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Frequently Asked Questions
Common
Questions:
The following information
is intended to provide an overview of the services provided by the Town.
If you have further questions please call City Hall Monday through Friday,
8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Our telephone number is (575) 538-3731.
How can I get an item on the Council agenda?
What municipal voting district am I in?
How do I get a Town utility tap?
How do I get Town water and sewer service?
How do I get my garbage picked up?
Where is the landfill and what can I take there?
How do I avoid a past due account?
How do I recycle?
How do I get my water turned off for repairs?
How do I get my water meter tested?
How do I get my water tested?
Do I need to register my business and if
so, how?
Where and when do I renew my business registration?
Where do I apply for a Vendor's Permit?
Where can I find information about the cemetery?
How do I contact Animal Control?
Where can I buy a Town zoning map?
ADDING AN ITEM TO THE COUNCIL AGENDA Your request must be turned in no later than 10:00 a.m. on the Tuesday before the scheduled Council Meeting. For instance, if the Council Meeting that you would like to have an agenda item is on Tuesday, February 9th, then the "Request for Agenda Item" form must be submitted to the Town Clerk by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 2nd. If you have any questions, please call the Town Clerk at 575-534-6346.
Please complete the "Request for Agenda Item" form and attach your documentation. Submit it to
the Town Clerk at City Hall, 101 W. Broadway. You may fax it to 575-534-6377 or email it to tsctownclerk@qwestoffice.net.
UTILITY TAPS
For new utility taps please contact the Utilities Department at 534-6365.
If a pavement-breaking permit is needed for installation of a tap outside
the Town limits, please contact Dolores Dominguez, at the office of the
Grant County Manager, at 538-3338, for fees and information.
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WATER
AND SEWER SERVICE
To obtain Town water and/or sewer service, an application is required
and is available in the City Hall Utility Billing offices. There is a 5%
tax on all Town services. Town ordinance requires a $100 deposit for each
water account (meter). If the deposit is paid before noon, the water can
be turned on the same day; otherwise, next day service will be provided.
A letter of credit from a water utility for service during the past year
in the name of the applicant will be accepted in lieu of deposit. The deposit
remains on the account for one year from the date of the first billing.
If payment is on time each month during that period, the deposit will be
credited to the account in the thirteenth month. If you move to a different
residence within the Town service area your deposit will be transferred
to the new address. All charges accumulated at the first address will also
be transferred to the new account if not paid. Checks returned to the
Town for non-sufficient funds will have a $31.50 fee added to the amount
of the check to be paid in cash or by money order or cashiers check only.
Customers who submit more than one NSF check will become cash only customers.
When service is terminated, a meter reading will be taken on the final
day of service. Water consumption and prorated amounts for sewer, garbage
and landfill will be calculated for a final bill. If the deposit is still
on the account it will be credited to the final bill. Any balance left owing
will be billed to you. If a credit is left on the account a refund check
will be issued to you.
Please call City Hall at 538-3731 for questions related to billing.
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Water rates
Your water meter is usually read each month but may sometimes be estimated
based on the prior three months average consumption. Your bill is calculated
on the amount of water consumption. Please call City Hall at 538-3731 for
current water rates. Water rates outside town limits are double.
The meters are read during the five to seven days prior to the billing
date, depending on holidays and weekends.
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Sewer rates
The base rate for sewer is $7.00 per month. An additional $1.25 is billed
for each thousand gallons of water consumption. Initially you will be billed
$14.50 per month, the fee for 6,000 gallons water consumption. The fee will
be adjusted annually in March using your average consumption for the months
of December, January and February.
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GARBAGE PICKUP
Residential garbage pickup is included in the monthly water/sewer bill and
is available only within the Town limits. Garbage should be placed at the
curb in plastic bags. A box of 50, 30-gallon bags can be purchased at City
Hall. Trash is picked up one day a week only. For current residential pickup
rates or for your pickup day(s), please call Public Works at 388-4640. Pickup
begins at 7:00 am and continues until all the day's route is picked up.
Please do not put your trash out until the morning of your pickup.
Senior Rates for
Garbage Pickup
The Town offers a special billing for senior citizens. To qualify for this
saving please note the following procedure:
1) Water bill must be in the name of the senior.
2) ID indicating age is required.
3) It is preferred that the senior make application in person. If unable
to do so they may send a letter of authorization along with ID.
4) Garbage bags and stickers to be placed on bags, will be purchased for
$1.58 each from the Utility Billing Department at City Hall. Use of these
bags and stickers is required for the special billing rate.
