By: Rebecca Hauschild

The Artesia City Council approved the design and installation of a pavement mural in the Heritage Plaza circle area of downtown Artesia. The council ok’d the mural during its Oct. 8 meeting.

The mural design is a geometric pattern that is an ode to the artist Taylor Ojeda’s native heritage. Ojeda is from Alamogordo and is an experienced muralist who recently won the People’s Choice Award at Colorado’s Fraser Mountain Mural Fest. The pavement mural project is sponsored by the Artesia Arts & Cultural District, which will oversee plans for the installation, prep the surface, pay the artist’s stipend, and provide signage.

In other action:

* During the Safety committee report, Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Youtsey reported 37 accidents involving city employees within the last nine months, which averages out to one per week. “We have an average of 200 employees so these statistics tell us that our employees have a one in four chance of being involved in an accident in a year,” Youtsey said. “These statistics would be considered absolutely unacceptable in the private industry, and we should feel the same. We are going to address this. We have to take some steps.”

* Community Development/Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair reported the NinjaCrossTM retractable obstacle course has been completed at the Artesia Aquatic Center and opened to the public on Tuesday. The NinjaCrossTM course uses two or three lanes of the pool, hangs from the ceiling above the pool, is lowered during certain hours and raised when not in use.

* The council approved submission of a public celebration permit to the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department for the Balloons, Bands, & Brews festival which wants to utilize Pecos Flavors Winery to serve alcohol at an event on Nov. 1, 2024.

* The council approved closing the street from the alley way of 5th Street to Texas Avenue for HF Sinclair to hold the Veterans Mission Artesia 5k Run/Walk on Nov. 9, 2024, from 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

* The council approved amending Resolution 1883 regarding adoption of the 2024 Artesia Comprehensive Plan. The comprehensive plan “is a long range, general policy guide that provides a written and graphic description of existing conditions, community aspirations, and a “road map” to ensure the community vision is achieved through sound decision making regarding future growth and development, and capital improvements” according to the city’s website.

* Mayor Jon Henry invited the public to attend a meeting at 3:45 p.m. Nov. 11 at the First Church of Artesia to discuss the idea of creating an inclusive park in Artesia. “We are just starting these discussions,” said Henry. “These kinds of parks are not cheap, so a lot depends on funding. There are a lot of folks interested in it.”

* Henry asked for suggestions regarding a local pastor’s proposal for a day of prayer on Nov. 4, the day before the general election. “Details need to be figured out but maybe we could have an Artesia day of prayer to come together to pray for our nation,” said Henry. “Let me know if you have more thoughts on it.”

* The council approved the consent agenda with the following items:

Hire:

·         Abeslin Orquiz JR., Garage Apprentice, Mechanic at $2,756 p/mo

Resignation:

·         Jason E. DeGray, Evidence Tech I, Police, effective Sept. 17, 2024.

·         Thomas Tice, Equipment Operator II, Solid Waste, effective Sept. 23, 2024.

Travel and Training:

·         Police – Permission for one employee to attend the IPRA Connect Conference in

Albuquerque, N.M.

·         Police – Permission for two employees to attend the NASRO Conference in Grapevine, TX.

·         Police – Permission for one employee to attend the Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes in Rio Rancho, N.M.

·         Police – Permission for one employee to attend Verbal Judo Institute Webinar online.

·         Police – Permission for one employee to attend Lead for Tomorrow in Hobbs, N.M.

·         Police – Permission for one employee to attend the Type 3 AHIMT in Artesia, N.M.