Some southwest Tucumcari streets to receive resurfacing

QCS Managing Editor

Parts of nine streets on Tucumcari’s southwest side will receive $80,000 worth of re-surfacing using city funds, the Tucumcari City Commission decided Thursday.

City Manager Jared Langenegger said many of these streets are rough due to long neglect while grant funding has funded improvements in other areas.

“We decided we can spend some city money to improve these streets,” he said.

Langenegger said some streets will receive chip-seal pavement and other will receive a coating of oil.

The stretches of road to be improved include:

• Estrella Avenue from First Street to Fifth Street.

• Third Street from El Carro to Washington.

• Fourth Street from Estrella to Washington.

• Fifth Street from Estrella to Washington.

• Ninth Street from Escuela to Washington.

• Tenth Street from Georgetown gate to Washington.

• Seventh Street from Sixth Street to Charles.

• Sixth Street from Nobles to Gamble.

• Buena Vista Street from Mesa Vista to Washington.

• Third Street from north of Washington to Charles.

The commission also approved a Joint Powers Agreement for the central dispatch service for the county. The agreement was previously approved by Quay County.

Under the agreement, dispatchers, who are now city employees, will become county employees, and the county will replace the city as the “fiscal agent” for the dispatch center. The fiscal agent is the entity that collects and distributes funds for the dispatch center.

Under the agreement, the city will continue to pay a 45-percent share of the dispatch center’s operating budget this year.

The county also pays a 45-percent share, with the communities of San Jon, Logan and House paying the remaining 10 percent.

In 2016, all the communities will pay their current shares of any operating expenses beyond those covered by a gross receipts tax approved by voters last September, according to the agreement document.

Under the joint powers agreement, management of the dispatch facility will transfer from the city to the Tucumcari/Quay Regional Emergency Community Center Board of Directors, which will include representatives from all communities that fund the center.

The commission also approved the city’s contract with Tucumcari MainStreet, which is making improvements in the city’s downtown area.

Until Thursday, the city and MainStreet had worked together without a written contract. Under the written contract approved Thursday, the city will contribute $35,000 a year to support MainStreet operations. The contract begins May 1 and will be effective for one year.

The commission also:

• Approved spending $3,000 as the city’s half of the cost of the Tucumcari Elks Lodge’s annual fireworks display on Independence Day.

• Approved giving the Tucumcari Farmers Market the option of operating at the Tucumcari Train Depot this summer. The farmers market has been operating two days a week during the summer at Wailes Park on the city’s east side.

• Approved a three-year contract with Griego Professional Services LLC for auditing services for a total of $42,800 for all three years. City Finance Director Dennis Dysart noted that the firm’s audits have received high ratings from the state auditor.

• Learned in the city manager’s report that Tucumcari’s drinking water ranked in the top five for taste at a state water conference, and won first place in a “people’s choice” taste competition.