Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Staff Report
State Sen. Pat Woods gave Tucumcari city commissioners a rundown Thursday of legislative progress and setbacks during the 30-day legislative session, including a discussion about this year's capital outlay funding.
Woods said there needs to be reforming of the capital outlay system that determines how the state allocates money for capital projects.
“Legislators should listen to the city and county governments of their districts to determine what projects are in need of funding,” Woods said.
Following the update, Ruth Ann Litchfield was named the new mayor of Tucumcari by her fellow commissioners.
Litchfield, who had served as the mayor pro tem, replaces Robert Lumpkin as mayor. Lumpkin now serves as the mayor pro tem.
The appointment of a new mayor followed the March 1 election that saw Ralph Moya elected as District 1 commissioner over incumbent Rick Haymaker. Amy Gutierrez and Litchfield retained their seats in districts 2 and 3, respectively.
During Litchfield’s first day at the helm, the commission held two public hearings for the second reading of Ordinances 1133 and 1134.
Ordinance 1133 replaced Ordinance 1124, which amended and added a chapter to the city’s municipal codes. The added chapter focused on vacant and dangerous buildings.
Ordinance 1134 approved the application of $87,200 in Local Economic Development Assistance to establish a manufacturing facility at the Ethanol Plant located on the 1600 block of North Rock Island Street and the execution of a project participation agreement between the City of Tucumcari and Energy Related Devices Inc.
This ordinances were presented by Patt Vanderpool, executive director of the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corp.
Vanderpool said the money will be used to purchase and environmental assessments of the ethanol plant by Energy Related Devices Inc., that plans establish a bio fuel plant at the location.
Both ordinances were approved.
In other business, the commission:
• Approved a proclamation honoring and memorizing Thomas G. Morris.
• Approved Ordinance 1135, a 75/25 percent loan application with the New Mexico Department Finance and Administration for $1,453,886. The DFA will provide a $1,090414 in grant funding and a $363,472 loan at a quarter percent annual rate to fund the Center Street Water Tank Replacement Project.
• Approved Resolution 2016-7 requiring the use of ACT job profiles for all positions with the city and adopting the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate for hiring standards for the city.
• Approved an agreement with Bohannan Huston, Inc., for $155,669 for engineering services for the Center Street Water Tank Replacement Project.
• Approved the 2017 beautification grant for $18,250 for city clean up projects.
• Approved change order No, 4 for Metro Well Field Transmission Line Project increasing the cost to $1,809,750.45.
• Approved the $70,000 MainStreet grant agreement.