Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Federal officials recently turned down Quay County’s application for disaster relief in the wake of hail damage and flash flooding that occurred in the wake of late May’s severe storms.
County manager Daniel Zamora said Monday after the county commission meeting he received word last week from officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that it had rejected the county’s bid for disaster relief.
Zamora said the FEMA official that inspected washed-out roads and bridges assessed only $200,000 in damage in the county — well under the state’s assessed damage in excess of $5 million.
At one point in early July, the state estimated damage at $8.7 million.
Road supervisor Stephen Salas attributed that wide discrepancy to the fact the FEMA inspector arrived about a month following the storm — after workers made nominal repairs to county roads so they were passable.
Zamora agreed, saying the FEMA inspector had a “lackluster” view of the storm’s damage compared to state disaster inspectors who arrived just days after the flooding occurred.
FEMA’s rejection of disaster aid means the county will have to spend a bigger share of the costs for storm damage remediation. A federal declaration would have meant the U.S. government would have covered 75% of such costs, with the state and county each covering 12.5%.
With a state disaster declaration declared and in place, Zamora said Quay County will cover 25% of the remediation costs, with the state government covering the other 75%. Zamora said he anticipated a disaster-aid agreement with the state in a few days.
Zamora said “we’ll have to make some tough decisions” on road repairs due to the county’s lack of cash on hand. He said he’ll make a priority list and would propose in-kind work with contractors to bring down costs.
On a related note, Zamora said a state bridge inspector finally will come to assess a 90-year-old bridge adjacent to a new low water bridge on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee that was destroyed in the storm just days from completion.
But after reviewing the most recent bridge inspection report on the 1930s span, Zamora was pessimistic the state would allow it to be reopened to traffic.
“It’s hard to imagine how it’s going to be OK after this (storm) event,” he said.
The destruction of the new bridge and closing of the old bridge have forced some residents to detour 30 miles.
When the $4 million low water bridge will be repaired remains in limbo because the contractor didn’t carry builder’s risk insurance, alleging the architect didn’t require it in its agreement. The county is considering a lawsuit to resolve the dispute.
In other county business:
— Commissioners approved a $2,500 limited professional services agreement with Miller Engineering Consultants of Albuquerque for work on Quay Road 96.
Zamora said the county’s attorney, noting a possible lawsuit against Stantec Engineering over the low water bridge, said it was “not in our best interests” to use Stantec and recommended another engineer for the road.
Zamora also noted the agreement was about $1,200 less than anticipated.
Commissioners also approved a request for a one-year extension to participate in the state’s Local Government Road Fund Program for the project.
— Commissioners approved a lease for a John Deere motor grader over a Caterpillar model.
Salas said the Deere lease was $200 more expensive, but it would use less fuel. The Deere vendor also provided a preventative maintenance contract that would include a loaner if the grader broke down.
— Commissioners approved a resolution for the 2023-2024 budget to account for budgetary increases of $100,000 due to a statewide opioid settlement, $50,000 in the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund that will be earmarked for infrastructure needs and $491,513 in unspent state appropriations from the destroyed low water bridge.
— Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with the New Mexico Public Education Department for its summer internship program. Zamora said the program started late this year in the county, but the nearly $220,000 pact will pay this year’s expenses and provide seed money for next year.