Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
COVID-19 wasn’t on the agenda of Monday’s Quay County Commission meeting, but it took up much of the commissioners’ discussion time during an otherwise routine session.
All county officers at the meeting wore masks for the first time since the pandemic began in early March. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced earlier this month she would aggressively enforce the state’s mask mandate, including $100 fines for those who don’t wear them in public.
Commission Chairman Franklin McCasland said in light of a recent spike in coronavirus cases, he said the commission may have to consider holding future meetings via the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Quay County saw its number of COVID-19 cases more than double in a week.
McCasland said county officials need to be careful not to spread the virus to others, especially to workers and inmates at the Quay County Correctional Center.
“We could have a huge train wreck on our hands,” he said.
County Manager Richard Primrose said the recent rise in COVID-19 infections probably wasn’t a short-term problem, and more cases in the region are likely.
Commissioner Sue Dowell pushed back on the governor’s recent ban on out-of-state visitors at all state parks, including Ute Lake and Conchas Lake. She said a number of Texans own second homes near Ute Lake and pay taxes on those properties.
“It’s hurting Quay County so much with our tourism,” she said of the ban. “They feel like they’re being infringed upon.”
Dowell said boat owners also object to the mask requirement on their watercraft. She asked whether boats are an extension of their owners’ home, much like their regular vehicles. She also questioned whether wearing a mask compromised a boater’s safety during an accident.
Dowell said most of the state’s coronavirus decisions are based on what’s happening in three heavily populated counties and don’t take rural areas into account.
“One-size-fits-all isn’t the best for us,” she said.
Commissioner Mike Cherry added: “You’re speaking to the choir on most of this, Sue.”
In other business:
• The commission approved several resolutions from county finance director Cheryl Simpson, including a budgetary increase of $150,000 for the Quay County Detention Center. Simpson said the facility exceeded its budget by $90,000.
Primrose explained most of that was due to renovations at the jail, including ventilation, plumbing and repainting. It also had to move female inmates to Roosevelt County during some of the work.
“We anticipate this will be a one-time expense,” Primrose said.
• The commission approved an amendment to its agreement with Summit Food Service for the jail. Administrator Christopher Birch said the contractor raised its rates by 3.2% for the coming fiscal year.
• Commissioners recognized Christine Benavidez, who is retiring from the jail after more than 30 years. Corrections officials said her quick decisions when inmate fights broke out probably prevented injuries or death.
• Commissioners held an executive session with three officials from Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari. The closed session was listed on the agenda for the purchase or acquisition of property and to discuss limited personnel matters.