Construction raising concerns

Owners of property next to the troubled Second Street construction project in downtown Tucumcari told the city commission Thursday their properties have been damaged by construction crews.

Furthermore, the properties owners said, construction supervisors have shrugged off their claims.

The project, with an original completion date of Jan. 11, has been plagued by errors in concrete casting, winter weather and doubts about the materials used, city officials said..

"We share your frustration," Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield told the property owners.

Carlos Romero, owner of La Tiendita at Second and Main streets, said construction crews had damaged a parking lot that adjoins the store by using it to store equipment and materials.

C.J. Wiegel, owner of Tucumcari General Insurance, said he caught a road roller crossing his parking lot and videotaped it.

City Manager Mark Martinez said he has relayed he business owners' concerns to the project's engineer, contractor and the engineer over because of problems involving missed specifications. The project's engineering firm, Bohannan Huston Inc. of Albuquerque, agreed to assign a day-to-day supervisor to the project.

Project manager Ralph Lopez said before the project is considered complete, a checklist of tasks must be completed, and he said repairs to damaged private property can be added to that.

Lopez said the engineer has offered to increase the warranty on the project from the standard 11 months to two years or more because of problems with the project.

District 5 Commissioner Todd Duplantis suggested withholding payment on contracts until damage to private property was repaired.

Martinez said contract agreements would make that difficult but added the project must be completed to the city's satisfaction.

Lopez said claims could be filed against the companies' bonding agent, but that avenue is "long and complicated," and it would not guarantee a favorable outcome.

The matter was a discussion item on the commission's agenda, so the commission made no decision on it.

The commission also agreed informally during a public workshop Thursday before the commission meeting the city to submit a preliminary budget to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration by June 1.

Rachelle Arias, the city's finance director, said, the preliminary budget will be unchanged from the current fiscal year's budget, except for changes in pay to reflect increases in the state's minimum wage to $11.50 per hour.

Arias said the total of all funds in the budget is nearly $11 million. She said a commission vote is not required for preliminary budget, which will be reviewed by the state, but the final budget is not due for submission until July 30.

In other action, the commission:

• Discussed issues related to zoning for cannabis growing, processing and retail sales resulting from the first meeting of the city's committee preparing for legal recreational cannabis sales in New Mexico, expected to begin April 1.

The committee discussed creating "overlay zones" to allow for larger cannabis processing operations and potential placement of retail outlets, District 5 Commissioner Todd Duplantis said. Moya said other businesses are likely to benefit from marijuana sales in Tucumcari. Committee members also said public safety assurances should be in place before retail sales begin.

• Authorized the city's Community Development Department to seek funds from the New Mexico Department of Transportation for the reconditioning of Gamble, Monroe and Dohoney streets from First Street east to Rock Island Street, and Nobles Street from Adams Street to Rock Island. If the application is successful, the $1 million project would be funded by $952,381 in state funds and $47,619 in local funds, Lopez said. The city is also asking for a hardship waiver to cancel the local share.

• Approved "task orders" for environmental monitoring services at Tucumcari's former and present trash landfills. The Parkhill Co. of Lubbock, Texas, will conduct the regularly scheduled monitoring, charging $22,800 for the old landfill and $39,000 for the new.

• Contracted with Robyn Beaubien Consulting for marketing and branding services, for $55,000 for one year.

• Heard first reading of an ordinance that would change the zoning of property on Quay Road 64.5 from commercial to multi-family residential, as requested by Cody W. Meier. Meier said his mother seeks to build a home there, with another residence on the same property for another family member. The ordinance must now receive a public hearing and a city council vote before it is approved.