City gets nearly $400K to hire more cops

Tucumcari city commissioners on Thursday accepted a $393,750 state grant to hire more police officers, though the mayor and police chief expressed a mild difference of opinion on how it should be spent.

The city received the money from the state’s Law Enforcement Recruitment Fund, which funds 100% of new officers’ salaries in the first year, 50% in the second year and 25% in the third year. It is part of a $58 million statewide initiative to help police departments hire more personnel.

During a work session Thursday, Police Chief Patti Lopez recommended spending the funds on a school resource officer, an internet technology position and a civilian evidence technician.

Mayor Ralph Moya agreed with the school resource officer and IT position, but he also wanted more patrol officers.

Lopez said she has been unable to obtain federal funding for a school resource officer. She advocated using the state funds for the position, adding that Tucumcari Public Schools needs an officer “immediately.”

“We’re having a big mental health crisis in our schools,” she said.

Lopez said such an officer also would be stationed at athletic events.

A student stabbed another outside Rattler Stadium during a lightning-delayed football game last month, an incident that Moya described as “very scary.”

Regarding the IT position, Lopez said Plateau is ending its IT service company-wide, though the city remains under contract with it until 2026. She said an IT position would help multiple departments in the city.

Lopez said an evidence technician is needed because the police department has thousands of pieces of evidence that require proper disposal, plus hundreds more that need proper cataloging.

She said such an effort might take three years to complete. Lopez advocated a civilian for the position because he or she would require less training than a police officer.

Moya expressed support for hiring a school resource officer and IT manager, but said he wanted two officers “on the streets” instead.

Moya said the TPD should look at its budget to see whether an evidence technician can be hired through there. He also mentioned the city has more than $100,000 in unused tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales.

Action items

— Commissioners approved a second and final reading of an ordinance that allows a special-use permit for the closed Quail Ridge assisted living facility at 2601-2611 S. Ninth St. to revert to R-1 single-family zoning.

During a public hearing, four residents expressed support for the ordinance, saying contractor John Pacheco’s conversion of the facility to Mesalands Community College student housing led to additional noise and traffic in the neighborhood. One worried whether such housing would lead to lower property values in the area.

Mesalands interim president Allen Moss said he appreciated Pacheco’s efforts to provide student housing, but he added that such developments “should be in accordance of the law.” He said he hoped other housing would be developed for Mesalands students.

— Commissioners approved a second and final reading of an ordinance that changes the salary of the mayor, commissioners and municipal judge. The mayor will be paid $7,800 a year, commissioners $6,600 and municipal judge $17,790. No one during the public hearing objected to the changes.

— Commissioners passed a resolution stating that city-owned property at 407 E. Maple Ave. is obsolete and can be put up for sale. The city will accept sealed bids for the tract at a minimum bid of $2,000. The property has been appraised at $5,000.

— Commissioners tabled a resolution on allowing a lease of 200 acres of city-owned land east of Tucumcari Municipal Airport for grazing purposes. Commissioner Mike Cherry said he wanted more information on the amount of the lease.

— Commissioners approved the purchase of a Ram pickup truck for $65,462 from Melloy Dodge of Albuquerque for the wastewater department. It will include a winch to lift heavy pumps. It was about $5,000 over the department’s budget, but city manager Paula Chacon said reserves from the previous fiscal year will cover that.

— Commissioners approved a service agreement with Doctech of Albuquerque to provide a mailer, sorter and postage machine to the city for $504.75 a month for four years. The equipment will be used to mail utility bills. The city’s mailing equipment contract with Pitney Bowes expired in April. Chacon said the cost was similar to Pitney Bowes, but Doctech offered better support.

— Commissioners approved an amendment for the wastewater reuse project with engineer CDM Smith. Chacon urged approval because of a deadline of Dec. 31 to begin the project. The amount of $371,407 will be covered by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

On a related note, commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the assignment of authorized officers for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund grant of $3.21 million for the project.

— Commissioners approved an American Rescue Plan subgrant of $9,568.72 for transportation services by the Tucumcari Senior Center.

— Commissioners reappointed Lila Doughty, Matt Bednorz and Al Patel to fill vacancies on the city’s Lodgers Tax Advisory Board. They were the only applicants. Their initial terms had expired earlier this year. One vacancy still exists on the board.

— On the consent agenda, the board approved closing of the north and south entrances of Second Street and the east and west entrances of Center Street for the Tucumcari MainStreet Spooktacular Block Party on Oct. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Proclamation

Moya read a proclamation declaring Nov. 8-14 as Crash Responder Safety Week and presented the signed document to Linda Unruh.

Unruh successfully lobbied the New Mexico Legislature to pass a “Move Over” highway law for tow operators and other first responders.

Her efforts were sparked by the death of son Bobby during an accident in February 2017 while responding to a tow call west of Tucumcari. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the measure, called Bobby’s Law, in April that year.

“I will continue to fight this fight for all first responders,” Unruh said after receiving the proclamation.

Comments

— In response to a question from Commissioner Paul Villanueva, animal control department supervisor Elijah Huber said it is issuing more citations for dogs at large and is increasing fees. That includes a $250 fee for animals surrendered to the department.

Huber detailed efforts to address a household at Grove Street and Heman Avenue that contains 13 dogs, including some that residents said are vicious. One of the efforts was more spays and neuters of the animals.

— Villanueva also said several streets are “looking good” due to potholes being filled by city workers.

— Moya said he wanted to have a meeting with Xcel Energy officials next month regarding the citywide 19-hour power outage in May.

“I think they’ve done very little to correct” the situation, he said.

— During her manager’s report, Chacon said the deadline for applicants for the commission’s vacant District 4 position is Oct. 20. Commissioners will conduct interviews on Oct. 26.

— Chacon also said she would soon explore repairs on Rankin Avenue and Eighth Street after they were damaged by flash flooding in May.

— During residents’ comments, Robert Moore Jr. asked the city to stop dumping trash on his property at 302 W. Railroad Ave. He also asked the city clear trees and weeds in the street behind the closed Relax Inn motel, which he recently acquired through a delinquent tax auction.

— Gilbert Pacheco accused Moya and Villanueva of lying during a previous meeting about the city’s years-long efforts to dispose a pontoon boat abandoned on a street. After Pacheco’s remarks, Moya said residents had a constitutional right to speak “whether it’s true or not.”