City OKs pact with Tucumcari MainStreet

Tucumcari’s city commission approved a $60,000 contract with Tucumcari MainStreet, but not without hesitancy and additional conditions because of lingering uncertainty about city finances.

After several minutes of discussion, commissioners approved the Tucumcari MainStreet contract that allocates $50,000 in Local Economic Development Act funds, plus another $10,000 in executive lodgers tax funds.

The commission during a previous meeting tabled action on the pact after Mayor Mike Cherry questioned whether the city legally could use more than $50,000 in LEDA funds.

Cherry said he appreciated New Mexico MainStreet official Eduardo Martinez’s clarification of Tucumcari MainStreet’s funding, but Cherry mentioned the commission in previous years had spent up to $90,000 in LEDA funds.

City manager Paula Chacon recommended making up the $10,000 difference from the city’s general fund.

Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Lopez balked at that, citing the uncertainty of the city’s financial position. He later noted the city has delayed a six-figure purchase of new laptop computers for the police department due to fiscal concerns.

Lopez initially advocated approving $50,000 in LEDA funds and later approving another $10,000 from other sources.

Tucumcari MainStreet Executive Director Connie Loveland and Martinez cautioned against that, saying it would require amending the organization’s scope of work or force cuts to programs.

During a work session, Martinez said since Tucumcari MainStreet’s inception in 2007, it had seen 43 net new businesses, 63 building rehabilitations, $1.8 million in private reinvestment, $4.5 million in public reinvestment, $1.6 million in new building construction and 80 jobs created.

“The return on the investment is big,” he said.

The city fell months behind in reconciling its financial records after the departure of previous financial director Rachelle Arias in August 2023. The city has hired Mitchell, Beasley & Co. CPA of Las Cruces to help straighten out its books.

Current finance director Hallie Ferguson the bank reconciliations were on track to be finished by July 3.

She also said numbers for the third quarter of fiscal-year 2023 should be done by July 31 and that Mitchell, Beasley & Co. CPA and an official from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration should be finished with the city’s quarterly reports about the same time.

Ferguson said an audit team should be done with the city’s fiscal-year 2023 audit by late July, with an exit interview shortly after that.

After that, the city could finish its FY2024 audit on time.

“We should be all caught up,” Chacon said, rapping her knuckles on the table.

That apparently didn’t satisfy Lopez. Later during commissioner comments, he advocated freezing all city funds “until we have an understanding of the budget.”

Other action

The commission refused to give lodgers tax funds to the Logan-Ute Lake Chamber of Commerce to help pay its Independence Day fireworks display on July 6.

Cherry was the only commissioner to vote against the measure to not give the money.

Logan is spending $20,000 to have a professional firm run its fireworks display. It had submitted an unspecified aid request to the city’s lodgers tax advisory board last month. The board recommended aid, but it also did not give a specific amount.

Commissioners during their earlier meeting questioned whether such an allocation of lodgers tax funds was legal. Chacon said during Tuesday’s meeting she wasn’t able to research the matter or have the city attorney check on it, though she said after the meeting she believed it would be legal.

An email to the Logan chamber requesting comment was not answered.

— Commissioners approved a $98,685.23 quote from Asbestos Experts of Albuquerque to remove asbestos from the recreation center but with the stipulation that air quality be checked there for safety before proceeding with the contract.

Work to install HVAC units at the center had loosened asbestos in the gymnasium and two weight rooms. Chacon recommended using general funds to pay for the work, citing a projected $3 million cash carryover into the next fiscal year. She said she also didn’t want to delay ongoing renovations to the rec center.

The motion stated if air-quality checks revealed no hazards from asbestos, the city could refuse to issue the contract.

Asbestos Experts currently is removing asbestos and lead from the long-closed Princess Theatre.

On a related note, commissioners approved a Regional Recreation Centers/Quality of Life grant amendment that gives a time extension to June 30, 2026, to use the $2 million in funds.

— Commissioners approved a $2.48 million agreement with Ag Services Construction of Roswell for Phase II of the wastewater-reuse project.

About $3.21 million was available for the project. Project manager Ralph Lopez said the remaining funds would be used for contingency or for part of Phase I. The city is short over $2 million for Phase I and is exploring options on how to pay for it.

— Commissioners approved an annual $10,104 contract with Dr. Ronald Carver of Lovington as the city’s EMS medical director.

— Commissioners approved a $2,400 annual agreement with Carlos Marquez of Tucumcari as the EMS department’s pharmacist.

— Commissioners approved a legal services agreement with Jared Najjar of Santa Fe as city attorney. He would be paid no more than $60,000 a year.

— Commissioners approved a legal services deal with YLAW Inc. of Albuquerque for $20,000 plus gross receipts tax as human resources attorney.

— Commissioners approved a legal services agreement with Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood LLC of Santa Fe to be the water rights attorney. Its pay will not to exceed $25,000.

— Commissioners approved an annual lobbying agreement with Civility Government Relations of Clovis for $15,000, plus gross receipts tax.

— Commissioners approved a required checklist from the state Department of Finance and Administration for the city to accept credit cards and electronic transfers as payment.

— In the consent agenda, commissioners approved a permit from Yerba Buena to use Five Mile Park for a disc golf tournament on July 6. Chacon said the course would be mowed before the event.

Comments

During public comments, new Tucumcari Public Schools superintendent Carl Marano introduced himself to the commission.

Marano said he was in talks with city officials about launching an intern program for the district’s juniors and seniors.

Noting TPS students have “a lot of potential,” he thanked his retired predecessor, Aaron McKinney, and added: “I’ve been impressed with the dedication of our staff.”

— Toni Wilson and Loveland thanked the parks department for its help and Eddie Encinias, who brought a mower, during the weekly Tucumcari Tuesday cleanup efforts.

Wilson said an operating street sweeper “is a huge thing we need” because of sediment in the gutters. Robert Moore Jr. also agreed the city needs a sweeper.

— Kristine Olsen, interim director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, encouraged people to participate in the July 4 parade at 10 a.m.

“Let’s get back to celebrating together,” she said.

— During commissioner comments, Lopez said he heard complaints about water coming from the Lowe’s Market, pooling in the gutters along Second Street.

Lopez said he heard complaints about loose dogs. He said the city needs to offer animal-control services seven days a week, and the department should issue more citations.

Cherry, after being informed the city pound was over capacity, said: “We need to get something done and follow the ordinance.”

— Chacon said the municipal swimming pool had generated $2,200 in revenue since reopening in mid-June for the first time since 2019.

She said she planned to keep the facility open through the end of August, with operating hours on Friday and Saturday after schools reopen.

Chacon said sod and playground equipment had been installed at the Little League fields.

Work session

During a work session, Ray Marquart of the Just Scapin’ It landscaping film offered to trim trees and bushes at Dunn Park for free in exchange for access to the tree-limb dumping facility off Camino de Coronado.

Oglesby, noting such service probably would be valued at $5,000, said accepting the arrangement was “a no-brainer.” Cherry agreed.

However, Chacon said its legality remains uncertain and wanted to have the city attorney review it. Cherry said he wanted it to be an action item at the commission’s next meeting.

— Commissioners looked over a draft of the city’s Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan, with requests from department heads.

Cherry, noting a request for a new street sweeper, said he wanted to know what is wrong with the city’s disabled street sweeper before approving it.

The city faces a July 15 deadline to submit a final version of the ICIP. The city’s next scheduled meeting is July 11, though commissioners openly discussed a possible special meeting.