Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The closed New Mexico Army National Guard armory at 1200 S. 11th St. in Tucumcari is shown. Mesalands Community College is expected to buy the facility for $1 later this month.
Mesalands Community College likely will buy the closed New Mexico Army National Guard armory building adjacent to its campus for $1 later this month.
After a 25-minute executive session, the college’s board of trustees on Sept. 11 passed a resolution that directs college President John Groesbeck to be the agent who presents a final sale agreement for the property later to the state’s armory board.
The Tucumcari armory at 1200 S. 11th St., just south of the Mesalands campus, closed several years ago amid a round of consolidation of National Guard units across the state.
Groesbeck indicated the National Guard was eager to let someone else take responsibility for the building. He quoted a Guard official: “It’s not doing anybody any good right now.”
Groesbeck said the college was eyeing the armory for several possible uses because it contains a full commercial kitchen and a full gymnasium. He also said the facility might be used for an engraving or gunsmithing program.
He said they initially looked at the Guard donating the building to the college, but state law prevents the donation of any such property except for other state agencies. Groesbeck and the board instead modified the agreement so it would be a $1 purchase.
The state’s armory board likely will approve the sale during its next meeting Sept. 26, Groesbeck said.
In other action by the Mesalands board:
n Groesbeck said an analysis by a food inspector of Building A’s kitchen at Mesalands indicated it could be converted into a certified food-serving area for little cost.
He said the college would be unable to fry foods. But it would be allowed to use its current oven for baking, temperature-controlled trays for soups and a panini press to make quesadillas. That would allow the college to sell “grab-and-go” food to its students and employees.
Groesbeck envisions eventually moving the bookstore from Building G to a storeroom in Building A next to the kitchen.
n Natalie Gillard, vice president of academic affairs, presented a report on the college’s Sun Path program from 2014 to 2018, which concentrates on health-care training. She said the participants met or exceeded many of the program’s performance goals.
n The board approved a travel-approval process for Groesbeck. He said the agreement covers liability but keeps him accountable by the board. It gives “open approval to travel as president,” but the board can reject reimbursement for trips it doesn’t consider worthwhile.
n The board approved a $20,000 purchase requisition with Honeycutt Rodeo of Alamoso, Colorado, to provide personnel, animals, a sound system and other services for the college’s Grand Canyon Regional Intercollegiate Fall Rodeo on Oct. 12-13. Honeycutt, a previous vendor for the rodeo, was the low bidder.
n The board approved a review and reaffirmation of board policies. The policy showed little alterations from the previous version except to reflect changes in job titles.