The Edgewood Commission voted unanimously during its June 24 meeting to reserve funds as part of its Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) to renovate the Edgewood Elementary south campus buildings.
The former Edgewood Elementary School buildings, which were closed in 2013 due to a decline in enrollment, are at the center of an ongoing controversy between the town and the Moriarty-Edgewood School District after the district proposed demolishing the buildings in its 2024 Facilities Master Plan. The school’s north buildings have been the town library and the town administration office since 2017 after the town and district signed a 25-year lease.
Last month, the Town of Edgewood filed a lawsuit against the school district over the proposed demolition of the buildings.
If a judgment on that suit comes back in favor of the town, commissioners have committed $1 million in funds that are earmarked for renovation of the south campus buildings.
“We want to show the town’s commitment to renovating the south buildings, by having this earmarked in the budget,” said Commissioner Jerry Powers.
Library Operations Manager Brandyn Burke also gave an update on several upgrades, furnishings and equipment made to the Edgewood Community Library. State Rep. Matthew McQueen allocated $100,000 toward the library renovation.
New positions
The commission also voted unanimously to create new staff positions. The commission said that hiring a Planning and Development director and a grant project manager would help with understaffing issues the town has. The position would cost around $300,000 to include salary and benefits.
Get Involved
The next Town Commission meeting is at 6 p.m. July 9 at the Edgewood Administration building located at 171A NM-344.