County approves cost share waiver

Quay County Commissioners on Monday approved an amendment from the New Mexico Department of Transportation that waives the county’s $162,182.37 cost share of a project to replace a 1931 bridge on Old Route 66 east of San Jon.

County road superintendent Larry Moore presented the contract from the state’s Local Government Transportation Project that waives the county’s 5% cost to replace Historic Route 66 Bridget No. 1625 that spans Trujillo Creek.

The county learned in August it received a $3.08 million grant from the state’s Local Government Transportation Fund. A low-water bridge would be built on the north side of a 1931 timber bridge on Old Route 66 that spans the creek.

The county had sought more than $6 million from the fund to build another replacement bridge on Old Route 66 a few hundred feet to the east over San Jon Creek.

The current bridge's overall condition had been rated "fair" during its last inspection, and it is load-rated at only eight tons. The old bridge would be bypassed and left standing because of its historic nature.

Later in the meeting, the commission approved Finance Director Cheryl Simpson’s request for a $3.243 million budget increase that reflects the money for the bridge project.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved Bard-Endee Fire Chief Donald Adams’ request of an automatic aid agreement between the Bard-Endee and Porter fire districts. Adams said the agreement might help homeowners in the area lower their fire-insurance premiums.

• In addition to the budget increase for the Old Route 66 bridge project, commissioners approved Simpson’s requests of increases of $41,017 to set up sheriff’s department radio repeater equipment on the caprock south of San Jon and $50,000 for Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari.

• Commissioners approved EMS Fund Act applications for fiscal year 2021 to Fire District 1 for $5,000, Quay Fire District for $7,000, Forrest Fire District for $7,225 and Bard-Endee Fire District for $3,325.

• C. Renee Hayoz, administrator of Presbyterian Medical Services, said in her November-December report the number of patients it recorded during the period fell below its goal because of the holidays and the fact one medical provider underwent surgery and another took vacation time. Hayoz said Presbyterian typically adds 5% to its patient goal each year, but a new chief finance officer has reduced that to “a small bump,” giving her more hope the clinic will meet that goal.

• The commission passed a yearly resolution that states the county will adopt procedures and provisions that would document annual audits, summary minutes, monthly budgets, financial reports and lists of monthly warrants that would be made available to the public and comply with revenue and expenditure requirements.

• County Clerk Ellen White said financial interest disclosure forms were distributed to county departments last week. The forms are required to any employee who owns a business that might profit if it works with the county.

n The commission spent about an hour in executive session to discuss limited personnel matters and the purchase, acquisition or disposal of property or water rights. Sheriff Russell Shafer and deputy Dennis Garcia attended a portion of the closed session. The commission took no action after reconvening in open session and adjourned.