Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Quay County’s manager said a state official assured him it would receive more disaster aid for May’s storm after it uses $750,000 in such funding authorized last year.
Road superintendent Stephen Salas said during the county commission’s meeting Thursday he was obtaining quotes to repair flood-damaged Quay Road M.
The road south of Bard was one of the most extensively damaged county roads after the storm.
County manager Daniel Zamora said an official from state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management told him it can authorize additional $750,000 disaster-aid payments for “as long as needed” to fix flood-damaged roads.
The administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order in September, approving $750,000 in emergency funds to the county for repairs and recovery efforts.
About eight inches of rain fell in the county in less than 12 hours on May 25, causing extensive damage to county infrastructure.
State and local officials had estimated the damage into the millions of dollars, but it had been unclear whether the state would issue more disaster aid after the initial $750,000.
Quay County was turned down in its request for federal disaster aid.
“I’m excited to get the ball rolling on Quay Road M,” Zamora said.
Salas said he also received an agreement to design a new Bridge 1042 on Old Route 66 after receiving state funding for it. The current bridge dates to the 1930s and long has been on the county’s radar for replacement.
That bridge is just a few hundred yards from a low water bridge destroyed by flooding in May. That span lacked insurance, prompting the county to sue the contractor, architect and state insurance authority. Repairs on the low water bridge remain in limbo until the lawsuit is resolved.
Salas said he also would issue a request for proposals for planning and design on repairs for Quay Road 63.
In other business:
— Zamora said he was seeking a $10 million capital outlay award from the governor, plus grants or loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to build a new Trigg Memorial Hospital.
The Quay County Health Council recently asked its members to email local lawmakers to support Zamora’s requests for state funding.
The current Trigg Memorial Hospital is nearly 60 years old and faces declining infrastructure. The new hospital would be built on land just south of the current facility.
Attempts last year to obtain state funding for the hospital failed.
— Commissioners approved a $50,000 agreement with Places Southwest of Albuquerque to update the county’s comprehensive plan. The county obtained a state grant for the plan.
— Commissioners approved $117,910 and $78,640 payments for the Jordan and Conservancy No. 3 fire districts, respectively, for new self-contained breathing apparatuses for firefighters. County fire marshal Lucas Bugg said current units are worn out. State fire protection grants will cover the purchases.
— Commissioners approved a $110,314.10 purchase for Conservancy District No. 2 fire district to buy extrication equipment. That, too, is covered by a state fire protection grant.
— Commissioners approved an annual EMS service report and EMS Fund’s Local Funding Program application for the Forrest fire district.
— Commissioners approved an annual resolution that states the commission will comply with the Open Meeting Act and other requirements.
— Commissioners approved appointments to boards and subcommittees. Many changes were prompted by the departure of county assessor Janie Hoffman last year.
— Zamora said gross receipts tax revenue was down slightly during the most recent reporting period but still strong compared to historic averages.
— During public comments, a resident of Quay asked the county to repair fencing and board up an open window at Quay School south of Tucumcari. (See other story in this edition.)