Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Lopez has attended only one of six Tucumcari MainStreet board meetings this year despite being appointed as the liaison for the nonprofit organization.
Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, revealed Lopez’s repeated absences during a Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board meeting on Wednesday.
The board was discussing the use of $10,000 in lodgers funds to pay part of Tucumcari MainStreet’s annual $60,000 contract.
Tucumcari MainStreet can use no more than $50,000 in Local Economic Development Act funds annually. The city commission approved the allocations for MainStreet during an earlier meeting.
Loveland initially said the city’s liaison had attended only one of six Tucumcari MainStreet meetings this year.
When pressed by lodgers tax board members who the liaison is for the organization, Loveland replied it was Jerry Lopez, the mayor pro tem.
Loveland noted the city’s contract with Tucumcari MainStreet contains descriptions of the city’s responsibilities to the organization, including “integrate city-appointed liaison in monthly TMS Board meetings.”
She also said the liaison is supposed to work with and coordinate activities with the organization as a non-voting member.
“He’s choosing not to attend the meetings,” Loveland said.
The news of Lopez’s absences from Tucumcari MainStreet meetings was greeted with dismay from at least board member.
“To me, he should not be liaison,” board member Tonya Rigdon said.
Mayor Mike Cherry, liaison for the lodgers tax board, said he wasn’t previously aware of Lopez’s absences.
“This is news to me,” he said.
After the city commission meeting Thursday, Lopez said he was unable to attend Tucumcari MainStreet board meetings due to work commitments.
“I’ve got to eat,” he said. “I’ve got to pay the bills; I’ve got to work.”
The board recommended use of the lodgers funds for MainStreet, and the city commission the next day approved them.
Loveland also informed the lodgers board it would reallocate $3,500 in lodgers tax funds to improve a car show during the organization’s Fired Up festival in September.
Tucumcari MainStreet had applied for a cost-share state grant with New Mexico Tourism for a social media campaign, but was turned down. Loveland said she wanted to use those funds for the car show instead.
The board voted to approve to recommend the use of funds for the Tucumcari MainStreet contract and the allocation of previously awarded funds to the Fired Up car show.
In other business:
— The board recommended the use of $5,000 in promotional lodgers tax funds for a Mesalands Community College golf tournament on July 26-28.
Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course manager Charlie Maciel said the funds would be used to buy trophies and other prizes at the tournament. The event helps fund scholarships at Mesalands.
The board previously had approved $3,500 in executive lodgers funds for the tournament, which Maciel hopes will draw 40 to 50 teams.
Board Chairman Matt Bednorz and board member Lila Doughty voted to approve, but they said the application lacked information on how the funds would be used. Maciel apologized for the oversight.
— City manager Paula Chacon said she would check to see whether Flying J’s fees for truckers staying overnight in its truck stop was legal.
She said the truck stop typically receives $600 to $700 a month in such fees.
Doughty noted she once counted 17 trucks parked in Logan overnight because of the lack of truck stop there. Rigdon said at least one party has expressed interest in acquiring land along Route 66 so trucks could park overnight.
— Chacon said the city needs to look at its capital improvement fund for the Tucumcari Convention Center.
She said she recently received a quote of about $86,000 to replace four air conditioning units there. Chacon said more lodgers tax funding for maintenance of the center “is something we need to look at.”
— Chacon noted the July 4 fireworks show cost $11,000. She said the city receives a $3,000 contribution from the Tucumcari Elks Lodge for the show and possibly $1,000 from the county. The rest will be covered by lodgers tax executive funds.
— During board member comments, Al Patel said criticized the “lack of follow-through” by some event organizers to take photos of award winners. He said such images could be posted online and provide publicity for Tucumcari events.
— Patel said the more than $700,000 in lodgers tax funds generated annually comes from $15 million in business. He asked the board and the city what they are doing to maintain that revenue in future years, particularly along the busiest exits along First Street and East Route 66. “We need to make sure those exits are clean” and inviting to travelers, he said.
— Rigdon asked for pedestrian crosswalks at stoplights on Route 66, plus Main, First and Fourth streets. She said the need for such crosswalks is particularly significant on First Street near Interstate 40, which contains a concentration of hotels and restaurants.
— Doughty said the city needs to advertise more in Texas about Tucumcari’s attractions, especially visitors from Dallas.