Funding for Mihm business terminated

At its Thursday commission meeting, Tucumcari city commissioners terminated the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) agreement being used by District 5 Commissioner John Mihm to expand his eyeglass-lens manufacturing business.

Mihm was found dead at his home on Dec. 19.

Mihm received $70,000 in LEDA funding to help expand his business under the LEDA agreement, but no one took over the business after his death, according to officials.

Patrick Vanderpool, executive director the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation, suggested the commission terminate the agreement without further action.

Mihm was far ahead on the job-creation and gross-receipts tax goals that were set for the agreement, Vanderpool said, so even though there were still three years left to go on the agreement, he suggested the commission cancel any further obligations.

Mihm’s Buena Vista Laboratories, the business that received the LEDA funding, had generated $80,000 in gross receipts taxes and had hired six individuals.

Vanderpool also mentioned that the six who were hired gained transferable skills through experience with Buena Vista.

In addition, he said, the laboratory offered low-cost eyeglasses and even donated many pairs of glasses to low-income individuals.

Commissioners unanimously approved the termination of the agreement without taking action against Mihm’s estate.

In other action, commissioners:

• Renewed a lease of 80 acres near Five-Mile Park to Carl Pacheco, who will continue to use the property to graze cattle. The city receives $416 a year for the lease of the grazing land.

• Changed the source of a $70,000 loan to the Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course to finance part of its sprinkler system renovations. The money will now become local-option gross receipts tax money rather than being used as capital outlay funds, said City Manager Jared Langenegger, who said city officials want to use the capital outlay funds to purchase a “hot patch” machine to fix potholes.

The golf course will pay the city back through golf cart storage fees.

• Appointed Joann Mays to the Senior Center Advisory Board for a term of two years.

— Compiled by QCS Correspondent Steve Hansen