Village Insider | Vol. XXV | September 2023

People say time flies when you’re having fun, people are also thinking “Whew, I made it!” Whichever fits you, I hope you had fun and that it was a successful summer for you in all aspects.

The Village has completed many projects over the last few months, Paradise Canyon repairs, Hull Road repaving, many other roads throughout the Village have been worked on, potholes galore have been repaired, and more. The airport lighting and repaving of runways and taxiways is close to completion, Parks & Recreation summer programs were a big success, and our police department has conducted many traffic surveys. I could go on and on. Thank you to all departments - the Village is blessed to have so many awesome employees!

The summer of 2023 was a record one for this beautiful Mountain Village financially. Our receipts for GRT were a record for fiscal year 2023, and 2024 is starting off great. Taxable Gross Receipts for May, reported in June and distributed in July were up $1,530,785 or 4.5% year-over-year, with June’s being up 18.75%. In addition, year-to-date revenue is up 33.41% for July’s report which represents a $375,428 increase.

As we move into fall, get ready for the first Concerts in the Park with Slade Coulter, Sarah Rowe, Kyle Park, and the Josh Abbott Band. It is also a great time for brisk walks and watching nature show off her colors with beautiful weather and fall foliage. This is truly my favorite time of the year. Take advantage of all the activities in the Village and remember that you can stay informed of all events and happenings by visiting DiscoverRuidoso.com.

Several new projects will be starting soon including the repaving of the walking trail at the Links which will make it look and feel brand-new, along with the new trail on Moon Mountain. Repaving of Sudderth, from the “Y” to Mechem will also start. I know it will be a pain, but the new surface will be greatly appreciated. New water lines are coming for the Pinecliff area of town and design for new water lines for the Country Club area will start along with inspections of many of our water storage facilities. Work will continue in the Upper Canyon on the sewer line project that will run along the Rio Ruidoso to the Waste Water Plant. And let’s not forget that the Wingfield Heritage House Museum is nearing completion along with Phase 1 of the Horton Complex and the Consolidated Dispatch. As usual there is a lot going on, and just remember that it takes work to look this pretty.

Speaking of pretty, thank you to the many volunteers that pick-up trash around the Village. Comments pour in on how clean or community is - thank you! As for volunteers, you are amazing. Our community boards and commissions are full. If you want to get involved, meet new friends, and learn about your Village, there are still many opportunities and ways to get involved. Go to the Ruidoso Public Library and volunteer with the literacy program, stop by the Community Center and participate in one of the many activities, take your puppy to the dog park and meet some wonderful people (and if you need a new best friend, the Humane Society is where to find one!) Try out the newly resurfaced pickleball courts at White Mountain Sports Complex - you will be welcomed, I promise. Groups meet every morning at 9:00 AM, weather permitting, and the lessons are free with paddles and balls available to use.

It’s time to breathe, relax, and enjoy your mountain town. Forget about the doom and gloom the national media puts out, and get to know your neighbors, join a civic group, a church or just take a walk.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all work together to make this place home for all of us.

For news you can use, tune into 1490 AM – The Mountain for Mondays with the Mayor from 8:00 – 10:00 AM. If you can’t catch us live, remember that you can stream it online at 1490KRUI.com.

The late Zig Ziggler once said, “It’s your attitude, not your aptitude that will determine your altitude”. Essentially, it’s up to you, and what you generate between those ears.

See you on the mountain!

Mayor Lynn Crawford

Mayor Lynn Crawford

VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS

Recent Actions

At the August 8, 2023, Regular Council Meeting, the Governing Body:

» Approved Contract for Goods and Services with J3 Systems, LLC for Re-Roofing Project at the Ruidoso Convention Center, in the amount of $658,393.42 including NMGRT.

» Approved Award and Contract with D&R Tank Company for Water Storage Tank Rehabilitation (Phase One) in the amount of $2,348,878.29, including NMGRT.

Ruidoso Village Council Members

» Rifle Salas - Mayor Pro Tem

» Susan Lutterman

» Joe Eby

» Gary Jackson

» Tim Coughlin

» Darren Hooker

» Presented retirement plaque to Debra Neal for her service to the Village of Ruidoso as a dispatcher from January 2010 through August 2023.

