Village Insider | Vol. XIV | October 2022

Hello to all! Fall is in the air, and it is a beautiful time to be in Ruidoso. September has been one for the record books with all the events, attractions, and blessed rain. In all my years here, I have never seen it greener than it is this year. We are truly “Living in Nature’s Playground.” Thank you to all the visitors and locals alike that made this summer a financial success. It really takes all of us working together to make everything happen.

The Ride Ruidoso event was a resounding success by all accounts. The two-day event raised a lot of funds for the victims of the McBride Fire and other local deserving organizations. Thank you to all, I am truly proud of our Village.

On to October and the All American CowboyFest, AspenFest with the parade and the after-party festivities in Wingfield Park, the 2nd Annual Indigenous Celebration at Wingfield Park, and many more. Be sure and check DiscoverRuidoso.com for a complete listing of events.

We continue to push forward on the workforce housing development along with the other 65 projects in process. I am proud to announce the hiring of the new Village Clerk, Jini Turri. She has loads of experience and the certificates to do well for the Village.

The recent retirement of Rodney Griego, our Parks & Recreation Director, after 30 years of service brings the end of an era in our Parks & Recreation Department. We will miss him dearly and wish him and his family well - thank you, Rod. The process of hiring a new director is in the works. We had 22 applicants apply for the position, and to-date have narrowed it to our top three.

September will also see the retirement of another longtime employee, Jodi Rue. Jodi has been in the water department for 23 years and has always been a valued member of the VOR team. Again, we will most certainly miss Jodi at work, but I know his family will be glad to have him around more. All the luck and blessings to him and his family - thank you, Jodi.

Let’s all look forward to fall and the coming winter. Take time to enjoy the beauty of the Village and the people in it. Look out for our celebrity residents and of course, I’m talking about the wildlife. The fall rut will be starting soon, and the wonders of nature will be on full display. Stay vigilant while driving through town, as the wildlife doesn’t obey the rules of the road, and it is up to us to be aware.

Again, thanks to all for your continued giving of your precious time and financial support. Tune in to our radio show, Monday with the Mayor on 1490 AM – The Mountain from 8:00-10:00 AM every Monday for all the news in Ruidoso.

Until next time be safe, enjoy every day, and stay close to your family and friends.

Mayor Lynn Crawford

VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS

Recent Actions

At the September 13, 2022 Regular Council meeting, the Governing Body:

» Approved the Appointment of Jini Turri as Village Clerk.

» Approved Contract for Services between the County of Lincoln and Village of Ruidoso to Provide Library Services to All Citizens within the Boundaries of Lincoln County.

» Adopted Ordinance 2022-06, an Ordinance Amending the Village of Ruidoso Municipal Code of Ordinance; Chapter 54 - Land Use; Article II. - Zoning; Division 5. - Signs; Sections 54-181 Through 186; Sections 54-188 Through 192; and Sections 54-193 Through 196.

» Rifle Salas - Mayor Pro Tem

» Susan Lutterman

» Joe Eby

» Gary Jackson

» Tim Coughlin

» Darren Hooker

» Adopted Ordinance 2022-07, an Ordinance Amending Chapter 86 - Utilities; Article III. - Sewers; Section 86-64. - Determination of Revenues, Expenses and Debt Service.

» Adopted Resolution 2022-42, a Resolution Authorizing Submission of an Aviation Grant Application AIP Project No. 35-0052-031-2022 with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Authorization to Accept the Resulting Grant Offer and to Authorize the Mayor to Sign Grant Agreement and Serve as the Sponsor’s Authorized Representative for the Runway 12/30 Mill and Overlay Project, in the Amount of $7,046,585.94, Including Gross Receipts Tax.

» Adopted Resolution 2022-43, a Resolution Allowing Participation in Local Government Transportation Project Fund Program Administered by New Mexico Department of Transportation and Approval of Project No. (Control No. LP20027) for Village of Ruidoso Roadway Improvements, in the Amount of $1,425,000.00.

» Approved contract for Public Transportation with Zia Therapy Center to Provide Public Transportation within the Village of Ruidoso, in the Amount of $68,492.97, for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.

