Tucumcari's mayor abruptly retires

Tucumcari Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield unexpectedly announced her immediate resignation, citing health reasons, at the end of Thursday night’s city commission meeting.

Litchfield, 76, who represents District 3, had served on the city commission for eight years and was its mayor for six consecutive years.

Litchfield’s announcement came during commissioner comments just before adjournment. Because each commissioner goes by order of rank, she was the last to speak.

After complementing recent holiday events, Litchfield began to read from a prepared statement.

“Due to several issues involving my health, at the suggestion of my doctor and family, I find it necessary to retire from the Tucumcari City Commission as commissioner of District 3 as well as mayor of Tucumcari effective immediately, Dec. 15, 2022,” she read.

“The past eight years as commissioner representing District 3 have been very rewarding, and I thank each of you for your support,” Litchfield said. “This past six years a mayor of Tucumcari has been both an honor and privilege, and I appreciate the support of many citizens. Representing Tucumcari at many events has been so rewarding and such an honor to promote Tucumcari, not only across the state but across Route 66 and all parts of the United States.

“I will always be an ambassador for our town and will promote it with a positive attitude.”

She said she enjoyed working with fellow commissioners and wished them luck. She thanked city manager Paula Chacon for “accepting the challenge to run our city.” She thanked assistant city manager Mark Martinez and city clerk Angelica Gray.

Litchfield concluded with “Tucumcari, Merry Christmas and God bless.” She showed no outward emotion while reading the statement, though her voice wobbled near the end.

Commissioners and those in the gallery gave her a standing ovation.

Litchfield, between hugs, well wishes and a few tears from employees and officials, said after the meeting she decided to retire after a doctor’s appointment two days before the meeting. She said the physician told her she was “under too much stress.”

She said relatives also prodded her to step down.

“My family’s been after me for a year to do this,” Litchfield said.

Litchfield as mayor held little actual power in city government; that is taken on by the city manager. However, she presided over city meetings, and her quiet but firm tone — reflecting her former position as a schoolteacher — kept bickering to a minimum.

She also attended virtually every ribbon-cutting and event in Tucumcari.

Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Moya will assume Litchfield’s mayoral seat. The commission likely will appoint a replacement for Litchfield in the weeks ahead.

The new District 3 commissioner would serve the rest of Litchfield’s term through the next city election in November 2023.

Action items

— Commissioners approved the purchase of a Wastecorp vacuum trailer for the wastewater department for $95,000. Wastewater superintendent Calvin Henson said it was needed to keep sewer lift stations clean and comply with federal regulations. He said the machine can be used to help fill potholes and will serve as a water department backup in the case of an emergency. The purchase was budgeted, with an anticipated delivery of six weeks.

— Commissioners approved a New Mexico State Library grant-in-aid of $10,254.72 to Tucumcari Public Library. Director Linda Gonzalez, noting the grant was $1,000 more than usual, said it will be used “for customers’ needs.”

— Commissioners approved the appointment of Agnes Marano to the library board.

— Commissioners approved the appointment of Carlos Marquez of Tucumcari as pharmacist for the EMS department. EMS director John Elder said Marquez will keep the department in compliance with state and federal laws and review its drug inventory every 90 days.

— Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the employee calendar for 2023. Chacon said the city observes 13 holidays. Commissioner Mike Cherry, after voicing reservations on the number of holidays, voted against the measure.

Manager report

Items from Chacon’s report:

— She said a Stantec architect associated with Quay County’s bid to build a new hospital examined the Princess Theatre, city pool and Tucumcari Recreation Center, and he would provide reports on them next month.

Chacon said the architect liked the recreation center and suggested building a new pool there instead of repairing the current one. She said the pool could be constructed at the rear of the center and be eligible for more funding.

Asked about the long-closed Princess Theatre, Chacon said: “It’s going to take a lot of money to bring it back.”

At a future Princess Theatre meeting, she said she hoped to have state Sen. Pete Campos attend, who has expressed interest in repairing the venue.

— Chacon said she heard complaints about inoperable streetlights near Blaze-in-Saddle RV Park on east Route 66. She surmised road construction at South Mountain Road had inadvertently cut a power line, and she would contact the general contractor.

— She said she was exploring an idea of bringing broadband internet to areas around Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course, Tucumcari Municipal Airport and Camino del Coronado Road.

— Chacon said an outdoor kennel at the dog pound had been completed. She said a veterinarian checked the animals there and proclaimed them in good health. She said she was trying to expedite adoptions or fostering of the dogs.

Moya brought one of the dogs, a laid-back American pit bull, to the meeting. He said the animals at the pound were friendly to humans, would make good Christmas gifts, and he vowed to help them find homes.

— She said an ambulance was back in service after repairs, and she was completing paperwork on another ambulance being donated by the City of Texico.

— Chacon said street work would begin on Dohoney, Noble and Gamble on Jan. 16, and construction of a new landfill cell would begin Jan. 3.

— Chacon said she was meeting with the general contractor this week about possible repairs to Tucumcari Convention Center floors. They were renovated earlier this year.

Comments

Items from commissioners and public comments:

— Commissioner Christopher Arias said a large pothole at North Second Street and Maple Avenue needed to be filled. Chacon said that pothole is the city’s responsibility, and she said contractors who will be in town next month for other street work will examine it. She said a water leak caused a cave-in there.

— Cherry asked for a meeting that would clarify the city’s bonding capacity, and he requested department heads be more involved in budgets, capital outlay requests and five-year plans.

— Moya said the feeding and cleanup of dogs at the pound should be done by non-police personnel.

He also objected to using police officers to perform fingerprinting of residents as part of background checks. Moya said a city employee should be cross-trained on the procedure.

Moya said a homeowner on Magnolia Avenue complained of sewer backups.

— Commissioner Paul Villaneuva said potholes in the 2600 block of South Second Street need to be addressed.

— Several commissioners praised Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce director Scott Crotzer and Tucumcari MainStreet director Connie Loveland for organizing several holiday events.

— During public comments, Maria Carmen Gonzales said a “serious animal crisis” exists with cats in the city. She recommended animal control and code enforcement be run by different personnel and that the job description is not well-defined for applicants.

Work session

— Commissioners became cool to Chacon’s proposal of charging rent for parties at the recreation center by matching fees at the Del Norte Center and convention center. Moya said the facility should be for children only and not be leased. Villanueva agreed. Cherry also asked about staffing issues with such an arrangement.

Fees for the rec center was on the commission’s agenda Thursday, but it was removed.

— Chacon said the city was considering the purchase of a small Volvo excavator for Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery. Parks and recreation director Tomas Gallegos said the equipment could dig cremation holes faster, and it came with attachments that could be useful for other departments.

Chacon said the cemetery has charged $500 for a plot “for many years” when other cemeteries charge $1,500 or more. She said money from raising plot prices could be used to repair cemetery buildings and buy new equipment.

(Editor's note: Initial information Chacon received about the cost of plots was in error. The actual cost is $350.)

— Chacon presented bids from Daniel Construction and Jackson Glass Co., both of Tucumcari, ranging from $13,000 to $16,000 to replace two broken doors in the commission chambers. She said one bidder requires half the money upfront, which may be improper under state law. Chacon said she would check state codes and consult with the contractor, then report back to the commission.