RUIDOSO INSIDER

May 12, 2026, Village Council Meeting Highlights:

» Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of Resolution 2026-101, a Resolution Adopting the FY 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) Budget for All Funds to the Local Government Division of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).

» Discussion and Possible Action on Lease Agreement between the Village of Ruidoso and the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce for Real Property Located at 200 Country Club Dr., Ruidoso, New Mexico.

» Approval of Task Order RFP #2026-002P-PH-01 with Parkhill for Sierra Cinema PRV Replacement in the Amount of $82,199.00 Including NMGRT.

» Approval of Task Order #2026-002P-02 with Souder, Miller & Associates for Professional Engineering Services on the Design and Construction Observation of the Hollywood Well Improvements in the Amount of $77,071.69 Including NMGRT.

Next Council Meeting: Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM in Council Chambers at Village Hall

There have been many social media posts talking about the Village clean and lien program. Some have suggested it is a “land grab” perpetrated by a “shady government.” However, the clean and lien program is neither a land grab nor something nefarious perpetrated by government.

The clean and lien program is a part of Village ordinance that was originally adopted in 1985, with amendments as late as January 2024. There are three sections of the ordinance that outline the program. Section 38-61 identifies what constitutes “nuisance” property. Nuisance properties can range from unkept yards to hazard trees and dangerous and/or dilapidated structures. Section 38-82 defines the Village's authority to order removal and/or cleanup. When property owners do not take action, it also provides the authority for the Village to take action itself and then charge the cost of the cleanup and disposal to the landowner through a lien placed on the property. Section 38-91 outlines the notice and resolution process.

Notably, none of these ordinance sections provide any authority to take private property or reassume ownership to the Village. The purpose of the clean and lien program is to prevent blight, protect the public, and promote the general health and safety of the community.

The Village began pushing the clean and lien program in April for flood-damaged properties. The purpose was to coincide with funding opportunities for private landowners to have options for how they wanted to move forward with clearing their land. There are two separate funding opportunities with different goals.

The first is a State of New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management managed Private Property Debris Removal program (PPDR), which provided for the clearing of debris from private property. The second is the Lincoln County-sponsored USDA/NRCS buy-out program, which assesses properties at pre-disaster conditions and provides a payout to the landowner directly to clear the land and return it to green space.

The clean and lien program is intended to promote the general health and safety of the community. It is not a land grab. The other programs referenced are also not land grabs. These are opportunities for landowners to decide how they want to move forward with their properties.

Emergency Management recently briefed the Village Council on an updated policy governing the activation of Ruidoso’s new Outdoor Warning System (OWS), the network of 13 sirens positioned throughout the community. The updated policy establishes clear, consistent criteria for when and how the system will be used.

What the Sirens Mean

The core message of the updated policy is straightforward: a sounding siren indicates an immediate threat to life. Residents are expected to seek information and take protective action immediately. The OWS is not intended for general awareness or routine advisories. Activation signals only imminent, life- threatening conditions.

When Sirens Will Be Activated

Activation is based on whether a genuine, immediate threat to life exists, not simply on the issuance of a watch or advisory. The policy outlines hazard-specific thresholds:

» Flash Flooding and Burn Scar Flooding: Sirens will sound when a Flash Flood Emergency is declared or when rapid-onset, life-threatening flooding is occurring or imminent, particularly in burn scar areas. A standard Flash Flood Watch or Advisory alone will not trigger activation. A Flash Flood Warning may prompt consideration, but observed life-threatening impacts are the deciding factor.

» Wildfire and Evacuations: Sirens will activate for wildfire when an immediate evacuation is required, and other alerting methods alone cannot reach the public in time. Elevated fire danger or a Red Flag Warning by itself will not trigger the OWS. Mandatory or immediate evacuations due to rapid fire spread will.

Tone vs. Voice Sirens

Ruidoso’s system includes both tone-only and voice-capable sirens. Tone-only sirens signal a life-threatening emergency and prompt residents to seek more information immediately. Voice-capable sirens go further, identifying the specific hazard and providing protective action guidance, for example: “Flash Flood -- move to higher ground immediately” or “Wildfire evacuation -- leave the area now.”

Sirens Are Just the Starting Point

Siren activation will always be accompanied by coordinated messaging through multiple channels, including IPAWS/Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), the Call Me Ruidoso/Alert Sense system, official social media, local media partners, and the Village’s emergency dashboard. Sirens are intended to prompt immediate action. Residents are encouraged to turn to these sources for specific guidance.

The Village of Ruidoso/Ruidoso Downs Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (RWWTP) is receiving a major energy upgrade to reduce electric utility costs. Using a 0% interest loan of $2.7 million from the New Mexico Environment Department’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the Village has hired a design-build solar contractor, Holt Renewables of Austin, TX, to develop a 952 kW DC (793.3 kW AC) net metered solar project at the RWWTP, which is expected to save approximately $185,000 in electric costs each year.

