Change orders for landfill won't cost city extra

The Tucumcari City Commission on Thursday approved actions to fix a construction mistake at the landfill that will cost the city no additional funds.

A previous change order for a new cell at the landfill due to an engineer’s error on the location of a liner had caused consternation at the commission’s previous meeting, especially from Commissioner Mike Cherry. He had insisted the engineer should cough up the money to remedy the mistake.

Cherry essentially got his wish.

The commission first approved a change order in the project with CBKN Dirtworks that reduces the cost by $11,952 “after negotiating a lower price with the contractor,” city documents state. The remedy originally was estimated to cost $32,520.

The commission then accepted a credit of $20,568 from the project’s engineer, Parkhill, for the mistake.

Those two actions cover the $32,520 additional cost to resolve the mistake.

“It’s not costing the city on anything,” city manager Paula Chacon said.

Project manager Ralph Lopez said construction on the new landfill cell was on schedule, and he anticipated it might be finished at under the allotted time.

Having the cell completed in a timely manner remains important for the city’s trash services. The current cell was running out of room, and the city had restricted some out-of-town haulers, including from the Village of Logan, from dumping trash there.

Commissioner Paul Villanueva was absent from Thursday’s meeting because his wife was undergoing surgery, Mayor Ralph Moya said.

Father’s Forge

Commissioners approved an amended agreement with the former Father’s Forge church to buy out the remainder of its city lease for $36,001.

Chacon said the church at 622 S. Lake St. had completed its obligations on the 20-year lease, originally set to end in 2026. Father’s Forge in January changed its name to Legacy Church Tucumcari to reflect its affiliation with the Albuquerque-area church.

Chacon said in a work session Thursday the 2006 lease did not account for changes in property’s fair-market value, which the county assessor said had risen to $530,000 for the building and $73,000 for the land. Moya said it was “a poorly written contract” but would abide by its terms.

City attorney Jared Najjar also assured the commission such a transaction wouldn’t violate any church-and-state statutes.

Several commissioners, noting the church’s value to the community, expressed no reservations with the lease buyout.

Other action

— Commissioners approved resolutions for participation in the COOP Program and New Mexico Department of Transportation MAP Program for street-repair projects. Lopez said he is requesting $18,879.86 from COOP and $97,886.73 from MAP. Both require a 25% match from the city, though Lopez said he would request a match waiver from MAP.

Lopez said his highest roadwork priorities are at Third and Fourth streets at Main Street, plus Third Street south of Washington Avenue. He said the funds requested wouldn’t cover the entire costs of the projects, but would cover engineering while the city looks for other funding sources.

— Commissioners approved a final change order for the Hoover water tank and wells project of $1,714. Lopez said the money would come from unspent funds for the $1.5 million project.

— Commissioners approved a yearly Youth Conservation Corps contract for a variety of summer improvement projects, including Tucumcari Recreation Center, fitness course complex, Little League fields, Tucumcari Convention Center, Five Mile Park well house, Dunn Park, Damon Kvols Park, Arthur Jimenez Park, Wailes Park and George Molinas Park.

— Commissioners approved a resolution assigning officers and agents for the $500,000 East Route 66 sewer project.

— Commissioners approved the appointment of Rachell Manuele to the library board.

— Commissioners approved a Title VI nondiscrimination program that’s required every three years so the city is eligible for federal funds.

— Moya read a proclamation declaring “February is 2-1-1 Month.” The free and confidential 2-1-1 phone service, run by the United Way of Eastern New Mexico, refers callers to essential health and human services. More than 27,000 callers have used the service in the last 16 years.

— A motion by Commissioner Chris Arias to buy a $119,212 backhoe for the water department died from the lack of a second. Cherry questioned using that much of the department’s cash reserve on the purchase.

Manager’s report

— Chacon said a potholed section of South 14th Street near the ballfields recently was repaired and grated, but drivers “doing doughnuts” damaged it again days later. She urged residents to call police if they see such mischief.

“We need to stop this type of vandalism,” she said.

— Chacon said the police department would use a new fingerprinting contractor in May, as Cogent no longer is offering the service. She said several city employees would be trained for it. The service would be offered at the police station from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

— City Clerk Angelica Gray said more people are expressing interest on leasing city-owned land for livestock grazing, though previous administrations declined to offer it because of the $2,500 cost for an appraisal. Moya said the city should offer grazing leases because it’s good for the local economy.

— Chacon said she recently received a quote of $2,250 to replace four windows at the recreation center.

— Interim Police Chief Patricia Lopez said she was looking at her department applying for DWI grants after they were stopped in 2018. She also said she likely would hire two more police officers in the coming days.

Lopez also introduced new animal control officer Elijah Huber, who explained his duties and methods since a Tucumcari man was killed by a pack of stray dogs on Feb. 1. (See other story in this edition.)

Comments

— In commissioner comments, Moya relayed a complaint from the Downtown Dispensary about poor drainage in a nearby alley where customers are tracking mud onto sidewalks and into the building.

Moya said aides to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she was “receptive” to a possible capital outlay allocation to build a new Trigg Memorial Hospital. He also said state Sen. Pete Campos also is supportive of the project.

Moya said interim police chief Lopez, because of her knowledge, should be given a chance to solve the department’s problems before a permanent police chief is hired. He advocated holding a work session with her to discuss those problems and possible solutions. “Let’s work with what we have,” he said.

— Resident Emily Priddy of Tucumcari Dog Training said she met with a client at George Molinas Park and cleaned 744 piles of dog feces at the park, many near the swing sets. She said stations for dog-waste bags at the park were empty.

“It’s pretty embarrassing,” she said of the park’s state.

She advocated adding gates at entrances to keep as many dogs from relieving themselves in the park.

— Theresa Kester, speaking on behalf of Monarch Properties that runs the Chaparral Apartments, said its current budget includes resealing the complex’s parking lot, landscaping and replacing old signage.