Valley Telecom is moving forward with a major fiber-optic expansion in the greater Animas-Hachita area. The project will add approximately 95 miles of new fiber and is expected to connect roughly 425 homes, businesses, farms and community facilities in Animas, Cotton City and Hachita. The $5.68 million project is supported by New Mexico’s Connect New Mexico Fund, with Valley Telecom providing a 30-percent local match. The new network is expected to provide speeds of up to one gigabit per second, potentially improving access to telehealth, education, remote work, agriculture, businesses and public safety services. Construction and permitting work are currently underway.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service is planning a prescribed burn near Pinos Altos as part of an effort to reduce hazardous vegetation and wildfire risk. Weather permitting, the 205-acre Pinos Altos Broadcast Burn is planned sometime between September first and October 31st, about a quarter-mile north of the community near Bear Creek Road and New Mexico Highway 15. The project will remove vegetation and undergrowth left from previous thinning work while also supporting forest health and wildlife habitat. Fire officials will coordinate with the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire Department, nearby landowners and other local partners before the burn begins.
The Deming City Council has rejected a proposed lease involving American Magnesium as the company continues efforts to develop a dolomite mine and magnesium processing operation. The proposed development includes a mine near the Florida Mountains south of Deming and a potential processing facility at the Peru Mill Industrial Park. The council also approved a five-year moratorium on the sale or transfer of city-owned water rights. City officials say the moratorium will allow additional review of the city’s water use and how future requests could affect local water supplies.
In other news:
New Mexico is seeing increased state revenue as higher oil prices contribute to greater tax and royalty collections from the oil and gas industry. The additional revenue can help support education, health care, infrastructure, public safety and other state programs, while oil and gas proceeds also contribute to the state’s permanent funds. However, those revenues can change with oil prices. A one-dollar change in the average annual price of oil can affect state government revenue by roughly 59 million dollars, meaning changes in the energy market can have a significant impact on New Mexico’s budget.