» Approved Ratification of Production Agreement with Saul Aguilar d/b/a J & S Pro Sound for Promotion and Production for Annual Entertainment Program for AspenFest.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Rodney Griego Retires after 30 Years with Parks & Recreation

Rodney Griego, Director of Parks & Recreation for the VOR, has retired after 30 years of service. Rodney has been instrumental in carrying out his vision for Parks & Recreation, adding so much value to the community through the years. He has been instrumental in the success of multiple programs, from planning community projects to developing community events, managing a multitude of parks, to overseeing little league sports. The list of his accomplishments goes on and on. Rodney’s leadership encouraged Parks & Recreation staff to execute and accomplish so much. Rodney has been an integral part of the VOR and a great role model for all Village employees. With the achievements of Parks & Recreation under Rodney’s leadership and encouragement, there is no doubt that the department is poised for continued success moving forward.

Thank you for all you have done for this Village, Rodney. You will be greatly missed!

Ruidoso Village Council Members

Rodney Griego

Mayor Elected as New Mexico Municipal League Vice President

Mayor Lynn Crawford was recently elected Vice President of the New Mexico Municipal League at the League’s 65th Annual Conference in Albuquerque on September 1st. All officers and directors will assume their duties on October 1st. Mayor Crawford currently serves as Treasurer, an office he was elected to during the 2021 Annual Conference. Throughout the year, the League works with State Legislators and the Executive Branch to develop policies, laws, and regulations that facilitate operating municipal government. The League’s Board of Directors is critical in guiding policy and helping local governments provide services.

VOR Officials Present to New Mexico Municipal League

On September 1st, Village Manager Tim Dodge and County Manager Ira Pearson traveled to the New Mexico Municipal League conference to conduct a presentation titled Power in Partnerships . The two managers discussed ongoing collaborative efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they highlighted that these partnerships produced an outcome that cannot be achieved by cities or counties by themselves. Since that time, the Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County have worked hand-in-hand on the McBride Fire, monsoon flooding clean-up, road improvements, short-term rental permitting, and workforce housing. The support of two governing bodies has presented an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on Village-County collaborations to boost economic mobility. Working together, community leaders have effectively created transformative joint solutions to address regional challenges.

Jini Turri moved from the Village of Cloudcroft, where she recently served as their Deputy Clerk, Village Clerk, Administrator, and Project Manager for the past 13 years, and lived for the past 21 years. She has worked in state and local government for over 25 years and has a Certified Master Clerks (CMC) certification, a Master Municipal Clerks (MMC) certification, and a designation as a Certified Public Official through the NMSU-EDGE Program. TO THE VOR TEAM:

Jini Turri

Airport 575-336-8111

Convention Center 575-258-5445

Judicial 575-257-9055

Library 575-258-3704

Parks & Recreation 575-257-5030

Police 575-258-7365

Fire 575-257-3473

Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant (RWWTP) 575-378-8417

Senior Center 575-257-4565

Solid Waste 575-257-1502

Street Works 575-257-6023

Water Distribution and Sewer Collections 575-257-2386

Water Production 575-257-5525

Water Rights/Watershed (RJU) 575-258-6913

ON THE HOUSING FRONT

Severe Weather Hampers Progress on Workforce Housing Project

White Sands Construction and Renegade Construction are currently experiencing a three-week delay due to the weather. The home sites are under construction, with sewer and water infrastructure installed, and preparations for placement of the manufactured homes are underway. Selected skirting has been changed to a decorative faux rock as the lead time for the split-faced brick was ten weeks out, which would have caused additional delays. The VOR understand that the community is excited to have residents move into the homes, but the delays being experienced are beyond the contractor’s control. Your patience is appreciated as the project moves toward completion.

VILLAGE HALL: 575-258-4343

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Water Resources and the McBride Fire Burn Scar

The Village has been working with regional partners to help recovery in Gavilan Canyon after the McBride Fire. The fire burned through Gavilan Canyon into the Eagle Creek drainage in early April 2022. Since the fire, the VOR and Lincoln County have implemented a debris clean-up program with the help of national volunteer groups, including the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Samaritan’s Purse. Much of the debris was quickly removed shortly after the fire due to these efforts, but clean-up work remains.

