Sale of T or C electric utility to Sierra Electric Co-op to be discussed behind closed doors
There will be no sunshine on the possible sale of the city's electric utility. If it happens, it will be a private sale to Sierra Electric Cooperative.
Kathleen Sloan
Kathleen Sloan has been a local-government reporter for 17 years, covering counties and cities in three states—New Mexico, Iowa and Florida. She has also covered the arts for various publications in Virginia, New Mexico and Iowa. Sloan worked for the Truth or Consequences Herald newspaper from 2006 to 2013; it closed December 2019. She returned to T or C in 2019 and founded the online newspaper, the Sierra County Sun, with Diana Tittle taking the helm as editor during the last year and a half of operation. The Sun closed December 2021, concurrent with Sloan retiring. SierraCountySun.org is still an open website, with hundreds of past articles still available. Sloan is now a board member of the not-for-profit organization, the Sierra County Public-Interest Journalism Project, which supported the Sun and is currently sponsoring the Sierra County Citizen, another free and open website. Sloan is volunteering as a citizen journalist, covering the T or C beat. She can be reached at kathleen.sloan@gmail.com or 575-297-4146.
Catch them being good: Mayor Pro Tem Rolf Hechler makes findings of fact
Hooray. Fairness under the city's zoning code was in evidence at the Dec. 14 city commission meeting, thanks to Mayor Pro Tem Rolf Hechler. He went through his findings of fact before ruling, as required by law, eschewing opinion.
Next city manager will ease utility infrastructure crises—if transparent and experienced
The next city manager must hold to a course correction, reversing 60 years of water, wastewater and electric infrastructure neglect--Bruce Swingle is leaving in May.
Fixing Cantrell Dam may not be worth it
The $3 million to $5 million to repair Cantrell Dam isn't worth it, the engineer said. Even at full function, it doesn't provide flood protection against three-inch intense-rain events. The engineer recommended "breaching" the dam, not repairing it, until City Commissioner Merry Jo Fahl said breaching would "scare" people.
T or C mayor and husband charged with cruelty and other counts involving their 14 dogs
Whether Truth or Consequences Mayor Amanda Forrister and her husband are exempt from the law she enacted hangs in the balance--as does the fate of their 14 dogs--which are underfed, unvaccinated, unlicensed and 10 dogs over the limit allowed without a special-use permit.
Lots of holes in Hot Springs protections and oversight
The city commission's workshop on the hot springs clarified that it's up to the city, not the Office of the State Engineer, to take care of the hot springs. The city's position as a protestant to a 400 acre-feet-a-year commercial hot springs application is heightening the city's interest.
Sheriff candidates’ responses to questions—Baker answers, Lanford doesn’t
The two sheriff's candidates were asked 11 questions and given five days to respond. Sierra County Sheriff's Deputy Lieutenant Joshua Baker responded to all questions. He is running as a Republican. Michael Lanford did not respond, indicating a disinclination to be transparent. He is running as a Democrat.
Hipster, beatnik, philosopher, artist Tom Hamil–in remembrance
Truth or Consequences attracted one of the greats, Tom Hamil. He had an enormous talent for painting music, his auditory and visual synesthesia giving us visual jazz.
Blind spending explains how T or C City Commission “busted out” three utilities so far
Tony Soprano took over businesses, sucking the life out of them like a lamprey eel until it was "busted out." Truth or Consequences has similarly ridden its rate payers and exhausted its utilities. The trash utility is the new cash cow.
Municipal court “is done,” Luna says
Owner of the Sentinel, Frances Luna, made it clear she and others decide things around here. Democratic public hearings to sound the citizens' will and to inform the public are a waste of time.
Another reason not to pass $3M in general obligation bonds
Early voting starts Oct. 11 and two general-obligation bond questions are on the ballot totaling $3 million, which, if passed, will double Truth or Consequences' property taxes. The city is not prepared or transparent enough for the people to grant it the bond issues.
City’s renewable energy law—no “grandfathering in” for current solar-system owners
Good news for those who waited--no longer a limit on solar panels. Bad news for those who already took the plunge--you won't be getting 13 cents per kilowatt hour for excess production, only 6 or 7 cents.