City OKs measure for new TPD equipment

City commissioners by a 3-1 vote on Thursday approved a resolution authorizing funding to purchase mobile data terminals for the Tucumcari Police Department.

Commissioner Mike Cherry, who cast the only dissenting vote, said he wanted the TPD to have the technology improvements, but he questioned the legality of the resolution.

Cherry said the city should wait until it has the bid for the improvements, estimated at $130,000, as part of the meeting agenda.

Mayor Ralph Moya disagreed, saying such purchases had been discussed by the commission for months.

“It’s time to bring the police department up to date,” he said.

Moya, Paul Villanueva and Renee Hayoz voted to approve the resolution.

The resolution states the mobile data terminals “will allow the Officers to be able to perform work from their vehicles saving the City time and man power, keeps the Officers from having to make multiple trips to the police facility in order to complete their tasks on crimes that they are investigating.”

The resolution also states the terminals will be paid with gross receipts tax revenue from legal cannabis sales. City manager Paula Chacon estimated during an earlier meeting the city receives about $140,000 in cannabis taxes each year.

The resolution, however, did not contain data about the proposal itself.

During a work session Thursday, 10th Judicial District investigator Lorenzo Emilio presented a $130,000 proposal to outfit 16 TPD vehicles with laptop computers, docks, mounts, printers and installation. Each vehicle also would have its own internet connection.

Emilio said the quote came from a state contract, ensuring significant cost savings. He said the equipment would arrive six to eight weeks after it’s ordered, with another one to two weeks for installation.

Emilio said better equipment in police vehicles would improve officer safety, provide better supervision and benefit the community because it can do the work of several officers.

Other action

— Commissioners approved having the city absorb additional costs for employees for a 10% state health insurance increase scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1. Without the absorption, workers faced health insurance hikes equivalent to $1 an hour.

Chacon said the additional cost would be about $37,000 for the rest of the fiscal year. She said she believed the city had enough funds to cover it. If not, she said the city would request a budget adjustment in April or May.

Part of the funds would be covered by a check written to the state insurance authority in mid-2023 but never sent after multiple municipalities filed suit to challenge the abrupt increase in premiums. The state’s insurance fund faced a shortfall of tens of millions of dollars.

— Commissioners approved a $200,000 contract with Asbestos Experts of Rio Rancho to remove asbestos and lead paint from the closed Princess Theatre. Chacon said Matt Monahan of the theater’s task force would draft a request for proposals to use the remainder of $50,000 in capital outlay funds to improve the theater’s facade.

— Commissioners approved an annual grant agreement with Youth Conservation Corps for $102,513.23, with a city match of $25,120. Corps members would make improvements to parks.

— Commissioners approved an amendment for a time extension to September for Phase 1 for effluent disposal and reuse system improvements. The loan agreement is $3.5 million, with no cost change.

— Commissioners approved a change order with Pacheco Construction for the Aber Addition street improvements project due to higher-than-expected costs. It would pave 1 1/2 blocks of Park Street from Route 66. The net change is $295,596.

— Commissioners approved quitclaim deeds for the Tucumcari Housing Authority. The deeds involve houses at 224 W. Hancock Ave., 416 S. Seventh St., 609 S. Monroe St. and 623 S. Fourth St.

— Commissioners tabled approval of a 2024 calendar for employees that would include 13 holidays. Cherry asked the matter be decided by the new commission.

— Commissioners tabled an ordinance that would complete a debt schedule for various loans, most of them for the wastewater reuse project. Cherry asked the item be delayed until his questions about them were answered.

— Commissioners tabled accepting a proposal for a marketing, advertising, promotions and public relations services.

Work session

Chacon and city commissioners set a priority list of capital outlay projects they would send to state legislators during a 30-day session in mid-January.

Topping the list is a new water line that would serve residents north of the railroad tracks. Chacon said three of four existing lines to that area no longer work.

Other projects by priority are a new building at Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery, street improvements, sanitation and street equipment, an animal control truck, an ambulance, money for Princess Theatre renovations and fire hydrant repairs.

Manager’s report

Chacon deferred much of her report to animal control officer Zach Martinez, who said his department’s goal is to issue more citations for animals-at-large repeat offenders and residents who lacked rabies vaccinations or city licenses for pets.

Martinez said animal control was looking at spaying or neutering all 22 animals at the pound because many shelters refuse to accept the transfer of those animals without those procedures.

Moya suggested a commitment or time limit for animal adopters to spay or neuter their pets.

Martinez said he also was hoping to add a full-time animal control officer this year.

— Chacon said the city was looking at installing a new roof, renovating the gym and buying new equipment at the Tucumcari Recreation Center using a $2 million state recreation grant. Part of the grant also will be used for improvements to the Little League fields. Chacon said the city also is applying for a federal Community Development Block Grant for the rec center.

Comments

In comments from the public, Monahan said he would continue collaborative efforts with the new city commission that include murals, launching an artist residency program at his Sunlit Ranch and participating in local boards such as the Tucumcari Film Festival and the Princess Theatre.

Monahan said artists can revitalize an area and boost gross receipts tax revenue through more tourism. He said a revitalized Princess Theatre would be attractive for music acts that want a stopover location along Interstate 40.

— Haley Place said longtime resident Johnny Cruze died on Dec. 22. “He was a very special man,” Place said. “He gave and gave and gave to this community.”

Place also praised the city’s code enforcement officer for her professionalism and heart. He also suggested using sales-tax revenue from cannabis dispensaries for the Odeon Theatre and closed Princess Theatre.

—Tiffany Aughtman’s voiced a complaint about the Tucumcari Police Department and district attorney’s office regarding a domestic violence call. Aughtman said she was forced to be apart from her husband and mixed birthdays and holidays with family members because of the case.

— During commissioner comments, Hayoz asked about out-of-service street lights. Chacon said the New Mexico Department of Transportation soon would repair 64 of those lights around the city.

Hayoz asked about preparations for the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. Chacon said a Route 66 commission appointed by the governor would be meeting in Tucumcari in February.

Hayoz also passed along a complaint about tall weeds at a triangle at U.S. 54 and Main Street that obscures motorists’ vision.

— Villanueva said he still wanted lids repaired on Dumpsters. He and Moya, both defeated in the November election, also were honored for their years of service to the city. (See other story in this edition.)