Mayor's Report
It's your money!
The Lincoln County News has taken exception with the Village of Capitan
Trustees meeting behind close doors to discuss Lincoln County Solid Waste
Authority (LCSWA) and pending litigation. Although, I hate to agree with
a liberal newspaper, it's time to throw this issue on the table for all
to see, warts and all. After all, it's your money.
The Village of Capitan and LCSWA work under what is known as a Joint
Powers Agreement signed on May 20,1991. Your Village bills Capitan residents
for LCSWA, and then forwards the money to LCSWA every month.
On June 14, 1999, Trustee Coker made a motion to approve Ordinance
3-4-16 into law; Trustee Ingle seconded the motion, with Coker voting "yes",
Ingle "yes", Whitaker "yes" and Montes "no". The Ordinance passed. This
ordinance states the fee for polycart service shall be $9.25, and dumpster
service shall be $29.00. However, LCSWA now charges $13.00 for a polycart,
a 41% overcharge and $50.14 for dumpsters, a 78.6% overcharge.
On May 8th I telephoned the LCSWA Operational Supervisor requesting
to be placed on the agenda for the May 21st LCSWA board meeting. On May
14th I called the Operational Supervisor to confirm that I was on the agenda
and was assured I could bring my concerns to the board. On May 21st I attended
the board meeting but was not on the agenda and was not allowed to
bring the Village's concerns forward. The Operational Supervisor had not
placed me on the agenda.
Since October of 2000, LCSWA has charged the Village of Capitan more
then our ordinance allows. In the past year alone Capitan residents have
been overcharged an estimated $41,491.44.
On your behalf I attempted to bring the issue of your money to the
table at the May 21st meeting of the LCSWA board meeting and was not allowed
to speak. However, I am confident that I'll be discussing this issue with
the board of the LCSWA, since I've placed the money normally sent to them
into an escrow account until this issue is somehow resolved. I did not pass
this ordinance. However, New Mexico Statute 3-11-3 charges that I will
"cause the ordinances and regulations of the municipality to be obeyed "
The Lincoln County News continues to sing the praise of the LCSWA
for operating in the black. With an average 59.8% overcharge to our citizens
it's not hard to understand why. No one seems to be too concerned. But
why should they? It's your money.
Steve Sederwall: Mayor
