City OKs five-year infrastructure wish list

The Tucumcari City Commission during a special meeting last week approved its Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan for the fiscal years 2025 to 2029, with upgrades to basic services taking up the lion’s share of the lengthy list.

The list over five fiscal years comprises 57 projects with a total cost of about $120 million. The prioritized plan serves as a wish list and guidance to the New Mexico Legislature in its annual awarding of capital outlay funds.

The No. 1 item on the fiscal-year 2025 list was wastewater system improvements to East Route 66 for $1 million. The city has funded the project $800,000 to date and is asking for additional funds each fiscal year, with a total project cost of $8.2 million.

Second on the FY2025 list is wastewater system improvements on West Route 66 for a one-time cost of $1.75 million. According to the list, the project would need two wet wells, two lift stations and two miles of 8-inch pressure mains.

During the Aug. 14 meeting, Mayor Ralph Moya asked the animal control facility remodeling and new fencing, listed in the 2026 fiscal year with a request of $468,000, be moved to FY2025. The total cost would be $962,000 over three fiscal years.

Moya said the dog pound needs to be moved up in priority after a recent inspection led to mandates of improvements there.

Later, during commissioner comments, Moya said a blue heeler dog recently was left at his counseling office nearly a week ago.

“That poor animal is waiting for his owner to come back,” he said.

Moya asked what steps have been taken to lessen crowding at the pound. City manager Paula Chacon said two shelters elsewhere in the state have taken some of the dogs, and a local adoption event was scheduled for Saturday.

Moya said if the problem with stray dogs doesn’t improve, he’ll recommend the city not allow dog breeding.

Moya also asked that repairs to fire hydrants, listed for FY2025 for $200,000 and the same amount each year after that, be moved up to 2024 so state legislators can act during their next 30-day session.

Moya, noticing browning grass in a section of Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery, asked its sprinkler system be extended to that area. He said the public has been asking for that extension for six years.

Commissioner Mike Cherry asked the $968,000 requested for Tucumcari Public Pool renovations be raised to $1.5 million or $2.5 million. The city holds a long-range plan to build a multipurpose senior center complex that would include a pool. The pool also is eligible for a state recreation grant, of which it received $216,000 early this year.

Moya asked the city buy a grader so it could clear streets after snowstorms. He said without such equipment, the city grinds to a standstill after winter storms.

Commissioner Christopher Arias, before making a motion to approve, said “the priorities are in the right place” with the five-year plan. The vote was unanimous.

Listed are the projects by priority in FY2025 with the funding request and, if applicable, total project cost:

— East Route 66 wastewater system improvements, $1.5 million request, $8.2 million total cost;

— West Route 66 wastewater system improvements, $1.75 million request;

— Repair and upgrade water and wastewater system on Date Street, $715,000 request, $3.575 million cost;

— Recreation center renovations and repairs, $750,000 request, $1.5 million cost;

— Wastewater reuse project, $1.7 million request, $14 million cost;

— Water, streets and sewer improvements, $700,000 request, $3.7 million cost;

— City street improvements, $825,000 request, $4.125 million cost;

— Lift station improvements, $575,000 request, $1.726 million cost;

— Street sweeper and loader, $650,000 request, $1.16 million cost;

— Planning grants for asset management, $55,000 request;

— Repair or upgrade sewer system, $822,250 request, $4.111 million cost;

— Wastewater or water communication system, $228,800 request, $657,800 cost;

— Animal control facility remodeling and fencing, $468,000 request, $962,000 cost;

— Repair or upgrade water system, $500,500 request, $2.502 million cost;

— Replacement or repairs to water wells 3, 18 and 18, $829,725 request, $3.789 million cost;

— MainStreet infrastructure improvements, $960,000 request;

— Citywide beautification effort, $18,200 request, $94,250 cost;

— Water tank rehab or replacement, $1.635 million request, $8.178 million cost;

— Fire hydrant repairs or replacement, $200,000 request, $1 million cost;

— New ambulance, $375,000 request, $865,000 cost;

— New fire apparatus, $750,000 request, $4.1 million cost;

— Splash pad, $200,000 request;

— Tucumcari museums, $75,000 request, $225,000 cost;

— Princess Theatre renovations, $1.1 million request, $25 million cost;

— Tucumcari Public Pool renovations, $2.5 million request;

— Planning grant for United Development Code update, $55,000 request;

— Animal Control truck with fabricated boxes, $90,000 request;

— Fleet equipment backhoe, Bobcat with attachments, skid steer, excavator and trencher, $160,000 request, $845,000 cost;

— Water equipment backhoe, Bobcat with attachments, skid steer, excavator and trencher, $160,000 request, $845,000 cost;

— Repair or replace water salesman, $100,000 request, $200,000 cost;

— Wastewater treatment plant various upgrades and repairs, $900,000 request, $1.4 million cost;

— Water supply railroad bores at First and Seventh streets, $500,000 request, $1 million cost;

— New chlorine building at metro water tank, $25,000 request;

— Citywide plumbing repairs, $150,000 request, $375,000 cost.

For FY2026, these items are listed:

— New equipment for ambulance, $100,000 request; $360,000 cost;

— New ambulance, $450,000 request; $900,000 cost;

— New cemetery building, $500,000 request;

— Lab updates, $25,000 request;

— Airport vacuum sweeper, fuel truck and service truck, $650,000 request, $2.9 million cost;

— Cemetery pickup with dump bed, $90,000 request;

— Fleet cars and trucks citywide, $200,000 request, $800,000 cost;

— Three police department vehicles, $200,000 request, $800,000 cost;

— Police mobile data terminals, $60,000 request, $120,000 cost;

— Convention center remodel, repairs and upgrades, $1.75 million request.

FY2027, FY2028 and FY2029 include library improvements, Del Norte Center repairs, parks upgrades, airport apron and runway repairs, a new fire station and an electric gate for the cemetery.

In other business, commissions approved a state contract for $300,000 in capital outlay funds to buy and equip three police vehicles.

Commissioners were scheduled to approve resolutions for fourth-quarter budget adjustments and financial reports for FY2023 and the final beginning budget for FY2024, but they tabled those until they received more information.