City enters contract

The Tucumcari City Commission focused much of its efforts at Thursday’s regular meeting on the promotion of Tucumcari to tourist and funding of local events.

The city has entered into a one-year, $50,000 contract with the Albuquerque based marketing firm, Griffin and Associates to develop a new marketing plan for Tucumcari, said Mark Martinez, interim city manager.

Martinez said the service from the contract will help develop a promotional campaign for local events, attractions. He said the contract also covers the development, maintenance of city websites.

“This contract has a maximum amount of $50,000; the services may cost less than that,” said Robert Lumpkin, city commissioner.

Lumpkin said the commissioners and Martinez wanted to gain the benefits from hiring the firm while ensuring there would still be funding available for local events. He said the contract is being paid out of the executive fund of the Lodger’s Tax.

The contract includes up to three one-year renewals.

The commissioners also approved the additional funding of the upcoming Tucumcari Rawhide Days and New Mexico Music Showcase. The funding, from the Lodger’s Tax executive fund was in the amount of $5,000 (TRD) and $3,000 (NMMS).

The $5,000 will help with the cost of providing insurance and security for the event, said Karen Alarcon, TRD founder, coordinator.

“To date we have 100 tickets that have been sold online,” said Ruth Nelson, TRD treasurer. “The tickets are also available at local retailers.”

Alarcon said the cost of both of the services has increased from last year because of the projected crowd.

“This is a great event that is going to bring in a lot of people into the community,” said Ralph Moya, city commissioner.

The NMMS will use the $3,000 for day-time expenses from the event, said Chris Arias, Knights of Columbus rep.

Arias said to date, more than 200 tickets have been sold for the music showcase. He said the event has significantly grown from last year’s inaugural run.

“I am excited for this event,” said Todd Duplantis, city commissioner. “The expansion of this event has even included bringing in a carnival with rides.”

The commission also approved the replacement of a billboard vinyl on Interstate 40 in the amount of $2,148.

Martinez said the billboard needs to be repaired before the start of the tourism season. He said the contract for the billboards is due for renewal in December, but the city should not wait that long to act.

“This should have been included in the original contract,” said Moya. “The contract is still valid; it should include the repair, replacement of any billboard.”

Moya said the commission needs to make sure this expense is discussed during the contract renewal. He said the city should be compensated for having to replace the board or have a discount of upcoming services.

The commissioners approved local businessman Al Patel, of 66 Outlaw, to use the Word Mark ‘Tucumcari Tonite’ for advertising purposes for billboard.

“Anytime we can promote the city and a local business is a good thing,” Lumpkin said.

Other items before the commission

n Mary Ann Dominguez, director of the Tucumcari Senior Center requested the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Logan Municipal schools to begin the Foster Grandparents Program. The commission approved the MOU.

n The commission approved the waiving of the rental fee of the Tucumcari Convention Center for the Tucumcari Diamondback Booster Club’s upcoming athletic banquet.

n The commission approved the appointment of Nola B. Hendrickson as the Quay County liaison for the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging.