The Aztec City Commission on Tuesday approved the removal of a member of the Planning and Zoning Board, and after a lengthy discussion, voted to approve the purchase of a $550,000 “vactor truck.” Mayor Mike Padilla formally announced that he will run for city commissioner for District 3.
The commission voted unanimously to remove Elliot Wolf from the Planning and Zoning Board. Commissioner Austin Randall asked for background on the removal request, Community Development Director Andrew DiCamello addressed the commission, stating that Wolf allegedly was involved in criminal activity.
According to the arrest warrant issued June 16, Wolf was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for an offense that took place on June 4. According to a report by the Aztec Police Department, he assaulted or struck a 5-month-old child with a Byma Self-Defense gun, a fourth-degree felony.
The Tri-City Record received the report Wednesday afternoon.
Wolf’s removal received little discussion. The more pressing issue appeared to be the proposed purchase of the vactor truck.
The truck, known as a vacuum tanker, is used to handle large-scale cleanups of liquid and sludge, most commonly in sewer and septic system maintenance.
Commissioner Ken George asked for the discussion about the purchase, which comes on top of the city’s recent utility rate increase.
George said that virtually all the revenue from the utility rate increase would go toward the truck. He said the department head told them the city’s current vactor truck was aging, and they could use a second truck.
George suggested that the purchase should be a legislative request and if not approved, reconsidered in spring. He said they should check the department’s finances, since they have been “running $600,000 dollars in the red already.”
George was the sole commissioner to vote against the purchase.
City Manager Jeff Blackburn stated that they had reached out to Scott Scanlon, their lobbyist, who said there was a possibility that $800,000 for equipment was “low-hanging fruit” that Aztec could go after.
Blackburn said even if the truck was ordered, it would be two years out because it has to be built. Blackburn said they were prepared to go after the legislative money to make it happen.
City Attorney Steven Murphy raised the point that it had been approved in the budget, and asked whether they were doing a line item review. George said that was exactly what he intended.
Commissioner Jim Crowley said that with a two-year ordering lag, they had time to secure money from the enterprise fund.
Blackburn agreed and recommended that they place the order and lock in the price of the truck. If they get legislative funding they can use a different budget line to pay for the vehicle.
After George made a motion to vote on the item, he cast the only dissenting vote, and the measure passed by a majority of the commission.
Rosalyn Frye, former city commissioner, spoke during citizens input about the troubled Painted Pianos Project, now in its fourth season.
Citing an insufficient number of volunteers, Frye said, “This will be our last season unless somebody else takes it up in the future.”
“It’s been a work of love and a lot of work,” she said, and thanked commissioners for their support, including funding. The project also received three grants from the Connie Gotsch Foundation and funds every year from the Northwest New Mexico Arts Foundation and individual donations. “So, it’s been very good,” Frye said.
Frye said the project has painted nine pianos. Although the pianos were offered to the artists, Tim Gordon’s is now at City Hall.
She said, “hope the future brings some new projects to the City of Aztec to draw people in.”
Other business items
This article was republished on Aug. 16 to clarify that Elliot Wolf was accused of assault in an arrest warrant.
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