Upgrading police radio systems, pursuing due diligence and rules regarding the acquisition of properties with water rights were major points of conversation at the Sept. 10 Edgewood Commission meeting.
The Edgewood Commission voted unanimously to approve a resolution to transfer surplus funds from their fire budget to the police department to purchase new radios and pay for upgrades to their current systems.
Edgewood Police Chief Roger Jimenez explained that the new digital radios are long overdue and that the improvements to their systems will allow Edgewood police to communicate with State Police and other law enforcement agencies and EMS departments. Jimenez also said the new radios will have WiFi capabilities.
“Right now, we do not have the capability to speak or talk directly or communicate directly to even Santa Fe County Fire,” Jimenez said. “We have to get a patch to our dispatch. With this system, we will be able to speak directly to these other agencies that are on the state system with just changing a button so it will streamline everything, streamline our response.”
In addition to the $200,000 transfer from the fire budget, the town will use a $100,000 surplus in the police budget to pay for upgrades to the radio system, which will also allow Edgewood police to communicate with neighboring police departments and fire departments in Estancia, Moriarty, Bernalillo County and others.
“There is an urgent need for new PD radios. It’s going to be a different system, and our current radios will not be compatible with this new system,” Town Clerk-Treasurer Michelle Jones said. “It’s going to be approximately $300,000. We have more than $100,000 in the actual PD supply line item right now.”
Mayor Pro Tem Filandro Anaya said that the upgrades will be an improvement for the Edgewood Fire Department as well.
“That gives us much stronger bandwidth,” Anaya said. “And it does have a lot to do with fire protection, because these guys are out there in the midst of things, and they need to actually have contact with us.”
Water Rights
The commission voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing town staff and the town attorney to pursue due diligence and conduct investigations as it concerns the acquisition of real property and related water rights. According to the resolution, pursuing “due diligence” includes discussing the adequacy, validity, history and use of any related water rights before considering the purchase of land as well as investigation into any liens or pending litigation against land parcels.
“As different opportunities come for purchasing real property and water rights, we wanted to put something in place so that the town staff and I can do our due diligence on all the items that the commission needs to make the best decision,” Town Manager Nina McCracken said. “This will allow for the staff now or later down the line to continue working on this process.”
Community Liaison Linda Burke said that the town has no official plans to purchase or acquire properties with water rights, but the resolution will allow such discussions to move forward more efficiently in the future.
The commission also discussed the purchase or acquisition of property with water rights in a closed session but no action was taken following the closed session and the resolution will be revisited at a later date.
Other Business
In the closed session, the commission also discussed the “hiring, promotion, demotion, dismissal, assignment or resignation” of a public employee; specifically, the town manager, as well as investigating complaints or charges against public employees.
On Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. the Town of Edgewood will be having a public Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting at the Edgewood Municipal Building. The meeting will open the floor to public comments about town matters and will include discussions from Advisory Committee members, matters from the Teen Advisory Council and announcements about general P&R manager updates.
Commissioner Patrick Milligan used the meeting as an opportunity to address a safety issue he witnessed at Estancia Valley Classical Academy charter school.
“The other day while driving by EVCA school, I saw an 18-wheeler going about 40 miles an hour when school was out, and also a child. I can see that being a huge tragedy coming up,” Milligan said. “I don’t know if there’s someone we can reach out to, maybe to get some school lights running when school’s in, or some stop lights there, but we really need to look into making sure something happens for the safety of those children.”
Jimenez said that EVCA is in the process of getting a school zone designated but since the school is located on a state highway, approval must go through the Department of Transportation.
“Our officers right now are scheduled to be there around the time school gets out and the time that school starts,” Jimenez said. “Our school resource officer as well, depending on calls for service. But we try to make our presence known there, just depending on calls. But yes, we will continue to reiterate the importance of that.”