Civil Municipal - Feb 2024

great pay, benefits, and retirement plans, and are in demand over the state. “In addition, there are individuals enrolled in the CDL program,” Sena says, illuminating the practical and local ramification of these educational initiatives. This hands-on approach extends to partnerships between ENMU and Ruidoso’s hospital, the Lincoln County Medical Center, who deliver classes on nursing and dialysis. The village’s commitment to internal resourcing is emphasized through wildland fire safety training, which Sena explains is essential in a community surrounded by nature’s playground. “Fires do come through here. This instruction is specific and different from standard firefighter training.” Sena highlights the cooperation of businesses in thriving wine, brewery, and distillation sectors. “We’ve got classes at ENMU that local enterprises started in wine and beer making, and how to run that business.” EDUCATING FOR A HOME- GROWN WORKFORCE With housing in mind, the Village of Ruidoso is recruiting and training young adults for their departments. Sena explains, “Everyone is having a tough time finding certified operators because they are retiring.” As the town flourishes with new businesses entering the municipality, Sena says staffing certain areas is a struggle. “We are five employees short in our Street Department. Water and Sewer need seven qualified applicants, and Solid Waste requires four or five workers to complete their staff.” Solid Waste and some street vacancies need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). To help fill these vacancies, Ruidoso joined forces with Central New Mexico Community College and Eastern NewMexico University (ENMU).“We started an environmental sciences course, with learners in the Level 3 and Level 4 chemistry classes,” states Sena. Water Treatment Plant chemists receive DESTINY Real Estate & Development Rhonda Romack Qualifying Broker 2000 Sudderth Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345 Mobile: +1 (575) 937-3000 Office: +1 (575) 257-3000 https://ruidoso-nm.com/ Gail Acker Cell +1 (903) 646-2254 gacker1957@aol.com LIC# 53519 Douglas McAlister (C) +1 (575) 937-1317 doug@ruidosonewmexicorealestate.com LIC# 47124 Shelley McAlister (C) +1 (575) 973-2503 shelley@ruidosonewmexicorealestate.com LIC# 19046 Doug Siddens (C) +1 (575) 937-3077 siddensruidoso@gmail.com LIC# 9002 Traci Crawford Cell (432) 349-3277 td_dreamin@yahoo.com LIC# 53817 Dianna Gandy-Goff Cell (575) 370-9909 diannagrealtor@gmail.com LIC# 54918 Deedra Cope Cell +1 (806) 759-9887 deedra.destinyrealestate@gmail.com LIC# right now We Can Help With Once-in-a-lifetime Properties, Homes, Ranches, Condos, Commercial and Nightly Rentals OUR BUSINESS IS BUILT ON DREAMS & IMAGINATION 93 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 02 RUIDOSO, NM