County OKs loan app for 911 center move

Quay County commissioners on Monday approved a $550,000 revolving fund application with the New Mexico Finance Authority to help the emergency dispatch center move to a new site in Tucumcari.

The no-interest loan to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center would be paid with gross receipts taxes. The dispatch center currently is housed in one room of the Tucumcari Police Department.

According to documents in the commission’s packet, costs for moving to a new 911 center include $10,000 for planning and design, $350,000 for construction and $190,000 for facility acquisition. It anticipates a completion date of January 2025.

Commissioner Jerri Rush initially blanched at the $350,000 construction cost, but 911 director Jamie Luaders expressed hope not all of those funds would be needed.

“I don’t think it will cost all of that, but that’s the estimate we were given,” Luaders said.

Commissioners also approved closing documents for the \ center to purchase the former Bob’s Budget Pharmacy building at 511 S. Second St. for $189,907.02 as its new home.

County manager Daniel Zamora said the state likely would reimburse the county for the purchase of the building.

Commissioners also approved an amendment for the Enhanced 911 Act Grant that would give the center an additional $42,868.

Zamora said those funds not only would be used for 911 improvements, but to help pay for the center’s move, including acquiring a backup power generator for the site.

In other business:

— The commission approved $500 contribution to the Tucumcari Film Festival, scheduled for April 26-27.

Matt Monahan, festival secretary, asked for the funds because of an anticipated loss of about $900 of in-kind donations from the previous year.

Monahan said he anticipated the Tucumcari Elks would contribute $500 to the event, and he asked the county to match that.

Zamora said the county’s budget contained “a little wiggle room” for such contributions. The Tucumcari Film Festival is a nonprofit organization, and such donations are permitted under state law.

Last year’s festival drew 42 visitors and 26 film submissions. Monahan said it hopes to draw 60 visitors this year, and it already has 20 film submissions.

“I think it would be awesome for our community to host these events,” commission Chairman Robert Lopez said shortly before the vote.

Monahan said the New Mexico Film Office offers more tax credits for productions outside the usual areas of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, making Tucumcari well-positioned. He said he recently hosted a director who was considering Tucumcari as the site for a “seven-figure” film production.

Monahan also detailed his efforts to make Tucumcari more of an arts community since moving to the area 2 1/2 years ago.

He said drawing more artists would boost local tax revenue and bring more opportunity to fix infrastructure. He said Route 66’s centennial in 2026 also will bring in more tourists.

Monahan said he plans a sculpture park off Highway 104 a few miles north of Tucumcari that would include a campground. He also launched an artist residency program and lecture series at Mesalands Community College.

— During his manager’s report, Zamora said he was optimistic about receiving some state funds to help build a new Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari after a meeting in the governor’s office earlier this month.

“I feel like we have some traction,” he said.

Zamora said he was hoping a federal U.S. Department of Agriculture grant would cover the remaining costs, estimated at over $30 million.

Zamora also said Lt. Gov. Howie Morales also made a rare appearance at the annual Quay Day during the legislative session.

— Commissioners approved a $2.5 million cooperative project agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to plan and design a new span to replace Bridge 1042 on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee.

The county’s matching cost is $426,030, bringing the total cost to $2.92 million.

Road superintendent Stephen Salas said construction likely would begin in 2025-2026 with an additional cost of $7 million, bringing the total to nearly $10 million.

Flash flooding in May destroyed a nearby bridge just days from completion. When it would be rebuilt remains in limbo because the county has sued the architect, builder and state insurance authority over the bridge’s lack of insurance.

— Commissioners approved a $8,185 invoice for December operations from the Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari to the state Department of Health.

— Zamora said the county’s gross receipts tax revenue in the January period was about $250,000 — down from the $282,000 the previous month but still strong.

He said the retail sector continued to be strong, which he attributed partially to a state law a few years ago that funnels taxes on internet sales back to the county.

“It’s been huge for us,” he said.

— Zamora said the 16 new security cameras at the courthouse are operational, though they revealed “a few gaps” in coverage. He said he might bring additional camera purchases to the commission at a later date.

— Sheriff Dennis Garcia said sheriff’s offices are being encouraged to document transportation of inmates and mental-health patients to other facilities for possible reimbursement. He said his department has totaled about 20,000 miles of inmate transports, with $17,000 in costs for fuel, meals and lodging.

— Commissioners approved $2,419.24 in indigent healthcare claims submitted in December.