» Approved Award and Contract to Mesa Verde Enterprise, Inc. for Moon Mountain and Links Trail Rehabilitation in the amount of $1,537,743.59, including NMGRT.

» Approved Resolution 2023-26, a Resolution Adopting the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (IClP) for Fiscal Years 2025-2029.

» Approved Contract with Sites Southwest to Enter into an Agreement to Create a Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan to Cover the Mechem Drive Corridor in the amount of $50,000, plus NMGRT.

Feeding wildlife is banned in the Village (bird feeders excluded) Citations will be issued $500 fine will be imposed

PARKS & RECREATION Upcoming

Events

As summer comes to a close, the Village of Ruidoso Parks & Rec Department has an exciting September planned. Fall events kick off with a C10 truck show at Wingfield Park on September 9. The following weekend, Parks & Rec is hosting Concerts in the Park, an event filled with popular musical acts. On Friday, September 15, Sarah Row and Slade Coulter perform, and on Saturday many local and regional acts are on stage throughout the day, culminating in concerts by Kyle Park and the Josh Abbott Band in the evening. Tickets for this event are on sale now at RuidosoConcertsInThePark.com. The weekend of September 23 – 24, grab some grub and fly your favorite kite at the Kite Festival and Food Truck Roundup at the White Mountain Sports Complex.

New Pickleball Courts Unveiled

Ruidoso Parks & Rec and the Ruidoso Pickleball Club teamed up to improve the White Mountain Sports Complex pickleball courts. Recently resurfaced, there are now eight permanently marked pickleball courts. The Ruidoso Pickleball Club plays daily from 9:00 AM until noon. Additional improvements are planned for that location in the near future.

PUBLIC WORKS Repaving Updates

Cutler Repaving, Inc. completed construction on Hull Road in August. They are now paving Reese Drive, and then they will move to Service Road.

This has been a time-consuming project for the community, and we realize that many residents and visitors alike have been impacted by detours and traffic delays as they move throughout the Village. We thank you for your patience as we work to make Ruidoso’s roads safer for everyone.

Adam Sanchez, Public Works Director

Mechem Construction Begins in September

Mountain States Constructors, Inc. will begin milling and overlay operations on NM 48 for NMDOT District 2 the last week of September. This project is expected to be completed over a period of three weeks, weather permitting. Working hours are 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday, with traffic control taken down at the end of each day.

For up-to-date road closure information throughout the state, visit NMRoads.com or call 511.

WATER PRODUCTION

Lead and Copper Testing

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the effective date of the revised Lead and Copper Rule on December 16, 2021. Under the revised rule, public water systems must reach compliance by October 16, 2024. The purpose of this rule is to reduce and ultimately eliminate lead from all drinking water systems. By doing so, citizens are better protected from the negative effects that lead has on health.

Updates to the Lead and Copper Rule include:

» Municipalities must have a sampling plan to check water at any elementary school or childcare facility;

» A ser vice line inventory must be in place that notes if there is any lead or galvanized metal coming into contact with the water system. This inventory must include the Village’s water service line to the meter as well as the customer’s side service line.

The Village of Ruidoso is proactively implementing the revised Lead and Copper Rule. Currently surveying meter cans, the Village is determining material on both sides of the meter. In addition, they are looking through old building records, water line replacements as-builts, and subdivision as-builts. While this is occurring, the Village is labeling pipe materials for each service line. If unknown, further research is required. Once the initial inventory has been compiled, it will be submitted to the New Mexico Environment Department.

For more information about the Revised Lead and Copper Rule, visit US EPA Ground Water and Drinking Water website:

https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinkingwater.

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency. (June 28, 2023).

