Officials hear business challenges

The executive director of the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corp. on Monday told Quay County commissioners of the challenges of attracting employers to rural communities and the frustrations of businesses getting enough employees.

Patrick Vanderpool of the EDC said many prospective companies seeking to relocate seek infrastructure that towns such as Tucumcari cannot deliver, such as being within 10 miles of a major municipal airport, nearby machine shops that can make components, buildings with 25-foot ceilings or 50 megawatts of available electrical power. On the last item, Vanderpool said the entire city of Tucumcari consumes only 10.5 megawatts.

“Trying to find a project for a small community is a tough road to hoe,” he said.

One idea Vanderpool said he wants to try is installing an informational kiosk about Tucumcari at Interstate 40’s Glenrio Welcome Center near the Texas border. He said the kiosk might interest business travelers. However, the welcome center remains closed because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Vanderpool expressed dissatisfaction with the area’s workforce, especially with the state Department of Workforce Solutions. He said there was a “disconnect” between the agency and the state’s business community. He said the department also lacks good data “to tell stories” to prospective businesses about the state’s workers.

He said funds from the Local Economic Development Act can be used to draw retail businesses. However, they come with a non-compete clause and must undergo a public referendum before being awarded. Vanderpool also said Tucumcari’s available LEDA funds are small compared to cities such as Clovis.

Regarding the state’s recent legalization of recreational marijuana, Vanderpool said there would be a substantial boost of gross receipts taxes after weed shops open in Tucumcari, but “it’s not going to be the saving grace.”

Commissioners expressed ire for current unemployment compensation during the COVID-19 pandemic, which they viewed as being too generous.

“They’re making more money sitting at home than on a job,” commission Chairman Franklin McCasland said.

Vanderpool pointed out that New Mexico this week has made a documented job search as a requirement to keep receiving benefits.

“You don’t need to a study to know what businesses want,” commissioner Jerri Rush said. “Show up on time. Don’t show up high.”

In other business:

• Commissioners approved a one-year contractor’s agreement with recently retired county manager Richard Primrose.

According to the agreement, “Contractor has expertise and prior experience working for Quay County, and has sufficient knowledge of Quay County operations to provide consulting services for Quay County until a new County Manager's transition is complete.”

Primrose will be paid a flat rate of $2,000 a month. He retired from his post last month after 14 years and was replaced by Daniel Zamora. The contact ends May 10, 2022.

• Commissioners delayed action on an amendment to the county’s overtime pay policy that was proposed by Sheriff Russell Shafer.

Shafer advocated the amendment because deputies would not be able to receive overtime pay covered by state enforcement grants if they take sick or vacation leave or compensation time during the same pay period.

“Changing the policy to allow grant reimbursed overtime pay even during pay periods in which leave has been taken would be an incentive for deputies to consistently work grant overtime for traffic safety. This would enhance the safety of Quay County and increase police presence within the county, with no financial cost to the Quay County Government,” Shafer read in a letter to commissioners.

McCasland directed Zamora to consult with a lawyer to see whether the plan would lead to an undesirable precedent for other county employees.

• Commissioners approved an additional $40,011.82 in engineer’s fees to Stantec for the eventual replacement of two bridges on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee.

Road superintendent Larry Moore said the additional fees are needed to complete historical bridge documentation and testing for the two 1930s bridges that would be bypassed.

Moore added the state will decide whether to fund replacement of the second bridge on that road by September. The county received funds in 2019 to replace the other bridge.

• Aric Costa, Department of Agriculture wildlife specialist, said it soon would begin killing feral swine in the county. He said the animals, which often are destructive to crops and other vegetation, mainly are concentrated along the Canadian River Valley.

Commissioners also discussed a proposal from the USDA that would raise its annual wildlife-control fee to the county by 14%, to $40,250, for fiscal year 2022. Costa said the agency planned to hire another employee so he could spend more time on wildlife control in the county, but McCasland wanted to consult the department’s district supervisor before deciding.

• County Clerk Ellen White said she doesn’t anticipate many changes in redistricting in Quay County in the wake of 2020 Census reapportionment. She said state redistricting probably would be completed by September, and more data about possible county boundaries wouldn’t be known until the end of the year.

• C. Renee Hayoz, administrator of the Presbyterian Medical Services clinic in Tucumcari, introduced Michelle Dean, a recently hired certified nurse practitioner from Portales. Hayoz also said the clinic also would hire a behavioral health interventionist.

Hayoz said the clinic had administered about 2,000 COVID-19 vaccines since late December.

• Zamora said he attended a New Mexico Cattle Growers Association event, where members expressed concern about proposals for conservation easements on private land and possible edicts to preserve 30% of all land and water by 2030. Zamora said the latter was untenable because there wouldn’t be enough land left for food production. He said no such rules are imminent but should be “on the radar” of rural officials.

• The commission held a closed executive session to discuss pending litigation, personnel matters and real estate.