Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari City Commission agreed to apply for $41,210 in grant funds from the New Mexico Department of Transportation for improvements on Second Street from Historic Route 66 Boulevard to Main Street during their Thursday commission meeting.
The grant would be matched with about $13,740 in local funds to finance about $54,950 in improvements to the Second Street’s downtown portion, according to Ralph Lopez, a project manager for the city’s community development corporation.
While the Second Street project is the most likely use for the funds, the city may use the money for other street projects, Lopez said.
The following is other action taken by commissioners Thursday:
• Approved an agreement between the city and the NMDOT that would obligate the city to maintain street lighting and a new traffic signal at Route 66 and Railroad Avenue after NMDOT installs these facilities. No cost figures were discussed.
• Approved a contract to install a new roof system on Tucumcari City Hall to repair leaks for about $40,000. Roof leaks have occurred in the city commission chamber and in several city hall offices, according to City Manager Jared Langenegger.
• Approved ordinances that will make Evans Street between Eighth and Ninth streets one-way and restore two-way traffic on Hines Street between Fourth and Fifth streets. Both changes were made to improve safety for students at Tucumcari Elementary School and Tucumcari Middle School, according to Project Manager Mark Martinez.
• Approved advancing $2,500 in Lodger’s Tax Funds to help the Tucumcari Columbus Club make down payments for entertainment for its New Mexico Music Showcase April 29 at the Tucumcari Convention Center. The commission also approved making regular payments of Lodger’s Tax money instead of a lump sum at the end to help the event get started.
• Approved a resolution supporting state legislation that would allow counties and municipalities to impose fuel taxes of up to 5 cents per gallon.
• Heard a protest from Valerie Apodaca that Acting Police Chief Pete Rivera was not appointed to be Tucumcari’s police chief.
The appointment went to David Lathrom of Kansas.
Apodoca said Rivera’s qualifications rivaled Lathrom’s, and Rivera knows the community. Her remarks were met with enthusiastic applause from numerous community members who attended the meeting.
• Heard a proposal from Tucumcari area resident Robert Carr that the city consider an off-road race track as an attraction for the city. The track would be the only one in several surrounding states, he said.
• In a public workshop before the meeting, the commission discussed the county’s nuisance ordinance, which commissioners say has sparked a petition for a recall election for all four commissioners.
Mayor Pro Tem Robert Lumpkin repeated his call to make the city judge administer fines instead of city officials.
In the work session, commissioners also discussed proposed state legislation that would make county clerks responsible for handling all municipal elections.
Commissioners expressed opposition to the proposed law but took no official action to express their opposition.