Don’t call them tiny homes
Want to put a single-family dwelling less than 500 square feet on your lot? The city commission just made it a lot easier, even though it's not allowed in city code.
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.
Whitehead explains next four water projects
Over the next three years the city will take on about $45 million in water projects.
Water report : “losing 35 to 40 percent compared to 59 percent this time last year”
Hooray for concise and honest reporting by new interim water department supervisor, Jamie Foreman, as scary as the stats are.
T or C applying for $190,000 grant/loan to do preliminary engineering study on whole wastewater system
With Trump cutting federal funding, T or C's usual go-to source, Colonias funding, may dry up. What if we have to pay for critical repairs ourselves, with no grant money?
T or C city commission meetings: time change, public comment change, better audio/visual
Hooray! It's been nearly five years since the city cancelled a contract with an IT company that streamed city commission meetings on a city YouTube channel, which was the only format one could hear what was said. Hopefully new equipment will fix onsite and streaming communications problems.
Love’s Travel Stop coming to Truth or Consequences
About 40 jobs will come with Love's arrival, along with more gross receipts tax and fuel-tax revenue. Free education to employees!
T or C contracts Jesse Cole part-time as water and wastewater manager
The city, by law, must have a certified level-three water and level-three wastewater operator on staff or under contract.
Judge chooses Sierra County Arroyo Flood Control District Directors
The first board of directors will have no tax money in hand for a year. That means they have to scrounge for legal help to set up bylaws, administrative help to notice their meetings, draft agendas and minutes. This makes them vulnerable to outside influences, like the county.
Hot Springs Land Development and City of Truth or Consequences settle 2014 court case
Looks like HSLD is walking away pretty bruised, having expended nearly $5 million in land purchase, option agreement, engineering and well development and getting $100,300 in settlement from the city.
Whitehead does deep dive on OMA
I was deeply impressed by new Truth or Consequences City Manager Gary Whitehead's response to my question on whether the city was violating the Open Meetings Act. It changed a misconception I had held to for years.
Special election slated for March 4 is cancelled
The City of T or C's third referendum on the purchase and renovation of a police building will not be held, but the people were snookered anyway.
Whitehead brings transparency to $9.7-million water project
New City Manager Gary Whitehead is a very good communicator, which was put to the test his first city commission meeting.