DEPARTMENTS & PHONE NUMBERS

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/Community 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

RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS

VILLAGE HALL: 575-258-4343

• Capital Projects & Purchasing

• Executive

• Finance

• Forestry

• Human Resources

• Planning and Zoning

• Utility Billing

www.Ruidoso-NM.gov

RMS Teacher Receives Teaching Excellence Award

The Computer Science Teachers Association and Infosys Foundation USA has announced that Trevor Rabourn from Ruidoso Middle School has been recognized as a 2023 CS Teaching Excellence Awards winner. The CS Teaching Excellence Awards are designed to recognize outstanding teaching by K–12 computer science teachers from around the nation. Rabourn teaches STEM and MESA classes at RMS and is also the sponsor of the chess club. He has taught in the district for 21 years.

I

Winners of the award excel in inspiring students to explore the computer science field, engaging students in learning rigorous standards-aligned computer science content, and broadening the participation of underrepresented students in computing.

am incredibly proud of Mr. Rabourn and thrilled that he received this well-deserved recognition. What a gift he is to our students.

Cecily Hooker, principal of RMS

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Update on Emergency Sirens

The Ruidoso Outdoor Warning System is composed of 12 active sirens that are maintained and monitored by the Village of Ruidoso. The primary goal of these sirens is to get the attention of anyone who is outdoors with their loud, blaring noise.

It is important to understand that even though sirens alert people to a threat, they do not inform of threat type, threat distance, required action, or when the threat is terminated. The Ruidoso Office of Emergency Management, along with their public safety partners, are identifying old sirens and replacing them with new units. Some of the new sirens are in the process of being constructed and placed at the following locations:

» End of Upper Canyon

» Gavilan Canyon Road and Hull Road

» End of Merlyn Drive

Three additional outdoor sirens will be added in fiscal year 2025.

Please remember that the best line of defense for getting emergency notifications is not to rely on just one alert system. There are multiple ways to receive comprehensive and correct information during an emergency:

» Sign up to receive email, text, and phone alerts from the Call Me Ruidoso Emergency Alert System (CallMeRuidoso.com).

» Download the Ruidoso app on a smartphone as updates will be provided there during an emergency.

» Tune in to 1490 KRUI – The Mountain as soon as any emergency begins.

» Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio that provides fail-safe information.

Following the steps above will help keep residents and visitors safe in the event of an emergency.

Sign-up for Emergency Notifications in the Village of Ruidoso

Call Me Ruidoso allows residents to receive emergency notifications via phone call, text message, and email from the Ruidoso Fire Department and the Ruidoso Police Department in emergency situations.

You must register your phone number to receive these alerts!

If you have any issues registering, please contact the Ruidoso Fire Department at 575-257-3473.

www.CallMeRuidoso.com

Fall EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 22:

• Cinderella’s Tom Kiefer, Inn of the Mountain Gods

• Jennings and Keller, Downshift Riverside

SEPTEMBER 23-24:

• Ruidoso Kite Festival and Food Truck Roundup, White Mountain Sports Complex

Check for Daily Events

Ruidoso-NM.gov/Community-Center

SEPTEMBER 2:

• Super Summer, High Mesa Healing Center

SEPTEMBER 2-4:

• All American Labor Day Weekend, Ruidoso Downs Race Track

SEPTEMBER 3:

• End of Summer Bash, Inn of the Mountain Gods

SEPTEMBER 4:

• G1 $3M All American Futurity, Ruidoso Downs Race Track

• Wibit Closes, Grindstone Lake

SEPTEMBER 5:

• Ruidoso Writers Group, Ruidoso Public Library

SEPTEMBER 15-16:

• Concerts in the Park, Wingfield Park

SEPTEMBER 16:

• Mountain Top Rock, No Scum Allowed Saloon

SEPTEMBER 17:

• Hope Tree Butterfly Painting, Wingfield Park Pavilion

SEPTEMBER 19:

• Ruidoso Writers Group, Ruidoso Public Library

SEPTEMBER 20:

• Women’s Circle, High Mesa Healing Center

SEPTEMBER 22-24:

• New Mexico 4X4 Rally, Ruidoso Convention Center

SEPTEMBER 29:

• Full Moon Ceremony, High Mesa Healing Center

SEPTEMBER 30:

• Downshift Brewery’s Oktoberfest, Hidden Tap

TUESDAYS:

