City picks new District 4 commissioner

The Tucumcari City Commission last Tuesday chose Clayton Thorne as its newest District 4 representative from three who applied, including a former commissioner.

Before the vote, Mayor Mike Cherry said the three were "really good candidates." The others were former District 4 commissioner Christopher Arias and Krishana Sandoval, a manager at Rocky Mountain Cannabis.

After a lengthy silence when Cherry called for a motion for a District 4 representative, Commissioner CJ Oglesby nominated Thorne. Commissioner Jonathan Brito seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Thorne, who watched the proceedings from the commission chambers, smiled broadly after the meeting.

"I think I just have a super-strong work ethic, and I really do love my community," he said.

"The whole thing started for me as when I saw the ad (for the position), and I didn't think anybody was answering. So I thought, 'Man, I'll step up and be proactive in my community.'"

Thorne, who owns the CCMS motorcycle repair shop, previously applied for the District 4 position when Arias resigned for personal reasons in September 2023.

Thorne applied again when Commissioner Renee Hayoz resigned in August so she could become assistant city manager.

When Arias announced on Facebook in August he was applying for the District 4 seat he held, he levied criticism at commissioners for "overreach" and "belittling and berating staff."

Arias also accused commissioners for "stacking city boards with hand-picked allies, further eroding public trust."

In another post in late August, Arias alleged that Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Lopez "promised" the District 4 seat to a female individual.

Sandoval was the only woman who applied, and she wasn't nominated last Tuesday.

Sandoval said Friday she never received any contact with city commissioners before interviews with candidates last month.

Thorne said he also never had contact with commissioners except during interviews and one who had notified him about a change in the date of a commission meeting.

Arias didn't attend last Tuesday's meeting.

District 4 is in the southeast part of the city, with boundaries of Tucumcari Boulevard to the north and much of Third Street to the west.

Action items

- Commissioners approved the final-quarter 2024 financial report and the adoption of the fiscal-year 2025 budget.

City finance director Hallie Ferguson recommended approving the budget as soon as possible and that adjustments can be made after its submission to the state Department of Finance and Administration.

Without a budget, Ferguson said the city was at risk of jeopardizing $2.87 million in state funding, including grant waivers and capital outlay awards.

The FY2025 budget projects a year-end cash balance of more than $2.8 million. City manager Paula Chacon said last month due to several years of conservative spending, the city has an estimated surplus of nearly $11 million.

Ferguson said the city still was reconciling its books and that an exit conference with the auditor for the 2023 audit was two weeks away.

On a related note, the commission approved an audit contract with Clifton, Larson, Allen LLP for FY2023.

Clifton, Larson, Allen acquired the city's previous auditor, Axiom, earlier this year. The new contract came with no additional cost to the city.

- Commissioners approved a $42,601.52 agreement with the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging.

Tucumcari Senior Center program director Clara Rey said $33,475.52 from the pilot program would be used for lawn-care services for senior citizens who need the help.

The other $9,126 would be for an activities coordinator and activities for seniors.

- Commissioners approved an application for $71,250 in annual Youth Conservation Corps funding.

Project manager Darlene Hines said projects being considered are updating sprinkler systems at Wailes and Kvols parks and painting the Del Norte Center. Hayoz also recommended improving the city's parking lots.

The funding requires a 10% match, or $7,125, that can be paid through in-kind work by city supervisors or the human relations department.

- Commissioners approved hiring Gray Digital Media of Amarillo to be the city's tourism marketer. (See other story in this edition.)

Reports, comments

On behalf of an absent city manager Paula Chacon, Hayoz presented her report.

- Hayoz said the city would use state Co-op and MAP funds to resurface part of Fourth Street downtown after the New Mexico Department of Transportation turned down other funding.

- Hayoz said the Quay Apartments now has five Dumpsters instead of three, and the receptacles will be emptied three times a week instead of two.

Nearby homeowners had complained of apartment residents using their Dumpsters when the complex's trash receptacles were full.

- Hayoz said a storm pump failed at Maple Avenue and Fourth Street, but the city's other drainage systems performed well during recent heavy rains.

- Hayoz said Tyler Technologies turned down a request for in-person training on its system and is offering instruction via Zoom videoconference. Lopez and Cherry said the city should press Tyler into offering in-person training.

- Hayoz said NMDOT turned down a request to use Route 66 for a drag-racing event in 2025 and 2026. (See other story in this edition.)

- Andrea McNeely, campaign manager No Minor Sale, gave a presentation on preventing nicotine addiction among youth.

She said flavored nicotine products cause children to be hooked on the substance. McNeely said some retailers fail to check identifications during the sale of nicotine products, or adults buy them for teens.

- During public comments, Al Patel praised city commissioners for their hard work for their districts but said the commission and city manager need to work together.

"Opportunity is at our doorstep," Patel said.