Prescribed burns on the Smokey Bear Ranger District in the Lincoln National Forest will tentatively begin on September 11 and continue through September 22, 2023. Work will take place on the Brazel Push, the Smokey Bear Admin site, and the Jack’s Peak East unit. Operations will cease or be canceled on short notice if it is determined that conditions are not optimal.

The Lincoln National Forest has reduced the fire danger rating from “moderate” to “low” effective August 31, 2023. The lowered rating applies to Smokey Bear, Sacramento, and Guadalupe Ranger Districts. As always, it is important that visitors are aware of the risks and take the proper precautions. Unattended or improperly extinguished campfires are a major contributor to wildfire incidents.

The statewide portion of the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT), the taxes that businesses pay on the goods they sell, dropped to 4.875% effective July 1, 2023, resulting in changes to the overall rates across New Mexico. The rate drop is the result of legislation enacted in 2022 to benefit businesses and shoppers across New Mexico.

UPDATE, JULY 10, 2023: Thank you to those who participated in the June 27, 2023, community meeting at the Ruidoso Convention Center. regarding the Lincoln County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023 Update process. The Planning Team will consider the feedback and modify the Draft Plan as they deem appropriate. If you have questions or comments, please reach out to Eric Queller, Village of Ruidoso Emergency Manager, at EricQueller@ruidoso-nm.gov or 575-973-8963.

The Village of Ruidoso will host two public input meetings on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 5:30 PM and Friday, June 9, 2023, at 9:00 AM to seek public input for the 2025-2029 Village of Ruidoso Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP). The meetings will be held via Zoom and in person at the Ruidoso Community Center, 134 Reese Drive, Ruidoso, NM. Residents are encouraged to participate.

Village officials, affordable housing advocates, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) came together this week to celebrate the opening of a housing development serving low-income residents in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. FHLB Dallas provided a $200,000 donation through the Village’s Affordable Housing Bank and Trust following the fatal 2022 McBride Fire.

The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is coming to Ruidoso to host free open-table meetings for Lincoln County residents on May 18, 19, and 20, 2023, to help residents seeking recovery support for wildfire and or flood access state and federal recovery programs.

The Village of Ruidoso event planning team created the following traffic management plan for the Ride Ruidoso Spring Thunder benefit event on May 20, 2023, at Wingfield Park, accommodating special considerations for safety and access.

Public Land Solutions is coming to Ruidoso to host a stakeholder meeting at 5:30 pm on March 10, 2023, at the Ruidoso Convention Center. They will be conducting stakeholder outreach and collecting input on how and where people are recreating in New Mexico.

Mirna Polendo, the Community Development Administrative Assistant for the Village of Ruidoso, has been recognized as the Employee of the Quarter for Quarter Four due to her superb customer service and upbeat disposition. Congratulations Mirna!

Ruidoso firefighters Anthony Franks and Tony Nanz were honored with awards for their heroic actions in the April 2022 McBride Fire. Alec Davis also received the Fire Safety Commendation Award for his service fighting active wildfires in Texas and California.

The Village of Ruidoso has introduced a new expedited Over-the-Counter Permitting service in which the Ruidoso Building Permits and Inspection staff will review your plans to ease the transition from concept to permit. This new service is offered on a first come/first serve basis, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 - 9:30 AM, with 30-minute time allotments.

The Village of Ruidoso celebrates its employees with quarterly recognition and awards. Our employees are the foundation of the success of our organization and play a key role in delivering outstanding service to our citizens. Listed below are the employees recognized by the Village for outstanding service this quarter.

Some 8,000 homes and businesses in Ruidoso will soon, for the first time, be equipped with high-speed fiber, a result of a public-private partnership between the Village of Ruidoso and internet provider Kinetic. The village committed up to $2 million of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 stimulus funds it received to the project. Kinetic will pay $4.8 million and pledged to complete the project by the end of the first quarter of 2024.

Go from Renter to Homeowner. Discover the information and resources to help start you on the journey to homeownership at the 2022 Regional Housing Fair on October 20, November 17, and December 17, 2022, at the Ruidoso Convention Center. Meet with lenders who can describe available loans, realtors with the most affordable listings, and not-for-profit counselors to guide you through the homeownership process.

The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) has awarded $45,435 to the Village of Ruidoso through the New Mexico Clean and Beautiful Grant Program for fiscal year 2023. Through this program, Ruidoso will use the funds to enhance public spaces and support local wildlife and ecosystems, among other projects.

The Village of Ruidoso celebrates its employees with quarterly recognition and awards. Our employees are the foundation of the success of our organization and play a key role in delivering outstanding service to our citizens. Listed below are the employees recognized by the Village for outstanding service this quarter.

On July 27, 2022, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn D. Crawford issued Executive Order 2022-04, which states the CPI adjustment to utility rates as provided in the Village of Ruidoso Code of Ordinances shall not be applied until the entire Governing Body of the Village of Ruidoso has met in open session to discuss this matter further.

Come enjoy a meal courtesy of the Lincoln County Home Builders Association on August 2, 2022, at Cree Meadows Country Club from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, and learn about recent New Mexico commercial and residential energy conservation code updates. Pertinent information for all builders, plumbers, and electricians.

The Village of Ruidoso is in the process of correcting the E-911 addressing issues in our community which is vital to help ensure life safety for our residents and visitors. Addresses have already been changed on Highway 70, followed by Sudderth and Mechem. Businesses will have 120 days to implement their new address information.