Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Staff Report
The Tucumcari City Commission on Thursday approved the application of two grants by the Tucumcari Police Department for $11,779 to be used toward drunken-driving prevention and patrols.
The grant applications were presented to commissioners by Police Chief Jason Braziel.
Braziel said the CDWI project grant of $1,213 and the ENDWI/Buckle Up/100 days and nights grant of $10,566 are 100 percent grants that help pay for prevention efforts and DWI saturation patrols.
“These grants help our police department to make our streets safer for residents and travelers,” Mayor Robert Lumpkin said.
The police department’s increased presence and patrolling on Route 66 has made a difference and is appreciated, said Rick Haymaker, district 1 commissioner.
The commission also approved the establishment of a $50,000 annual budget for the city’s nuisance property cleanup.
In September, commissioner approved an ordinance that amended and added a chapter to the city’s municipal codes focused on vacant and dangerous buildings. The change to the municipal code also addressed the maintaining of nuisance properties.
The ordinance was designed help the city to prevent another incident like the Sands Dorsey, which was finally torn down in September, eight years after it was damaged in a fire.
The commission approved a request for proposal to hire a contractor to clean up the nuisance properties for the city.
A a separate annual budget for cleaning up the nuisance property ensures that money is set aside for this task, said City Manager Jared Langenegger.
“This is something that must be done and is for the beautification of the city,” said District 5 Commissioner John Mihm.
In other business, commissioners:
• Approved the change order to the 2014 map project to add base course to the shoulder of the east side Whitmore road repair.
• Approved RBC contract for financial/debt analysis for the city.
• Approved moving the Dec. 17 meeting to Dec. 3.
• Held an executive session to discuss threatened or pending litigation. No action was taken.