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Miami Town Council discusses youth

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MIAMI – After extending their thanks to the agencies and volunteers who made this year’s Fiesta a success, Town Council members spent some time last Monday making plans for the town’s 100th anniversary.

Councilwoman Susan Hansen referred to this year’s Fiesta as a “terrific success.”

“Kudos to the (Fiesta) committee,” echoed Councilman Angel Medina. “They did a fantastic job.”

Mayor Darryl Dalley announced that the town will be 100 years old in March of next year. He envisions a celebration with a proclamation and other events. “We’d really like to get the mines involved,” he said.

Councilman Angel Medina, who has been active in organizing Miami’s annual Boom Town Spree, which recognizes and celebrates Miami’s mining roots, said next year’s spree is scheduled for March 5.

“You could do a lot with Boom Town,” speculated Councilwoman Rosemary Castaneda.

The council voted unanimously to plan a celebration.

In a much less popular discussion, Town Manager Joseph Heatherly outlined a proposal to charge the various sports groups that use the Bullion Plaza gym for a cleaning fee.

Heatherly proposed a $100 per month fee for groups, such as basketball players, who use the gym a few times a month.

When questioned as to why a fee is necessary, Heatherly said there have been incidents where kids using the gym have left some real messes including two incidents where feces was smeared on the bathroom walls.

Councilman Sammy Gonzales, who is involved in youth sports in the community, said the charges would be difficult for the sports clubs to honor.

“We have a problem with our youth – trying to keep them busy,” he said. “We live in a poverty area where kids can’t afford it.” 

Heatherly countered by suggesting that the adults working with the youth should be responsible enough to go back and check to make sure everything is in order at the end of an event. 

Castaneda said the grant the town got to refurbish the gym came with a requirement that the youth be allowed to use it. On the other hand, she pointed out that the Miami Genesis group, which is contracted with the town to clean the facility after events is being stretched thin. “There’s five active members in Genesis and we can’t wear them out cleaning four times a week,” she said.

Joe Barajas, president of the Copper Cities Youth Sports, told the council that adult organizers and coaches are already donating thousands of community service hours every season.

“There’s no money or revenues that change hands,” he said. “We’ve always been trying to maintain positive relationships…Isn’t that our main mission and goal to do something for the kids?”

Heatherly defended his stance; “The town cannot be expected to pick up after someone who won’t pick up after themselves,” he said.  

Just prior to a motion by Medina to table the item until next meeting, Castaneda said, “The upkeep has got to be addressed… I would like to see people get together and see if there is not a way to work this out…How can it be done so it doesn’t fall on the backs of a few?”

During a call to the public, town resident Dorothea Hernandez made some suggestions regarding the bus transit schedule. “The times don’t add up,” she said. 

She added that she would like to see sufficient departure times for people who want to board the bus after doing business at various destinations. She pointed out that the last stop of the day, listed as leaving Fry’s at 6 p.m. shouldn’t even be included in the schedule. “It departs at that time but nobody’s allowed to get on,” she said. 

Bullion Plaza Executive Director Tim Foster announced that a nationally  sponsored Waterways Exhibit will be displayed at the plaza from September to November of 2018. Foster said he received notification from the Smithsonian Institution that Bullion Plaza has been chosen as a venue.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” Foster commented. “We’re one of just a few in the state.”

Foster also told the council that the Plaza expects to use a Brownfields grant to clean up the basement of Bullion Plaza Museum including asbestos abatement. The museum, which once served as a segregated school for children of Mexican ethnicity, has been undergoing a gradual reclamation project.

Foster told the council that the museum has also been approved to receive a $95,000 economic development block grant from USDA to replace the windows in the building. He explained that the new windows will look just like the old ones did but they will be more energy efficient.

“This is a straight grant,” Foster told the council. “It will not need to be paid back.” 

Resolution Copper representative Brian Seppala presented an update to the board indicating that the mining company is still in the study phase of reclaiming the site left by Magma Copper. He predicted that late October or early November of this year will usher in a new wave of employment. 

The mine is offering incentives for contracting companies to hire local employees.

Seppala said the mining company is still maintaining opportunities for social investment and non-profit entities can access grant application forms through the internet.  

Mayor Daryl Dalley called everyone’s attention to the new stop sign perched on Sullivan Street. He said there will soon be a crosswalk on the street to complement it.  The mayor hopes the stop sign will slow traffic down for people trying to cross the street. “We have a lot of people who like to go really crazy.” he observed.