County approves hiring of IT firm

The Quay County Commission last week approved the hiring of a information technology company that will serve the county and the regional emergency dispatch center.

Park Place Technologies will be paid $55,020 a year, plus a onetime $4,000 onboarding fee, to supply IT service for the county and 911 center, according to county documents.

The two entities will split the cost.

The 911 board during a meeting the previous week recommended approval of the split. The county’s 911 service had budgeted $15,000 a year for IT service, but county manager Daniel Zamora had noted it had plenty of cash carryover to cover the additional cost.

Plateau Telecommunications is the current IT provider for the county and 911 center, but it is due to phase out that part of its services. Plateau also provides internet and phone service for the county.

In other business:

— Commissioners approved a $10 million state grant agreement to help build a new Dr. Daniel C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari.

The grant was issued during the state legislature’s session earlier this year.

The county also is applying for $20 million in federal funding for the hospital project.

— Road superintendent Stephen Salas said chip-sealing was complete on Quay Roads 63 and 64.5, with crews hauling chips for Quay Road 96 and Quay Road AI for a chip seal. Nearly a half-mile of Evans Avenue has been prepared for chip-sealing.

Zamora said the New Mexico Department of Transportation received approval from Union Pacific Railroad to begin engineering work to install automatic crossing arms at Quay Road AI near U.S. 54.

— Angie Coburn, a member of the advisory board for the Quay County Family Health Center, expressed concerns about the lack of dental accessibility for area children, mainly the non-insured.

Pacheco Family Dentistry is booked daily, with the need for additional services in the county. Coburn asked the county to stay abreast of any grants that might be available for another dental facility.

— Commissioners approved a $17,000 budgetary increase of $17,000 for employee training.

— Commissioners approved a $300,000 budgetary increase in gross receipts tax for the Bard-Endee Fire District.

— Commissioners approved $14,009.38 in indigent health claims.

— A community workshop to review and provide input for the county’s comprehensive plan is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 31 at the fairgrounds.