Lodgers board urges funds for concert

The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board recommended approval of a $7,840 request from Mesalands Community College to host a concert by country artist Joe Peters at the nearby convention center on March 20.

The city commission can accept, reject or amend the board's recommendation, though it typically approves such requests.

The concert, which begins at 7 p.m., is part of a celebration by Houston-based Impact Wind setting up an office and wind turbine certification courses on the Mesalands campus.

Impact and Mesalands will hold a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the wind-energy center at 11 a.m. that day. State officials and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez have been invited.

Josh McVey, Mesalands' vice president of student affairs, told the board during its March 6 meeting that the college is planning about 350 people to attend the concert. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to scholarships.

McVey said the college would run radio ads in the Santa Rosa, Amarillo and Clovis-Portales markets for the show, plus ads on Facebook.

"There seems to be a lot of energy and interest in attending this event," McVey said.

Peters, a native of the country-music hotbed of Bakersfield, California, once was a team roper in rodeos until two accidents - one involving him and another that killed his roping partner - prompted him to concentrate more on music. His latest single is titled "Rearview." His most popular song is "I've Seen Me Do It," released in 2021.

Music artist Tim Styles will be the supporting act that night.

McVey noted that eight to nine Impact Wind employees have moved to Tucumcari, with several buying houses.

He said Impact Wind hopes to train up to 70 people a month for various wind technician certifications. He said many trainees are staying in the city's motels for several weeks and dining in its restaurants.

Board Chairman Matt Bednorz supported using motel tax funds for the event.

"I think it's a good investment for lodgers tax to do this," he said. "I think it's a good deal."

In other business:

- The board approved the renewal of three-year lease, effective June 30, for four billboards, plus the option for a fifth for free, with Sun Vista Outdoor Advertising of Albuquerque.

Sun Vista owner David Raybould said the contact includes production, printing and posting of the billboard vinyls. He said he can add a new design on a billboard within 30 days or faster, depending on weather conditions.

Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, said any new designs would need to adhere to the city's style guidebook regarding its official logos.

Bednorz, noting Raybould's frequent attendance at board meetings, expressed no hesitation in renewing the contract.

- City manager Paula Chacon said officials from the city and Mesalands were working to organize a Cinco de Mayo festival on May 3-5.

The event would include a dance on Friday. On Saturday, t would have afternoon activities, a cornhole tournament, car show and a comedy night. Chacon said the city has budgeted $20,000 for the event.

Chacon said she still was hoping to organize a ranch rodeo and an arts event later this year.

- Chacon said about 90 street lights would be repaired in the next two to four weeks.

She said many lights along South Mountain Road have been fixed, with more slated along Route 66, First Street and interchanges at Interstate 40. The New Mexico Department of Transportation is covering the costs.

"We should be lit up in a month," Chacon said.

- Chacon said through February in the current fiscal year, about $548,000 in lodgers tax funds has been collected. That is below the $708,000 predicted for that time frame. City officials had warned in previous meetings that motel tax revenue had been lagging.