Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Quay County’s manager said Monday that state officials have assured him the county would qualify for a state disaster declaration due to May’s flood damage to numerous roads, including the destruction of a multimillion-dollar bridge.
However, county manager Daniel Zamora told county commissioners that he and state officials remain hopeful the county instead would qualify for a federal disaster declaration. A federal declaration would reduce the county’s cost share from 25% to 12.5%.
The county has until July 25 to submit damage claims to the state because of an extension. Zamora previously said the county has assessed $8.7 million worth of flood damage.
The county needs only $38,000 in damage for a state declaration and $3.7 million for a federal declaration.
A Federal Emergency Management Agency official and three state officials recently toured about 15 flood-damaged roads in the county. Zamora said at least 20 roads in the county are damaged.
Zamora said if FEMA rejects some of the county’s disaster claims, state officials said they will appeal.
Zamora, speaking on behalf of ill road superintendent Stephen Salas, said the county recently hired a contractor that was passing through the area to do some road repairs, saving the county about $20,000 in mobilization costs.
Zamora said county road crews are “trying to keep up as best as they can” with calls from residents to repair flood-damaged roads. He said the county for now is trying to ensure those roads are “passable” for now. Zamora acknowledged many damaged roads will need full reconstruction in the long term.
Commissioner Brian Fortner said “I have heard a lot of thank-yous” from residents whose flood-damaged roads were repaired. Commission Chairman Robert Lopez said he received a similar thank-you from a resident.
Zamora also said the county was looking to “do better advertising” to hire more employees in the shorthanded road department. He said that would include a radio spot to tout the county recently implementing $2-an-hour raises for road workers.
Commissioner Jerri Rush said she recorded a public-service announcement at KQAY/KTNM radio on Monday morning on behalf of the road department. The announcement thanks residents for their patience regarding road repairs after the May floods.
Noting in the announcement that the county maintains about 1,100 miles of roads, “the county is aware that roads are in need of maintenance, and our road department is working vigorously to that end. We are anticipating some state funding to help hire contractors to help us get caught up.”
The announcement states that rural residents who are unable to access their homes, businesses or livestock due to damaged roads should call (575) 461-3577.
The commission went in a closed executive session to discuss threatened or pending litigation regarding the $4 million low-water bridge on Old Route 66 between Endee and San Jon that was destroyed during the May 25-26 flooding. No action was taken when open session resumed.
In other business:
— The commission approved a series of annual agreements and match waivers for state road funds.
One was participation with the Local Government Road Fund Program that provides $239,203 in state funds, with the county’s share at $79,734, for reconstruction of three miles of Quay Road AF and one mile of Quay Road AR. The county is requesting a cost-share waiver.
Another was $117,662 in state funds, plus $39,221 for the county’s share, for 1.24 miles of Quay Road AR and 0.61 miles of Quay Road 64.5. The county is requiring a cost-share waiver with that, too.
A third agreement was for $92,929 in state funds, plus $30,976 in the county’s share, for one mile of Quay Road 63.
Zamora said the state typically approves match waivers, saving the county thousands of dollars. He said that’s not assured this year because of the county’s good cash position and robust gross-receipts tax revenue.
However, he said due to additional county spending to repair flood-damaged roads, Zamora said he was optimistic the match waivers still would be granted.
— Commissioners approved a $638,639 state grant agreement with the county’s 911 emergency system.
Jamie Luaders, the county’s regional emergency communications center director, said them one would be used for 911 system upgrades, a generator, equipment, ongoing training and maintenance.
— Commissioners approved an extension for a sub-recipient grant agreement with the New Mexico Homeland Security grant program. The $41,016 would be used to install a radio repeater for the county’s emergency 911 system.
Zamora also reported the state Homeland Security and Emergency Department approved an award of $28,011.50 to cover a portion of the salary and benefits of county emergency manager Pierce Gutierrez.
— In his manager’s report, Zamora said the commission will hold a public hearing at the beginning of its next meeting on 9 a.m. July 24 to take input over the annual infrastructure capital improvement plan. The plan then will be submitted to the state for possible capital outlay money.
— Zamora said he recently met with District Judge Albert Mitchell Jr. and the court clerk regarding possible upgrades to the courthouse’s security cameras. He said he also was considering a partnership with the sheriff’s office over similar camera upgrades at the magistrate court.
— Zamora announced the county received approval of a $111,920 award from the Rural Primary Health Care Act.
— Zamora said the state recently increased the allowable county expense of cremation of unclaimed indigent residents from $600 to $1,000.