Area to get $1.8 million in capital outlay

Quay County entities are in line to receive $1.84 million in capital-outlay allocations from the just-completed session of the New Mexico Legislature, including more than $1 million to the City of Tucumcari that includes some street repairs and renovations to the long-closed Princess Theatre.

What was notable was what the county didn’t receive — namely, up to $30 million to build a new Dr. Daniel C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari.

The county didn’t go empty-handed. It is due to receive state allocations for EMS radio improvements and renovations to the fairgrounds’ concession stand.

The village of Logan is slated to receive funds to improve its civic center. The village San Jon also is due to receive an allocation for community center improvements.

The list isn’t final. Capital outlay projects are subject to possible line-item vetoes by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham through early April.

Here is the full list of projects in the county:

— $150,000 to plan, design, construct, replace and upgrade the Logan Civic Center, including flooring, lighting, ceilings, appliances and bathrooms;

— $300,000 to Quay County to purchase, equip and replace fire and emergency medical services radio equipment and information technology for the dispatch center and emergency departments;

— $75,000 to Quay County to plan, design, construct and renovate the concession stand at the fairgrounds arena;

— $100,000 to plan, design, construction, purchase, equip and replace a heating and cooling unit for the San Jon Community Center;

— $300,000 to the City of Tucumcari to purchase and equip police vehicles;

— $250,000 to the City of Tucumcari to plan, design, construct, renovate and improve the Princess Theatre;

— $350,000 to the City of Tucumcari to purchase and equip a sanitation truck;

— $319,000 to the City of Tucumcari for streets improvements.

The projects total $1.844 million. Quay County entities were allocated $1.62 million for projects last year.

House Bill 505, which allocates capital outlay money, totaled more than $1 billion for projects statewide.

Quay County manager Daniel Zamora said in a phone interview Monday he was disappointed state lawmakers didn’t allocate capital outlay money for the hospital.

“I don’t want to bash anyone because we’ll probably need their help at a later date,” he said.

Zamora has an alternate for possible funding. During a recent meeting, county commissioners approved a request form to U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan for more than $32.2 million in federal funds to build a new Trigg.

Zamora said at the time the Congressionally Directed Spending Request Form for fiscal-year 2024 serves as “a backup” if the New Mexico Legislature didn’t allocate money this year for the hospital.

He said he’s been in touch with Lujan’s office on the Trigg project.

“They said there are a couple of programs that our project might be able to fit into,” Zamora said. “I’m hopeful we can find something there.

“Then there’s this USDA program where it can provide, at minimum, a 50% grant or loan. If we can get a third or half of it covered by the federal government, that can get us to the finish line.”

Zamora said if the county is awarded federal money, it probably wouldn’t be available until late this year or early 2024.

County officials say Tucumcari needs a new hospital because the current Trigg Memorial Hospital is almost 60 years old, no longer meets codes and is reaching the end of its life, especially its plumbing system.