Cash reserves may be used to buy building for 911 center

The chairman of the local emergency communications board advocated using cash reserves to pay for a building for the 911 center, freeing up money for the center’s moving expenses.

Rodney Paris, chairman of the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Board, said during the board’s Feb. 21 meeting he didn’t like the payoff terms of a proposed New Mexico Finance Authority loan for the 911 center’s move into a former pharmacy building on South Second Street.

He advocated using the county’s cash on hand to pay about $190,000 for the former Bob’s Budget Pharmacy building instead of rolling the expense into the loan.

Paris also advocated hiring an engineer to estimate moving costs, then hire a project manager to guide the 911 center’s transfer from the Tucumcari Police Department to the building.

He said a recent consultation with an engineer revealed possible pitfalls that he and other first responders wouldn’t anticipate.

County manager Daniel Zamora said Paris’ proposal “sounds reasonable.” That was echoed by Tucumcari Fire & Rescue Chief Garrett Nash.

Zamora suggested placing a request of $300,000 to $500,000 on the infrastructure capital improvement plan for the 911 center’s move. In the meantime, the center would have enough revenue from tax receipts to at least proceed with the plan.

In other business, board members elected Quay County Undersheriff Russell Shafer as chairman and Paris as vice chairman.

Paris said he “reluctantly” decided not to run as chairman again, though he said he enjoyed his tenure.

“I’ve got too many things going,” he said. “The weight on my shoulders is too much.”