County to get $9.8M for new bridge

Quay County commissioners on Monday approved agreements to receive a total of $9.8 million in federal funds over two fiscal years to build a new bridge on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee.

The funds would include about $2.92 million for a design pact. The total project cost would be $10.22 million, according to documents in the commissioners’ packet. It would include a local match of $426,030.

County manager Daniel Zamora said the current 1931 bridge, called Bridge 1042, for years has been listed as one of the state’s lowest-rated bridges.

Zamora said he anticipated construction will begin in late 2025 or early 2026. He said the old bridge would be left standing for the benefit of Route 66 tourists.

The new bridge would be just a few hundred yards from a new, multimillion-dollar bridge that was destroyed by flash flooding this spring just days from completion.

When that bridge would be rebuilt remains unknown while the county, architect and builder wrangle over insurance-coverage dispute regarding the span.

Commissioners held a closed executive session Monday with county attorney Warren Frost to discuss the disputed bridge. No action was taken when open session resumed.

In other business:

— Commissioners approved a resolution to commit a portion of $10 million in capital outlay funds to establish a regional behavioral health facility in eastern New Mexico with the purchase of land.

Zamora said the land purchase likely would be a tract near Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.

Commissioner Jerri Rush said her constituents have voiced support in favor of such a facility and wanted the project “to get moving.”

— Commissioners approved a $393,750 grant from the state’s Law Enforcement Recruitment Fund. Zamora said the funds will be used to recruit personnel for the sheriff’s office, detention center and 911 emergency center.

— Commissioners approved a resolution and grant agreement form for participation in the state’s Transportation Project Fund Program to receive $341,732.93 in funding, with a $17,086.65 county match, for design and engineering work on Quay Road 63. Administrative assistant Darla Munsell said the county would request a match waiver.

— Commissioners approved the closure of the 2700 to 2800 block of Quay Road 41 after receiving a recent report from three county road viewers that stated: “It is apparent that QR 41 west of QR AB has not been used by the public in years. We recommend that QR 41 west of QR AB be closed.”

During previous meetings, farmer Doyle Rush said the road had been improperly closed in 2013 and that lack of access prevented him from harvesting a wheat crop.

— County Assessor Dana Leonard gave a presentation on how property tax rates changed in 2023.

He said he did a random check of five properties in different valuation brackets. He said four of their taxes went down this year, ranging in declines of $13.32 to $189.24. The fifth, he said, saw its taxes rise $1.68 due to the addition of a carport.

He said property taxes in general went down in most areas of the county except for the Grady school district, which imposed a bond issue.

— Jason Lamb, the county’s extension service director, gave his quarterly report. He said three individuals recently graduated from the beginning-farmers program.

— Renee Hayoz, administrator of the Quay County Family Health Center, said patient encounters at the clinic rose in August due to child-vaccination efforts. She said the clinic also had been down to only one medical assistant, but she anticipated that would change shortly.