Construction began in the fall of 2025, and the project consists of multiple solar arrays across the RWWTP site, including two solar carports, roof-mount arrays on three buildings, and 14 ground-mount arrays.

The entire project includes 1,488 640-watt solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The Village will be able to continuously monitor the solar system's real-time performance through an online portal maintained by the inverter manufacturer.

The Village of Ruidoso extends its gratitude to Holt Renewables, Stone Electric and Power, Otero County Electric Cooperative, and Souder Miller & Associates for their contributions in developing this vital energy resilience project.

For those who may have missed it, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence! The “Semiquincentennial” is being celebrated all year, but Americans will see more commemorations as the Fourth of July approaches. The Wingfield Heritage House Museum will be celebrating with a Colonial America Family Fun Day on June 27, 2026, from 10:00-2:00 PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to try out colonial crafts such as tin punching, basket making, and stenciling. Visitors will also be able to paint a fabric quilt square, which the RuidoSew Quilters will combine into a commemorative quilt for the museum. The public is welcome to stop by any time during the event to check out these crafts and other family-friendly activities!

Stephanie Long, the museum’s Manager and Curator, has also been narrating a weekly radio spot for KRUI called Moments in American History. It airs after Mondays with the Mayor, at 10:00 AM on Mondays on KRUI 1490 AM/99.1 FM. In honor of the Semiquincentennial, the radio spot highlights events from the last 250 years that happened that week in history.

The Wingfield Heritage House Museum is open 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Wednesday through Saturday and is located at 2813 Sudderth Drive. More information can be found at WingfieldMuseum.com.

RMA recently teamed up with the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce for the Spring Business Mixer at The Hidden Tap. There was a great turnout for fun and networking for everyone who attended. A special thank you goes out to Downshift Brewing Company for hosting and pitching in with RMA and the Chamber for the refreshments. Thanks are also extended to The Ranchers, Indulgence, Downshift, and the Chamber for providing prizes for the trivia game!

We also supported the Humane Society of Lincoln County at the First Annual Wagfest! The turnout on the cold, drizzly morning was great! Thank you to the vendors and community members who came together to support Lincoln County pets. A huge shout out goes to Sysco for donating ice cream and frozen treats for everyone! There were so many cute pups. Be sure to come out for next year’s event!

Upcoming Events:

On June 20, 2026, Brewdoso celebrates the New Mexico craft brewing, winemaking, and distilling industries. There will be food and craft vendors from around the state, as well as family fun activities for all. This year’s musical line-up includes The Driveway Dive Band, The Tejas Brothers, and FUNGI MUNGLE!

Check out the event flyer for more information about tickets. RMA is also teaming up with the Tattoo Expo, taking place June 19-21, 2026, at the Convention Center. For discounted tickets, attendees can show their Tattoo Expo ticket at Brewdoso and enter at early bird prices.

For updates, check out RMA on Instagram

Most people assume that once the President declares a disaster and FEMA shows up, the money flows and rebuilding begins.

The reality is almost the opposite. A federal disaster declaration is not a check. It’s permission to start a very long process. Between the moment a disaster is declared and the moment a contractor breaks ground on a repair, there can easily be two to five years of paperwork, reviews, approvals, and waiting.

Ruidoso is living this right now. The Village is managing two separate FEMA disaster declarations simultaneously: DR-4795 (the 2024 South Fork and Salt Fires and flooding) and DR-4886 (the 2025 burn scar flooding events) with a combined 52 projects representing roughly $97 million in estimated costs, of which approximately $73.8 million is the estimated federal share. And yet, as of May 2026, only a fraction of that money has actually been spent on repairs. This graphic helps to visualize and understand the process in a step-by-step format.

Why It Feels So Slow

From a community perspective, the frustration is understandable. People see damage that has sat unrepaired for months or years and wonder why nothing is happening.

The answer is that an enormous amount is happening, it’s just happening in offices, in federal systems, in engineering firms, and in review queues rather than on the ground with equipment and hard hats.

Each step in the process exists for a reason: to ensure federal money is spent on legitimate damage, designed to code, documented for accountability, and built to last. But the cumulative weight of those steps across 52 projects, two disaster declarations, dozens of damaged sites, and a small municipal staff managing it all while simultaneously running a town, is immense.

Ruidoso is doing that work every single day.

The trackers don’t show how much effort goes into each row, including the site visits, the phone calls with FEMA representatives, the engineering meetings, and the procurement documents, but that effort is the foundation that every future repair will be built on.

