Moriarty City Council Approves Two New Officers, $735K Airport Grant, Civic Center Overhaul

MORIARTY — The Moriarty City Council approved two new police hires, a $735,000 airport improvement grant, a package of long-delayed civic center upgrades, and a water tank inspection contract at its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The meeting began at 6:30 PM MDT with all council members present except Jeremy Trujillo.

Mayor Steve Anaya opened the meeting by thanking city departments, the Lions Club, and community volunteers who had participated in an Earth Day cleanup along Main Street that week.

"It doesn't look like there is a lot of trash, and we picked up a lot of bags," Anaya said. "Thank everybody that participated."

Councilor Kim Garcia also praised the new civic center manager for visible improvements to the facility since his recent arrival.

Police Department

The council approved the hiring of two new officers to fill existing vacancies within the Moriarty Police Department. Robert Page, a certified officer, was hired at $30.47 per hour, and Daniel Zukoski, an uncertified officer, was hired at $25.01 per hour. Police Chief Adan Urbina confirmed that both positions fall within the department's current budget.

The council separately approved the purchase of two Kenwood Viking 8000 dual-band radios at a cost of $13,421.81 from capital outlay funds.

Councilor Kenny Snow asked Urbina how many officers the department will have following a separate, concurrent departure. Urbina confirmed the department will have nine officers, including himself, after the new hires are onboarded, though full 24-hour coverage will require overtime until Zukoski completes his Law Enforcement Academy certification.

In his department update, Urbina told the council that one officer is leaving to return to Corrales for family reasons. He also said two Flock license plate reader cameras are now operational — one on the north end of Route 41 and one on the south — with officer training scheduled for the following Wednesday. There is a national debate concerning the impact of Flock Cameras on the Constitutional right to privacy, the security of the data being collected, and the problems of the data being used beyond its intended scope.

The department also received one new police vehicle on the day of the meeting, with additional units still pending from a separate acquisition. Urbina said he plans to bring a proposal to the next meeting regarding a replacement vehicle for animal control, noting the current vehicle has more than 300,000 miles.

Urbina also announced that the city's animal control officer was selected as part of a statewide search to receive a recognition award from the Humane Society for her work on small-town sheltering solutions and will be asked to present at an upcoming event.

Civic Center

The council approved a package of immediate improvements to the Moriarty Civic Center and delegated authority to the mayor and city clerk to manage expenditure of the remaining $76,000 balance from Capital Outlay Grant 22-G3056, which must be spent by June 30, 2026.

New Civic Center Director Chris Alvarado presented the improvement list, which covers the following priority areas:

• A one-time deep cleaning of kitchen and bathroom areas by A&D Cleaning Service, at a cost of $564, with the option of recurring service at $244 per visit.
• A new 24-inch, six-burner commercial flat-top griddle with dual ovens from National Restaurant Supply, at a cost of $4,250, including delivery. Commercial warming boxes to allow caterers to keep food at the correct temperature during events.
• Electrical repairs totaling $6,820, including replacement of the parking lot lights — only one of which is currently operational — repair or replacement of all exterior receptacle covers, and replacement of the flickering track lighting in the main hallway. A 30-foot boom lift will be required for the parking lot light work.

Alvarado said the total cost of the initial project is approximately $12,254, with additional work planned for the sprinkler system, landscaping, and the repair of ADA-compliant entrance doors, several of which are missing closers or are otherwise nonfunctional.

Council member Kim Garcia commended Alvarado for visible improvements since his first week on the job.

"You can already tell that there has been a big improvement in the cleanliness," Garcia said.

Alvarado noted that he currently has no staff assistance. Mayor Anaya indicated the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27 budget proposal will include requests for two full-time and one part-time position for the Civic Center, as well as janitorial services.

Airport

The council approved the expenditure of $735,628.50 from Airport Improvement Grant OEO-25-02 for rehabilitation of taxi lanes 1 through 9 at the Moriarty Municipal Airport.

Airport Manager Bob Hudson was not present at the meeting, and therefore City Clerk Emily Sanchez presented the item on his behalf and noted that the grant amount has since been increased by $92,000 beyond the figure shown in the agenda.

Civic Center Director Alvarado, who said he attended a recent airport board meeting, praised the facility and its leadership.

"I had no idea how much money goes into that airport that does not come out of us," Alvarado said. "We are pretty lucky to have him as our airport manager."

Moriarty FFA: Deposit Refund, Movies in the Park Unresolved

Representatives of the Moriarty FFA Alumni, including Anita Pacheco, appeared before the council to address three items related to the organization's ongoing partnership with the city. The discussion revealed unresolved confusion over payment arrangements dating back at least one year.

The council voted to reimburse the FFA Alumni $475, representing a cleaning and damage deposit the organization paid prior to a January 30 pie auction fundraiser held at the Civic Center. Pacheco told the council the facility was in poor condition when the group arrived to set up and that the deposit had not been returned. Finance Director Karen Alarid confirmed the deposit had not been processed.

