County OKs measures to regulate cellular facilities

The Quay County Commission on Monday approved an ordinance and two resolutions regarding the regulation of wireless telecommunications facilities.

The measures were facilitated in recent months by Wireless Tower Solutions, which has an office in Albuquerque.

One resolution set fees for wireless facilities, which will be split between Wireless Tower Solutions and the county.

Fees would range from $1,500 for updates to cellular towers to $17,500 for a new tower. Fees for small wireless facilities would range from $100 to $750 for each site.

Another resolution set guidelines for wireless facilities, including design standards and historic district requirements.

During presentations at previous commission meetings, WTS chief training and technology officer Dean Williamson said it would ensure that new cellular towers would confirm to the area’s character and appearance. The company primarily serves counties with smaller populations.

Williamson said such regulations are needed because he anticipates many new 5G towers would be erected, especially in rural areas.

In other business:

— Commissioners approved a New Mexico Department of Transportation grant agreement to repair a section of Quay Road AR south of Highway 104 for $344,676.15. It included a match waiver request that would save the county $17,233.81.

— Commissioners approved an update to its comprehensive plan facilitated by Sites Southwest of Albuquerque, which held public hearings in all the county’s cities and villages. Commissioners suggested a few minor changes to the document before their vote. The plan helps guide future decision making in the county.

— Commissioners approved a professional services contract through June 2028 with Presbyterian Medical Services to run the Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari.

On a related note, county manager Daniel Zamora said he was pursuing a state rural healthcare funds to have the clinic offer dental services. He said Dr. Matthew Pacheco provides dental services in Tucumcari, but he often is booked months in advance.

— Dean Hodges, a rural Quay County resident, complained about the lack of repairs on a southern section of Quay Road AI since it was washed out in June 2023.

Road superintendent Stephen Salas and Salas responded that a gate is blocking public access to the road.

After some back and forth, Hodges said he would install a cattle guard to replace the gate if Kelly McFarland does the same at another gate in the road.

Later, during his regular report, Salas said his department “probably will make more people mad” because the county will be stricter in following road-access rules.

“I’m just trying to follow what’s legal,” he said.

— County Clerk Ellen White swore in new sheriff’s deputies Julian Vargas and Joe Schallert Jr.

Sheriff Dennis Garcia said both are Tucumcari High School graduates, and Schallert is the son of a former sheriff here.

— Commissioners recognized former Quay County Detention Center administrator Johnny Reid, who recently retired after 25 years with the county.

— Commissioners approved resolutions of increases of $88,000 to the general fund for election costs and cybersecurity, a $177,032.23 increase to the road fund for road and bridge projects and a $94,000 increase to the fire protection fund for equipment and machinery in Porter.

Samantha Salas, finance director, said all involved funds from the previous fiscal year being rolled over to the current fiscal year.

— Bill Kardokus, the county’s emergency manager, gave his quarterly report. He said the county recently reinstated its monthly testing with the federal Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, and he attended trainings on active-shooter situations.

He and Zamora said they were looking encouraging the use of a Rave Alert mass-notification system at the San Jon and Tucumcari school districts. The Logan and House districts already use it.

Zamora said the system probably saved lives during a recent school shooting in Georgia.

— Zamora said the county saw more than $341,000 in gross receipts tax revenue for a third straight month. He attributed part of the increase to construction of the One9 truck stop in Tucumcari and a wind farm in southern Quay County.

— Zamora said the county moved its information technology service from Plateau Telecommunications to Park Place Technologies “with a few hiccups.”

He said Plateau, which was phasing out its IT service, would continue to provide internet and phone service to the county.

— Zamora said he was aiming to hold an auction of surplus equipment on Oct. 19 at the county fairgrounds.