Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari City Commission approved an amended pact with the county’s regional 911 system that the city manager anticipates will save money.
The commission unanimously voted during its regular meeting Thursday for the three-year joint powers agreement with the Tucumcari/Quay County Regional Emergency Communications Center that rejiggers the city’s share of the cost of the emergency dispatch phone service. City commissioner Christopher Arias was absent.
City manager Mark Martinez said the previous agreement contained a 45% split each between the city and county, with the rest of expenses divvied up among the villages, plus Harding and San Miguel counties and New Mexico State Parks.
Martinez said the new agreement, after what he described as vigorous negotiation, is “more equitable” for the city. Tucumcari now will pay a flat fee of $3,000, plus 60% of the agency’s net budget based on the city’s call volume.
When pressed by Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Moya how much savings it would mean for Tucumcari, Martinez estimated the city’s annual share based on call volume would be between $20,000 to $22,000, compared to about $32,000 during the current fiscal year.
Martinez also said Tucumcari accounts for about 66% of the communications center’s call volume, so a 60% share of the budget was a good deal.
According to the agreement, Logan and Quay County each will pay a flat fee of $2,000 each, plus 16% and 22% of the net operating budget, respectively, based on call volume. San Jon and House will pay a $1,000 fee, plus 1% of the net budget.
Harding and San Miguel counties and New Mexico State Parks will be charged later by the communications center board.
City manager report
• Martinez said the New Mexico Legislature recently allocated $500,000 in capital outlay funds to the city for a new sewer lift station and lines near Tucumcari Lake, but that money likely won’t cover the costs. He said he anticipates using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the rest.
• Martinez said he talked to U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) about legislation that would provide a match waiver for many grant programs. He said the costs of matches are beyond the scope of many small communities.
• Martinez said the city’s audit would be submitted late “due to unforeseen circumstances,” but that the state auditor was supportive.
• Martinez said a final draft of the Tucumcari visitors guide likely would be finished by the lodgers tax board meeting Wednesday. He said the city’s marketing director also would likely pursue New Mexico True tourism grants on a 2-to-1 match ratio.
• Martinez said the polishing of the Tucumcari Convention Center concrete floors was coming along nicely but he anticipated submitting a change order using lodgers tax executive funds to redo and repaint drywall and trim required after the work.
Other business
• The commission approved a resolution requesting participation in the 2022-2023 state MAP program to pave streets in the Aber Addition. The city is requesting $391,466.90, with a 25% city match of $97,866.73. According to city documents, the street work would involve Grove, Park, Choctaw, Dawson and College streets.
• The commission approved a resolution requesting participation in the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Co-op Program. The city is requesting $55,070, with a 25% city match of $13,767.60, to pave streets in the Aber and Aber Second additions.
• The commission approved updates to banking signatures that were required due to the reorganization of the commission. The updates reflect Mike Cherry’s election to the commission, plus Moya’s election as mayor pro tem.
• During commissioner comments, Moya expressed irritation an abandoned pontoon boat had not been disposed of. He urged Martinez and other city officials to obtain the boat’s title and get rid of it. The city has been dealing with the boat, nicknamed Miss Kristy, since fall 2020.
• During a city work session, commissioners went into a 45-minute closed executive session with Martinez over limited personnel matters related to the city manager and litigation. No action was taken when open session resumed.