City OKs first reading of higher cemetery fees

The Tucumcari City Commission on Thursday approved a first reading of ordinance changes that hike fees at Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery.

New fees at the cemetery are:

— All lots for adult burials, $450 (from $350);

— Opening and closing of a cremains lot, $200 (from $100);

— Opening and closing of regular graves, $400 (from $300);

— Opening and closing of infant graves with service, $150 (from $100);

— Opening and closing of infant graves with no service, $75 (from $50);

— Pauper section service, $50 (from $25).

New fees would go into effect on Jan. 1 so prospective customers could buy lots now at the lower prices.

The fees for lots for infant burials and cremains lots would remain the same. Additional charges for services on Saturdays or after 4 p.m. on weekdays also remain the same at $300.

City manager Paula Chacon and a cemetery board member Kathleen Hanny said even with the higher fees, Tucumcari Memorial Park would be lower than other area cemeteries, including Santa Rosa and Clovis.

Commissioner Mike Cherry, saying fees still are too low, suggested an addendum where the city could review fees every three years or tie them to the consumer price index.

The ordinance amendments also call for other changes, including a reduction of the speed limit in the cemetery from 15 to 10 mph.

The proposed ordinances also state that flowers should be placed in non-glass vases or holders attached to the base of grave markers, or PVC holders that are no more than eight inches tall. The PVC holders should be on the north or south sides of the grave marker.

No glass objects would be allowed on the ground around the grave marker.

City employees also would have the authority to close the cemetery due to safety concerns.

On a related note, the commission also approved the appointment of Raul Garza to the cemetery board.

Other action

— Commissioners approved an ordinance authorizing a loan agreement with the state Environment Department for the wastewater reuse project.

Chacon said Phase 2 of the project involves a $1.4 million no-interest loan and a $1.81 million grant. Chacon said the project initially had a $500,000 shortfall, but state officials have assured the city a grant amendment to address that.

Phase 2 involves installing a line and sprinklers to pipe the treated wastewater to vacant land north of the city to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules.

Chacon said she anticipated letting bids for the project on Nov. 30. She said the project has to begin construction before the end of the year. The city has received two extensions on the project.

Mayor Ralph Moya said the city must comply with federal regulations or face the prospect of fines of up to $10,000 a day.

— Commissioners approved a rebid from Pacheco Construction totaling $576,155 for street and water-line improvements for McGee and East Laughlin avenues. Project manager Ralph Lopez said Stantec Engineering recommended a rebid on the project “in smaller chunks” after the initial bid on the overall project was too high.

— Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the lease of 200 acres of city-owned property near the airport at a minimum bid of $50 an acre.

Manager’s report

— Chacon said the city received no bids in a request for proposals a tourism marketing contract, though it received interest from Elliott Marketing in Clovis, which oversees the chamber’s website.

City Clerk Angelica Gray said she would contact the firm to see whether it was interested in bidding. Chacon said the city may readvertise.

— Chacon said the city recently received its insurance bill of $587,639, an increase of 17%. She said the city totaled more than $6 million in losses from May’s severe hailstorm.

Comments

— During commissioner comments, Moya said the city needs a street sweeper to keep vegetation from growing and damaging the street surface. Chacon said she has a street sweeper on the capital outlay request list.

— Moya asked about a company’s recent asbestos inspection of the closed Princess Theatre. Chacon said a small amount of asbestos was found on the theater’s exterior and in two offices.

“That’s good, because I thought we’d have more,” he said.

The city has earmarked some of the $250,000 in capital outlay funds it received earlier this year for asbestos removal at the theater. The remainder of funds is slated for facade improvements.

— Commissioner Paul Villanueva said he would like the city to see whether it can hire a part-time animal control officer for night hours. He said problems with loose dogs seem to grow after 5 p.m.

— Villanueva praised the city’s efforts to fill potholes and cut weeds but that the state needs to clean streets under its jurisdiction. Chacon said she has been calling the state Department of Transportation weekly.

— During public comments, contractor John Pacheco said he submitted an application to rezone the former Quail Ridge assisted living facility as an Airbnb or student housing site, but it never was decided. He said he believes state law provides precedent to allowing a similar business to continue at the site. Pacheco said he has put the property up for sale.

The commission last month rezoned the Quail Ridge site as R-1 single-family housing after hearing complaints from neighbors about traffic and noise. Quail Ridge operated under a special use permit before it closed last year.

— New resident Kelly Jackson said her water had been shut off after her bill was sent to another address. She complained about squatters, break-ins and thefts at her property. She wanted her Dumpster moved in the alley closer to her home.

Work session

During a work session Thursday before the regular meeting, commissioners spoke with Chacon and Human Resources director Jacob Thurman about possible changes to the personnel policy.

Moya said the city eventually will have to address the possibility of an employee who carries a medical marijuana card.

“If that person needs medical cannabis, we need to make some accommodation for them,” he said.

Thurman advocated a policy where if a job applicant flunks a drug-screening test, he or she could retake it in 30 or 60 days. He said the city might offer “a second chance” for current workers, as well.

That idea was not as well-received by Chacon and Cherry. Citing the city’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs, she said “I don’t believe we should give another chance.”

Another proposed change is a conflict-of-interest section where any employee who runs for public office must take leave from the filing date through the election campaign. That change would follow state law.

Cherry suggested giving employees who work on Christmas and Thanksgiving 1 1/2 times their hourly pay. City employees are given a paid day off on federal holidays even if they don’t work.