Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Trustees mull over dorms options

Mayor said he does not want village hall located on site

Audry Olmsted El Defensor Chieftain Managing Editor

A representative with the state Economic Development Department spoke with village trustees Monday night about their options for making use of the Bureau of Indian Affairs dorms.

Tim Hagaman said he was following up his visit to Magdalena with Cabinet Secretary Rick Homans in September.

During that visit, Hagaman said, he had a chance to go through the dorms and had some suggestions for how they can be used, rather than have them sit unused for several years.

"You are not the only small community that has this decision to make," Hagaman said. "Obviously, this is a decision this community has struggled with for a long time."

The representative said he thought the village had three options for how to use the dorms.

First, he said, the village can opt to do nothing with the dorms. The village could also work toward a buy-in for the project and develop a partnership for the dorms. Hagaman suggested the dorms could be used for the new village hall Magdalena has been working toward. With the Legislative session coming up, the village could continue to ask for money to move in that direction.

The representative said Magdalena could also team up with a non-profit organization to develop a project plan for the dorms.

"Obviously, there are tax advantages when you take on a project like that," Hagaman said.

Mayor James Wolfe said he did not want to have the village hall put where the dorms are and said that option would be the last alternative.

Trustees also said they did not want the village hall to be located at the dorms.

"It's a terrible location for (village) hall," said Trustee Bill Fuller.

Mayor Pro Tem Jack Fairweather also said he did not want to see the village hall in that location. He also did not to see the Municipal Court or the Marshal's Office put there.

Trustee Eleanor Dawson said she would have to weigh the pros and cons before giving her opinion on how to use the dorms.

"I am really interested in seeing where we go with the marketing effort," he said.

For now, Wolfe said, he wants to see the area cleaned up and get some photographs taken of it to show people what the dorms have to offer.

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