'New Mexico Music Showcase' a go

The Tucumcari City Commission cleared the way Thursday for the first “New Mexico Music Showcase” at the Tucumcari Convention Center.

The commission authorized event sponsor Columbus Club to use $10,000 in Lodger’s Tax funds — $4,000 for promotion and $6,000 to help engage musical acts for the event, which is to be held April 29. .

The commission also waived convention center fees for the event.

Performers to be featured will be well-known New Mexico Latino music acts Carlos Medina con los Gallos, Darren Cordova and Calor Dynette.

These musicians are well known in northern New Mexico and are likely to attract overnight guests from that part of the state, Benjie Torres, chancellor of the Columbus Club, told commissioners at their Thursday meeting,

Torres said the musical event could attract as many as 400 people to the city, and he expects the event to be self-supporting next year.

The following was other action taken at the city commission meeting Thursday in city hall:

• Commissioners approved spending $76,000 to replace the irrigation system at the Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course and $22,000 to pay off a loan to the golf course for well improvements. The city will use $70,000 in gross receipts capital outlay funds and $30,000 from Lodger’s Tax executive funds for these purposes, and the golf course will repay these expenditures with proceeds from $200 annual golf cart shed rental fees, according to City Manager Jared Langenegger. There are 72 stalls in the sheds.

• Commissioners gave first reading to ordinances that would make Evans Avenue a one-way, westbound street from Eighth to Ninth streets and Hines Avenue a two-way street from Fourth Street to Fifth Street.

Both of the actions were recommended by Turumcari Public Schools and would improve traffic safety near Tucumcari Elementary School and Tucumcari Middle School, according to Project Manager Mark Martinez.

The ordinances require a public hearing and second readings to become final.

• Commissioners approved a change order adding $21,589 to the $451,800 cost of constructing a new cell at the Tucumcari Landfill to accommodate the need for heavier equipment to work in muddy conditions.

• Commissioners approved annual resolutions that meet state requirements to recognize the state’s Open Meetings Act, hazardous materials communications and fall protection measures for city employees.

• In the wake of Assistant City Manager Doug Powers’ retirement, commissioners decided to split his $78,136.05 pay and benefits between two positions, a grant writer whose pay and benefits would total $55,920.48 and a part-time risk manager who would be paid $14,230.78 in pay and benefits. A current department head will be named assistant city manager and will have 10 percent added to their salary, according to City Manager Jared Langenegger.

— Compiled by QCS Correspondent Steve Hansen