Peralta Town Council approves its ICIP, other action items

PERALTA — The Peralta Town Council unanimously approved the audit for the 2023-24 fiscal year, several upgrades to the Peralta Community Center and the town’s capital outlay priorities for 2027-31 at a meeting on Tuesday, May 13.

In a change to its most recent Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan, Peralta Town Clerk Kori Taylor recommended a change that will affect the town’s planned fire station.

Peralta received $1 million for the project in June 2024. The town asked for $6 million during the most recent legislative session but came away from the 60-day session empty-handed. The new station is slated to be built on the west side of N.M. 47, at the highway’s intersection with Molina Road.

The work to improve the intersection of Molina Road and N.M. 47 is now Peralta’s top ICIP priority. Design work on the new fire station will also continue.

“This work involves improvements to the intersection,” Taylor said in a phone interview after the meeting. “There’s a reworking of the electrical system, moving the electrical boxes north and concrete work.”

The other ICIP priorities set by the council are, in order, wastewater collection system, work on the town’s community park, renovations of the Peralta Community Center and improvements to the drain and flood control systems.

In her report to the council, Taylor said the New Mexico Department of Transportation will soon begin construction at the intersection of Valencia Road and N.M. 47.

She informed the council the work on the intersection would be done at night and began on Tuesday, May 27. Construction will eventually move north on N.M. 47 to the Pueblo of Isleta.

Taylor also reported the town has received two quotes from contractors to add swings and a shade structure at the new community park. Creative Recreational Designs bid just over $29,000 on the project while Altitude Recreation bid more than $35,000.

The council unanimously approved a resolution to accept the independent audit of the town’s finances for the year 2023-24, which received a clean opinion with records being in good order.

When the resolution to extend the town’s drought conditions burn ban came up, councilor Randy Smith suggested the town synchronize its declaration with Valencia County’s fire ban, which he said was set to be extended soon. The County ultimately let the burn ban expire on May 24.

Upgrades to Peralta’s Community Center were also discussed in depth before approval by the council, as well as several larger upgrades — including purchases of new equipment and improvements to the property around the center.

The council agreed to look into renovations to the center’s interior, such as electrical outlets, interior doors, replacement of a window on the east side of the building, and internet for the center, among other things. Taylor also reported that the community center also recently passed a fire inspection.