Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The board for the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation on Wednesday extended the contract of its interim director through December as it tries to straighten out its books and nonprofit status in the meantime.
Kristine Olsen, interim director for the EDC and placeholder director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, will be paid $20 an hour, plus a $4 service fee. Her hours are capped at 80 per month.
Olsen had been budgeted at 20 hours per week, but she asked for 80 a month. She said there were some weeks where she would work more than 20 hours during a particular week, but fewer hours on other weeks.
Tim Hagaman, Region 4 representative of the state’s Economic Development Department, asked later in the meeting when the EDC would begin a search for a full-time executive director.
Board Vice President Phillip Box replied the organization wouldn’t launch a search until it reconciles its books and improves its fundraising.
Olsen has served as the EDC’s interim director since its previous director, Patrick Vanderpool, departed last summer.
Olsen said she is trying to restore the EDC’s nonprofit status but will need to hire an accountant and possibly an attorney for that.
The Internal Revenue Service revoked the EDC’s federal nonprofit status in 2016 after it failed to file the required paperwork since 2012.
Olsen said she was leaning toward a retroactive reinstatement of the nonprofit status. A so-called postcard reinstatement, she said, might create tax liability and cause problems for city and county governments with its audits.
Olsen also still is looking at hiring an accountant to reconcile the organization’s Quickbooks accounts. She said she would convene a special meeting to hire the firm if it’s needed.
The EDC last fall considered having one director for it and the chamber, but both organizations have cooled on the ideal.
In other business, the board approved having Olsen as an EDC representative for the Northwest New Mexico Economic Development Organization.
The board approved having Olsen or Bobby Hockaday as the EDC’s representative for the New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Commission.