Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari city commissioners and officials signaled a willingness to use lodgers tax executive funds to help pay for lighting at Tucumcari Public Schools’ ballpark redevelopment project.
How much money might be awarded remains unknown — at least until the next commission meeting on Oct. 24.
The commission during a work session Thursday discussed a possible donation of lodgers tax money for new lights at the soon-to-be-constructed baseball and softball diamonds. The idea first was proposed by city manager Paula Chacon during a Lodgers Tax Advisory Board meeting on Oct. 5.
Voters in the school district approved a $3 million bond issue in February 2019 for the project, but it went over budget due to inflation and supply-chain issues.
Superintendent Aaron McKinney told commissioners the project’s construction cost has risen to $3.8 million, plus about $250,000 in architect fees, to a total about $4.1 million.
“We’re short a million dollars at this point,” McKinney said.
Cost of the lighting is $433,000, he said, which is listed as an alternative item for the project. But McKinney said lights at the ballfields are needed.
“We have to have lights to have people stay overnight for tournaments,” he said.
New, lighted fields would allow TPS to host multi-day baseball and softball events, providing more revenue to the city’s motels and restaurants.
Commissioner Christopher Arias said he wanted lights for those fields.
“I don’t see that as an alternative item at all,” he said.
Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Moya, noting crowds during baseball and softball tournaments in Santa Rosa, said the improved ballparks are “a good investment.”
Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield expressed some reluctance on the project when the Tucumcari Recreation Center and City Pool need repairs.
Lodgers Tax Board Chairman Matt Bednorz said lodgers funds can’t be used on those facilities because of the lack of a tourism or heads-in-beds justification. Chacon said the county and chamber of commerce are looking at grant possibilities for those facilities.
Commissioner Mike Cherry noted there is no opposition from the commission to McKinney’s request but did not offer a funding amount, nor did Chacon.
McKinney said there is no option to delay construction of a softball field while a baseball field is being built. That would violate federal Title IX sex-discrimination law.
McKinney said the district has saved about $300,000 by performing its own demolition of the old baseball and softball fields. He said Pacheco Construction will demolish the old lighting systems for $10,000, saving another estimated $40,000.
McKinney said the district also is spending non-bond money as much as possible for various project items, including a tractor.
When Moya asked how much money the district was requesting, McKinney replied: “As much as you can.”
In response to a question, McKinney said capital outlay funds cannot be used for sports projects.
School board member Jerry Lopez supported the funding request, saying it would be “best for our kids and the future.”
Lopez said the school district took over ownership of the baseball and softball fields because of the city’s poor upkeep on them.
“If those fields had been properly maintained, we wouldn’t be here,” he said, adding: “This is a one-time investment for a long-term return.”
Bednorz noted the $700,000 to $800,000 in accumulated lodgers tax executive funds must be spent within two years as required by state law.
“The money is there” for the lights, he added.
A few commissioners talked about letting the lodgers tax board make an official recommendation on lights funding during its next meeting in November.
However, Moya pointed out executive funds can be awarded by the city commission without the board’s input. Cherry also said the lodgers tax board voiced no opposition to the request during its previous meeting in early October.
McKinney said he wanted to know the commission’s wishes on funding “as soon as possible,” noting practices for the baseball and softball teams begin in February. Quicker action also would make the project less liable to undergo change orders during construction.
Cherry asked Chacon to place a measure for lighting funds on the commission’s agenda at its Oct. 24 meeting.