Making Headway: Books, Budget, Courts, Tourism, Hires, Sunspot
Cloudcroft Council clears a packed May agenda as clerk targets December for full state compliance
A blue-to-orange ombré sky over Burro Avenue gave way to the fluorescent lights of Village Council chambers Tuesday evening, May 19.
There in the harsh light, Cloudcroft got what it’s been asking for: a plain-language update on the ongoing efforts to clean up the books and file the FY 26-27 budget, due to the state by month’s end.
Mayor Dusty Wiley called the meeting to order, with Trustees Keith Hamilton, Danny Hardwick, Gail McCoy, and Matt Willett in attendance. Department heads, board members, Lodger’s Tax applicants, and members of the public filled the room. Sunspot Solar Observatory advocates were there during public comment.
Village Clerk Jini Turri, who, for the past five months, has been piecing together the village’s finances one spreadsheet at a time, got the ball rolling.
Budget: “December Is Going to Be the Magic Month”
Turri stood behind the dais, passing the council printouts, addressing the crowd, and explaining where things actually stand.
“We are 99.99 percent done with fiscal year 2024-25,” she said.
The good news: working projections show no deficits in either the general fund or the water-sewer fund.
The harder news: two budget years remain open simultaneously, and every submission moves through three separate state systems — the village’s own records, LGBMS for state review, and finally the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). Each requires manual entry, and each is subject to being kicked back for revision.
The village has been untangling cash balances that previous administrations never properly rolled over, working alongside an outside accounting firm and third-party contractors.
Turri set a target.
“I think December is going to be the magic month,” Turri said, “I’ll be able to stand in front of you with my finance team and say, look — we did it. It’s all tied in together. Things look good. Let the games begin with the village all on board, doing everything it’s supposed to, in full compliance with the state.”
The 2026-27 budget must be submitted to the DFA by the end of May.
After meeting that requirement, Turri said her team needs to re-do the FY 25-26 budget filed with the state because the numbers were wrong and it was never approved by the DFA.
Treatment Plant: Two Problems, One Aging System
In April, the Reader reported that state-contracted expert Robert George wrote in a formal letter that the plant’s clarigestor — the steel vessel handling solids settling for both treatment systems — had deteriorated to the point of emergency. “Unlike many situations that are characterized as ‘emergencies’ in the realm of wastewater treatment, this actually is one,” George wrote April 14 to the New Mexico Environment Department.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Public Works Supervisor J.J. Carrizal reported a separate problem: the trickling filter’s rotary distributor bearing has failed — the spinning arm has stopped turning.
The last time this specific repair was done was approximately eight years ago, at a cost of $30,000. Carrizal has reached out to a Utah-based company that did the previous repair for two bids: one for the company to complete the work, one for village staff to do the work under the company’s on-site supervision.
“We need several men to help get it done,” said Scott Powell, the plant’s longtime operator, who has guided repairs and is nearing retirement. Last time, bearings and seals took more than two weeks to arrive.
Powell explained that the MBR side of the plant remains operational, providing partial treatment.
Bids are expected by the end of the week.
Pickleball Courts Get a Pre-Tournament Fresh Surface
The village’s pickleball courts are getting a fresh start before the Second Annual Pickleball in the Clouds tournament.
The village took decisive action to repair the surface, which is still pocked with dead spots, areas that absorb the bounce of the ball, after repairs last summer.
Since their introduction in the summer of 2024, the pickleball courts have suffered from dead spots. A resurface patch last summer helped, but after winter, new dead spots appeared.
Instead of trying another repair, Wiley decided to have the contractors tear it out and replace it with a traditional acrylic surface and moisture barrier — the same system used in Ruidoso and Roswell.
“The courts are three years old. We need to make sure that we get it right.” Mayor Wiley later told the Reader.
The village has contracted for work to begin on May 26. Crews will work days and nights to finish by June 5, ahead of the tournament’s June 6 start.
“We’ll have pickleball players show up for the tournament, and we want them to be really thrilled to come back to Cloudcroft,” Wiley said.
As for any expense in excess of the warranty coverage, Turri said, “Some of the proceeds that we collected from the ski area this last year will be sufficient to cover this.”
The new playing surface will have a one-year warranty.
“In It For the Long Haul”
Maitlyn Barnett was approved as a seasonal Library Aide. With her hire, the library will open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning June 13.
