County acts to finish design on new hospital

Quay County Commissioners on Monday approved a fee proposal to finish the final 10% of the design for a new Dr. Daniel C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari.

The proposal from Arizona-based Stantec Engineering would cover drawings, permits and bidding to replace the nearly 60-year-old hospital.

According to county documents, the total cost would about $1.855 million. County manager Daniel Zamora said he would use $1.1 million in federal American Rescue Act coronavirus relief funds for the project.

"It will be 100% designed," Zamora said of the new hospital.

The commission also approved a preliminary architectural feasibility report and an environmental report for the project, which cost a total of about $24,000.

After the meeting, Zamora said he was prompted to move forward in finishing the design for the hospital because the county faced a deadline to use the federal coronavirus funds.

He also said the county faces a possible June deadline to spend $10 million in state money allocated for the hospital. Zamora said it's possible the state could grant an extension to spend the money, but it's not guaranteed.

"I think we were at the point of no return," he said. "We've got to get this done."

The county has applied for a grant-loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for another $20 million for the hospital. It's unknown when the USDA would approve it, but Zamora said the commission's move to finish the design work, plus the feasibility and environmental reports, strengthens its application to the agency.

Zamora said the new hospital could go out to bid by July.

Trigg Memorial Hospital is due for replacement because its plumbing, electrical and other systems are deteriorating and out of code.

In other business:

- Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, asked the county to be the fiscal agent for a forthcoming $1.7 million state grant for the second phase of the Great Blocks Program in downtown Tucumcari.

She said the City of Tucumcari for now cannot be the agent because of a late audit.

According to officials, the city's auditor was acquired by another firm, and it has no timeline when the audit report would be finished. The city's finance department also has experienced turnover in the past year or so.

Zamora said it is possible for the county to serve as a fiscal agent for Tucumcari MainStreet, and commissioners voiced support for such an arrangement.

"We need to step in," Brian Fortner said. "It's too important to let it slide."

- Commissioners approved Zamora's proposal to hire a full-time grant/asset manager position.

Zamora said his administrative office was "at capacity" and is handling millions of dollars in grants each year.

"We have an unprecedented amount of grant money coming into the county, and I don't want it to slip through the cracks," he said.

He said the position also would create an inventory of the county's assets, as recommended by a previous audit.

Zamora said the position would be paid $45,000 to $65,000 a year, depending on experience. He said his office was $100,000 under budget in spending.

- Commissioners approved the purchase of an automatic CPR machine and an bed lift for Forrest EMS for about $64,000. County fire marshal Lucas Bugg said grants would cover most of the cost.

Bugg also reported the state will fund three of eight county fire-protection requests for a total of about $1.27 million.

- Brenda Bishop of the Quay County Health Council gave the organization's annual report via a video on the commission's large-screen TV.

Since the council formed in 1992, it has leveraged over $28 million in services, including $225,000 in fiscal-year 2025, Bishop said.

Bishop said about $90,000 in state funding is coming for FY2025, though money from the legislature is erratic. Health councils are petitioning the state to give more consistent allocation amounts each year.

She said the council's goal this fiscal year is to increase residents' knowledge about anxiety, coping skills and when to seek professional help.

- Emergency manager Bill Kardokus told commissioners about the county joining a new regional emergency planning committee with Union and Harding counties at no cost. He said one of its main purposes is to alert the public about hazardous-materials problems.

- Commissioners approved reports and invoices from August and September for the Quay County Family Health Center. Director Angie Coburn said the reports were late due to the departure of Renee Hayoz to become the City of Tucumcari's city manager.

Coburn also introduced Stephanie Newcomb as the clinic's new administrator.

- Commissioners approved annual agreements with the USDA's wildlife services for pest control, mostly coyotes and feral hogs.

- Commissioners approved resolutions of budgetary increases to reflect fire protection grants received for District 3, Nara Visa, Bard-Ended, Porter and the county fire marshal.

Commissioners also approved a resolution for a state grant agreement so the county could update its comprehensive plan.

- Despite blading 110 miles of county roads in the past month, road superintendent Stephen Salas said his department didn't do as much as he would have liked due to worker illnesses.

Salas, however, said all projects for FY2025 are complete but one.

- In routine year-end matters, commissioners approved an Open-Meetings Act resolution, meeting schedule, holiday schedule and board appointees for 2025.

- Commissioners declined to act on an elected officials salary adjustment. Commissioner Jerri Rush called a proposal "wildly inappropriate."

- Zamora reported a year-high $470,000 in gross receipts tax revenue in the most recent period, which he attributed to construction of the One9 truck stop in Tucumcari. He said most months this fiscal year saw healthy GRT revenue of $350,000 or more.

- Commissioners approved indigent medical claims totaling $1,103.41 for December.

- During public comments, county assessor Dana Leonard introduced his successor, Jefferson Byrd, who defeated him in the November election.

"We're all excited to work together," Leonard said of Byrd.

Dallas Dowell, who defeated Robert Lopez in the election for the District 1 commissioner seat, also sat in the gallery during the meeting.

New county officers will be sworn in on Jan. 6.

- David Brenner said he and other parties want access to the long-closed Caprock Amphitheater south of San Jon to see what is salvageable there.