City manager hopeful in reopening pool soon

Tucumcari city manager Paula Chacon said repairs on the city’s closed municipal pool were continuing and didn’t dismiss the possibility it would reopen in time for its traditional Memorial Day weekend start.

Chacon said during her report to the city commission Thursday a plumber still was working on issues at the pool and that Nick Griego & Sons Construction of Clovis would perform plastering work to remedy leaks there.

She said she and other city officials were working with the state’s purchasing cooperative to expedite work at the pool.

Chacon also said she and Tucumcari High School students would clean the facility on Wednesday.

“We’re pushing it,” she said of the reopening. “We’re close. We’re excited about it.”

The municipal pool has been closed since 2019 — first because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then due to leaks found under the facility.

After the meeting, Chacon said reopening the pool by Memorial Day weekend might be “overly optimistic,” but she didn’t dismiss the possibility, either.

Streets idea

During commissioner comments, Mayor Ralph Moya said the city might consider a general-obligation bond of up to $6.5 million to help pay for street repairs.

Citing a 17% increase in gross receipts tax revenue in the last two years and more people moving to Tucumcari, Moya said the city’s finances are “doing very well.” He suggested residents “might entertain” the possibility of a bond referendum — perhaps as soon as November — for street maintenance.

“We have a lot of breathing room,” Moya said of the city’s finances. “This community is showing a lot of progress, and it has a bright future.”

City Clerk Angelica Gray said the commission would have to decide by late June if a bond referendum is placed on the November ballot.

It remains unclear how many streets could be resurfaced with $6.5 million in new money. Potholes have been a hot topic among residents for years, especially after maintenance was deferred during the city’s financial struggles in the past decade.

Commissioner Mike Cherry, expressing surprise at news about the bonding capacity, said he had been requesting such information for over a year.

Chacon said the city had received the data only in the last week from its new bonding company, RBC Capital.

Manager’s report

Other items from Chacon’s regular report:

— With the wastewater reuse project, she said it would be split into two phases so the city can obtain additional funding when the new fiscal year begins in July.

— She said projects with the Hoover water tank, concrete water tank and the Gamble Addition streets project were nearing completion. She said the Aber Addition streets project will go out to bid this week.

— Chacon said the new cell at the landfill began accepting trash from the city. It soon will allow dumping from other entities.

— She said she was investigating possibly adding broadband internet service near the airport, golf course and cemetery.

— The Princess Theatre’s next meeting is slated for 1:30 p.m. June 1 at city hall.

Action items

— Commissioners approved a third-quarter budget report to be submitted to the state. Chacon said the city’s general fund was $1.6 million favorable and $2.1 million favorable overall.

— Commissioners voted to table a decision on a $1,570 addendum of direct and indirect owner expenses for Monarch Properties, which operates Chaparral Apartments. Monarch asked for more health and retirement benefits to retain more employees. Commissioner Paul Villanueva said he wanted more pay for city employees before he would approve of such spending for Monarch.

— In the consent agenda, commissioners approved several street closures during Tucumcari Rawhide Days on June 17 for a parade and a 5- and 10-kilometer run.

Comments

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Mesalands Community College Interim President Allen Moss said the financially troubled college received its full appropriation of $2 million from the state and it would hold classes this summer and fall.

Moss said the administration is “fine-tuning” its budget for its upcoming fiscal year, and “we don’t have anything to fall back on” because the college had drained its reserves from overspending. He confirmed rodeo and esports would remain as offerings at Mesalands.

Moss also said Mesalands had issued a request for proposals for auditing services, but the New Mexico Office of State Auditor will perform those for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, plus a special audit. He said the state wants to get the college “caught up as quickly as possible” with its finances.

Moss also said: “The college has got to be more involved in the community.”

— During commissioner comments, Moya said he wants the city to form a task force to oversee improvements to the convention center. He said the center needs new refrigerators and freezers and repairs to its roof. Moya said a lack of such oversight is limiting the center’s potential.

— Moya also said he wants Chacon to meet with Village of San Jon or county officials about the lack of ambulance service in the village. He said Tucumcari’s ambulance service is taking calls from San Jon all the way to the Texas border, depleting the city’s service during those times.

— Moya said Municipal Judge Jerry Mares has requested a work session with commissioners to discuss new money available for court systems.

Work session

— Scott Crotzer, executive director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, said he and City Clerk Angelica Gray are submitting documents to see whether the long-closed Princess Theatre is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Crotzer received pushback from Cherry about the possible designation, but Crotzer said such a listing would be beneficial.

“It opens a whole new funding door for you,” Crotzer said.

Chacon also said federal brownfields funding might be used to remove asbestos and lead paint from the theater if they exist.

Crotzer and Tucumcari MainStreet Executive Director Connie Loveland said none of the $250,000 in capital outlay funds awarded for the theater has been spent.

They explained that renovations to the theater’s ticket booth and exterior repainting were covered by volunteer efforts and donations. The city will not receive the capital outlay funds, which are earmarked for a structural assessment, until July. The Princess Theatre has been closed since 1962 after a fire.

— Loveland gave a report on Tucumcari MainStreet’s national accreditation report and the organization’s activities. (See other story in this edition.)