"It was disgusting," Pacheco said of the Civic Center's condition at that time.

The organization's request for reimbursement related to Movies in the Park — an outdoor summer film series the FFA has organized in prior years — was not resolved at the meeting. The council and Pacheco agreed that both sides need to research the arrangement and the funding source used in previous years before any action can be taken. The program is expected to run four nights beginning in mid-June if the arrangement can be formalized.

Garcia explained that the historical arrangement involved the city providing a projector and outdoor screen, with FFA students performing in-kind community service in exchange and raising money through concessions. Alarid raised a legal question about whether direct payments to the FFA could trigger New Mexico's anti-donation clause, which generally prohibits public entities from giving funds to private organizations.

Mayor Anaya asked the FFA to compile documentation from prior years as quickly as possible so the council can act before summer scheduling commitments must be made.

A third item — building usage in May — was withdrawn by the FFA because the event in question had already been rescheduled.

Water Tank Inspection

The council approved a $12,828 contract with MIDCO for the cleaning and inspection of the city's water storage tanks. Public Works Director Jeff Tapia said the inspection is mandated on a three-year cycle. Divers enter the tanks, vacuum accumulated sludge, and produce a video record of the tank's condition.

Tapia also told the council that the city received word the previous day that it had been awarded $10 million in funding for a wastewater infrastructure project through the state trust board. Details on the loan and grant components of the project are expected to be addressed in the upcoming budget process.

In a department update, Tapia said the city has acquired 500 tons of asphalt millings for road repairs and is prioritizing patchwork on several streets, including Ida Street near Tractor Supply and Camino de los Niños.

Fire Department

The council approved three budget adjustments to keep Fire Department accounts in the black before the end of the fiscal year, all drawing from the fire protection line in account 209: $4,000 transferred to vehicle maintenance; $6,000 transferred to telecommunications and IT; and $2,200 transferred to other operating costs.

Fire Chief Todd Hart told the council that a new fire engine funded by a prior grant is still under construction. Hart said delivery had been pushed back approximately one month, with it now expected around mid-June. The decals for the new unit have been approved to match those of the existing apparatus.

Hart said the department is looking to dispose of Engine 11, which is nearly 30 years old. A planned buyback arrangement with a private vendor has stalled because the vendor has not responded to the department’s attempts to contact them. Hart and Mayor Anaya discussed the possibility of donating the engine to a small department in need. Alvarado suggested reaching out to the State Fire Marshal's office, which he said had recently contacted him about a department in Grant County that is without a pumper. Hart said he would follow up the next day.

Hart also noted that the department assisted with a fire in Estancia the previous week, sending two vehicles and personnel — one paid, one volunteer — to assist with water shuttle and fire suppression operations.

Clerk's Office and Administrative Hire

The council approved the hiring of Rubino Miranda as an administrative assistant in the utilities division of the city clerk's office at $18 per hour, pending successful completion of pre-employment requirements. Miranda was present at the meeting and was welcomed by the council.

Sanchez said four applicants were contacted for interviews. One had already accepted another position elsewhere, one did not appear, and Miranda was the candidate who interviewed. The interview panel included Sanchez, Mayor Anaya, Fire Chief Hart, and Deputy Clerk Joycelyn Martinez.

The council also held a broader discussion of the clerk’s office’s capacity and organization. Alarid, who has been working under a short-term contract to help stabilize the city's financial records and accounting system, told the council the office is not yet at a point where it can sustain itself without outside support. She said the city's accounting platform, Casselle, cannot be fully implemented until outstanding audit reconciliations are completed, a process that may take until the end of the current fiscal year.

Council member Snow asked the council and administration to consider temporarily closing the clerk’s office on Friday afternoons to allow for focused training sessions and organizational work. No formal vote was taken.

FY 2026-27 Budget Discussion

Alarid presented a revenue overview for the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27 budget as a discussion item only. No vote was taken.

Alarid projected general fund revenues of approximately $5.3 million, with gross receipts tax (GRT) revenue, distributed across three statutory line items, accounting for approximately $4.2 million of that total. The mayor noted that GRT receipts appear to be tracking approximately $73,000 to $74,000 higher than last year.

Alarid noted that the water department is currently breaking even, but that the solid waste and wastewater funds are not. Alarid said that a rate study is underway. She said a rate increase is likely to be necessary in the near future.

The total revenue projection across all city funds is approximately $9.55 million.

The mayor said a preliminary budget will be distributed to council members no later than May 6. A budget workshop is planned for 5:00 PM MDT on May 13, 2026, ahead of that evening's regular council meeting, which begins at 6:30 PM MDT. The city must submit its budget to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration by June 1, 2026.

Water Planning Resolution

The council unanimously approved Resolution 25-26-19, authorizing the city to apply for the New Mexico Technical Assistance Program for water planning. Council member Kim Garcia said the application is connected to a 40-year water plan the council has been developing and urged quick action.