said they had already started preparing documentation and that a future resolution and package would be brought back for formal action.
Town representatives signaled council support for taking on the assets and the permit application; TCDC staff said the organization has secured multiyear funding for project leadership and is prepared to proceed once the permitting pathway is clarified. Commissioners asked about the required state approvals and next steps; staff outlined an administrative process that will return to the commission as a formal disposition resolution once paperwork and state signoffs are prepared.
