County jail roof contract approved

QCS Staff

The Quay County Commission Monday approved a contract for repair of the Quay County Detention Center’s roof.

The contract for $361,451 was awarded to J3 Construction, an Albuquerque contractor.

J3 submitted the lowest bid, County Manager Richard Primrose. The project will be paid for with legislative capital outlay funds, and the contract must now be approved by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, Primrose said.

Richard Primrose, county manager, said one of the key concerns in the project is security. The project area, he said, is likely to be surrounded by razor wire to protect the area from entry “from outside the facility or within.”

The commission also voted again to adopt the priorities of the New Mexico Association of Counties in legislation sought from the 2015 New Mexico Legislature.

The Quay commissioners renewed their vote after the association scaled back its goal to eliminate a state requirement that counties pay the equivalent of one-twelfth of one percent of gross receipts to fund health care for the poor. Instead, the association settled for restoring a “sunset” deadline for the payments of 2018, Primrose said.

Primrose also reported to the commission that the county’s taxable gross receipts from business operations in the county for the past four months are down about 6 percent, or $40,000, compared with the same period last year. Primrose said there has been less construction on Interstate 40 than there was last year, which likely accounts for the reduction in total receipts.

The commission also:

• Heard a report from Brenda Bishop, an agent for the Quay County Extension office, on activities for the quarter ending Sept. 30. In that quarter, she said 4-H activities included the county fair, hosting the state 4-H horse show, and local activities that include science sessions. Other extension office activities included Strong Seniors exercise sessions for older residents, sessions to help grandparents who are primary caregivers for children, cooking classes and workshops in farm safety, gardening advice on local radio, and involvement in planning the Pure Energy Expo Nov. 11 and 12 at the Tucumcari Convention Center.

• Heard a report from Susan Lease, DWI program coordinator about Red Ribbon Week activities, capped by the Red Ribbon carnival Saturday at the Quay County Fair Barn, which attracted 700 visitors.