The Edgewood Town Commission appointed members to the Economic Development Advisory Board during a meeting Tuesday evening.
According to the Town of Edgewood, the Economic Development Advisory Board gathers, researches and reviews information, and makes recommendations to the Town Commission regarding how the Town may best provide for Economic Development in the Town of Edgewood, whether through identity development, planning, infrastructure, grant and funding options, advocacy, or other means.
The commission reviewed applications by six candidates and appointed four members, which is enough for the board to have a quorum and begin meeting.
The board members will serve staggered terms and some of the people were appointed to serve one-year terms while others will serve two-year terms. In the future, all board members will serve for two years with some being appointed in odd years and others in even years. However, the initial batch includes some shorter terms to get the members on the schedule.
The appointed members include:
- Tom Torres, who works for EPCOR
- Ted Barela, former mayor of Estancia and former state senator
- Theresa Kitt, a newcomer to the Edgewood area who wants to become more involved in the community
- Jim Thomas, a local rancher and U.S. Navy veteran
Torres, Barela and Kitt were appointed to two-year terms while Thomas will serve a one-year term.
Torres oversees water utility operations in both the Edgewood and Clovis areas for EPCOR. He has also been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, including serving as the president of the organization for 10 years. Additionally, Torres has served on a parks and recreation advisory committee in the past and he was involved in the drafting of the Edgewood comprehensive plan.
“I hope to make our community better and livable and sustainable,” he told commissioners.
He said his priorities for his time on the Economic Development Advisory Board include improving roads and attracting businesses so that people do not have to travel to Albuquerque for services.
“I’m not looking for urban growth in Edgewood. For one, it’s not practical. It’s really not possible. We will never be,” he said.
Barela said he is interested in serving on the board because he sees a lot of potential for the Edgewood area. He described Edgewood as a hub.
“All these other towns have kind of fallen behind, if you will, because there’s no economic growth there,” he said.
He said Edgewood has the opportunity to “kind of tread our own path, and I would love to be a part of that.”
Kitt is a relative newcomer to the Edgewood area and said she’s eager to become more involved in the community. She said she wants to keep Edgewood’s “small town” nature.
“The reason why my husband and I moved out to Edgewood is because we love the small-town feel, so I kind of hope that it stays that way,” she said.
Thomas noted that the economic development advisory board is a part of Edgewood’s strategic plan.
He said his experience will help Edgewood determine what the roadblocks are and what options are available to get the town to where it wants to be in terms of economic development.
“I think I can help find opportunities,” Thomas said.
He said that if there is a “measured, manageable direction of where the town wants to go, then it’s about figuring out the best way of how to get the town there.”
The commission also reviewed applications from Melissa Grosstete and Ryan Evans, however, those two were unable to attend the meeting and couldn’t be reached by phone on Tuesday. The commission may choose to appoint them in the future after members are able to ask them questions.