Joe Warren, publisher

EAGLE NEST — Eagle Nest Village Council approved a joint powers agreement with the Colfax County Sheriff’s Department to have village-specific law enforcement for at least four hours per day. Other times during the day the village is protected by the New Mexico State Police and the Sheriff’s department, but the agreement specified that one deputy will be assigned to patrol the village on a daily basis. The village will pay $20,000 annually for the service.
According to Eagle Nest Mayor Billie Odum, the village has been awarded a grant from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration’s Law Enforcement Protection (LEP) fund to pay the contract.
The council also approved a couple of new hires. Lynda Perry assumed the village administrator’s position and Diane Todd was hired as the deputy clerk in charge of all utility billing. Perry officially began her duties as village administrator Monday, March 17.
“I am thrilled. Already Lynda has been a major part,” Odum said. “She’s put in for a grant for $40,000 for roads improvement. If we get the money it’s earmarked for repairs and improvements to Lake Avenue. We should know if we receive the funds in June.”
According to Odum, along with utility billing, Todd will back up the village clerk and act as the secretary at Planning and Zoning meetings.
Odum also recommended Aaron Becton to fill the empty municipal judge position when it’s vacated by Jeff Carr. Carr is running for state senate and, according to state law, has to vacate his judgeship to run for office.
Becton was born in Waco, Texas and graduated in 1996 with a degree in management and a minor in aviation from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ark. He studied law at the University of Arkansas School of Law in Little Rock. According to Odum, Becton’s appointment is pending council’s approval. She said they wanted time to interview Becton. A special council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 20 to appoint the municipal judge.
The council approved the transfer of $4,359 of Lodgers’s Tax funds to the Eagle Nest Chamber of Commerce for advertising, office support and 10 percent of salary reimbursements. The chamber also received approval for the use of the Eagle Nest Senior Center to serve a free breakfast to about 500 veterans during the annual Run for the Wall celebration. The breakfast will be served Saturday, May 17 from 4 to 7 a.m.
The council also took action on the following:
•Approved ordinance 2008-01 Interim Zoning of Annexed Areas.
•Approved ordinance 2008-02 Drought Contingency.
•Approved ordinance 2007-08 Budget Resolution.
•Approved resolution 2008-10 National Incident Management System.
•Approved write-off of outstanding water accounts.