Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Quay County Commission on Monday approved a $190,000 purchase contract for the former Bob’s Budget Pharmacy building to be used as a new site for the county’s 911 dispatch center.
The commissioners’ unanimous vote came after a one-hour closed executive session attended by county fire marshal Lucas Bugg, Tucumcari/Quay Regional Emergency Communications Board Chairman Rodney Paris and 911 dispatch director Jamie Luaders.
The 911 board recommended the purchase last month.
Local appraiser Justin Knight had estimated the value of the former Bob’s Budget Pharmacy at 511 S. Second St. at $190,000. It has been owned by Tucumcari-based Rafter E LLC since May.
The appraisal stated the recently remodeled building contains 2,000 square feet with a 1,000-square-foot carport and storage area.
The 911 center currently is housed in a less than 400-square-foot room at the Tucumcari Police Department.
Last month, Paris said he anticipated it would take at least a year for the 911 center to move into the former pharmacy. He said it likely would need to hire an engineer to oversee the move because of the complexity of moving high-tech equipment into the building without any down time.
Bob’s Budget Pharmacy, built in 1983, became Bestcare Pharmacy in 2018 after the death of longtime pharmacist and co-owner Bob McClelland that year.
The pharmacy closed in September 2022 after the store could not find another pharmacist to replace one who moved away.
Commissioners also approved incentive pay for county employees after the open session resumed.
The closed session also was held to discuss pending litigation.
In other business:
— Commissioners tabled action on buying a Tek84 body scanner for the Quay County Detention Center.
The whole-body scanning device would help officers find contraband in an inmate and in mattresses.
County manager Daniel Zamora said the county budgeted $240,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds for the device. Its cost from APIC Solutions of Albuquerque would be $181,697.74, plus a $10,700 extended warranty. Jail administrator Johnny Reid said the Curry County jail uses the same scanner.
Commissioner Jerri Rush objected to the warranty’s cost and wanted it removed. Fellow commissioner Brian Fortner asked officials to check to see whether other counties using the scanner thought the additional warranty is needed.
— Commissioners approved a resolution that updates compensation for county assessor employees who gain certification levels.
James Kleinsasser will receive an additional $3,500 for four levels of certification, and Rudy Blea will receive $1,750 for two levels.
Assessor Dana Leonard recommended passage of the resolution because he said it would provide incentives to employees to earn more certifications.
— Commissioners approved a resolution updating the personnel policy for overtime and compensatory time for non-exempt employees.
Zamora said he wanted to provide law enforcement personnel compensation for overtime at the same rate as other county employees. Law enforcement are compensated for more than 171 hours worked in a 28-day period, while other workers’ overtime pay is computed over a 40-hour week.
“We want to play the overtime they’re entitled to,” he said.
He said the sheriff office’s overtime budget last year was $10,000.
— Commissioners appeared an agreement to detain Quay County inmates at Roosevelt County for $125 a day. Zamora said rates at Roosevelt County rose, but it was still below the state average of $200 a day.
— Vickie Gutierrez, administrator of Trigg Memorial Hospital, gave a report for the August-to-October quarter. She said the number of transfers from the hospital in October had dropped to about 8% — below earlier double-digit levels.
Gutierrez said the hospital still was losing money, but its finances improved compared to 2022. Trigg has provided $1.3 million in charity care so far this year, compared to $1.05 million a year ago.
She also said two traveling nurses at the hospital would be replaced next month by two local nursing graduates.
Commissioners approved a $250,000 payment from a mill levy and gross receipts taxes to the hospital for the quarter.
— During Renee Hayoz’s monthly report from the Quay County Family Health Center, Zamora said he was seeking to obtain a larger refrigeration unit for the clinic. Its current small unit doesn’t have room to store COVID-19 shots and other vaccines.
— Commissioners approved an amendment and resolution regarding a Quay Road 63 road project where the county was granted a match waiver from the state of $17,086.65.
— Commissioners approved the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s BKLUP and STEP grants of $1,269 and $2,508 to pay deputies for overtime for seatbelt and DUI patrols.
— Commissioners approved a budget increase of $225,000 to the Law Enforcement Recruitment Fund. Zamora said it would be used for salaries for newly hired deputies and dispatchers.
— Commissioners approved a budget increase of $30,000 for the Cannabis Regulation Act Fund. Zamora said that is the estimated annual excise tax revenue from the recently opened Glenrio Smoke Stop.
— Commissioners approved an EMS annual service report and an EMS Fund Local Funding Program application of $5,000 for District 1 fire agency.
— Commissioners approved a service agreement with the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corp. The organization has been without a permanent director since June, though Kristine Olsen is filling that role on an interim basis.
— Commissioners approved resolution listing its meeting dates in 2024. The commission’s first meeting of the year was rescheduled from Jan. 10 to Jan. 4 because of a conflict. The commission also approved its 2024 holiday schedule.
— Commissioners approved a medical services agreement between the jail and Presbyterian Medical Services.
— Zamora said county employees’ health insurance premiums, supplied by the state, will rise by 10% in January after no increases for five years.