County appoints rep on Ute Pipeline project

Quay County Commissioners on Monday approved former longtime Logan village administrator Larry Wallin as an official representative to monitor future construction of the Ute Pipeline Project and hear residents’ concerns about it.

Logan attorney Warren Frost, who also acts as the county’s attorney, recommended the appointment of Wallin, who would receive no compensation.

Frost said Wallin would reach out to concerned property owners in Quay County after representatives from the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority recently were seen in the area surveying property where the pipeline likely would run.

In April, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded the authority $160 million to build a 120 miles of pipeline from Ute Reservoir in Logan that would serve Clovis, Texico, Portales, Elida and Cannon Air Force Base. Because of the declining capacity of the Ogallala Aquifer, those towns had been seeking such a pipeline for decades.

Commenting about the proposed appointment, county commissioner Robert Lopez said, “It sounds like a good idea to me.”

Commission Chairman Franklin McCasland said he appreciated the appointment, and affected residents would have someone to contact to relay concerns.

Wallin, a veteran of previous fights to prevent a pipeline to the lake, told commissioners “we know it will be an uphill battle” to address new concerns about the pipeline.

Frost said he also would send a letter to the water authority, asking it to remind contractors to ensure Quay County receives its share of gross receipt taxes during the pipeline’s construction.

In other business:

• Commissioners, on the recommendation of county fire marshal Lucas Bugg, approved a mutual aid agreement with Curry County. Bugg said the last time Quay County had such a pact with Curry County was 2009. He said the new agreement contained updates to liability and losses, plus policies on using equipment. Otherwise, Bugg said the pact was mostly the same.

McCasland pointed out that rural fire districts continue to have mutual-aid agreements with other districts in adjoining counties.

Bugg also mentioned that every municipality in Quay County except Tucumcari has approved a burn ban.

• Commissioners approved a contract extension with Presbyterian Medical Services to provide medical care for inmates at the Quay County Extension Center. C. Renee Hayoz, administrator of the PMS-run Quay County Family Health Center, said her office was working to add inmate behavioral health care to a future version of the contract.

Hayoz said her clinic also is working with its telemedicine offerings to add therapy services for some patients.

• Commissioners approved an annual memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health for Rural Primary Health Care Act services. County Finance Director Cheryl Simpson said the cost of $8,185 a month remained the same as last year.

• Commissioners approved a recommendation from Beth Schatz, senior project manager for Stantec Consulting Services, to accept a $543,763 revised bid from Desert Fox of Bosque Farms for improvements to Quay Roads 63 and AP. Schatz said she asked for a revised quote because initial bids were high.

• Commissioners approved the rescheduling of its June 6 regular meeting to June 13. The later meeting would give the county time to canvass the results of the June 7 primary election.

• During public comments, Joe Szaloy again expressed concern about motorists speeding on East Maple Avenue on Tucumcari’s north edge. He presented examples of other entities in New Mexico that installed speed bumps on roads. Szaloy also showed where the county can order two rubberized speed bumps for about $440. Road superintendent Larry Moore said he has ordered more signs for that road, and more police patrols have been requested there.

• Frank Gibson, a candidate for county commissioner, noted a $20,000 request from Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce director Scott Crotzer during a previous meeting. Gibson said his wife recently opened a business near Trigg Memorial Hospital and has not received any contact from the chamber. Gibson said he wouldn’t object if the county fulfills the request, but said commissioners need “to make sure the guy is doing his job.”