5) The purchase of bags will eliminate the $7.00 garbage and $4.00 landfill
fees from your monthly bill resulting in a savings of $4.68 per month if
you use four bags, one bag per week.
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LANDFILL
A landfill fee is included in the monthly water/sewer bill. All residents
pay this fee whether or not they use the landfill. You may also take garbage
to the landfill, which is located approximately three miles south of Town
at 318 S. Ridge Road. All loads hauled to the landfill must be covered/secured;
failure to do so may result in a citation and a fine. The only hazardous
materials accepted at the landfill are household pesticides, paint and motor
oil. These are not put into the landfill but are stockpiled for safe disposal
at another site. Refrigerators are accepted but there is a $35.00 fee if
no certificate of freon removal is presented. Yard waste is accepted for
shredding. Scrap metal is accepted but is not landfilled. Building materials
are also separated. If you have other questions about what is accepted at
the landfill or need further information please call 388-8051. Commercial
landfill users should contact Southwest Solid Waste at the landfill to arrange
for landfill use.
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PAST DUE ACCOUNTS
Please read your bill carefully each month and note the due date.
The current bill is due within 30 days of the billing date and becomes past
due after the due date. You must pay the bill in full before the due date
to avoid a late fee. A late fee is applied seven days after the due date.
The late fee is 10% of the unpaid balance. Water service is disconnected
15 days after the bill is past due. There is a reconnection fee each time
water service must be restored. The Town policy is to collect the entire
bill, including the current charges, before water service is restored.
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RECYCLING
Recycling is strongly encouraged by the Town and is free of charge. Curbside pick-up of recycling materials is on the same day as trash service. If you would like to recycle, please contact Southwest Solid Waste Authority at 388-8051 for a recycling bin. You can recycle cardboard, newspapers, magazines, office paper, and most junk mail without the envelopes. You can also recycle aluminum and steel cans and glass bottles. Plastic bottles with number 1 or 2 stamped on the bottom can be recycled. You may also take recyclable materials to the convenience station at the landfill at 318 Ridge Road. More...
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WATER
TURNED OFF FOR REPAIRS
Neither you nor a plumber should attempt to turn the water off at the meter
at your place of service. This may result in damage to the meter for which
you or the plumber can be billed. If you need the water turned off please
call City Hall at 538-3731 to arrange the turn off. There is a $5.00 fee
per turn off for this service. Installation of a shut off valve on your
side of the meter is strongly encouraged so that it is not necessary for
you to call for shut off in event of a plumbing repair or other emergency.
A shut off valve is required on all new taps.
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METER
TEST
If you request a meter test and the meter is found to be defective, there
will be no charge for the test and a new meter will be installed. If the
meter is not defective your account will be charged a fee. For a meter test,
please call City Hall at 538-3731.
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WATER
SAMPLE TESTING
The Town has water sample testing kits available from our Utility Billing
Department for $18.90. The sample is tested at our Waste Water Treatment
Plant. The test is accepted at the plant on Tuesdays between 7:00 am and
1:00 pm. Tests can be taken to the plant at other times but the fee will
be $37.80. At the time of purchase you will be provided with the kit, instructions
for taking the sample and a map to the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Questions
about the water testing kits and the test results should be directed to
the Water Water Treatment Plant at 388-4981.
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BUSINESS
REGISTRATION
All new and relocated businesses operating within the Town limits must be registered with the Town prior to opening; this includes home businesses. Business registration forms are processed by the Community Development Department. The Community Development Department also issues New Mexico Taxation and Revenue ID numbers, required by the state for all businesses. If the business is located within the Town Limits or the business is conducting business inside city limits, the annual registration fee is $20.00. In addition, a $25 fee for inspection by the fire marshal may be required.
For more information and to download the Town's Business Registration form
please click here.
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BUSINESS REGISTRATION RENEWALS
The business registration period is one calendar year. The annual
business registration fee is billed in January and should be paid by March
at City Hall.
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VENDOR'S PERMIT
Vendor permits are available in City Hall and are $24.00 the first day and
$5.00 each consecutive day thereafter.
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CEMETERY
INFORMATION
The Town maintains Memory Lane Cemetery and has plots available. For more
information please call City Hall at 538-3731.
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ANIMAL
CONTROL
The Animal Control Officer is housed in the Police Department and can be
reached through Central Dispatch at 388-8840. Animal Control is responsible
for collecting stray animals within Town limits.
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ZONING
MAPS
Zoning maps can be obtained from the Town Planning and Zoning Department
for a fee. Please call Terri at 534-6348.
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