By Terri Harber, The Roswell Daily Record — The Roswell City Council considers a variety of issues during its meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Chaves County Administrative Center, 1 St. Mary’s Place, in the commissioners’ chamber of the Joseph R. Skeen building.
Public hearings
Solid Waste Department service rate changes — Ordinance 26-11 was originally set for a public hearing in October. It returns with changes suggested by the councilors last month. For example, the start date of Jan. 1, 2027, is now noted in this ordinance.
If approved, the information that would determine what the city will charge each year for service is the Consumer Price Index for Garbage and Trash Collection, which is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A new section would make the rate indexing automatic each year. This ordinance also removes the stipulation that the city council must review and adjust solid waste rates at the beginning of each fiscal year if this ordinance is approved by the councilors.
Cannabis retailer Dreamz Dispensary, at 2303 N. Main St., has requested that city government officials provide the business with a variance and Conditional Use Permit amendment so employees can weigh and package cannabis products in-house for each customer, according to the Cannabis Control Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department.
“A conditional use permit allows property owners to utilize their properties for uses not listed as being permitted or allowable by right under the site’s current zoning designation,” the report by the Planning and Zoning Department stated.
A variance to the company’s existing agreement is also necessary.
Consent agenda
Money for water infrastructure repairs — The Roswell Water Maintenance and Transmission Department’s dedicated pipe replacement crew has been replacing aging water lines. This proactive work is to make Roswell’s water system more reliable.
The request is for a budget adjustment of $900,000. That amount would allow the work crew to continue until June 30, 2027, the end of the city government’s current fiscal year.
“This work has created additional demand for pipes, fittings, valves, connections, and restoration while emergency repairs and routine maintenance continue,” the staff report stated. “Additional funding is needed to address these restoration needs, support continued water line replacement, and maintain the department’s ability to respond to emergency repairs….”
Lodger’s Tax requests — There are four local groups asking for allocations from this 5% tax collected from hotels, motels and other lodging businesses. This tax funds tourism promotion, events geared toward visitors and what Roswell city staff described as “related municipal services.”
The four local groups asking for allocations from this tax fund are:
• MainStreet Roswell for UFO Festival 2027, $93,350 for event sponsorship and $20,000 for marketing.
• Not of this World Flag Football for “Sling It Fling It 2027, $18,000 for marketing and $13,000 for sponsorship.
• Galacticon, also for next year’s UFO Festival, $16,000 for marketing and $7,500 for event sponsorship. These items for its upcoming convention are two separate requests.
Consent items are approved by the councilors at one time, and a member can request that any item in this grouping be placed on the regular agenda and singularly voted on if enough councilors agree.
Share this story and start a conversation
