City officer awarded Medal of Valor

A Tucumcari police officer on Thursday received a Medal of Valor for his actions in preventing a death or serious injury during a house fire earlier this month.

Acting Police Chief Pete Rivera gave Cpl. Justin Garcia the medal during a presentation at the Tucumcari City Commission's regular meeting.

The morning of Sept. 17, a fire was reported in the 1500 block of South Fourth Street. Garcia was the first to arrive and was told someone still was in the home.

Rivera said Garcia tried to enter through the front door but was unable to do so because of the heat and flames.

"He went to the back door of the house, and as he entered, he discovered an individual lying on the ground," Rivera stated. "Cpl. Garcia grabbed the individual and brought him out of the house to safety."

Rivera said the rescued man suffered no serious injuries.

"It is my honor tonight to recognize Cpl. Justin Garcia for his act of heroism and bravery," Rivera said. "Because of his dedication to his job, no lives were lost in this tragic incident."

Rivera gave Garcia the medal and shook his hand as commissioners and members of the gallery stood to applaud.

He was the second area law-enforcement officer to be honored this month for heroism.

Quay County Undersheriff Dennis Garcia (no relation to Justin) was given a Life Saving Award for quick actions that likely prevented a woman's death when she suffered a major heart attack in the county courthouse.

Manager's report

Items from city manager Paula Chacon's report:

• Chacon clarified matters on an ambulance totaled during an Interstate 40 crash last month. She said the city would receive a $31,542 payout from its insurer, and she would consider whether to buy a new chassis for the vehicle or repair it.

Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Moya, noting the loss of another ambulance in an accident a year ago, said the city should take a hard look at its insurance policy and change it so it covers replacement value of those vehicles. New ambulances cost at least $300,000.

"Sometimes we try to save a couple dollars on insurance, and look what happens," he said.

Chacon said a lettering company in Texico should be finished with one of its ambulances this week, bringing the city fleet back up to three.

• Chacon presented the first of what will be monthly budget reports, which prompted praise from Moya and other commissioners. Moya said he had been requesting such reports for three years.

Chacon, noting Raton has a budget finance committee of three residents, one commissioner and a city finance director, said Tucumcari might consider such an arrangement. Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield and Moya said Chacon's regular budget reports should be sufficient.

• She said Garrett Nash, a paramedic, has been hired as fire chief. She said she would introduce him at the next commission meeting. Nash was at a conference in Ruidoso on Thursday.

• Chacon said she would present ideas at the next meeting on streamlining water service reconnections during homeowner changes. A local real-estate agent said earlier the current process was too time-consuming and difficult.

• She said she received one application for the dormant cemetery board. However, Litchfield and commissioner Paul Villanueva said they would contact residents who signaled they might be interested in serving.

Comments

• During public comments, Matt Monahan said he plans to run for city commission during the 2023 election cycle. Monahan, who moved to the area about 18 months ago, is known as the principal behind The Most Famous Artist art collective.

If a current commissioner declines to run for re-election, Monahan asked he or she to reach out to him to help plan a "strategic succession."

Monahan lives outside city limits. He said after the meeting he would acquire a residence in the city before running so he would be eligible.

Monahan also said a mural and arts festival he planned for this year is being rescheduled for this winter or next spring.

He also asked the city to allow residents the use of off-highway vehicles, especially for those struggling with high fuel prices.

• Resident Fran Tollett said she has been overcharged on her sewer bill in relation to her water use. She said other residents on her block were charged $40 less per month. She said she received no explanation for the sewer charges and requested credit on her account.

• During commissioner comments, several praised Chacon's performance since being hired as city manager in mid-August.

"Paula, I commend you on your momentum," Christopher Arias said. "You've moved some mountains so far."

• Moya said the Tucumcari school district has offered to work with the city on several projects, and he said the city should continue that cooperation.

The district recently offered to spray for mosquitos, and the city would cover the cost of the chemical. Moya said the city also should offer to reimburse the district for labor costs on that. The city's spraying truck is inoperable because it needs recalibration.

Moya said the city should consider other uses for 300 acres set aside for a future wastewater irrigation project, including grazing fees from ranchers.

• Litchfield commended Tucumcari Convention Center general manager Loy McSpadden for serving up to 12 pots of complimentary coffee and Clay Thorne for keeping his CCMS repair shop open until almost midnight when the Cross County Chase antique motorcycle tour made an overnight stop.

Action items

• Commissioners approved an application to the Water Trust Board for $2.8 million in funding for a water transmission line from the Hoover tank and 11th Street tank.

• Commissioners approved an application for a $50,000 match waiver and resolutions to participate with a Transportation Project Fund agreement for the $1 million Aber Addition streets and water project.

It also approved a change order for Hoover Tank that will cost $7,630.57. Project manager Ralph Lopez said it would be covered by more than $9,200 in available funds.

• Commissioners approved a five-year deal with Axon Enterprise of Scottsdale, Arizona, for a total of $50,985.75 to store footage from police body cams.

• Commissioners approved a $2,000-a-month contract for an independent contractor to process paperwork and upload EMS claims to the billing company.

Chacon said she consulted with the city attorney and billing company to ensure the pact doesn't conflict with other contracts. Moya said he supported the hire, saying inappropriate coding and billing probably have cost the city $200,000.

• Commissioners approved an audit of three lodging establishments in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 for the city's Lodgers Tax Advisory Board.

Work session

During a work session, the commission decided to keep open an application window for municipal judge through Sept. 30.

The commission had planned to choose a municipal judge Thursday but decided against it after receiving an application that day. Three others have applied.

Chacon said she had spoken to an attorney who assumed Tucumcari's population had fallen below 5,000 and thus would not require a municipal judge. However, she said data from the 2020 Census showed Tucumcari's population was 5,248.

In the interim, Moya recommended the city send warning letters to property owners who let grass and weeds grow too tall. "It's getting out of hand," he said.

Chacon affirmed a code-enforcement officer is mailing letters. Rivera said talking to violators "is 90% effective" in resolving those problems.

"Communication is key to all this," he said.