Serving the High Plains

Repairs approved for Second Street

The Tucumcari City Commission approved the funding of street resurfacing, sidewalk repairs and utility line relocation for two blocks of Second Street in downtown Tucumcari.

The commission approved the spending of $274,711 for the work on Second Street, including about $206,000 in grant funds from the New Mexico Department of Transportation matched by just under $68,100 in city tax funds.

The commission also voted to allow to extend the deadline for completing the 800,000- gallon Center Street water tank near downtown Tucumcari to Sept. 21, 51 days after the originally scheduled completion. Mark Martinez said the delay was caused by lapses in parts delivery.

Project costs total nearly $1.5 million in mostly New Mexico Environmental Department funds.

Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield read the city manager’s report. City Manager Jared Langenegger did not attend the commission meeting.

The report discussed the following items:

n Completion of a wind screen around machinery at the city’s swimming pool at Kvol’s Park.

n A demonstration of a paving machine that can recycle used asphalt for patching streets. The report said the city will start seeking bids to purchase such a machine for street repairs.

n A survey of health care transportation needs that Langenegger is overseeing for the East Central New Mexico Stronger Economies Together effort, which involves Quay, Guadalupe, De Baca and Torrance counties. The survey will include questionnaires attached to city water bills, the report said.