One year after storm, MCC still trying to repair buildings

A year after a severe hailstorm, Mesalands Community College still is trying to repair buildings damaged by it.

Mark Martinez, the college’s executive director of operations and procurement, during the board of trustees meeting last Tuesday detailed his ongoing efforts to repair campus buildings.

Martinez said he is working to have repairs completed to four Mesalands buildings.

He said repairs would begin on Building E in August. He said the former armory building, Building A and Building. D would require $61,900, $142,890 and $74,000 in repairs respectively.

Martinez attributed the lengthy process to a vendor having to detail an extensive list of damage to campus structures, plus negotiations with the insurance provider.

Board Chairman Richard Primrose expressed some frustration, wondering whether the repairs would be completed before the next destructive storm.

A storm on May 25, 2023, that brought torrential rain and hail the size of baseballs damaged hundreds of buildings and vehicles in Tucumcari and caused flash flooding throughout the county.

Mesalands isn’t the only entity repairing buildings one year after the storm. Tucumcari Public Schools is undergoing roof repairs to its elementary and middle schools.

In other business:

— Martinez said renovations to Building A were near completion. He said he anticipated moving staff into that part of the building by the fall semester.

The board approved a purchase requisition for the project totaling $172,353.12. WWRC of Clovis was the main contractor.

Martinez said about $53,000 remained from a $400,000 appropriation for the project. He said those remaining funds would be used to renovate restrooms in the building.

— Interim President Allen Moss said the college requested an extension to spend about $394,000 in federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds after receiving conflicting information on how they could be used.

Moss said he wants to use the money to upgrade the college’s HVAC systems, improve classrooms for remote learning and upgrade its technology.

— Moss said the college received and signed a termination agreement with EAB and its Navigate360 program to relieve any liability. Moss’ predecessor, Gregory Busch, brought in EAB under a three-year contract, paid with Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds. Moss stated in his president’s report the college was “not in a position” to implement Navigate.

— Moss said all New Mexico higher-learning institutions were undergoing a sustainability study regarding the state’s funding formula, including personnel levels and comparing funding to other states.

He said results would given to state lawmakers later this year, before the beginning of the 2025 legislative session.

“I’m sure it will have some bearing on us,” Moss said of the study. “It’s something to watch.”

— During the board’s approval of the April financial report and the quarterly financial actions report, Primose noted the college’s cash balance “keeps growing.”

Rachelle Arias, director of business office services, said of Higher Education Department institutional auditor Scott Eccles: “He feels positive we’re moving in the right direction.”

— The board approved a $150,817 yearly contract with Boston-based Jenzabar, the cloud-based platform that Mesalands re-activated in wake of its financial troubles last year.

— The boar approved a requisition of $41,112.13 with CDW-G of Chicago to upgrade the college’s Wi-Fi.

— Josh McVey, vice president of student affairs, reported that Mesalands rodeo athlete Koby Umsar qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo as a bull rider. A second Mesalands athlete qualified but will be unable to compete because of an injury.

— McVey and other officials stated they received compliments about the college’s commencement earlier this month at the Tucumcari High School auditorium. He said the crowd was bigger than last year and almost standing-room only. A total of 53 students walked on the stage during the ceremony.

— McVey said he received compliments about the Cinco de Mayo celebration, a collaboration with City of Tucumcari. He said the college sold over 4,000 game tickets and raised more than $750 for next year’s event.

— McVey said the college might be eligible for a $50,000 grant from Evergreen State College to further Native American and indigenous art programming.

— Moss said he recently met with incoming Tucumcari Public Schools superintendent Carl Marano. Moss stated he was “optimistic about the future of the college and school district working together.”