City may aid spay-neuter clinic to keep it low cost

Two animal-welfare organizations are planning another low-cost spay-neuter clinic in Tucumcari next month, and city government is looking for a way to contribute financially to that effort.

Kathi McClelland, president of Paws & Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County, and two representatives from RezDawg Rescue discussed options with city commissioners during a work session on Jan. 13.

Paws & Claws and RezDawg hosted a clinic in November at the Tucumcari shelter and spayed or neutered more than 300 animals in the area.

McClelland said they hoped to hold another spay-neuter clinic for up to 350 animals from Feb. 27 through March 2 at the city-owned Del Norte Center, but the facility was not available during that period. She said she tentatively booked the Exposition Center at the Quay County Fairgrounds instead.

McClelland and RezDawg founder Angela Cerci, appearing by videoconference, requested a $15,000 contribution from the city to help the spay-neuter event remain low-cost for potential clients.

During the previous clinic, the cost was $25 per animal for spaying or neutering, plus microchipping and shots. The November event received a $12,000 grant.

City manager Renee Hayoz doubted a direct payment to the organizations would be feasible due to the state’s anti-donation laws. She said the city also lacks financial reports, and it won’t have a new finance director until this week.

City commissioners, noting the city had lacked an animal control officer for about seven months, suggested using the budgeted money not spent on that position’s salary for the spay-neuter event.

Hayoz said the city instead could use a professional services contract with RezDawg and Paws & Claws or buy supplies for the event.

Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Lopez, seeing stray dogs recently harass a neighbor, suggested increasing the penalties for dog owners who let the animals run loose and divert a portion of those funds to spay-neuter efforts.

McClelland was skeptical of that.

“I don’t know if increasing it is going to do any good because (animal codes) are not enforced,” she said.

Lopez said enforcement needs to be stepped up. Mayor Mike Cherry agreed.

Later, during commissioner comments, Lopez said: “We need to ensure the safety of the public and hire an APO.”

Cherry instructed Hayoz to meet with McClelland and Cerci to work out an arrangement for the February event.

Dealing with loose dogs has become a more acute issue in Tucumcari since the mauling death of Stanley Hartt by a pack of loose dogs in February 2023.

Susan Meany, a veterinarian with RezDawg, stray dogs and cats also are a public health issue.

She noted Tucumcari’s proximity to Texas, which has the highest rate of rabies among domestic animals in the country.

Meany also said feces from stray cats also can cause diseases in humans.

In addition to transferring animals to other shelters, Meany said RezDawg can regularly euthanize dogs for medical or behavioral reasons to help ease crowding at the city kennel.

Business licenses

During the work session, commissioners discussed Tucumcari businesses that have not renewed their city-issued business licenses.

The packet of documents for commissioners included a list of almost 60 businesses that have not paid for their $35 licenses, some of them three or four years overdue. After a March 15 deadline, such licenses are subject to a $10 late fee.

Businesses are three years or more overdue in paying license fees include Golden Dragon Restaurant, Arteformz, TDA Electric and Pinnacle Propane.

Other businesses in arrears include Appliance Connection, Days Inn, Mariposa Enterprises, Rivera’s Kustom Body Shop, Rix Security, Roger Bargas Attorney At Law and TeePee Curios.

Hayoz said the past-due business license fees total about $3,800, down from over $5,000 just a few weeks ago.

City Clerk Angelica Grey said notices for business licenses are sent at the beginning of each calendar year. The city has issued almost 350 licenses.

Cherry said after the fee deadline, a code enforcement officer should issue a citation or summons, though Hayoz said the city’s code enforcement officer resigned just days before.

Police Chief Patti Lopez said if a business owner fails to respond to a summons, an arrest warrant can be issued in occasional instances.

Action items

Action taken by during the regular meeting:

— Commissioners approved an EMS Fund Act application for ambulance service operating costs. Fire Chief Casey Mackey said the application requests $600,000, but he expects $100,000, the same as last year.

— Commissioners approved a first reading of ordinance changes regarding a dress code and social media policy for city employees.

Hayoz said city department heads expressed no concerns about the changes except the dress code. In response, she said workers are allowed to wear city-issued T-shirts instead of heavier uniforms during hot weather.

— Commissioners approved a resolution supporting the city’s transfer of Tucumcari MainStreet’s Great Block on MainStreet $1.7 million grant to Quay County for downtown Main Street work. The county will be the fiscal agent because the city is late in completing its audits.

— Commissioners approved the appointment of William David Absher, Michael Carlson and Kathleen Handy to the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board. Carlson and Absher previously served on the board. One board position remains vacant.

— Commissioners appointed Joanne Thompson and current board member Lila Doughty to the Lodgers Tax Advisory Board. The other applicants for the two open positions were David Brenner and current board member Michael Carlson. Cherry, a liaison for the board, abstained from voting.

— Commissioners approved updated signatories for city financial accounts. They include Cherry, Jerry Lopez, Hayoz and new finance director Lisa Downey. Police Chief Patti Lopez, TPD administrative assistant Cathy Estrada and Police Sgt. Lorenzo Emillio will be signatories for narcotics and police seizure accounts.

— In a routine matter, commissioners approved an annual resolution stating it would conform to the state’s Open Meetings Act.

— Commissioners tabled action on accepting federal Community Development Block Grant supplemental funding of $300,000 to build a new roof for the Tucumcari Recreation Center. Darlene Hiles, project manager, was not present. Commissioners wanted more clarity before acting.

Reports, comments

— During her manager’s report, Hayoz said she received a letter from the state fire marshal’s office stating that $9,419 in purchases by previous fire chief Garrett Nash were not approved, and the money will have to be returned.

Nash resigned in May 2024 after being placed on administrative leave, pending an internal investigation, earlier in the month. He gave no reasons for stepping down.

— Hayoz reported that independent contractor Brenda Rivali has collected $60,000 more from the city ambulance service that last year and actually collected more money than was billed in 2024.

“Maybe she ought to be mayor,” Cherry remarked.

— Hayoz said the city has received two interested parties in its request for proposals to oversee the city’s finances. On a related note, Hayoz announced the hiring of Downey as the city’s new finance director.

— Hayoz said a roofing contractor is performing repairs at Tucumcari Municipal Airport, then will do the police department and convention center. The contractor is fixing damage from a severe hailstorm in May 2023.

— During commissioner comments, Jerry Lopez said lighting at Dunn Park needs to be repaired, calling it “overdue and a safety concern.”

He said the irrigation systems at Dunn and Northside parks need attention, as does Northside’s mulch liners.

— Commissioner CJ Oglesby said an organizer of a Little League district tournament is looking at Tucumcari as a possible site, and the city needs to organize a cleanup of the fields. He said the local Little League program also needs more volunteers.

— Oglesby passed along complaints about potholes in the 1800 and 1900 block of South Sixth Street.

— Oglesby said the convention center parking lot needs to be resealed and restriped.

— He said the new gymnasium floor at the recreation center needs scrubbing to remove scrape marks. Cherry suggested using the convention center’s floor machine.