Serving the High Plains

Chamber chief may become events director

The executive director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce advocated to city commissioners reprising his office’s former role as the city’s events coordinator.

City commissioners during a work session Thursday seemed amenable to the idea and asked City Manager Mark Martinez to draw up a contract for the post by its next meeting March 24. Martinez advocated acting quickly because he wanted to have a placeholder event – a possible small-scale revival of Tucumcari’s long-dormant Pinata Festival — to replace the New Mexico Music Showcase in June.

Chamber chief Scott Crotzer said he also could take on organizing events for the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, retail galas and the 2023 Wheels on Fire bicycle race. He said he also wanted to coordinate with an October mural festival in Amarillo so visitors could travel to see Tucumcari’s murals, then go to the annual Albuquerque balloon fiesta.

Martinez said the salary for an events coordinator could be $45,000 “depending on the scope of the work.” He said it would be a full-time position but didn’t want to assign too many duties to Crotzer.

Most commissioners expressed support for the proposal.

“I’m for doing this,” Commissioner Mike Cherry said. Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield said it was “a good idea.”

Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Moya, while not opposing the plan, questioned whether it might overlap with duties of the Tucumcari Convention Center’s general manager and the city’s tourism marketer.

Crotzer said he came to the conclusion an events coordinator should be the chamber’s role after researching the history of the office.

Crotzer said the chamber historically handled events until about 2012, when current Quay County Treasurer Patsy Gresham stepped down. The duties of subsequent chamber directors “lapsed,” he said.

“How that got lost in the system, I’m not sure,” he said.

Crotzer noted Santa Rosa has one full-time events coordinator, Silver City has two and Taos three.

Crotzer said his office, which recently underwent $41,000 in renovations, greened 159 guests in 2021 and 58 so far in 2022. That compares to about 60 each in 2018 and 2019, before the pandemic.

Crotzer said could offer space in his chamber office for the Tucumcari film liaison. He also offered to be an ambassador for the city’s museums.

Other action

• Commissioners approved the city’s Lodgers Tax Advisory Board’s recommendation to use $13,000 in executive funds to bring Texas Longhorns for the cattle drive down Route 66 during Tucumcari Rawhide Days from April 30 to May 2. The funds were leftover from last year, when the festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Martinez said the city attorney looked at the arrangement, saying he was “not a big fan” because it would set a precedent but noted other municipalities have used such money legally in a similar manner.

• Commissioners approved the Lodgers Tax Advisory Board’s recommendation to use nearly $2,000 in lodgers tax funds so Crotzer can attend the Travel Alliance Partnership event on May 23-25 in Branson, Missouri. Crotzer will tout Tucumcari as an overnight stop for tour companies.

• Commissioners approved an annual Law Enforcement Protection Fund application from Police Chief Pete Rivera. He said he was requesting $45,000, plus $1,000 for each certified officer. Rivera said he would possibly acquire another police vehicle.

• Commissioners approved an interim contract for Human Resources Services until a new human resources officer is hired. The firm will be paid $1,000 a month, which was slightly less than the departing HR director because the city doesn’t have to cover benefits. The firm also will help train the incoming HR director.

Moya asked about cross-training current employees for those duties, but Martinez said those workers are “swamped” and “don’t fit” with such a position.

• Kathey Cothern-Jones, chairwoman of the Quay County Health Council’s Intimate Partner Violence Task Force, gave a presentation on how it is trying to address domestic violence.

In fall 2020, the organization surveyed residents about the issue. The community scored a zero on awareness of domestic violence and resources available. More recently, the community scored a 3.53, which is “vague awareness” on the readiness scale.

Cothern-Jones said the organization is holding quarterly workshops, posting QR codes in restaurant restrooms that domestic violence victims can access in privacy, and reading to children a book about childhood fears at the Tucumcari Public Library.

• The commission heard a first reading of Michelle Chavez’s zoning change request. Project manager Sharayah Sisneros said Chavez was moving the Turquoise Child Development Center from East Tucumcari Boulevard to a former church on South Sixth Street.

• The commission heard a first reading of MT Tucumcari Properties’ request to rezone a tract of land on South Mountain Road between the Fairfield Inn and an RV park. City Clerk Anjelica Gray said the developer plans to build a recreational marijuana dispensary and coffee shop there.

• During the consent agenda, Michael Carlson was approved as a member of the Zoning and Planning Commission.

City manager report

• Martinez said a rail crossing at North Rock Island Street may be closed for long durations for up to two months due to repairs. Even if parked trains don’t block the crossing, they’re close enough to activate the crossing arms, he said. He said emergency agencies have been instructed to use the First Street overpass to bypass it.

Martinez said the railroad next would begin repairs at a crossing near Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery, but it signaled it would try to keep it open during funerals.

Moya, citing residents’ complaints, urged Martinez to contact the state Department of Transportation to see whether such long closures of the crossings were permissible.

Cherry, a former fire chief who also said he has received complaints daily about the crossing, expressed concern about the crossing near the cemetery, noting emergency vehicles might have to detour up to five miles. Cherry also requested Martinez meet with a representative with the railroad about it.

Commissioner Paul Villanueva recommended the city install detour signs in front of the crossing.

• Martinez said he distributed a packet to commissioners about a proposed transfer of the Chaparral Apartments to Monarch Properties. Moya, citing issues with Monarch’s Quay Apartments complex, said the city should consider other interested parties.

• Martinez said requesting capital outlay money to build a new Tucumcari Senior Center has been taken off the table due to feasibility problems. Instead, he said the city would renovate the current center and build additions.

• Martinez said the city recently acquired a street broom from the state Department of Transportation’s surplus auction.

• Martinez said City Hall hours have been lengthened from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Commissioner comments

• Moya requested a work session before the commission’s next meeting to discuss hiring an assistant city manager, saying Martinez was “overwhelmed” with his duties.

Moya said an assistant is needed because Martinez often does not return phone calls. Martinez said such a position is budgeted, so spending cuts wouldn’t be needed.

• Villanueva alleged the street department was ignoring work orders for potholes. Litchfield refuted that, noting pothole repairs she requested were performed.

Martinez said the street department eventually will make pothole repairs, but noted sometimes a worker is sick or a machine breaks down. He noted the city has a job vacancy for a street worker, but no one has applied for it.

• Commissioner Christopher Arias said he is going through Tucumcari MainStreet’s FORGE business accelerator program and wished to inform the commission about the possibility of a conflict of interest. Arias has stated on social media he was planning to open a mobile coffee shop using a vintage Volkswagen minibus.

 
 
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