City approves TV agreement

The Tucumcari City commission on Thursday approved an agreement with organizers of the proposed "Bands of Enchantment" television series through which the city will support production of the series' first four episodes in three payments totaling $60,000 in Lodgers Tax funds.

Tyson Chavez, one of the organizers with Elkhorn Entertainment, told the commission that timing of the funding was critical and that the $60,000 covers only part of production costs.

Organizers plan to make Tucumcari the headquarters for production of the series that will feature New Mexico and Americana music. Elkhorn's principals have envisioned the show as a New Mexico version of PBS' long-running "Austin City Limits."

Production is expected to begin next month, with a projected air time in the spring on New Mexico PBS stations, RFD-TV's Cowboy Channel and the Amazon Prime online platform. New Mexico PBS stations reach 650,000 households weekly. RFD-TV's Cowboy Channel is in over 50 million homes on cable and satellite TV. Amazon Prime can reach nearly 100 million viewers.

In other business during the meeting:

n City Manager Mark Martinez reported city businesses soon would receive COVID-19-related expense reimbursement checks, using funds made available to the city of Tucumcari and Quay County and administered through the New Mexico Department of Finance Authority.

Quay County received $372,750 and Tucumcari $27,956 for aid to small businesses in September.

Martinez said, "I want to thank the county for partnering with us" to help Tucumcari businesses.

The money will help businesses with expenses related to payroll, rent, mortgage payments, insurance, installing plexiglass barriers and purchasing personal protective equipment for employees, among other things.

Martinez also said the city is receiving PPE through $13,221 to the city in direct local government grants.

All the grant funds originated with the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act that was passed by Congress in March.

• District 5 Commissioner Todd Duplantis asked about expanding mental health services, noting since March, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, 11 deaths by suicide have occurred in Quay County.

Moya, a mental health professional, added many in the county "are not getting the specialized help they need" to deal with emotional and mental issues.

• Duplantis asked about progress on getting lights working on the city's west side. Martinez said the city is working with Xcel Energy to determine whether the city or Xcel maintains the lights.

• Duplantis also inquired whether police could patrol abandoned houses where individuals apparently are lighting fires. Duplantis said there was a danger that these houses could catch fire, endangering other buildings.

• District 2 Commissioner Paul Villanueva inquired about ending the work-order system as a means of filling potholes on city streets.

Martinez said taking a street-by-street approach would result in funds being exhausted long before the entire city could be covered.

• Moya suggested city police officers spend too much of their time patrolling private businesses and responding to minor accidents at the Flying J and Pilot travel centers.

"They should have their own security," he said of those truck stops.

• Moya also asked whether city employees were able to take leave when necessary if exposed to COVID-19. Martinez responded that no city employees have lost money due to COVID-19 leaves.

• Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield noted Quay County ranked 10th in the state in COVID-19 rates and advised residents to wear masks, keep 6-foot distance from each other in public and wash hands frequently.

• In an executive session held before the meeting, the commission heard an exit report on its annual audit from representatives of Axiom, the Albuquerque accounting firm that conducts the city's annual audits.

• The commission appointed Marjorie McKenzie to the city's Library Board.