Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
In a compromise, the Tucumcari City Commission on Monday approved giving $400,000 in executive lodgers tax funds to Tucumcari Public Schools to help pay for lighting at its ballparks redevelopment project.
A few commissioners talked about giving $433,082 to cover the full estimated expense for lighting at the rebuilt high-school baseball and softball fields, which school officials hope will be ready for play this coming spring.
However, city manager Paula Chacon told commissioners that work remains for the Tucumcari Convention Center, including flooring, LED lighting, equipment and cameras, that also might require lodgers tax funds.
Chacon also said talks are ongoing to move the New Mexico Route 66 Museum into the New Mexico Route 66 Association museum and welcome center planned in the vacant Kmart building. Because that move would free up a wing of the convention center, that would give it more potential revenue.
Commissioner Mike Cherry suggested a reduced contribution of $350,000 to the school district due to other needs with the convention center. He said city officials need to do better planning with that facility.
Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Moya suggested a compromise of $400,000, which he made into a motion. Cherry seconded, and the measure passed unanimously.
Moya said he was confident lodgers tax revenue could cover convention center expenses, noting the city had seen a higher-than-expected $200,000 in such revenue during the first quarter.
Commissioner Christopher Arias supported the city’s contribution and urged the recreation department coordinate with TPS on events. He said the improved ballparks would benefit the city and its children.
“It’s something that’s definitely needed,” he said.
Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield initially supported the full amount, noting the project will help the city.
TPS superintendent Aaron McKinney, sitting in the gallery, thanked the commission for its vote.
Voters in the school district approved a $3 million bond issue in February 2019 for the project, but it went over budget due to inflation and supply-chain issues. Construction also was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
McKinney at earlier meetings pitched the idea for a contribution of city lodgers tax funds. The new fields would allow TPS to host multi-day baseball and softball events, providing more revenue to the city’s motels and restaurants.
Municipal judge
Commissioners approved the appointment of Jerry Mares as municipal judge.
Arias made the motion, and Moya seconded. The vote was unanimous, though Litchfield sighed and paused before her “yes” vote.
Moya said the three applicants for the position were good, and he based his choice on ethics and the applicant’s commitment to enforcing ordinances.
After the vote, Cherry asked for an agenda item to appoint an alternate for the position.
The city had been without a municipal judge since July. The previous judge, Christopher Maestas, submitted his resignation after less than a year after being elected. He cited health, physical and mental concerns for his stepping down.
Fire chief report
The city’s new fire chief, Garrett Nash, gave a report about fire and EMS services.
He said EMS reports were moved to an improved and free system, with better billing. He said collections are up.
Nash said he is working with the state fire marshal’s office to improve the city’s fire-insurance rating, which experienced a downgrade last year. He anticipated the rating would improve by one or two points in 2023.
“The majority of those issues have been resolved,” he said.
Nash said his department was about to test hydrants to see which ones are inadequate, then will explore funding opportunities to repair them.
Moya asked Nash for regular financial reports on EMS revenue, expenses and billing rejections.
Chacon also introduced John Elder as the new EMS director.
Other action
• Commissioners approved a first reading of a rezoning application to vacate parts of undeveloped South Monroe Street directly south of Trigg Memorial Hospital. The land will be rezoned from residential to commercial to help Quay County eventually a build a new hospital.
County manager Daniel Zamora, who submitted the request, said building a new hospital was less expensive than renovating the current facility. He said he hoped to have a final design on the new building by the time the New Mexico Legislature convenes for its annual session in January.
Zamora said the county lacks bonding capacity to fund the building of a new hospital. He expressed hope that state and federal funding would cover that expense.
• Commissioners approved a resolution requesting a time extension to use New Mexico Department of Transportation co-op funds from the 2021-2022 fiscal year for the Gamble Addition. Project manager Ralph Lopez said the resolution is pre-emptive because of the difficulty in getting contractors for the project.
• Commissioners approved an updated agreement with the state Department of Finance and Administration regarding a $787,500 allocation to the Tucumcari Police Department. The state sent clarified rules on using the money after commissioners approved the pact during the previous meeting.
Cherry said because some of the money must be used by July 1, he feared the city lacked the time to do so. He asked Chacon to write a letter to the state legislature, asking for more time to use the funds.
• Commissioners approved date changes for meetings in November and December to the first and third Mondays of those months due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Manager’s report
Among the items that Chacon listed in her report:
• Chacon said her research determined city traffic ordinances address drag racing, which is an offense that can lead to a jail sentence.
Arias at a previous meeting asked for a crackdown against drag racers, fearing an accident with law-abiding motorists or pedestrians.
• Chacon said $4,000 in lodgers tax funds were used to advertise the Oct. 24 official premiere of the film “Next Exit” at the Odeon Theatre. Parts of the film were shot in Tucumcari.
• She said she recently made a presentation to a state Water Trust Board for a $2.8 million request in funding to rehabilitate a steel tank on 11th Street and installing new transmission lines at the Hoover Tank.
• She said she was looking into funding and repair options for the closed city pool and the leaking Tucumcari Recreation Center.
• Chacon said the city’s tardy fiscal-year 2021 audit has been submitted to the state but was still under review.
• She said three members recently seated on the cemetery board can begin holding meetings. Three is the minimum for a quorum.
• Chacon said she was compiling a spreadsheet of city properties that might be offered for sale at a later date.
Comments
• During public comments, Kathi McClelland of Paws and Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County said the city pound was supposed to build outdoor kennels, but supplies for that project have been sitting there “for months.”
In response, Moya agreed the kennels need to be built, noting the pound is full and that one dog has been there for more than a year.
McClelland also urged the city enforce breeder’s license ordinances, citing an example on the 600 block of North Fourth Street where a resident has three female dogs and three litters of puppies. She said the dogs aren’t getting proper care.
McClelland said Paws and Claws is caring for two litters and cannot accept any more puppies because they haven’t been vaccinated for parvo, a potentially fatal virus for many dogs.
• Alan Daugherty, representing the Tucumcari Historical Museum, talked about the museum’s takeover of Tucumcari Rawhide Days and its plans for it. He also said the museum soon will undergo electrical repairs.
• Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, said four people are going through the FORGE business accelerator program. She said the railroad depot was undergoing several repairs, and an inventory of downtown properties for possible mixed-use development was almost finished. She also said more than 50 businesses have committed to participating the Spooktacular Halloween Block Party in downtown on Oct. 29.
• During commissioner comments, Litchfield said a meeting regarding the Princess Theatre will be at City Hall at 10 a.m. Nov. 10. A state official will make a presentation at that time.
Litchfield also praised Odeon Theatre co-owner Christy Dominguez for weeding planters along Second Street downtown before the “Next Exit” premiere.
• City Clerk Angelica Gray recommended amending the public comment policy on the commission’s meeting agenda that essentially forbid speaking on agenda items. Commissioners approved that change without comment. Cherry noted during a previous meeting such a rule probably was unconstitutional.
