Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Two wastewater projects received action Thursday from the Tucumcari City Commission, along with agreements for monitoring the city’s old and current landfills.
The commission also approved a change order that reduces the cost of the Second Street reconstruction and remodeling by more than $135,000.
The commission acted unanimously to approve an agreement with CDM Smith of Albuquerque for $347,679 for evaluation and survey services for a city’s wastewater reuse project.
The $5.2 million project would channel treated wastewater to a sprinkler system that would irrigate a 300-acre plot next to the wastewater treatment plant on Tucumcari’s north side. The project will prevent water from entering streams in violation of environmental laws.
Robert Fowlie, a CDM Smith client service leader, told the commission the firm will conduct site investigation and surveying “so we’ll know exactly the layout of the storage ponds and the layout of the sprinkler pivots.”
Fowlie said the project is likely to be completed in 2021.
The commission also approved an agreement to begin engineering services on sewer line work on the east side of the city that is expected to prevent sand and other materials from causing damage to the wastewater treatment plant.
The city was awarded $300,000 in grants through the New Mexico Environment Department’s Capital Outlay Special Appropriations Program. Ralph Lopez, the Tucumcari project manager, said the amount granted had been reduced due to reductions in state revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced oil and gas tax revenues.
Lopez estimated the total project cost at $1.8 million.
Because of regulations that keep city agreements with contractors confidential until all parties have signed on, the company receiving the award was not announced as of Friday.
The name of a company the city has engaged to monitor the city’s old and current garbage landfills also was kept confidential for the same reason, but City Manager Mark Martinez said the total of both contracts is $28,700.
On the Second Street project, the commission approved a change order that decreases the cost of the project by $135,553 by substituting colored, stamped concrete for concrete pavers for the street surface on the two blocks of Second Street in downtown that are being reconstructed and improved.
Lopez said the change will free up money to accommodate delays in the project due to winter weather.
Lopez also said the concrete installations on the project are complicated by the addition of planters that would include watering systems and electric outlets, as well as installations designed to accommodate disabilities as required by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
In other matters before the commission:
• The commission approved the extension of leave for city employees into 2021 to accommodate leave opportunities denied this year because of absences caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. Martinez said any resulting budgeting issues would be accommodated by savings from positions that were budgeted but not filled in 2020.
• Martinez said progress is being made on restoring lighting to streets on the city’s west side. The city will replace lighting, he said, after it was determined the city owns light fixtures and wiring. Excel, the electricity provider, owns the poles on which the lights are mounted.
• District 5 Commissioner Todd Duplantis asked about possible delays in issuing city business licenses because of delays in state inspections. City Clerk Angelica Gray said the licenses could be issued in March, even before state inspections are completed.
• Martinez said the city’s cemetery board recommended against a resident’s offer to plant trees at the cemetery due to a city ordinance that prohibits new trees and the potential the trees could damage property near the cemetery.
• District 2 Commissioner Paul Villanueva asked about progress on filling potholes in city streets. Martinez said the city’s pothole repair machine may have to be replaced due to damage from friction with street surfaces. “The repairs are costing more than the machine is worth,” he said.
• Villanueva also asked about cleanup at the old Tucumcari Inn site on the city’s west side, where he said old furniture has been sitting. Martinez agreed the site needs to be cleaned up.