RMSD proudly recognizes the Class of 2026 for their academic excellence, leadership, service, and commitment to success both inside and outside the classroom. From college and career certifications to distinguished honors and leadership accomplishments, the graduating class of 2026 has continued a tradition of excellence at Ruidoso High School.

Through dual-credit and career-pathway opportunities with Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso, RHS students achieved impressive milestones this year. Graduates earned 14 Associate Degrees, 6 Common Core Certificates, 13 CNA certifications, 2 Phlebotomy certifications, 3 Child Development Certificates, and 4 Culinary Fundamentals Certificates, demonstrating their dedication to preparing for future careers and continued education.

In addition, RHS celebrates 14 students graduating with a bilingual seal on their diploma. Their accomplishment reflects both academic achievement and the value of multilingual communication skills in today’s world.

RHS also honors this year’s Distinguished Warrior Award recipients: Rachel Baudo, Enrique Galvez-Montejano, and Makenzie Wilson. Through leadership, service, extracurricular involvement, and dedication to their school community, these students exemplify what it means to be a Warrior.

Adding to this year’s honors, Maddie Lutterman has been named the Class of 2026 Valedictorian and Cade Holland walked as the Salutatorian. Their academic dedication and perseverance have distinguished them among an exceptional graduating class.

RMSD also recognizes the 2026 New Mexico School Boards Association Excellence in Student Achievement Award recipients: Trina Lubbe, Sherridan Liangco, Dan Carey, Nicole Beach, Marsha Baca, Stacie Fuchs, David Brownrigg, and Ashley Beatty. These awards celebrate individuals whose efforts have positively impacted student achievement and educational leadership across the district.

Finally, Ruidoso School District extends sincere appreciation to this year’s retirees: Dirk Freed, Luis Herrera, Tandala Sena, Jacqueline Parenti, Arlene Layne, Trevor Rabourn, Angela Romero, and Danielle Baldwin. Their years of dedication and service have made a lasting difference for generations of Ruidoso students and families.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 and to all those honored for their achievements, leadership, and contributions throughout the school year!

A new child and adolescent psychiatrist joined the team at Lincoln County Medical Center. Dr. Mary Nord-Cook joined LCMC in May and is officed at the Physician Office Building in Ruidoso.

At a time when rural communities are struggling to recruit healthcare providers and families across New Mexico face barriers to timely behavioral healthcare, bringing a specialist like this to Lincoln County is significant. It means a mother in Ruidoso won’t have to drive two hours to access specialty care for her children.

The headlines about rural healthcare are often about hospitals closing and services shrinking, creating challenges that are real and widespread. But despite those headwinds, LCMC’s mission remains clear: ensuring New Mexicans have access to quality care close to home.

At LCMC, part of Presbyterian Healthcare Services, three recent initiatives address the realities of providing care in smaller communities: an on-site helipad, expanded child psychiatry services, and a food prescription program for families.

As a nonprofit health system, LCMC focuses on reinvesting in the communities it serves by strengthening access to care where patients need it most.

The Chamber recently signed a lease agreement with the Village of Ruidoso to lease a portion of the lot at Country Club and Sudderth. They will be building the new Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center and are excited to be able to serve the community and visitors at that location. They will be working with an architect and builder to design the new building and can’t wait to begin this new phase for the Chamber!

In July, the Chamber will host the 55th Annual Ruidoso Art Festival. This juried fine art show brings in artists from all around the country. Held at the Ruidoso Convention Center July 24-26, 2026, artists will be showcasing a broad spectrum of media, including sculpture, photography, glass, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, and more! Art lovers, from the serious collector to the first-time buyer, will be sure to discover treasures to complement any lifestyle or budget. Local wineries and brewers will also be on hand for those who would like to enjoy an adult beverage during the event.

The Chamber has celebrated some new businesses this past month with Ribbon Cuttings.

» CarnivorOso: Located in the Gazebo Plaza, this shop is Ruidoso’s home for carnivorous and unique plants.

» Mattress Pro by Miller Waldrop: Located at 2801 Sudderth, this local retailer opened a second location for all your mattress needs.

» Hatch New MexiGo Grill: Located inside Hatch Chile World at 2507 Sudderth Drive, celebrated their one-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting.

Businesses interested in joining the Chamber are encouraged to reach out with any questions and to discuss how the Chamber can help their business grow. Please contact the Chamber at 575-257-7395.

Stay Connected with Ruidoso

Mondays with the Mayor
Tune in to 1490Krui.com at FM 99.1 and AM 1490 radio every Monday from 8:00 – 10:00 AM to hear the latest from Mayor Lynn Crawford. Feel free to call or text with your questions.

Follow Us on Social Media
Stay up to date with all the latest news and events:

• Website: ruidoso-nm.gov

• Facebook: Village of Ruidoso

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