Commission gives final approval to construct water line

The Tucumcari City Commission Thursday gave final approval to an ordinance releasing $2.2 million to build a water transmission pipeline from the well fields at Five Mile Park into Tucumcari.

The money comes from the New Mexico Finance Authority and the state’s Water Trust Board.

The new line will replace a transmission line that was built in 1938, according to City Manager Doug Powers, and the approval culminates seven years of work by city Community Development and Water Department.

The new pipeline will also provide greater capacity than the existing line, Community Development Director Vicki Strand told the commission.

In his city manager’s report Powers discussed new federal money that is becoming available that could assist with improving and enlarging the runway at Tucumcari Municipal Airport, which, he said would allow larger planes to use the facility.

He also said that the the city’s wastewater treatment plant is likely to be required to meet stricter water quality regulations that may require lower levels of nitrogen and potassium levels in water relreased from the facility. In addition, he said regulations are likely to require that more of the reclaimed wastewater to be reused, which would require larger storage ponds.

Powers also said that he would like the commission to consider some improvements and repairs at the city’s public library and the Tucumcari Historical Museum.

In addition, Powers said city staff is working on getting bids to surface some city streets with chip seal, including portions of Ninth and Tenth streets near the Quail Ridge care facility and Georgetown, as well as on Third Street south of Washington, near Kvols Park on Fifth Street and on McGee Street on the city’s east side.

In public comments, Patsy Gresham, executive director of the Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce discussed several events including:

• National Hispanic Heritage Month being observed until Oct. 15.

• Fired Up, which was held Saturday evening.

• The Quay County Health Council’s Fun Run Oct. 4

• The Intercollegiate Rodeo hosted by Mesalands Community College on Oct. 11 at the Quay County Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena

• Railroad Days Oct. 11-12 at the Train Depot in downtown Tucumcari.