The Magdalena Village Board of Trustees approved its Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan at last week’s meeting.

The ICIP is the annual plan that establishes planning priorities for anticipated capital projects. Any project must be approved by the New Mexico Legislature in its January session. If approved funding would be dispersed by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration on July 1 for the fiscal year 2023-2024.

Funding requests include $1.091 million toward the phased water system improvement project. To date, $408,966 has been funded on the phased $1.5 million project. The project includes a new water storage tank that holds at least 500,000 gallons for residential consumption, a booster pump station for the wells, and a new water line on the south side of Highway 60 in the right of way to serve customers east of the Village.

Also:

$1 million for Village street improvements for Cobb, Dakota, Duggins, Ash, Chestnut, Elm, Spruce, Pierson and Cedar streets to include curb gutter, pothole and cut patching, chip sealing/repaving, fog sealing and/or crack sealing; repair of all dirt streets including drainage. And building dirt streets up with base course, and grading of Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Las Tuzes, Main and Ash streets.

This is a $1,288,338 million project of which $288,339 has been funded to date.

Also on Magdalena’s funding wish list is $2.13 million to design, construct and equip wastewater improvements and maintenance including new main sewer lines that are over 100 years old and sludge removal of wastewater holding ponds. $2.1 million project. $37,500 has been funded to date.

The ICIP must be received at the state level by August 19.

In other business, the board voted to publish “Night Skies Ordinance 2022-02,” which would require that outdoor lighting be shielded, in concert with New Mexico’s Night Sky Protection Act. The ordinance points out that Magdalena attracts both professional and amateur astronomers and is known for its rural character and dark skies.

A public hearing on the Night Skies ordinance will be held during the next Village Board of Trustees meeting on September 12.

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain