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The Magdalena Village Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting on June 23 and discussed the library, fireworks and the upcoming election.
Carleen Gomez, Deputy Clerk, reported on the November 4, 2025, election. She said the positions up for election include a four-year term for mayor, one two-year trustee position, and two four-year trustee positions.
“You get the position based on how many votes you get. So, the highest vote would be getting position 3 for the 4-year term, the second highest would be for position 2 for another 4-year term, and then the one who got the least votes of the three would be put in the 2-year term.” Gomez said.
Village Attorney Randall Van Vleck said he believed there was the option of selecting whether you want to run for a 4-year term or a 2-year term.
The trustee unanimously voted to table the item until they received more information from the Socorro County Clerk. Rumpf said they could hold a special meeting on this issue to meet the deadline.
Library
Following the executive session, Mayor Rumpf announced two part-time staff members for the Magdalena Public Library in order to keep the library open and maintain regular operations. The hires include Louise Hall and Jennifer Armstrong, who will work in the interim until head librarian Jeri Herd begins in September.
Hall and Armstrong will work 19 hours each until Herd arrives and works 29 hours a week, 11 hours less a week than the previous librarian’s hours.
Rumpf said each employee would work less than 30 hours per week, maintaining part-time status to manage benefits costs. For proposed new hours for the library.
Fireworks
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During the mayor’s report Rumpf said he had concerns over fireworks for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.
“The fire danger is off the scale. We had a fire Friday night due to fireworks.” Rumpf said.
He said he would encourage people to bring their fireworks to a celebration at the rodeo grounds, where the village will provide refreshments and a safe area for fireworks discharge.
“We cannot ban the sale of fireworks. That’s a state issue. We can request that people don’t shoot the fireworks. We’ve made that official a couple years ago, and nobody complies. So, hopefully, we can get people down the rodeo grounds. Do a community event down there. People shoot their fireworks off and do their thing. What we are also requesting is no fireworks after 10:30 p.m.” Rumpf said.
Resident Teri Winchester brought up her concerns with police response protocols after an incident where stray dogs damaged her vehicle trying to get to a squirrel.
“I called 911, as you have instructed, and was told that the State police would be there to take a report. When I told him I lived within the village limits. He said he was aware of that, but all calls in our region go to the State police.” Winchester said.
She said she called in the morning but the public safety officer didn’t arrive until 6 p.m. to take a report.
“First, I’m sure the attorney has told you she cannot impersonate a police officer, but she was doing just that. Secondly, surely one of our officers was on duty at that time, and could have responded to a non-emergency call during the day.” Winchester said.
She said a neighbor reported seeing the marshal and mayor at the airport most of that day.
“I am there working for the village in the airport property period.” Rumpf said,” I have a right to be there to work. I have a right to use the vehicle. The marshal came out. They had some questions on something, and they left. They were there for about 10 or 15 min, and they have a right to do that.”
Rumpf said he will follow up on why calls are being forwarded to the state police and not channeled to the marshals.
