Fires and Cloudcroft Updates: Cannabis, Budget, and More
New fire details emerge. Plus: catch up with our breakdown of the Tuesday, June 17th Village Council meeting
The Seven Springs Fire, which began on Tuesday afternoon, June 17th, near Bent, NM, on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, is currently estimated to be 802 acres.
The fire remains 0% contained, with full suppression tactics underway.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Command of the incident was transferred to Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 on Friday, June 20th, a decision made due to the complex topography and personnel requirements of the fire, according to Incident Commander Carl Schwope.
Officials confirmed that fire growth was minimal on June 19th, and a direct fire line has been established around the southern portion of the fire. Notably, no structures have been lost or damaged, and no injuries or fatalities have been associated with the incident.
While evacuations for Nogal Canyon have been lifted, residents returning home are advised to proceed cautiously due to the presence of emergency vehicles and potential heat or smoke in the area. Other evacuations are ongoing for houses within the vicinity of the fire on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation.
According to authorities, the primary challenge for firefighters is the steep and rugged terrain, which complicates safe access.
Incident Team Press Information Officer Chelsea Cole filled the Reader in on how crews are fighting the blaze:
“There was some cloud cover the last few days increasing the relative humidity (RH) over the entire fire area, which in turn decreased the fire activity as the moisture in the air kept the fine fuels (grasses) from catching fire as readily as they would if RH were much less.”
“This gave the firefighters an opportunity to put in fireline where it was previously too dangerous to engage directly with the fire due to the active fire behavior.”
“Handcrews manually dug up the vegetation along the fire's edge to create a handline that serves as a break in the combustible vegetation so fire can no longer spread on the ground. They dig an actual line, approximately 6-12 inches in width and down to mineral soil (dirt, no duff or vegetation present), along the black edge of the fire.”
“These crews then connect these pieces of handline to natural or manmade barriers, such as roadways, large rock screes free of vegetation, rivers, etc. In places where it's more efficient and safe to do so, managers will utilize dozers to bulldoze the vegetation, creating larger breaks in vegetation.”
“Firefighters will then go in and extinguish hot spots and fuels burning a pre-determined distance from the edge of that fireline, creating a ‘cold, black edge’ around the fire perimeter.”
“On the Seven Springs Fire, since the fire exhibited spotting fire behavior, there are small fires outside the main body of the fire. Particularly north of the Nogal Canyon Road, there are a few spot fires present. Crews will be going into these areas today and securing them.”
Residents in the area should anticipate continued smoke from the Seven Springs Fire, particularly near the immediate fire area and northward along the Highway 70 corridor. Early morning smoke in local valleys is expected to improve by midday.
Air quality forecasts indicate "Good" conditions for Mayhill, La Luz, High Rolls Park, Mescalero East, and Mescalero West.
In response to the fire, Stage 3 Fire Restrictions have been implemented on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, closing interior and unimproved dirt roads to non-residents and unpermitted persons, and prohibiting charcoal grills, campfires (unless in dwellings with proper screens), and fireworks.
According to the Lincoln National Forest US Forest Service, the Piñon Draw Fire is now 100% contained. Crews have completed mop-up and secured the fire area.
Planned OCEC Outage Postponed
The June 24th scheduled power outage is cancelled.
In an email sent out to co-op members, OCEC stated, “Due to the predicted weather for Tuesday we have decided to cancel the outage and reschedule for another day. We will send notifications out as soon as we can get the outage rescheduled.”
We’ll update our readers once a new outage date is announced.
The Village of Cloudcroft recently wrapped up a busy council meeting, navigating through dissents and approvals, critical financial updates, ambitious digital overhauls, and staffing decisions.
Pot Planning
The council approved a cannabis consumption lounge on Burro Avenue next to The Distillery, which passed with a 3-1 vote, with Trustee Gail McCoy casting the dissenting vote.
The discussion underscored the delicate balance between personal views and state law. Trustee Foster highlighted that the State of New Mexico's governor had been explicit about pot shops: municipalities "could not not allow them in your town.”
The property in the Skywater subdivision was confirmed to be correctly zoned for this use, including C1, C2, C4, C6, C7, C8, C10, and T1 designations. Trustee Jim Maynard emphasized that the village "can't legally treat a cannabis application any different than you do a gift shop, restaurant or coffee shop.” He further clarified that the vote should be based on whether it is "a legal request" and "zoned correctly".
Attorney Zack Cook mentioned the zoning took place in 2012. Maynard said:
“When someone goes to ask they want to buy a commercial property, the first thing they're going to say is, can I put whatever is in [my] mind? So we did [zoning] like that to make sure that it addressed the future. Whatever the business climate is in the future, if it's within those zones. As a developer we approved it when the plat got accepted by the village and filed in the county that the village approved. “
Taxing Matters: Lodgers Tax Funding App Due June 30th
For local businesses and organizations hoping to tap into tourism funding, the Lodgers Tax Advisory Board application process is now open. The council officially approved the updated application, which Advisory Board member Bri Jonnes drafted. The app isn’t up on the village website yet, but you can snag the draft here:
The deadline for all submissions is June 30th.
This new application process requires detailed plans and reports on how granted funds will be utilized. This new approach aims to address past issues of mismanagement and questions over non-competitive bidding.
With over $200,000 in available tourism funds, the revised process seeks to ensure fairness, equality, and better tracking of the return on investment for events driving economic activity, specifically looking for heads-in-beds rather than just day trippers.