Malary Davis was hired as MVD Clerk, selected from 17 applicants through an interview panel that included Mayor Wiley and Chief Schoolcraft. Davis is known in the community through her work at the adjacent First National Bank.
Reader Contributing Editor Drew Gaines was hired for Public Works. Gaines stood and addressed the room.
“My wife and I want to make this our permanent home,” he said. “And in order to do that, I need some full-time work. I would love to serve this village in public works, working with J.J., working for the community. Even though I’m a journalist — and the Reader was my first job in journalism — I’ve done a lot more hands-on labor than I have in journalism. I have my Class A CDL. I’ve done roofing, a little bit of construction, stage hand work. I think this would be a good fit, and I’m in it for the long haul. We want to stay here and make this where we retire.”
The council approved the hires unanimously.
Ashley White, Utility Billing Clerk, received a $3-an-hour raise. White has stayed with the village through significant staff turnover and administrative upheaval.
“She was probably hired at a pay rate that was below her skill level and her production level,” Trustee Hamilton said.
Gail Overstreet Stone and Bob Higgins were both appointed to the Outdoor Lighting Advisory Committee. The committee was activated for the first time in the dark sky ordinance’s history at the April meeting.
Friends of Sunspot
During public comment, Dave Dooling — who served as education officer at Sunspot Solar Observatory from 2002 through early 2012 — and Heidi Sanchez, who runs the gift shop and serves as president of the Sunspot Community, asked the council to support efforts to stop demolition of the facility.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Feb. 25 that it would proceed with demolition of the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope and surrounding structures at Sacramento Peak Observatory after a mercury leak was discovered Jan. 5. The telescope’s 250-ton optical system floated on 120 gallons of liquid mercury sealed in a bearing. After assessing repair costs and environmental risk, NSF determined that removing the mercury — which will render the telescope inoperable — is the most prudent course of action, followed by site demolition and restoration. The site is on U.S. Forest Service land in Lincoln National Forest.
Advocates argue the demolition decision goes too far. Mercury removal is scheduled for this summer, possibly August or September. Demolition of the telescope structure would follow.
“Just because the telescope isn’t operational doesn’t mean the rest of the site’s not still viable,” Sanchez said. “To spend all that money to demolish everything — our tax dollars could be used better than that.”
Dooling outlined a vision for the site as a multi-use science park: solar astronomy, natural science, forestry, amateur astronomy, and potentially an RV park serving dark-sky enthusiasts. He noted the Dunn Solar Telescope’s design influenced many later instruments, including the 4-meter Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui.
“The more voices we have going to the governor’s office, state departments, or legislators,” Dooling said, “the more likely we’re going to be heard by NSF.”
The group was invited to return for a formal presentation at a future meeting.
(Editor’s note: Look for the Reader’s interview with Dooling to be published in the coming weeks.)
Traffic Enforcement, Holiday Presence
Police Chief Roger Schoolcraft kept his report short. Over the past 30 days, officers have issued citations to drivers who exceeded the limit by 12 or more miles per hour.
“Today alone, I issued five citations,” he said.
He reminded the room that drivers heading into the village eastbound pass four posted 35 mph signs before reaching the village boundary. Traveling 50 mph through those signs is not an oversight.
For Memorial Day weekend and upcoming holidays, Schoolcraft is flexing officer schedules to put two officers on duty simultaneously.
Fire Department: Grants, Dumpsters, Ambulance, Sirens
Volunteer Fire Chief and Emergency Manager Erich Wuersching covered several overlapping initiatives.
Hazard-tree removal, the Non-Federal Land (NFL) grant administered through the Soil and Water Conservation District is fully committed, with about one-third of the funds spent.
“Through this grant, through this partnership, we’ve been able to build a new prescription — a public prescription — and the state approved it last year,” Wuersching said.
NFL grants are no longer available at the federal level, so the village is pursuing a successor program.
“A similar grant that’s available through the state is called FAWRA (Forest and Watershed Restoration Act),” Wuersching said. “Those grant funds can also be spent on private and public lands. We’re going to apply for a much larger amount — significantly more than the $300,000 we applied for.”
“Because that’s a significant chunk of money, we’ll need a government entity with the capacity to absorb that. Let’s pay up front and get reimbursed,” he said.
