County OKs disaster resolution

The Quay County Commission on Monday approved a declaration-of-disaster resolution after flash flooding severely damaged numerous county roads, with more rain forecast to be on the way.

The declaration seeks to pave the way for state and federal funding for help cover the county's expenses for emergency repairs to washed-out roads.

The resolution states that an intense storm on May 25 brought up to eight inches of rain in less than 12 hours in parts of the county.

"The resulting 500-year flood, hail and severe winds caused major damage to public infrastructure which threaten the health, safety and welfare of communities throughout Quay County," it read.

County manager Daniel Zamora said an official from the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security will inspect damaged areas this week.

"I don't think we fully understand the extent of it yet," he said.

Zamora said the threshold damage has to exceed $38,000 to be eligible for disaster funds. He said he would put links to disaster resources on the county's website for residents.

Road superintendent Stephen Salas showed photographs of severe damage to Quay Roads M, 57 and 71.2, plus the remnants of a new low-water bridge on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee that was washed away during the storm.

Salas said he has been traveling around the county to assess roads and is prioritizing makeshift repairs to residents who have medical needs and need to leave their homes.

"I get on the blade and do it myself if I need to," he said, noting county crews bladed more than 100 miles of county roads in the past month.

Salas said damage wasn't caused only by the May 25 storm.

"A lot of the stuff we fixed already, we're fixing again," he said, adding more rain is predicted in the next 10 days.

At the low-water bridge, Salas said the nearby 1931 bridge "almost gave way" amid flash flooding that destroyed the new bridge. He said the truck of retiring road superintendent Larry Moore fell inside a sinkhole near the old bridge.

Salas said the old bridge was inspected last Thursday, but results won't be known until later. For now, Old Route 66 is closed to traffic in the area.

Commissioners praised the work of Salas and his workers. Commissioner Jerri Rush suggested a higher priority of repairs to Quay Road BK, where a woman with a high-risk pregnancy lives.

Commission Chairman Robert Lopez was absent because he was presiding over a special meeting of the Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors.

In other business:

- Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, presented her quarterly report. She said the organization's Hands on Tucumcari artist residency program received 12 applicants for five slots. The artists will be announced soon.

Loveland also said it would host a special exhibit, "Royal Adventures: A Historic Look at the Life of Tucumcari Pioneer Royal Prentice," from June 16 to July 31 at the Tucumcari Railroad Museum. The exhibit, curated by Laura Love, uses archived photos, Prentice's journals and the New Mexico Historical Review. Prentice was a member of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.

She also said the Odeon Theatre at 2 p.m. Aug. 13 will host a screening and panel discussion of the "Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road" documentary.

- Commissioners approved a state Homeland Security grant application of $29,331.50 to cover one-half of the salary of the county's emergency manager.

Zamora said the position was vacant, but a new emergency manager recently was hired and will begin work on June 19.

- Sheriff Dennis Garcia presented a Life Saving Award to deputy Tyler Davis for his acts during an accident on Interstate 40 last month. (See other story in this edition.)