Meetings watch - Tucumcari City Council

At its Oct.12 regular meeting, the Tucumcari City Commission:

• Gave final approval to an ordinance amending the city’s traffic code to comply with changes in state traffic codes. According to the ordinance text, the changes include adding six-passenger sport utility vehicles used for student transportation to the definition of “school bus,” requiring reduced speed when passing a vehicle that is stopped on the side of the road, and refining definition of off-road vehicles that are allowed on roadways.

• Gave final approval to an ordinance to change the required frequency of Tucumcari Senior Programs Board meetings to once every three months. Previously, the requirement was monthly meetings. Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield said the change was needed because it was hard to get enough board members together monthly to make decisions.

• Voted to spend about $13,000 to update city government alarm systems, granting the contract to Rix Security of Tucumcari. The alarms will be upgraded in City Hall, at fire stations and at the police department, a text of the contract said. City Manager Jared Langenegger said the new system will allow local control of key systems that were located at a remote facility under the previous contract.

• Voted to accept a grant that allows more than $8,000 in overtime payments to police for New Mexico Department of Transportation traffic safety programs including ENDWI, which combats driving while intoxicated; Buckle Up and Click It or Ticket, which promote seat belt use; and the Selective Trafic Enforcement Program/100 Days and Nights of Summer program, which steps up traffic enforcement activities during summer months.

• Proclaimed Oct. 23-31 as Red Ribbon Week, which focuses on activities designed to prevent drug, alchohol and tobacco use by young people.

• Proclaimed Thursday as Arbor Day, which promotes planting and growing trees in the city. National Arbor Day falls on the last Friday in April, but states and municipalities are free to declare their own Arbor Day.