Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Quay County Commission on Monday approved a rental agreement with Rawhide Days LLC to use the county fairgrounds on June 16-18 — about five weeks later than its usual schedule in early May.
Rawhide Days LLC will pay the county $1,000 before the event to use the fairgrounds, plus damage deposit fees. The festival also must provide proof of $1 million in liability insurance.
Alan Daugherty, representative of the Tucumcari Historical Museum that is organizing the festival this year, said the event will include a junior ranch rodeo performance.
Daugherty noted the date change for the festival; he said he checked with other area entities to ensure it doesn’t conflict with their events at the fairgrounds.
Daugherty also said he’s been in touch with a promoter that wants to bring a gun show to the festival. He said the promoter plans to check the fairgrounds’ space and security before committing to it.
Daugherty asked whether a gun show would be a problem on county property. Commissioner Jerri Rush said the fairgrounds previously hosted gun shows. County manager Daniel Zamora said a gun show at the fairgrounds would be acceptable if proper insurance was obtained for it.
The western-themed Tucumcari Rawhide Days pays tribute to the “Rawhide” CBS television show of the late 1950s to mid-1960s that starred a young Clint Eastwood and Tucumcari native Paul Brinegar. Some footage for “Rawhide” also was shot in rural Tucumcari.
In other business:
— Zamora said New Mexico Senate Bill 7, which contains Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s proposed $200 million Rural Healthcare Delivery Fund, said the measure “has traction” with lawmakers but contains little apparent money for hospital construction. He said much of the money appears to be earmarked to private companies.
Quay County wants to build a nearly $30 million hospital in Tucumcari to replace the aging Dr. Daniel C. Trigg Memorial Hospital.
Zamora said he has talked to the county’s lobbyist about the issue. He also encouraged residents to contact their lawmakers, encouraging them to add funding for hospital construction.
— Commissioners approved a proclamation declaring “February Is 2-1-1 Month.” Dialing 2-1-1 in nine New Mexico counties in the region connects to the United Way of Eastern New Mexico, which provides free and confidential information on a variety of resources in their community. That includes emergency food, affordable housing, health resources, transportation options, utility and rent aid, elder care, substance abuse problems, job training and counseling.
— Commissioners approved the purchase by Conservancy Fire District 2 a Ford F-550 brush truck for a total of $292,119 from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group of Albuquerque. County fire marshal Lucas Bugg said a Fire Protection Fund grant would cover $230,000 of that, with the rest from the district’s savings. Bugg said delivery of the vehicle is expected in 18 months.
— Commissioners approved two quitclaim deeds donating slivers of county land to Tucumcari Public Schools and the City of Tucumcari. One small parcel to the school district is on the far east side of the fairgrounds; the other is in the parking lot of the Tucumcari Convention Center. A survey for the TPS ballparks redevelopment plan revealed the parcels.
— Commissioners approved an agreement to accept a $100,000 grant with the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to improve the county’s cybersecurity. Zamora said it would be used for new hardware, software and cable. On a related note, he said Plateau Communications is working on the county’s computer servers, access points and switches.
— County Clerk Ellen White mentioned the state auditor’s office recently gave the county one of its annual Audit and Accountability Awards. It was Quay County’s fourth such award since fiscal-year 2012.
— Zamora said the county’s gross receipts tax revenue in November saw a sharp downturn in the construction sector but a significant increase in food distribution. He surmised the drop in construction might have been due to weather, but overall revenue was “still very good.”
— Road superintendent Larry Moore said the state soon will call for competitive transportation funding proposals. He said he would place on the list repairs to Quay Road 63 and Quay Road AR.
— Commissioners approved the second-quarter financial report and distribution financial report that will be submitted to the state.
— The county’s indigent claims board approved $15,000 in healthcare claims in January.
— Jason Lamb, Quay County agricultural extension agent, gave a quarterly report on the extension service’s activities.