Courthouse to upgrade its security cameras

The Quay County Courthouse in Tucumcari soon will have an improved and more sophisticated security-camera system.

The county commissioners on Monday unanimously approved spending about $61,000 to install the Verkada cameras. The purchase, a five-year deal, was recommended by Sheriff Dennis Garcia and the 10th Judicial District Court.

Jacob Farris, a sales representative for California-based Verkada, demonstrated the camera system by videoconference during the commission’s meeting.

Farris said the cameras can be accessed by smartphone or regular computers. Live camera links can be shared from one authorized county employee to another. The cameras’ software will be updated regularly.

The cameras contain license-plate and facial recognition programs, with storage of at least 24 hours of footage.

Commissioner Jerri Rush voiced some discomfort with the facial-recognition system, alleging it would violate privacy laws and was “creepy.”

Garcia said the program won’t specifically identify an individual unless it’s a person of interest. County manager Daniel Zamora pointed out that considerations for privacy already exist in courtroom cameras where certain areas can be blurred or blacked out entirely.

Garcia said he supported the camera upgrades.

“I think it will be super beneficial for us in terms of courthouse security,” he said.

Amanda Hammer, CEO of the district court, said the upgraded system especially would help on Fridays, when the rest of the courthouse is empty.

Chief Judge Albert Mitchell Jr. for years had requested better security in the courthouse.

Zamora said the system would be “a cost-effective way to increase security” there 24 hours a day.

Commission Chairman Robert Lopez said he was “very impressed” with the system and would favor the purchase.

APIC Solutions of Albuquerque will install the cameras using mounts with the current courthouse cameras.

In other business:

— Zamora and road superintendent Stephen Salas said they still were trying get a state inspector to look at a 90-year-old bridge on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee and possibly reopen it, though they have grown pessimistic that will happen.

The bridge was going to be replaced after construction of an adjacent new bridge. However, flash flooding destroyed the new bridge, and when it will be repaired remains unknown because of an insurance-coverage dispute between the builder and architect.

Zamora had been hopeful earlier this month the old span could be inspected and reopened after repairs. However, state officials pointed out the condition of the bridge was one of the worst in New Mexico even before the flash flooding. Officials do not hold much confidence it will pass inspection after that incident.

— Commissioners approved an ordinance that sends a gross receipts tax question for Trigg Memorial Hospital to voters for the Nov. 7 election.

Approval of the question would mean the continuance of a current tax for maintenance of the hospital.

— Doyle Rush again insisted the closure of Quay Road 41 in 2013 was unlawful. Rush said he lost a $30,000 wheat crop because he was unable to access a field due to the road’s closure.

Zamora said county had no formal structure to close roads and followed state laws instead. Rush said the road was closed with no public input; Zamora said no such input was required.

Rush made accusations about former road supervisor Larry Moore and commissioner Rush. Lopez, speaking about the accusations against his colleague, said it was a “he said, she said” situation.

County attorney Warren Frost said the county will send viewers to inspect the road and will follow statute whether to open or keep it closed.

— Commissioners approved an annual $10,000 contribution to the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce.

Lee Judd, a member of the chamber’s board of directors, said it would begin the process of hiring a new director after the chamber building’s roof and interior are repaired in the wake of the May 25 hailstorm. It also would hire a part-time employee to help run the Tucumcari Visitors Center.

In the meantime, he said board members are sharing chamber duties. The previous director, Scott Crotzer, resigned in July.

— Commissioners approved a contract with Sites Southwest to update the county’s comprehensive plan. Sites Southwest principal Phyllis Taylor said it can work with the county to be within budget of a $50,000 grant awarded by the state for the plan update.

— Commissioners approved a state Department of Health grant agreement of $111,920 for the Quay County Family Health Center clinic in Tucumcari.

— Commissioners approved a $3,535 maintenance contract with SEPS Inc. of Illinois for backup power for the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center.

— Commissioners approved the renewal of its contract with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments in Clovis for $2,216.

— Commissioners approved reduced rental fees at the fairgrounds for the 49th annual C.R.A.F.T. Fair on Nov. 11-12.

— Commissioners approved a series of fire protection grants for these districts to purchase equipment: Porter, $94,000; Jordan, $117,910; Forrest, $45,355; Bard-Endee, $300,000; Fire District 1, $300,000; Fire District 2, $110,314,10; and Fire District 3, $124,163.

— Zamora said inmates would be housed at jails in Portales and Clovis while Quay County Detention Center employees undergo additional training through mid-September. In the meantime, plumbing and doors would be repaired at the jail.

— Zamora said the county’s gross receipts tax revenue has been topping $300,000 a month this year. He said the county’s retail sector is “very strong,” and online sales are funneled back to the region thanks to a state law enacted several years ago.

— Zamora said the TextMyGov platform would go live at the county later this week.

— Commissioners approved $3,840.76 in indigent health claims in August.

— The commission went into a closed executive session to discuss possible litigation about the damaged low water crossing and possible real estate disposal of Quay Road 41.

Afterward, commissioners decided to ask Larry Wallin, Craig Cosner and Glenn Briscoe to be the new road viewers for the county.