City may hire engineer to check theater

Tucumcari city commissioners seemed to come to a consensus it needs to hire a structural engineer to determine whether the long-closed Princess Theatre can handle planned facade improvements and other long-term renovations.

Commissioners discussed the Princess Theatre with two members of the venue's task force during a work session Thursday.

Art City owner Matt Monahan, one of the leaders of the Princess Theatre Task Force, said the city has spent about $200,000 to remove lead and asbestos from the theatre and used another $50,000 to hire International Art and Art Support Services to conduct a feasibility study and design possible facade improvements on the theater.

Those actions used up all of a $250,000 capital outlay allocation from 2023.

The theater was due to receive another $135,000 in capital outlay money early this year, though assistant city manager Renee Hayoz said she was unsure whether the state sent those funds.

Monahan said if the facade is renovated, it can be used as a light-projection site during festivals and other events, especially during Route 66's centennial in 2026.

The theater's front offices, once renovated, can be used for two retail spaces to generate rental revenue.

Long-term, Monahan said the city can use a series of capital outlay allocations and incremental improvements to eventually reopen it as a 700-seat venue.

Mayor Mike Cherry recommended the task force obtain "ballpark estimates" on how much an engineering study on the Princess would cost.

Monahan agreed an engineer's assessment is needed to ensure the building can accept future facade improvements and renovations.

He said the task force would schedule town halls to gather input from residents about which facade improvements they would prefer.

Designs from the firm were inspired by the theater's original Art Deco facade, automotive culture, celestial bodies, geological formations such as Tucumcari Mountain and Tucumcari's railroad history.

If an engineer determines the theater is in decent shape, Monahan said the task force would prepare for bids and contracts for the facade improvements and prepare for a new request for capital outlay funds.

The Princess Theatre has been closed since the early 1960s. The theater received a new roof in 2017 to help slow its deterioration.

The Princess' front appears pockmarked after the recent removal of asbestos-laden adhesive pucks that once once attached black tile.

Also during the work session, Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Lopez instructed Hayoz to contact state Sen. Pete Campos about a possible special appropriation so the city could host a drag-racing event on west Route 66 in late 2025 and 2026.

The city also needs clearance from the New Mexico Department of Transportation for the events.

Campos, during a recent visit to Quay County Democratic Party headquarters in Tucumcari, signaled he could help the city put on the event.

Lopez said the city would need to obtain barriers for the races, plus install a special surface on the pavement for the event.

The work session initially was slated as a discussion to possibly add the drag-racing funding request to the city's annual Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan, but Cherry and other area officials were against that.

The Eastern Plains Council of Governments also said it would be "uncommon" to change the list after it had been submitted to the state.

Cherry said he was against adding something to the ICIP to the detriment of obtaining funds for a badly needed second water line to the city's north side.

The Tucumcari drag-racing event would be patterned after the popular Kingman Route 66 Street Drags in Kingman, Arizona.

Action items

- Commissioners approved a $3,905.75 monthly lease for five years with 4Rivers Equipment of Albuquerque for a new loader for the landfill.

Tomas Gallegos said purchasing a new loader would have cost nearly $260,000. He said renting one would cost $8,296 a month, not counting transportation costs.

Gallegos said he recommended the lease. He said 4Rivers would replace it in case of a breakdown. He said the city would be required to perform only basic maintenance.

Gallegos said loaders generally need to be replaced every 10 years. He said the landfill's current loader is 20 years old.

Hayoz said if the city wished to purchase the loader after the lease ends, it would cost $110,000.

Though Lopez advocated for a spending freeze due to the city's uncertain finances, he said keeping the landfill open was important. He asked staff to check on the condition of other equipment at the landfill.

Cherry asked city officials to report back on the estimated remaining lifespan of the landfill's current cell. Gallegos said in a previous meeting the previous cell filled up faster than expected because of a suboptimal compactor.

- Commissioners approved a $69,048.61 engineering proposal to repair a portion of Fourth Street near Main Street.

Stantec engineering would oversee bidding and construction management, project manager Ralph Lopez said. He added the city has about $464,000 available from two state grants for the project.

He said the city failed to land another state transportation grant, but engineering would be done on Third Street near Main so it could be "shovel-ready" for funding next year.

Ralph Lopez mentioned that reconstructing city streets requires about $1 million per block.

- Commissioners approved a resolution allowing the city manager to be the designated signatory for all agreements and contracts up to $20,000, excluding gross receipts tax. The previous level was $10,000.

Hayoz said due to inflation, it was becoming increasingly difficult to have contracts or purchases under the old threshold.

City Clerk Angelica Gray noted the any purchase over $2,500 by department heads must go through a process, including two quotes.

Jerry Lopez, while voting for the resolution, again said he wanted a spending freeze due to the city's fiscal uncertainty. Cherry agreed.

- Commissioners approved a $521.98 monthly agreement with Sun Vista Outdoors for a billboard to advertise the municipal golf course. The term is for 31 months, and the design is scheduled to be in place by Dec. 1.

The billboard is at mile marker 236 on eastbound Interstate 40, near Flying C Ranch.

- Commissioners appointed fellow commissioner CJ Oglesby to serve on the C.W. and Dee McMullen Community Foundation board.

- Commissioners approved the city employee calendar for 2025.

Reports, comments

During the city manager's report, Hayoz thanked Quay County for helping clear a street to Five Mile Park and its shooting range, the latter which is often used by local law enforcement.

- Hayoz said the Just Scapin' It landscaping firm donated its services to help clean up around the Tucumcari Recreation Center.

- She said Christmas decorations would be installed on light poles in the next few weeks, though she noted eight or nine of the lighted ones and about 20 of the banners needed replacing.

- During commissioner comments, Lopez said he wanted code enforcement to check on trash and overgrown weeds at properties at North First and North Second streets. Mayor Mike Cherry asked whether owners were notified before the city takes action.

Lopez also asked the police department increase patrols on the north side of town because of speeders on the Highway 104 overpass, especially with children at Northside Park and apartment buildings.

- During public comments, Bobby Hockaday said the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce would put on its Christmas Light Parade at 6 p.m. Nov. 30. He said the route would start on Lake Street and East Tucumcari Boulevard, turn north onto Second Street and end at the railroad depot.

Hockaday said the chamber also would organize Small Business Saturday activities at that time.

Commissioner Jonathan Brito added that Santa Claus would make an appearance from 1 to 2 p.m. that day at the depot.