Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
It took two tries, but the Tucumcari City Commission eventually approved by a 4-1 vote a change order for the Aber Addition water and street project after prodding by the city manager.
The change order by Pacheco Construction & Trucking called for an additional $49,400 to add a water line extension.
City documents state an existing water main on East Laughlin Avenue was found to be 2-inch pipe. The city wanted to extend 6-inch pipe to the end of an existing 4-inch main. The order also called for pavement patching over water-line trenches, a new fire hydrant at Laughlin and Park Street and a gate valve.
Commissioners initially were reluctant to make a motion on the change order, much less second it.
Commissioner Jerry Lopez said the city should see whether the water department could do the work instead of a contractor.
Project manager Ralph Lopez said “I’m not aware of the water department’s capabilities” and that the city would use some of its materials for the change order, saving about $5,000. Funds for the project come from a combination of state transportation grants and capital outlay money.
Later during the meeting, city manager Paula Chacon asked to revisit the measure and recommended the commission approve the change order.
If not, “it would hold up the project.” She also said she would check to see whether the water department could do more of the work.
“They will tell you ‘no,’” Jerry Lopez said. “They don’t want to do the work. We can’t continue to turn to contractors for every little thing.”
Finally, Mayor Mike Cherry moved to approve the change order, with Commissioner Renee Hayoz seconding. The only dissenting vote was Lopez’s.
After commissioners returned to chambers after an unrelated one-hour executive session, Fire Chief Garrett Nash passed to Chacon information about two operational fire hydrants near the work area.
With that, commissioners instructed Ralph Lopez to remove the new fire hydrant from the change order, saving about $12,000.
Other action
Commissioners tabled action on a new agreement with the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation.
Cherry he wanted to know whether the city could legally enter into the pact when the EDC has lost its tax-exempt status.
According to the Internal Revenue Service database, the EDC’s nonprofit status was revoked in 2016 for failing to file a Form 990 return or notice for three consecutive years.
EDC interim director Kristine Olsen said the city’s previous one-year agreement with the organization expired last year, shortly before previous director Patrick Vanderpool resigned to take another position. She said she has updated the proposed agreement.
— Commissioners approved the purchase of a Pak Mor HLR series trash truck for $354,382.82.
The truck will be bought from Reliance Truck & Equipment in Converse, Texas, through the BuyBoard purchasing cooperative. According to documents, the truck would be delivered in April.
Supervisor Tomas Gallegos said a similar truck cannot be obtained as quickly from a New Mexico dealer. He also said the Pay Mor is more user-friendly and can carry up to 50 Dumpster loads, compared to 35 by a Challenger truck.
The purchase will be covered by $350,000 in capital outlay funds awarded last year, plus the city’s sanitation fund.
— Commissioners approved a resolution accompanying a $393,750 agreement with the state’s Law Enforcement Recruitment Fund.
Chacon said the agreement was approved by commissioners in October, but the resolution was overlooked.
The funds are used to pay some salary and benefits of police officers over a three-year period. Police Chief Patti Lopez said she wanted to hire a school resource officer, an internet technology technician and an evidence technician, though she doubted she could attract applicants in two positions at just $14 an hour.
Jerry Lopez said he particularly wanted to hire an evidence technician. The chief previously said the department has a backlog of evidence that might take years to sort.
— Commissioners approved a change order for 20-year permit renewal application for the landfill that includes a $20,000 fee increase for Parkhill architects.
Parkhill officials said the New Mexico Environment Department wanted more robust reports than ones submitted in 2015. The renewal application must be submitted by May 31, with a draft to Chacon by mid-March.
Comments
During public comments, Gigi Parker, Wanda Evans and Susan Taylor of the Tucumcari chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution said they wanted to place a plaque commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States near the Route 66 Monument at the Tucumcari Convention Center.
Tucumcari is one of four places in New Mexico that will have an “America 250” plaque, Parker said. The 250th anniversary will be in 2026 — the same year as Route 66’s centennial.
“This will be a beautiful thing for our Route 66,” she said.
— Loretta Muller, owner of Loretta’s Burrito Hut, complained about poor street lighting in several blocks around her restaurant. She said she was made aware of the problem when she added evening hours.
— Elisabeth Carabajal said she would file a grievance against an officer for incorrect information in an incident report about a dog attack. She said the report made her appear to be at fault.
— Several residents complained about release on electronic monitoring of a suspect accused of possessing guns and thousands of fentanyl pills in his motel room. (See other story in this edition.)
— During commissioner comments, Lopez asked about the lack of maintenance to the Robert Lumpkin Memorial Disc Golf Course at Five Mile Park. Chacon said she directed some city workers to pick up trash and admitted “it probably can use some work.”
Lopez also wanted weeds cut in a walkway near the First Street Bridge.
— Hayoz asked when street lights would be repaired. Chacon said they had been scheduled to start in January, and she would follow up with state transportation officials about it.
Hayoz said she heard complaints about the lack of street lighting at South Rock Island Street and East Evans Avenue.
— Commissioner CJ Oglesby passed along complaints about high weeds in a lot near Blake’s Lotaburger on South First Street.
Manager’s report
Chacon said she recently received a letter stating the city will receive a $500,000 federal Community Development Block Grant.
Those funds will be used, along with a state recreation grant, to make repairs to the Tucumcari Recreation Center.
— Chacon said Quay County manager Daniel Zamora told her state disaster aid may cover 75% of the cost of deductibles for claims from May’s hailstorm. He asked for a list of those claims.
Work session
Commissioners, Chacon and human resources director Jacob Thurman again discussed possible changes to the personnel policy.
Among the changes are definitions of exempt and non-exempt workers, work schedules that allow for breaks in the mornings and afternoons, comp time, employee notification of absences, children in city vehicles and emergency volunteer service.
Chacon said she would email the changes to commissioners, with a first reading possible at their next meeting on Feb. 22.
The commission had planned to discuss possible changes in the nuisance ordinance but ran out of time before the regular meeting.
Chacon suggested starting future work sessions earlier or scheduling a special meeting.