Commission discusses downtown improvements

In a public work session before the regular meeting, Tucumcari city commissioners discussed using a “tax income funding” (TIF) district as the way to finance downtown improvements under the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area program.

In a TIF district, increased property tax revenues, resulting from increased property values due to downtown improvements, would finance the downtown improvements over time.

Sites Southwest, the consulting firm that drew up the plan for downtown improvements under MRA, lists projects totaling up to $2.6 million that include restoring the abandoned Princess Theater on Main Street, demolishing some dilapidated buildings and improving facades on many downtown buildings, among other plans over the course of five years or longer.

MRAs can only be created in areas considered to be “blighted,” Gail Houser, director of Tucumcari MainStreet, wrote in a memo to the commission.

Houser recommended the TIF district because it is simple to enact, compared to other options, and it creates no new taxes. TIF districts, he said, are available only in MRA areas.

Commissioners also discussed whether the city should fund demolition of some dilapidated or burned-out houses that continue to stand in the city even decades after they were abandoned or damaged by fire.

Moya said the city should find funding to pay for the demolition of some of the properties.

“I see kids playing in these houses,” Moya said. “There are mice and insects there. They pose a safety and health threat.”

District 5 Commissioner Todd Duplantis suggested the city hire people to tear down the houses, and part of their compensation would be proceeds from selling re-usable materials.

Commissioners also discussed situations in which owners cannot be located or do not have the resources to correct property violations.

Langenegger said the city could look into setting some money aside in next year’s budget, which is currently being assembled, to help in demolishing some derelict properties.

The following are other actions taken by Tucumcari city commissioners Thursday at their regular meeting:

• Approved a summer work program that would pay six young people to work for 12 weeks to help clean up city streets and city-owned properties.

City Manager Jared Langenegger said the program could be paid for from savings resulting from pay reserved for city positions that have remained vacant. District 1 Commissioner Ralph Moya presented the idea to the commission at its May 24 meeting.

• Approved the hiring of a new city finance director before the current finance director, Dennis Dysart, officially retires in order to allow time for training the new finance director.

• Heard a first reading of an ordinance that corrects an error in how charges to treat industrial wastes are calculated.

Langenegger said “volume of waste water” in the billing formula should be based on thousands of gallons, not gallons, as the current ordinance states.

• Approved the purchase of Fourth of July fireworks from a new supplier that promises a longer fireworks show and will allow the city to keep fireworks launching mortars for use in future years. The price of the new fireworks show will be $4,125, compared to the $5,000 paid last year. The cost is split between the city and the Tucumcari Elks Lodge.