County OKs resolution for higher pay for elected officials

The Quay County Commission on Monday unanimously approved a resolution establishing salaries of the county’s elected officials for the 2025 fiscal year.

The resolution states that “salaries be paid to the elected officials in Quay County be increased to meet the maximum allowable approved rates upon the date the official takes his/her oath of office.”

County manager Daniel Zamora estimated that would cost the county an additional $71,000 for the salary hikes. He said he did not have firm numbers on the cost of benefits.

County Clerk Ellen White said she and other elected officials recommended the resolution’s passage. She said county officials and their deputies are paid about 90% and 95% respectively of what is allowed by state law.

White said Quay County is one of only four that are below the state average.

White said higher pay would lead to better candidates running for those positions and attract better-qualified employees.

She noted elected officials’ pay cannot be increased while they are in office. That can occur only after an election, which would be in November 2024.

In other business:

— Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for up to $50,000 in state funds to update the county’s comprehensive plan.

Zamora said the plan hadn’t been changed in five years, and the state urges updates after that time period. He said the funds requested likely would cover all the costs for updating the plan.

Commissioner Jerri Rush initially expressed skepticism about the need for the funds. Road superintendent Larry Moore said an updated comprehensive plan is necessary to make it easier for the county to receive capital outlay allocations and other funding.

— Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing an application to the New Mexico Department of Health to participate in the Rural Primary Health Care Act Program.

Renee Hayoz, administrator at the Quay County Family Health Center, said the Tucumcari clinic would receive about $111,000 through the program.

— Commissioners approved two resolutions requesting sponsorships from the Transportation Project Fund for projects on Quay Road 63 and Quay Road AR.

The Quay Road 63 project requests $341,732.93, with a county 5% match of $17,086.65, for planning and design. The Quay Road AR project requests $292,908.42, with a 5% match of $14,645.42, also for planning and design.

Moore said the county will request more money next year to begin construction on at least one of those projects. He said he doubted funds would be available for both, as they are “high-dollar projects.”

— Commissioners approved an amendment to an engineer fee for low water crossings at Bridges 1625 and 1042 near Endee.

The county will pay an additional $33,809.34 for construction observations and assurance testing.

— Commissioners approved of 2024 County Fire Protection Fund distributions for these departments: Bard-Endee, $137,723; Conservancy No. 1, $84,279; Conservancy No. 2, $54,483; Conservancy No. 3, $54,483; Forrest, $52,418; Jordan, $89,422; Nara Visa, $39,058; Porter, $52,418; Quay, $52,418; and county fire marshal, $55,501.

— Sheriff Dennis Garcia introduced his department’s office staff and many of their family members to the commission.

“They’ve received no complaints on their professionalism, and that means a lot,” Garcia said. “We’re very lucky to have the team we have.”

In his quarterly report, Garcia said the sheriff’s department responded to 667 calls from January through March. It also conducted 30 prisoner transports totaling 7,600 miles.