City OKs Rawhide Days funding

Thomas Garcia

QCS Senior Writer

Funding for improvement and events to benefit the community took center stage Thursday as the Tucumcari City Commission conducted its business.

The commission's first order of business was to approve a $50,000 agreement with the New Mexico Economic Development Department for the repair of the roof on the Odeon Theater.

“I am glad this is happening, the owners of the Odeon, Robert Lopez and Christy Dominguez gives a lot to the community,” said Rick Haymaker, District 1commissioner.

The funding comes from state Local Economic Development Act funds. In November, city commissioners changed their LEDA statues to include arts and cultural businesses as qualifying entities to receive state LEDA funding.

With the recommendation of the Lodger’s Tax Advisory board, the commission approved spending $13,500 for the upcoming Rawhide Days event, set for April 15-16; it will feature western style games, events and musical performances by Chrystie Wooley, daughter of Sheb Wooley, who portrayed Pete Nolan on the "Rawhide" series.

Wooley performs as part of the Sons and Daughters of Country Legends gathering. Also performing at the event will be Hank Williams’ daughter, Jett Williams, and Faron Young’s son, Robyn Young.

“This event will draw a lot of people to Tucumcari,” said Mayor Robert Lumpkin, who applauded the work of event coordinator Karen Alarcon for organizing and making the event possible.

Alarcon said there is a lot of positive feedback and buzz about the event and it has recently been selected to be sponsored and endorsed as an official New Mexico True, a tourism campaign by the New Mexico Tourism Department.

Commissioners also approved Resolution 2016-01 for the city to take part in the New Mexico Department of Transportation hardship vehicle auction.

City Manager Jared Langenegger said the city has received $25,000 to spend on equipment and said the city was able to get several vehicles for various departments through this auction last year.

The commission approved a four-year contract with the Paws and Claws rescues group to fund $2,500 a year to operate a van that will provide pet spaying and neutering services to the community at a reduced cost.

Lumpkin said this will help to reduce the number of stray animals the city must house and eventually euthanize.

The commission also waived the fees for the use of the Tucumcari Convention Center for the Logan Playdays 4-H Valentine’s Day Dance and for the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce annual event.

In other business, commissioners:

• Approved Resolution 2016-02 establishing the recount/recheck cost for the March 1 regular municipal election.

• Approved the expenditure of the infrastructure gross tax receipts tax.

• Approved the appointments of Phyllis Garcia, Mary Garcia, Ricci Johnson and Malik Muhammed Tafail to the Senior Advisory Board.

• Declined to renew a contract with Kyle Harwood, water attorney.

• Approved the submission of the 2017 EMS Fund Act application.

• Approved Change Order #2 for Metro Well Field Water Transmission project for increased days of completion for holidays taken.