Memorial Day Weekend bonus: a contractor from last year’s Clean & Beautiful grant cycle called to report that the final placement of dumpsters was never completed — because the village never told him where to put them. Those dumpsters arrive this week in time for a holiday visitor influx, fully paid for by the prior grant.
Wuersching plans to apply for the same grant again this year, seeking triple the amount last year, with the goal of expanding dumpster availability across all four seasons.
The new ambulance grant is funded — available after July 1 — with a planning committee already meeting. Fire station upgrades are in the permitting and engineering phase.
A grant will fund up to nine solar-powered emergency alert sirens, up from the current four, covering surrounding campgrounds. Most will be voice-capable for directed evacuation instructions; some will have southwest-facing cameras for smoke detection. Installation is expected this fall.
Lodger’s Tax Awards
State law requires lodger tax receipts to be used for tourism and promotion. Turri gave the Lodger’s Tax Advisory Committee a budget of $130,000 to work with. Over three months, the committee reviewed applications and recommended grants totaling $102,797 to the council for approval for FY 2026-27.
The awards cover a broad calendar of events:
High Altitude Classic;
Cloudcroft Lumberjack Days;
Cloudcroft Ultra, Cactus to Cloud, and Trails to Rails;
Cloudcroft Quick Draw (a new live-painting and auction event), and the Art Dash Party;
Pickleball in the Clouds,
Chamber Events of Christmas in July, Art & Wine in the Cool Pines, Labor Day Hoopla, Heritage Day Car Show, Christmas Market, Mountain Christmas Village, Mayfair, and Beerfest.
To spread the word, the village approved a total annual promotional spend of $13,020 with Mountain Monthly to purchase a full-page print ad and social media ads for the next fiscal year, highlighting village tourism and events. (Disclosure: Cloudcroft Reader owners Chris Hearne and Hannah Dean co-own the Mountain Monthly with Justin Muñoz.)
The council approved all recommendations, subject to the final budget.
Meetings Move to Second Tuesday
Effective immediately, regular governing body meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. The next meeting is Tuesday, June 9. Meetings are livestreamed on YouTube at @CloudcroftNewMexico.
After the meeting adjourned, the Reader asked Mayor Wiley if he — as mayor, lodger, and restaurant owner — was ready for Memorial Day weekend.
Wiley laughed, “I’ll probably be a cook too.”
Cloudcroft Reader is sponsored in part by great companies like Cloudcroft Art Society:
The Cloudcroft Art Society (CAS) meets on Sunday, June 14, at 1:00 p.m. in the Old Red Brick Schoolhouse (which also houses the Cloudcroft Library).
CAS will have its ‘cooperative’ Art Gallery open every Saturday in June from 10 am to 3 pm in the Red Brick building. CAS will have about a dozen juried artists in our gallery, exhibiting pottery, lithograph prints, paintings in all media (oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pastel ), fine art photography, smaller, affordable reproductions of original paintings and photography, gourdcraft, woodcraft, fused glass, other whimsical creations, and art cards.
Cloudcroft Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great businesses like:
Cloudcroft Art Society
Located in Old Red Brick Schoolhouse: Holiday and Saturday art showsNoisy Water Winery
Family-owned winery crafting thoughtfully made wines from New Mexico grapes, inspired by mountain living.Be in the Mountains Yoga & Massage
A cozy space for yoga and massage therapy at the Village PlazaOsha Trail Depot
Your destination for unique, hand-crafted treasuresThe 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 ResortsCloudcroft Art Workshops
Enhance your artistry while enjoying the beauty and coolness of the mountains!Sacramento Camp & Conference Center
Come to the Mountain — Let God Refresh Your SoulLaughing 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
The Southernmost ski area in New Mexico.Cloudcroft Therapeutic Massage
Maximizing Movement, Quality of Life ImprovementHigh Altitude
Your favorite little outdoor outfitter on Burro AvenueBlushing Yucca Esthetics
✨ Book your glow-up today✨The Elk Shed
Purveyors of Southwest + Mountain Provisions, Goods & FineryThe PAC
Pickleball Addicts of Cloudcroft—Pickleball in the CloudsPeñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative
For all the ways you love to connectBre Hope Media
Professional photo and video servicesDiscover Cloudcroft
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