Mayor's Report
"This is your Mayor. Please put your seats in an upright position and
extinguish all smoking material, we're about to take off." This week George
advised me that my Mayor's Reports were "too inflammatory". Can you be "too"
inflammatory, or are you just inflammatory? Is there a point where inflammatory
is acceptable and you slip over the line? It's confusing. So I'll attempt
to make this short, to the point, and do my best not to fan the flames of
controversy. (Yeah, that could happen!)
You've noticed one of our police officers limping around town sporting
a cast. Here are the facts that aren't near as good as the rumors. Officer
Mike Vega pulled his Achilles tendon while running at the academy in Santa
Fe. Chief George and I called the academy and were told Mike could not
perform some of the tasks needed to finish with his class. The director
of the academy, Darryl Heart, pulled some strings and got Mike in the next
academy in Las Cruces. The Director told me Mike was a "top notch" student,
and the entire staff had nothing but praise for him. The Director also
said they liked what was going on in Capitan with the Police Department
and we had some good "cops". It made me proud, as it should you.
It's illegal to tell you what's said in executive session, but it's
much like crawling into a dryer. We shut the door, go round and round, it
gets really hot, and we leave beat up. After an executive session, the Bonito
water issue was put to rest ... I hope ... resulting in the Village paying
for half of the pump and the citizens on the line paying for the other half.
I've called the Mayor of Alamogordo, and he'll leave the water on until
our guys can get the pump up and running. I've been in contact with Mr.
Brewer and he's signed off on the easement for the storm drain. I hope the
storm drain will allow Stan Cox to remove the row boat from his living room.
The down side is we fought over the water so long and could not get an easement
that we are not allowed to apply for a CDBG grant for next year. The upside
is we're not getting sued, we'll not risk ripping the pipeline up at a cost
of millions, and we're somewhat back to normal, what ever that is. Thanks
for your support, no matter where you fell on this issue.
Now, let's talk about the gas company. (I saw you sit up and move the
paper closer.) This is another controversial subject, and in attempt not
be "too inflammatory," I'll say the gas board is working overtime in an
attempt to find a solution to the high prices. I'm not on the board, but
can tell you that there are things on the table, and I have confidence in
the board's ability to work through this issue. Remember, I told you that
the Capitan Trustee's would come together with a plan on the Bonito water,
and they did. (To the gas board - don't make me a liar!)
For months the flying monkeys, too cowardly to confront me, chose to
slither about anonymously hanging flyers of hate and discontent throughout
the Village. The flyers are signed, "The Citizens of Capitan", as if their
vile remarks and hateful opinions are held by the entire Village rather
then a handful of mini-minded malice movers (say that three timeds) Realizing
they must be an unhappy lot, I refuse to become angry. As nasty as their
remarks are, I shall not yank a knot in their tail, fearful of being labeled
as "too inflammatory". It's a shame they can't see how blessed they are
to live in a wonderful place with good neighbors. Thanks for being a neighbor.
Steve Sederwall; Mayor