After a wildfire, an affected area is prone to increased chances of flooding and fast-moving, deadly landslides known as debris flows. These are powerful mixtures of mud, rocks, boulders, entire trees, and sometimes homes or vehicles. Debris flows occur most commonly during intense rain after wildfires. A debris flow doesn’t need sustained rain or a saturated slope. It can start on a dry slope after only a few minutes of intense rain, such as a burst of rain at a fast rate (~1/2” in an hour).

Many projects are being created to reduce these post-fire impacts. The VOR partnered with Lincoln County to implement the Emergency Watershed Protection Program through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRSC). Work through this program is being completed on private, state, and municipal lands to reduce erosion and reestablish vegetation in the burned areas. Currently, wattles and native grass seeds are being spread throughout Gavilan Canyon and the Eagle Creek drainage with help from the EcoServants. Additional projects, including trash racks and sediment ponds, will be installed soon in areas prone to debris flows.

The Village has also partnered with the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Division of Forestry to implement sediment and debris basins in the Lincoln Nation Forest near the Warrior Drive and Gavilan Canyon Road intersection. This project was funded by the Division of Forestry and has been implemented by the VOR. Despite not being finished, the sediment and debris basins have substantially reduced the amount of debris and sediment moving downstream that had the potential to cause damage to Meander Drive and Gavilan Canyon Road Bridge. Basin construction has been delayed because of regular rain events this monsoon season. However, the project is expected to be completed by mid-October.

Federal Agencies have also been supportive of post-fire efforts, including the United States Geological Survey, which has installed seven new precipitation gauges throughout Lincoln County. These rain gauges have been instrumental in helping Lincoln County and the Village close down Gavilan Canyon Road to traffic before flooding and debris flows occur. The USFS has also implemented several projects on the Lincoln National Forest through its Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program. These efforts have included closing public access on Forest Service lands west of Blue Lake Road (120A) and installing warning signs on hiking trails and roads in the burn area. Furthermore, on September 1st, the USFS performed aerial seeding with a helicopter on 355 acres of the Lincoln National Forest that were the most severely burned.

The VOR will continue working with regional partners to monitor the burned area for the next several years, implementing additional hazard mitigation projects. These projects could include upsizing several culverts throughout Gavilan Canyon, and the potential replacement of the Gavilan Canyon Road Bridge as funding allows.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UPDATE

From the Desk of Executive Director Deborah Douds

Fall is in the air, and we’re busy getting ready for the Fall/Winter season in Ruidoso. We are honored to have Helen Barajas Woodfin as our Grand Marshal for this year’s AspenFest Parade. Helen moved to Ruidoso with her family in 1942. She was in the first class that went through all four years at the new Ruidoso High School, graduating in 1951. Helen believes there have been many wonderful changes in the years since she first moved to Ruidoso! She is especially happy to see the efforts of the Village to provide much-needed low-cost housing for our work force. Helen has seen Ruidoso grow from a small town with dirt roads in 1942, to today’s booming tourism destination, making us one of the highlights in our great state of New Mexico.

During her years in Ruidoso, Helen has been involved in many different projects to help make Ruidoso a better place to live, work, and play. Helen competed for the title of Frontier Days Rodeo Queen in 1948. During the competition, she and her competitor, Mary Wimberly, joined local celebrity Ray Reed’s tour to promote Ruidoso and the three-day rodeo and racing event. In 1949, Helen, as President of the Ruidoso Youth Club, presided at a town meeting proposing a new youth center. Helen served as part of the Ruidoso Altrusa Club for 19 years. Her father, Frank Barajas, served as the Village Marshall in 1947. Thank you, Helen, for honoring us as the 2022 Grand Marshal of the AspenFest Parade!

The AspenFest Parade is on Saturday, October 1st at 10 AM in Midtown, followed by a two-day festival in Wingfield Park featuring beer, wine, food, arts and crafts, and other vendors, as well as live music by The Young Dubliners, Al Hurricane Jr., The Memphis Band, Lone Pinon, and the Foggy Memory Boys, just to name a few. Tickets for the festival are available on Eventbrite.com and parade applications can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce.