The next Lodgers Tax Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for July 7th.
The article continues after this brief message. Cloudcroft Reader is proud to be supported by great businesses like The Lodge:
Digital Dawn
Cloudcroft is making significant leaps into the digital age with several key initiatives. The village approved the purchase of the ESRI small government cloud-based EA program.
Mayor Tim King highlighted that this move is aimed at improving the accessibility of village information, creating better training materials, and enhancing record keeping, moving away from outdated binders and boxes of papers.
A digital water monitoring system is already in place, providing daily updates on tank levels and conservation efforts, offering a clear "visual picture" of operations. Grant writer Lauren Groesbeck noted that leveraging GIS has already saved the village a significant amount of money, with King’s personal dedication to the system equating to "six figures" of work had someone else done it.
These digital efforts are crucial for building institutional knowledge and ensuring continuity amidst staffing changes. Other digital plans include drone mapping, LiDAR data, 3D scans of water/wastewater facilities, and online permit processing.
Leadership Cloudcroft Tidbits
The 2025 Cohort for the new Reader-developed initiative, Leadership Cloudcroft, is 16 leaders strong—a group of citizens at large, board and council members, village employees, and beyond. We’ll conduct deep dives on need-to-know topics in the next five months.
Here are a few highlights from day one, which focused on governance:
Faculty Debi Lee, Dora Batista, Lauren Groesbeck, Mayor King, and Trustee McCoy delivered an update on the current state of Cloudcroft. There’s plenty of work to do.
This November, Cloudcroft’s judge position and three trustee seats are up for election.
There are vacancies in the village’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board, and Library Advisory Board. Look for ways to submit digital letters of interest through a village GIS form or email the mayor, who will recommend appointments to the council.
The village receives funding from many grants, including this list from Groesbeck. (Note: projects and funds are in different stages, some are subject to our audit status, which is overdue and/or delayed.)
On funding, SNMEDD Regional Economic Coordinator Debi Lee mentioned that while the council can initiate executive sessions on the budget to discuss personnel or other sensitive matters, the budget meeting "has to be" open to the public.
We’ll keep you posted.
New Hires
After navigating months of staffing challenges, the Village Council took action:
Azi Alarcón was approved as a part-time maintenance worker.
Ashley White was hired as the new Utility Clerk, a crucial role given recent delays in sending out water bills. King mentioned that water bills have not gone out for June yet.
Kris Parks and Sean O'Connor of Public Works received raises.
Sandra Barr was approved as the new Library Director, Planning and Zoning Clerk, and Court Clerk. Barr holds a PhD in art history and is expected to bring "vibrant ideas for all ages" to the Michael Nivison Public Library, which is expected to soon reopen after being closed since November 2024.
Sylvia Hall was hired as the new Financial Director, effective July 1st.
Here’s hoping for more regular village office hours, an open library—which also provides a computer lab and other services like a public restroom near the east end of Burro Avenue— and smooth financial stewardship as we sail into summer.
Deploying New Fire Hydrants
In a timely move, Public Works Supervisor J.J. Carrizal’s maintenance crews are installing new red-white-and-blue hydrants throughout the Village — the one below went in on Grand Ave this week, and a stack of hydrants is staged at the maintenance yard. Almost 100 new hydrants will be in service once the deployment concludes.
The Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great companies like The Stove and Spa Store:
Learn about sponsorship opportunities for your business in support of the Reader. Contact us for more information at sponsorship-info@cloudcroftreader.com
Cloudcroft Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great companies like:
Cloudcroft Sandwich Shop
In the heart of downtown Cloudcroft, New MexicoTularosa Communications
Internet that keeps you connected.The Stove and Spa Store
We offer a variety of services to ensure your hearth and spa dreams are met!The Lodge at Cloudcroft
Landmark Choice Among New Mexico ResortsDusty Boots Motel and Cafe
Have a beautiful, restful nightNew Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association
We Convert Abandoned Railroad Lines Into Recreational TrailsLaughing Leaf Dispensary
Discover a world of wellness at Laughing LeafInstant Karma
Adventure Within: Transformative Yoga, Ayurvedic Wisdom, Nourishing Organics, Fair Trade BoutiqueOff the Beaten Path
Eclectic gifts & original artworkFuture Real Estate
Raise your expectations.Ski Cloudcroft
Pizza and Summer Tubing start July Fourth!Cloudcroft Therapeutic Massage
Maximizing Movement, Quality of Life ImprovementHigh Altitude
Your favorite little outdoor outfitter on Burro AvenueBlushing Yucca Esthetics
Luxury facials, full body waxing, and brow servicesThe Elk Shed
Purveyors of Southwest Mountain Goods & FineryDown Under Groundwater Surveyors
We find water for youPeñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative
For all the ways you love to connect
The Cloudcroft Reader is the most widely read publication serving the greater Cloudcroft community, with 2,880+ email subscribers and 12,300+ Facebook followers. We do the reporting that no one else does.
Reach the people engaged with Cloudcroft — locals, seasonals, and visitors. Position your business just one click away.
Thank you to the Cloudcroft Stars who support local journalism.
Pledges from individuals like you fuel our efforts. Please join us today.
Subscribe for free for reliable local news, straight to your inbox.
Sounds like we owe a huge debt to Mayor King for his continuing, unpaid efforts to digitalised our Village processes. Thank you, Mayor King!