Officer lauded for saving a choking child

Tucumcari's police chief on Thursday awarded an officer a Medal of Valor for his actions in possibly saving the life of a choking infant.

Chief Pete Rivera presented the medal to patrol officer Kevin Johnson during the Tucumcari City Commission's regular meeting.

Rivera stated that police received a report on Oct. 26 about a small child choking at a restaurant.

"Ptl. Officer Kevin Johnson arrived on scene within seconds and without hesitation began performing life-saving actions on the small child until EMS arrived," Rivera stated. "Through his actions, Ptl. Johnson was able to dislodge what was in the small child's throat and saved a life."

Rivera praised Johnson for his swift and "selfless act," and that "he exhibited extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind."

City commissioners and audience members stood to applaud Johnson as he received his honor.

Rezoning

The commission, without discussion, adopted an ordinance that rezones from residential to commercial an undeveloped stretch of Monroe Street south of Trigg Memorial Hospital. Quay County wants to use the land to build a new hospital.

County manager Daniel Zamora said the hospital, estimated to cost more than $20 million, would be reduced from 40 beds to 17 beds, but its square footage would be similar to the current facility to add a pharmacy, laboratories and a procedure room.

Zamora said contrary to "misinformation," there would be no tax increases for the new hospital because the county lacks bonding capacity to build a one. He previously said the county is seeking state and federal funds to build it.

The current 1965 facility near the end of its useful life.

He said he likely would request from the city a resolution of support for a new hospital.

"I feel very strongly without a hospital, it will be very hard for economic development in our community," Zamora said.

Action items

• Commissioners voted to accept a fiscal-year 2021 audit except for Ralph Moya, who abstained, so it can be submitted to the state Department of Finance Administration.

Moya said he abstained as a protest, alleging the audit was "pretty bad." The audit contained seven findings, none of them serious.

City manager Paula Chacon, who had noted several findings were due to a shorthanded finance department, said some of those dated to 2018. She also said she possessed a letter from the audit firm that stated both it and city were at fault for the late report.

Chacon said the issues will be taken care of by fiscal-year 2023.

"I look at the audit as tools to what we need to be doing," she said. "We're doing it."

• Commissioners voted to accept an amendment to CDM Smith engineering services to provide bidding and construction-phase services for the KOA Campground sewer lift station and other improvements. The cost will be $86,974, covered by federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

• Commissioners voted to accept a $8,847.12 change order on concrete water tank rehabilitation to install additional piping and fittings. Existing grant funds will be used.

• Commissioners went into an executive session with Chacon for about 45 minutes to discuss limited personnel matters. Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield and Commissioner Christopher Arias voted "no" on whether to go into the closed session. No action was taken when open session resumed.

MainStreet update

Connie Loveland, director of Tucumcari MainStreet, presented a quarterly report on the organization's activities. Items from the report:

• The Tucumcari Railroad Museum greeted more than 2,400 visitors this summer. She said the museum would close in January to update its exhibits.

• Tucumcari MainStreet has identified about 130 properties in its district eligible for mixed-use zoning.

• The closed Princess Theatre and two adjacent storefronts will be decorated for the Christmas season. The state MainStreet organization will provide technical assistance on renovating the theater's facade and interior. Loveland also said a recent inspection revealed the theater's basements did not contain water due to a leaking sewer pipe.

• A second downtown block of Second Street soon will undergo lighting and landscaping upgrades.

• Four individuals are going through the FORGE business accelerator program. Loveland said seven new businesses operate in downtown that were not there a year ago.

• She said the Tucumscary block party during the Halloween season generated about $4,000 in additional sales for nearby businesses and prompted requests to expand the festival area next year.

Manager's report

Items from Chacon's regular report:

• She and assistant city manager Mark Martinez said construction on a new cell for the landfill would take about 120 days, though both acknowledged space at the existing cell was running out quickly.

Martinez estimated only about two months was left in the current cell's lifespan. Large-volume vendors, including from the Village of Logan, are barred from dumping there for now. Martinez was hoping the city wouldn't have to haul its trash to Clovis if the new cell wasn't ready.

In response to a question, Martinez and Chacon estimated a new landfill cell lasts five to seven years, and the city has enough acreage available for expansion.

• In response to a question from Commissioner Paul Villanueva, Chacon said she was estimating the cost of fixing various potholes and may put the task out to bid. Chacon also said Quay County recently fixed a road at Five Mile Park and that the city will obtain new millings by Jan. 1 that will have to be hauled from Santa Rosa.

• Chacon said she would have an architect look at repairs to the Tucumcari Recreation Center and possibly the long-closed Princess Theatre.

• She said a drainage problem on Maple Avenue was repaired with help from the county. Moya said the problem existed "three city managers ago" and should have been rectified long before.

• Chacon said town hall meetings probably will be scheduled soon to inform the public about a plan for more mixed-use zoning.

Comments

• In public comments, Kathi McClelland said several dogs confined to a 4-by-4-foot space at the pound are chewing on each other and fighting over food.. She said she fears the animals are not adoptable and will have to be euthanized. She said Paws and Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County cannot accept any dogs, and she urged the city to enforce existing animal ordinances.

• Patrick Vanderpool of Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation cautioned against Moya's previous suggestion that the city take over the abandoned Tucumcari Truck Terminal on the west side. Vanderpool said a retired U.S. EPA official told him cleanup would cost $4.5 million, and the city better have a liability waiver if it takes over the property, or else it could be a "budget buster." Vanderpool said he was hoping to have an assessment by the state Environmental Department so it could be eligible for cleanup funds. Moya said he doubted the attorney for the property, which is in a trust fund, would allow the state to inspect it.

Work session

Chacon during a work session went over possible changes in the personnel policy, with input from a city committee. She said she hoped to amend the policy "so it stays in effect for years."

Much of the discussion centered on holiday pay and comp hours. Chacon also said due to a requirement by the city's insurer, employees will be required to undergo background checks each three to five years to ensure more safety to children and the elderly.