Village Council Update: Helicopter Logging Starts Soon, Grants Lock In, Board Seats Open
The big picture: Wildfire mitigation, public safety resource share, board appointments and openings, new hire, and the budget
Eight months after taking office, the Cloudcroft Village Council settled into an efficient August council meeting, despite the full agenda. A dozen community folks and department heads joined them in the village chambers.
Fire Chief Erich Wuersching told Mayor Dusty Wiley, Trustees Keith Hamilton, Gail McCoy, Danny Hardwick—and Matt Willett, who Zoomed into the meeting—that the Otero County Electric Cooperative (OCEC) has signed a contract for helicopter logging to thin trees in steep, hard-to-reach terrain along the power line near Lost Lodge.
Wuersching said that the village is piggybacking on that contract to treat its own steep west-facing property.
According to Wuersching, doing the work solo would have run roughly $120,000; sharing mobilization costs with OCEC drops the village’s share to about $10,000. The Reader will continue to report on this developing story.
School Resource Officer Grant Update
Police Chief Roger Schoolcraft confirmed that the department met the August 6 deadline for a state grant to fund a shared school resource officer with Cloudcroft Municipal Schools.
The grant covers 75% of the officer’s salary; the village and the school district each cover 12.5%. The village won’t know if it’s been awarded the grant until late September or early October, and no hiring will begin until that’s confirmed.
Budget: Ahead of Schedule
Mayor Wiley announced that the village is fully certified and ahead of schedule on budget work, having completed the final budget for fiscal year (FY) 2025-’26, and secured DFA approval for the current budget.
Trustees also approved a budget adjustment to catch up on gross receipts tax payments owed to the state from May 2023 through May 2025.
Clerk Jini Turri had formerly set the goal of having the budget in order by December. Wiley said, “We’re way ahead of schedule at this point.”
The Reader will publish the full FY 2026-’27 budget once it is available and will follow up separately on the village’s most recent audit.
Kincaid Fills Out Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board
Trustees unanimously appointed Bre Kincaid to the Lodger’s Tax Advisory Committee. Kincaid is a Cloudcroft-based photographer and cinematographer who also runs Cloudy’s Market, the village’s new grocery store, with her husband, Dylan.
Also on the Agenda
New hire: Azi Alarcon joins Public Works full-time after working seasonally for the village in the past few summers.
Open seats: There is one opening on the Planning & Zoning Commission and four openings on the Library Board, which is currently below quorum. Those interested can submit letters of interest to the mayor: ccvillagemayor@cloudcroftvillage.com
Mountaintop grant: Council adopted the required certifications for a $ 2-million-plus Community Development Block Grant.
Planning and Zoning Commission chair Rick Donnelly announced the commission is working on updating ordinances, village parking, and more. Proposed changes will be discussed with the council at a future public workshop, to be announced.
Reports like this are made possible by the support of companies 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 PlazaThe 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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