• Baby and Me Story Time, Ruidoso Public Library

WEDNESDAYS:

• Story Time, Ruidoso Public Library

SEPTEMBER 2:

• First Games Youth Soccer, White Mountain Sports Complex

SEPTEMBER 10:

• First Games Youth Flag Football, White Mountain Sports Complex

SEPTEMBER 20:

• Teen Activity, Ruidoso Public Library

SEPTEMBER 22:

• Smart Start Football Registration Ends, Parks & Rec

SEPTEMBER 23:

• Smokey’s Garden Experience, Smokey’s Garden

SEPTEMBER 25:

• Smart Start Football Begins, Parks & Rec

SEPTEMBER 28:

• Personal Book Back Decorating Project (ages 8-11), Ruidoso Public Library

OCTOBER 7:

• Smokey’s Garden Experience, Smokey’s Garden

OCTOBER 25:

• Midtown Halloween Trick or Treat and Pumpkin Roll, Midtown and Wingfield Park

OCTOBER 6:

• 35th Annual Run to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Car Show

OCTOBER 7:

• Ruidoso AspenFest, Midtown and Wingfield Park

• Last day to submit for Ruidoso Adventure Tours

AspenFest Parade October 7

OCTOBER 18:

• Women’s Circle, High Mesa Healing Center

OCTOBER 28:

• Chef Robert Irvine, Inn of the Mountain Gods

• ETC Band, No Scum Allowed Saloon

• Full Moon Ceremony, High Mesa Healing Center

RUIDOSO MIDTOWN ASSOCIATION

From Executive Director Kendra King

It’s back to school time already! The summers always fly by, and this summer was no exception. The facade improvement grants in Midtown were completed and enjoyed by thousands of visitors and tourists. Overall, a total of $287,500 was invested in Ruidoso’s Mainstreet. The Ruidoso Midtown Association and New Mexico Mainstreet assisted the process through to completion.

Several new businesses opened this summer in our Midtown corridor, including Dynamic Disc Shop, Purple Mountain Taffy, Rac-OnTeur, Mountain Top Sneakers, and Downshift Riverside. Formerly Sacred Grounds, Downshift Riverside is carrying on the live music and community gathering tradition that was established at that location.

MAIN STREET AMERICA

New Mexico MainStreet

certifythat has beenrecognized as a 2023 Accredited Program for meeting the standards of performance in 2022

Ruidoso Midtown Association

Hannah White Matthew Wagner, Ph.d Interim President & CEO Chief Program Officer Main Street America Main Street America

As our organization resets for another fiscal year, we are proud to announce that for the fifth consecutive year, we are a Nationally Accredited Mainstreet Program. We look forward to continuing our mission: “To promote the economy and culture. To enhance the traditional commercial Midtown. The Cooperation will undertake endeavors to maintain a livable, walkable, and recreationally rich town center to ensure a vibrant Midtown District.”

Remember that we always welcome your input and invite you to follow us on our social media channels. If you would like to reach out to me directly, please do so via email at director@ruidosomidtownassociation.com.

Follow the Ruidoso Midtown Association on Facebook for regular posts and updates.

HUMAN RESOURCES

New Manager Spotlight: Edward Ryan, Manager of Events and Strategic Partnerships

Edward Ryan has been hired as the Manager of Events and Strategic Partnerships for the Village of Ruidoso. With over 30 years of experience, this father of two is well-versed in organizing impactful concerts, corporate events, and trade shows. Edward’s journey includes a stint as a tour manager for renowned music groups and involvement in blockbuster movies. He’s an avid traveler who enriches his perspective through domestic and international exploration. In his new role, Edward plans to elevate event management and forge strategic connections for community growth.

LiveMusic LiveMusic

Josh Abbott Band

September 15 and 16 September 15 and 16

Friday, September 15

Sarah Rowe at 5:00 pm

Slade Coulter at 7:00 pm

Doors Open at 4:00 pm

Saturday, September 16

Kyle Park at 5:00 pm

Josh Abbott Band at 7:00 pm

Doors Open at 12:00 pm

Food Drinks Kids Activities

SLADE COULTER