New Chamber members this past month include Nana’s Sweet D-Lites. Nana’s is located in Midtown at 2314 Sudderth Drive, and her cupcakes are some of the best in town! Sheri has been a passionate baker for over 30 years, and it’s no surprise that her sweets and coffees are delicious. Stop in for a “sweet d-lite” or two! We would also like to welcome Walmart as a new member. Walmart is a staple business in Ruidoso Downs, and they are truly one-stop shopping; where else can you get an oil change and shop for groceries at the same time?

RUIDOSO MIDTOWN ASSOCIATION UPDATE

From the Desk of Executive Director Kendra King

After a nice, warm summer and what seemed like an extra-long rainy season, Ruidoso is finally enjoying perfect 75-degree days, with sun and green all around us.

On September 10th, the VOR hosted a C-10 Truck Show in Wingfield Park to kick-off Ride Ruidoso Week. That same week, RMA had the honor of hosting the New Mexico State Main Street Annual Fall Seminar. Over 100 people attended the conference, including our local government and neighboring communities’ officials. It was a wonderful opportunity for our community to have so many people from across the state here.

RMA had an hour-long showcase presentation where we were able to share our success stories with our state-level peers. The group attended business education lectures, but it wasn’t all just grueling paperwork. We enjoyed receptions at Downshift Brewery and Noisy Water Winery. We sampled tacos from Comal Restaurant (located in the Gazebo Shopping Center) and had two interactive workshops as we walked through Midtown. One was a promotional workshop, in which ten businesses participated, creating a fun highlight video shared on social media to promote and show off these unique places and what they offer. The second activity focused on the Metropolitan Redevelopment discussion. Having an outside opinion of areas that could be improved adds to the diversity we try to consider when making plans for our community and its visitors.

Overall, having the entire New Mexico Main Street participants in Ruidoso for three days was successful and productive. Many thanks to State Director Daniel Gutierrez and everyone on the team that came together and chose Ruidoso this year.

The Halloween in Midtown event is scheduled to take place on October 26th this year! Although the RMA wasn’t established until 2017, the merchants of Midtown have long been working together to give local children a safe and fun Halloween holiday. In the past, we always did the event on Halloween. After RMA was formed, it was determined that having the event on a Wednesday was a great solution to not interfere with local business traffic. Also, the Ruidoso Schools have early release on Wednesdays, which makes it easier for everyone to participate.

We have also added several aspects to the event, including shutting down Sudderth parade-style, adding entertainment with a Pumpkin Roll, Coffin Races, and a Haunted Park at Wingfield, and we will continue to add events every year! About 3000 families pass through Midtown during this event, and all merchants fund their own candy disbursement.

Here is a peek at the schedule for Wednesday, October 26th:

» Trick-or-Treating: 3:00-5:00 PM

» Coffin Race: 4:00 PM (get your teams of three registered through RMA!)

» Costume Contest: 5:00 PM

» Pumpkin Roll: 5:30 PM

» Thousands of dollars in prizes will be offered!

As always, reach out to me via email (kendraeking@gmail.com) or via phone (575-973-0967), or any member of the board with any questions or concerns. Follow our Facebook page for current updates and event information.

Local Margaret Madrid and her entry to the C-10 Truck Show

October EVENTS

OCTOBER 15:

• Wingfield Market

• Jade Throneberry, Lost Hiker Brewing Company

• 10th Annual Health and Wellness Fair, Inn of the Mountain Gods

OCTOBER 16:

• Alto Farmer’s and Craft Market, Enchanted Vine Barn

OCTOBER 19:

• Ruidoso Writer’s Group, Ruidoso Public Library

OCTOBER 22:

• Wingfield Market (last one for the season)

OCTOBER 23:

• Alto Farmer’s and Craft Market, Enchanted Vine Barn

OCTOBER 26:

• Midtown Halloween Trick or Treat and Pumpkin Roll, Midtown Ruidoso

OCTOBER 1:

• AspenFest Parade and Festival, Midtown and Wingfield Park

• All American CowboyFest, Ruidoso Downs Race Track

• Fall Brawl USSSA Baseball

• Wingfield Market

• JJ Woods with the Doso Dirtbags, Lost Hiker Brewing Company

• The Letterman, The Spencer Theater

OCTOBER 2:

• AspenFest Festival, Wingfield Park

• All American CowboyFest, Ruidoso Downs Race Track

• Fall Brawl USSSA Baseball

• Alto Farmer’s and Craft Market, Enchanted Vine Barn

OCTOBER 5:

• Ruidoso Writer’s Group, Ruidoso Public Library

OCTOBER 8:

• Wingfield Market

• Indigenous Celebration, Wingfield Park

OCTOBER 9:

• Alto Farmer’s and Craft Market, Enchanted Vine Barn

• Indigenous Celebration, Wingfield Park

OCTOBER 28:

• Haunted Walk, Wingfield Park

OCTOBER 29:

• Haunted Walk, Wingfield Park

• Chef Robert Irvine, Inn of the Mountain Gods

• Ambrosia Live, The Spencer Theater

• Three Kings of Comedy, Ruidoso Convention Center

OCTOBER 30:

• Alto Farmer’s and Craft Market, Enchanted Vine Barn

OCTOBER 5:

• Shapes Storytime, Ruidoso Public Library, 10:30 AM

OCTOBER 7:

• Youth Night, Rarebird Workshop, 6 PM

OCTOBER 12:

• Spiders! Storytime, Ruidoso Public Library, 10:30 AM

OCTOBER 14:

• Teen Paint Night, Ruidoso Public Library, 4:30 PM

• Youth Night, Rarebird Workshop, 6 PM

OCTOBER 16:

• Girls ART & Dance Party, Rarebird Workshop, 6:30-8 PM

OCTOBER 18:

• Toying with Science Class Acts Program, the Spencer Theater, 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM

OCTOBER 19:

• Being Brave Storytime, Ruidoso Public Library, 10:30 AM

OCTOBER 21:

• Youth Night, Rarebird Workshop, 6 PM

OCTOBER 26:

• Fun with Shadows Storytime, Ruidoso Public Library, 10:30 AM

• Halloween Food Craft (all ages), Ruidoso Public Library, 1:30 PM

• Midtown Halloween Extravaganza 3-6 PM

OCTOBER 28:

• Youth Night, Rarebird Workshop, 6 PM

Check of events visit full details on event.

NOVEMBER 2:

• Ruidoso Writer’s Group, Ruidoso Public Library

NOVEMBER 4:

• The Magic of Robert Lake, The Spencer Theater

NOVEMBER 4-6:

• A Christmas Affair, Ruidoso Convention Center

NOVEMBER 10:

• The Fabulous Patriotic Equinox Orchestra, The Spencer Theater

NOVEMBER 11-13:

• Christmas Jubilee, Ruidoso Convention Center

NOVEMBER 16:

• Ruidoso Writer’s Group, Ruidoso Public Library

NOVEMBER 18-20:

• Alamo Evening Lions Gun Show, Ruidoso Convention Center

NOVEMBER 26:

• Turkey Trot, White Mountain Recreation Sports Complex

• Teo Gonzalez & Rogelio Ramos, Inn of the Mountain Gods

Saturday, November 26, 2022 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM White Mountain Sports Complex

Check visit

DECEMBER 1:

• Christmas in the Park, Wingfield Park

DECEMBER 3:

• Festival of Lights Parade and After Party, Midtown Ruidoso and Wingfield Park

DECEMBER 17-18:

• The Nutcracker, The Spencer Theater

LODGER’S TAX BOARD UPDATE

Chairman Alan Riches Steps Down, New Members Welcomed

Alan Riches has served on the Ruidoso Lodger’s Tax Committee since 2016, most recently as the Chairman. As Riches prepares to step down from the committee, the VOR would like to thank him and the other members for their steadfast support of this community’s tourism efforts. During Riches’ time on the advisory board, LTC revenues have increased from $1.6 million, to $2.8 million marking unprecedented growth. Riches and his wife Kristin are the owners of Story Book Cabins in the Upper Canyon.

The current Lodger’s Tax Committee includes:

» Everett Brophy (owner of Dynamic Discs)

» Mike Cheney (owner of Win, Place & Show)

» Anna Dozier (former owner of Happy Hiker and Midtown Mountain Campground)

» Robert Duncan (owner of Upper Canyon Lodging Co.)

» Lori Robertson (owner of Sitzmark Chalet and 25th & Mid)

Funds generated by lodger’s tax collections are used to support local tourism efforts, including marketing, advertising, recreation projects, and special events.

Alan Riches