Smiles & Hugs at Last Night's Village Meeting; School Spotlight; PD Now at Zero Officers; Meet the Preslars, and More
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Final 2025 Village Council Meeting: 5 Takeaways
Last night, the Village Council held the last public Council meeting of 2025—marking the final night in the hot seat for Mayor Tim King and Mayor Pro tem and Trustee Jim Maynard.
Just in time for the holidays, the council members wished each other well and thanked both King and Maynard for their public service.
Former Mayor Bill Denney made a rare appearance at the meeting — he said it was his second Council meeting since leaving office in December 2023. He came, he said, to say ‘Thank you’ to Maynard for his service and friendship. He also said he “hoped more people would get involved” and volunteer with the local government, pointing out that the elected council had run unopposed. Denney himself was appointed mayor when longtime Mayor Dave Venable retired.
Last night’s meeting marked nearly one year since Mayor King’s appointment to the position, and his last meeting presiding as the mayor.
ICYMI, here are a few takeaways:
The state Finance Department (DFA) has frozen about $3.2 million in village Capital Outlay projects until Cloudcroft completes multiple fiscal corrective actions, including the fiscal year 2025 audit, bank reconciliations, asset inventory certification, updated accounting systems, and stronger segregation of duties.
Village officials have submitted a detailed corrective action plan drafted by Lauren Groesbeck, village staff, Mayor King, contractor High Watermark, and Debi Lee from the Council of Governments (COG).
On December 15th, a response letter was sent to DFA, and this morning, the draft corrective action plan was sent to DFA along with supporting documents, including the recent asset inventory and bank reconciliations.
DFA now has the plan in draft form; the intent is for the new administration and council to adopt it at the upcoming January meeting formally.
“We brought that to Senator Jim Townsend today, and he was very receptive to what we had to say and said that he will be checking in on this weekly until it is completed,” Groesbeck said.
She said the COG may serve as a fiscal agent if needed.
Read the DFA letter and village response below:
Grantwriter Lauren Groesbeck announced that she will not seek to renew her contract with the village upon completion of her current agreement. After handing Mayor-elect Dusty Wiley, who sat in attendance, a neat manila envelope with Capital Outlay information she’d assembled for the council packet, Groesbeck addressed the council, saying she needed some “time away,” and planned to take the LSAT soon to attend law school.
She plans to spend her final weeks under contract creating a grants manual to share with the new administration and help “button things up.”
The Reader will continue to report on budget, village finances, and grants.In the Volunteer Fire Department report, Chief Erich Wuersching noted that the helicopter landing pad dirt work at Elevation Park is completed.
Mayor King announced the village had hired Rachel Truex as Court Clerk.
Public Works Supervisor JJ Carrizal said the department is “taking advantage of the warmer weather” to continue installation of new hydrants and meters.
The meeting concluded with a round of thank-yous to the staff and officers for their service to the community, and commemorative plaques were presented to Maynard and King. The atmosphere was markedly more genial than the last fractious Council meeting.
King announced that he was “putting a lot of stuff together” and planned to meet with Wiley next week.
The next council meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 20th, at 6 p.m.
Your Wednesday Review continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, Off the Beaten Path:
Cloudcroft’s December School Board Meeting: Takeaways
Last night was the final public Board of Education meeting for 2025, marking Cassandra Saffle’s last time behind the dais before newly elected Michele Anthony joins the board for 2026.
Running in Their Footsteps
On a warm November morning, Cindy Preslar sits down with me in their family home to talk running, life, and Cloudcroft.
Basketball and Bonfires: A Cloudcroft December Weekend
December in Cloudcroft is a great time to gather—whether in the stands at basketball games or under the stars at Zenith Park.
Officer Manzo Leaves Village PD, Joins Sheriff's Office
Newly graduated Officer Ali Manzo announced she has resigned from Cloudcroft PD to join the Otero County Sheriff’s Office, saying the decision came after conversations with her family.
First Bite: Preview a Taste of the New 1899 Menu at the Lodge
Contributing Editor Drew Gaines recently visited Chef Richard Lepree in his kitchen at the Lodge. We look forward to publishing an exclusive video interview with Lepree, the brigade de cuisine, and more soon through the Reader.
Your Wednesday Review continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, The Stove and Spa Store:
Reader Reels: Christmas in Cloudcroft
Check out the Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade in the Christmas Capitol of New Mexico. This year’s tree was donated by Ski Cloudcroft and cut by the Village of Cloudcroft, and decorated by Tularosa Communications.
Scenes from the Ugly Christmas Sweater 5k
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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 treasuresCloudcroft Sandwich Shop
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Personal & Business Taxes, Tax Planning & ConsultingThe 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 ResortsSacramento Camp & Conference Center
Come to the Mountain — Let God Refresh Your SoulNew Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association
We Convert Abandoned Railroad Lines Into Recreational TrailsLaughing Leaf Dispensary
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Adventure Within: Transformative Yoga, Ayurvedic Wisdom, Nourishing Organics, Fair Trade BoutiqueOff the Beaten Path
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Raise your expectations.Ski Cloudcroft
The Southern southernmost in New MexicoCloudcroft Therapeutic Massage
Maximizing Movement, Quality of Life ImprovementHigh Altitude
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✨ Book your glow-up today✨The Elk Shed
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