Serving the High Plains

District 4 commissioner selected

Chris Arias became Tucumcari District 4 commissioner after the city commission voted him into office during its regular meeting Thursday night.

Arias, a manager a Tucumcari's Dollar General store, fills a vacancy created by the July 17 death of District 4 commissioner Robert Lumpkin.

Other candidates for the post were Nicholas Bradfield, manager of plant services at Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari, and Shannon Lumpkin, a video producerand the daughter of Robert Lumpkin. All three applicants were interviewed by the other four commissioners Oct. 11.

District 2 commissioner Amy Gutierrez initially moved to seat Bradfield in the position, but it died from a lack of a second. District 5 commissioner Todd Duplantis moved to seat Arias, seconded by District 1 commissioner Ralph Moya. All the commissioners voted to approve Arias except Gutierrez, who dissented.

After taking an oath of office from city clerk Angelica Gray, Arias assumed his assigned seat in the commission chambers and said "I'm very humbled" at being selected. He also stated a quote attributed to the late Mother Teresa: "We cannot all do great things, but we all can do small things with great love."

After the meeting, Arias acknowledged being a bit anxious.

"Anytime you're going to be doing something new, you're a bit nervous," he said. "But I also knew, no matter who was chosen, they would do a good job."

Asked about his top priority as commissioner, Arias declined to commit to anything until he learned more while on the job.

"I plan to get caught up and learn the true needs of the city and move on from there," he said.

During the public-comment part of the meeting, Lumpkin thanked the commission for considering her and offered her congratulations to Arias. "You're filling big shoes," she added.

"It was not an easy decision" to choose a commissioner, mayor and District 3 commissioner Ruth Ann Litchfield said. She encouraged the candidates to consider running for office during the next election.

Gray said Arias will hold the District 4 seat until November 2019 or March 2020. It would be the former if the city opts in to New Mexico's new municipal-office election statute by Jan. 30. If the city opts in, she said it also could extend Arias' term to November 2021.

In other city business Thursday:

• The commission unanimously voted to accept $7,509.61 in state grants in aid to Tucumcari Public Library. The funds would be used for staff salaries and other expenses related to library operations. Library director Linda Gonzalez also encouraged residents to buy tickets for Saturday's Beer Fest library fundraiser at the Tucumcari Convention Center. Proceeds will go toward children's programs.

• The commission approved a $489,792 budget adjustment in the first quarter. City manager Britt Lusk said "we do have a cash balance" in the city's general fund but "on the low side." Other funds have ample balances, he said, and the city still has about $500,000 in emergency funds available.

• The commission issued a proclamation that November is National Hospice Palliative Care Month.

• The commission changed dates for upcoming meetings to Nov. 29 and Dec. 20 so they won't conflict or be too close to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

• The commission discussed a first reading of changes to the cemetery ordinance. Much discussion focused on new wording about the maintenance of decorations or shrines at gravesites. Commissioners agreed those responsible for upkeep should be given six months' notification before dilapidated decorations or shrines are removed by cemetery staff. The second reading of the proposed ordinance changes will be in November.

• The commission had a first reading of changes to an ordinance about the Ignacio Villegas economic development project at 1200 W. Railroad Ave. The change removed an office from the project because the city cannot run wastewater lines to it. The developer will continue to use the land to store equipment.

• Lumpkin said she is working with the local VFW to establish a community garden at her late father's property at 1420 S. First St.

• Kathi McClelland of the Paws and Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County said a recent low-cost spay-and-neuter clinic in Tucumcari recently served 133 animals.

• Carmen Runyan, director of the Tucumcari / Quay County Chamber of Commerce, said her office soon would post videos on the chamber's social-media channels.

• Lusk said he would attend a New Mexico Water Trust board meeting this week, where the city might receive up to $3.3 million for a wastewater-reuse program.

• Lusk commended recent cleanup efforts at Five-Mile Park. He said the old pool there has been cleared of brush and debris, and standing water was pumped out.

• The city likely will use notices on social media and in the Quay County Sun to remind residents of animal ordinances. Lusk looked into mailing such notices in water bills but deemed it too expensive.

• Duplantis asked Lusk to press the state to address flooding problems along U.S. 54 near downtown, especially when the state has a $1.2 billion surplus in its budget.

• Gutierrez said an area business recently made a sizable donation of American flags for veterans' gravesites for Veterans Day. A Veterans Day ceremony is slated for 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at Veterans Park.