Quay approves generator grant application

The Quay County Commission on Monday approved a grant application to buy generators for all the county’s fire stations and substations.

Daniel Zamora, the county’s emergency management coordinator, presented the application to the commissioners during its regular meeting. The grant would be used to buy a total of 16 generators at all county fire stations and substations at an estimated cost of $112,000.

The application will be submitted to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security. District 6 of the Federal Emergency Management Agency will award the grant by next fall, Zamora said.

Zamora expressed confidence Quay County would receive the grant. He said counties that are vulnerable to wildfires would get higher priority for funding from the federal agency.

In other business, the commission unanimously approved four resolutions for budgetary adjustments for the 2018-2019 fiscal year that were presented by county finance director Cheryl Simpson.

The adjustments included:

• $278,000 in funds to purchase a firetruck for the Forrest Fire District;

• $5,336 in fund reversions for the DWI Fund to pay for employees’ salaries and benefits;

• $883,819 in Community Development Block Grant funds for repairs to Quay Road AR;

• $227,750 for remodeling and improvements to the Quay County Detention Center.

Commissioners also approved a three-month, $7,500 contract with Clinton D. Harden & Associates for lobbying services.

County manager Richard Primrose, who requested approval of the contract, said with the state projected to hold a $1.2 billion surplus, “it’s important to have representation to get the money available.”

District 1 Commissioner Sue Dowell voted to approve the contract but said she was irked such an arrangement is necessary.

“It bothers me how counties aren’t heard unless they have a lobbyist,” she said. “But we have to take steps to make sure Quay County is not overlooked.”

Primrose also announced grants recently were awarded to several county fire districts. A total of $100,000 to Bard, $47,000 to Porter and $100,000 to the Rural District 1.

Commissioners also approved $5,607.04 in indigent claims for medical care in November.

Commissioners met for nearly two hours in executive session and took no action. The agenda stated the closed-door meeting was for threatened or pending litigation and to discuss an audit.