Agenda
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Minutes City Commission Meeting February 10, 2005 The Tucumcari City Commission met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, February 10, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. Members present constituting a quorum included Christopher Maestas, Bettie Ditto, Antonio Apodaca and Mary Mayfield. City staff present at the meeting was Richard Primrose, Rachel Hicklin, Marty Garcia, Clara Rey, Mike Cherry, Yvette Fazekas, Mark Radosevich, Doug Powers, Lisa Andrada, Elaine Pacheco, Frances Lopez, Jenny Mullenix, Ramona Baca and Florence Quintana. Approval of Minutes A motion for approval of the January 27, 2005 minutes was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Maestas. Roll Call: Ditto Apodaca Mayfield Maestas Yes Yes Yes Yes Approval of Vouchers A motion for approval of the vouchers presented for payment was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Maestas. Roll Call Apodaca Mayfield Maestas Ditto Yes Yes Yes Yes New Business Mayor Mayfield called on Finance Director Marty Garcia to give the Finance Department presentation. Marty advised that his report would be a two part report on the Finance Department and the budget. Marty then reported on the Finance Department operations and responsibilities and introduced the Finance Department staff and advised the Commission of what their job titles and job responsibilities were. He advised that they have recently received a new accounts receivable program which will help to integrate a lot of the information and will also allow them to keep track of aged accounts. He reported that the Finance Department is currently using an AS400 computer operating system, which is approximately seven years old and will need to be replaced soon. Commissioner Ditto questioned if the City had a complete fixed asset inventory of our buildings. She then questioned how the insurance valuations were established and whether the insurance was based upon replacement or depreciated value. Marty advised that the City does have an inventory of our buildings and equipment. A new listing has been given to Department Heads and they will review the inventory to make sure that all items are properly inventoried and to assure that new items have been added and items that they no longer have are deleted. City Manager Primrose advised that staff estimates what the value of the equipment and buildings are. In addition staff keeps an inventory of all of our vehicles and equipment to assure that the items are properly insured. City Manager Primrose went on to say that the insurance on the buildings and some equipment is based upon replacement values. Commissioner Apodaca gave the following example on the wage scale and asked if this was occurring today: “If letter X takes 20 years to make $20.00 and today under the present scale, Y comes in, and it takes him or her one year to make $20.00”. City Manager Primrose advised that the last wage scale that was done, it looks at experience and longevity in order to evaluate what somebody should be paid. Commissioner Apodaca questioned if the wage scale needs to be looked at since a person with less experience can come in and earn the same amount as a person with twenty years experience. City Manager Primrose replied that if it is someone who is doing the same job, then they would not make the same amount as the person who has been working twenty years. Commissioner Ditto questioned if the City was receiving the maximum amount that we can on our investments and checking accounts from the banks. Marty advised that all of the City’s investments are in local banks, and they are required to pay the minimum amount set by the State. Mayor Mayfield questioned if the City had looked into the State investment pool to see if we could get a better interest rate on our money. Marty advised that several years ago, the Commission passed the allowance to be able to do that, however through management it was decided that the investments should be kept locally as it helps our local banks. He added that since the interest rates have been so low, that we would not gain that much by participating in the State investment pool. Mayor Mayfield commented that it is hard for someone running for election to use the words, that we are probably doing as well as we probably could, without being able to say in Tucumcari we can get this rate and if we went with the State pool we can get this rate. Mayor Mayfield then asked that Marty check the rates of interest and advise the Commission of what those rates are so that the Commission can be able to say that our local banks are within a certain percentage of what the State investment pool is paying. If the rates are quite a bit over that, then it would make a difference in our reserves, and we might have to look at what we are doing with our money to make sure we are being good stewards of the City’s money. Marty advised that based upon One Hundred Thousand Dollars per year investment, the City might generate an extra One Hundred Dollars per year in the States investment pool. Marty then advised the Commission that Gary Gaylord should be here to work on our audit beginning on February 22nd. Marty then gave the mid-year budget report for fiscal year 2004/2005. Marty reported that lodger’s tax revenue was coming in a little higher than projected, with sixty-six percent of the projected revenue being received to date. In the EMS fund, there were some billing changes, which caused us to fall back in our billing. He added that our cash is up again and the billing has increased the last few months to approximately Fifty to Sixty Thousand Dollars per month. Currently the accounts receivable for ambulance is approximately Five Hundred Thousand Dollars. Followed was discussion regarding collections of the amounts owed as well as the projected percentage that would be received based upon the amounts billed. City Manager Primrose advised that the person who is under contract with the City bills the individuals or insurance companies. If the person does not have insurance and is a self pay and payment has not been received after a certain period of time, then a follow up statement is sent and if they do not pay, then a letter is sent by our Attorney. City Manager Primrose went on to say that after adjustments are made by the insurance companies and Medicare or Medicaid, then the City will receive around fifty-eight percent of the amount billed. Marty then reported that the gas tax is coming in lower than projected, and the gross receipts tax in the general fund has come in as projected with fifty percent of the projected revenue being received. He added that the City has only received thirty percent of the property taxes from the County and this amount should be at fifty percent. Commissioner Apodaca questioned why staff has not checked with the County to see why they have not remitted the property taxes owed. He then questioned what the one-twelfth reserve requirement was. Marty advised that they would follow up with the County on the tax amount due. He went on to say that the reserve requirement for the City is Two Hundred Eighty-three Thousand Two Hundred Seventy-six Dollars, with the current cash balance at Eighty-four Thousand Dollars. He added that there are still amounts owed to the City from the Housing Authority as well as administrative fees that have not been transferred to the general fund. Marty reported that one of the reasons the reserve account was at this level was due to the large insurance bills that were paid out in November. Marty went on to say that the overall expenses in the general fund have been decreased, which is how the one-twelfth reserve would be made up. Currently Departments have to maintain all services and equipment with less money and more expenses. Commissioner Apodaca questioned what was being done to make up for gross receipts tax revenue that was lost when the tax was removed from food. He added that he applauds the Governor and State Legislature for removing the food tax. Marty advised that the State raised the gross receipts tax to help off set the loss of the food tax. Mayor Mayfield questioned how close we were to getting the cash reserves back to our reserve requirement. Marty advised that this should be recovered before the end of the fiscal year. Commissioner Apodaca commented that there are some employees who have not received a raise in three or four years and asked if they are looking at giving a raise to employees who are earning around Eight Dollars per hour as their insurance and the cost of living has gone up. He went on to say that for years he has been talking about attrition but for some reason, it has not happened. In his point of view through attrition, it would be easier to do this without anyone getting hurt rather than doing a reduction in force. Commissioner Apodaca went on to say that somewhere down the line somebody didn’t hear because about three or four years ago, he crossed the gray line between micro managing and not micro managing by proposing and making a motion to implement a hiring freeze. He added that he has been trying for some time to bring those expenses down and for some reason he has not been heard. After looking at the insurance expenses going up, we have some employees that need some type of financial help. He added that he still sees position advertisements in the newspaper for positions in the general fund and feels that more responsibility should be delegated to the existing workers. City Manager Primrose advised that for the first five months of this fiscal year, the salaries were down by Thirty Thousand Dollars. Commissioner Apodaca commented that he understands that, however he would bet that most of the budget is in the administration part. Finance Director Marty Garcia advised that three years ago the salaries were reduced through attrition by almost One Hundred Thousand Dollars. He explained that in the 2001/2002 fiscal year, the salaries shown were prior to taking over EMS, and the 2002/2003 fiscal year included salaries for the EMS Department. The salaries overall were reduced by One Hundred Eighteen Thousand Dollars from last fiscal year to this fiscal year. Mayor Mayfield questioned how many employees the City had now, and what the average salary was for administrative and non-administrative employees. City Manager Primrose advised that the City currently employees about one hundred twenty-one employees. He added that he did not have the information on the average salaries right now, however he could get the information together. City Manager Primrose went on to say that he has reduced the number of employees even though we have another department. He added that one of the first things that has been done is the reduction in the work force. Commissioner Apodaca commented that he can see that, however not in the administration department. City Manager Primrose advised that when the Streets & Sanitation Director resigned, Max Jimenez stepped up and is now the Department Head for the Parks, Cemetery, Streets and Sanitation Departments. By doing this, it cuts one more employee from the general fund. Commissioner Apodaca commented that he commends the City Manager for this, however he has said for years that there are too many department heads, and has said that maybe there should be two assistant City Managers to run the whole city. Commissioner Ditto questioned if the Municipal League might be able to guide us as to where we might be out of line in our salary structure. Mayor Mayfield advised that for many years, she has advocated doing desk audits where audits are done on personnel to see if we have the right people in the right place with the right training, and to assist those people in getting the training they need so that we can give them the salary that they need. She added that there is a company in Arizona that does this, at a cost of Twelve Thousand Dollars. Mayor Mayfield said that usually they cannot find the money during budget to do this, however it might be something that could be looked at during budget time. Commissioner Maestas commented that he would agree with Commissioner Apodaca as there are some people in the City who get paid more than the people who are doing the actual work. He added that he knows that there are several employees who qualify for food stamps. Commissioner Maestas went on to say that whatever they are looking at, we should compensate the employees who do the actual work. There are some employees who make Eighteen to Twenty Dollars per hour and in his opinion they don’t do as much work as the guy who is out there in the frozen ice, they are in here in a nice warm place and earn three times more than those employees. Finance Director Garcia commented that he does understand the physical aspect of those jobs and they do a tremendous job. He added that you also have to deal with the mental aspect of the job as they are under a tremendous amount of stress. In a physical job, a person can go out and dig his hole and when he goes home he can drink a beer or whatever and not worry about it. Other employees who do the non-physical jobs have to worry about their jobs and they go to sleep with it and they have the major responsibility that goes along with that job. Mayor Mayfield commented that she agrees with what Commissioner Ditto has said numerous times, rather than just give straight across the board raises we need to have good job descriptions and evaluations so that we know we are evaluating for good work done. Mayor Mayfield then commended Marty for his staff and the work that they do as every time she has been at City Hall, they are all working and are all helping each other. She added that she has a concern about someone that comes in when they are angry and is glad to know that there is emergency back up for them. Ordinances & Resolutions Mayor Mayfield called on Yvette to present Resolution 2005-03 – A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COMMISSION, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO REQUESTING PARTICIPATION IN THE 2005/2006 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM AND ASSURING THAT SUFFICIENT LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. Yvette advised that this Resolution would allow them to request participation in the 2005/2006 cooperative agreement program for street improvements. The first option would be for paving Sixth Street from Gamble to Charles Street for an estimated project cost of One Hundred Forty-two Thousand Three Hundred Seventeen Dollars and fifty-seven cents. The City cost for this would be an in-kind match of Fifty-four Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-eight Dollars and seventy-six cents which would be the cost to mill and remove the existing asphalt. The second option would be for paving Aber, Laughlin, High, Center, McGee and Hancock Streets from First Street to Adams Street. The project cost would be One Hundred Nine Thousand Four Hundred Seventy-three Dollars and twenty-four cents. The City in-kind match on this project would be Forty-seven Thousand One Hundred Fifteen Dollars and thirty-two cents. A motion for approval of Resolution 2005-03 was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Maestas. Roll Call: Mayfield Maestas Ditto Apodaca Yes Yes Yes Yes Mayor Mayfield requested that staff look at Dehoney Street as it is a dirt street and is also a through street. She added that this street might be used as a by-pass during the First Street project. Mayor Mayfield called on Yvette to present Resolution 2005-04 – A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COMMISSION, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO REQUESTING PARTICIPATION IN THE 2005/2006 MUNICIPAL ARTERIAL PROGRAM AND ASSURING THAT SUFFICIENT LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. Yvette advised that this Resolution will allow them to request participation in the MAP program for street improvements on Adams Street from Tucumcari Blvd to Main Street and Rock Island from Tucumcari Blvd. to Main Street. The total project cost on Adams Street would be One Hundred Thirty-eight Thousand Three Dollars and thirty-four cents with a City in-kind match of Fifty-two Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-nine Dollars and seventy-three cents. Rock Island Street cost would be One Hundred Sixty-one Thousand Five Hundred Six Dollars and ninety-two cents, with a City in-kind match of Fifty-nine Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-three Dollars and seventy-three cents. A motion for approval of Resolution 2005-04 was made by Commissioner Maestas and seconded by Commissioner Apodaca. Roll Call: Maestas Ditto Apodaca Mayfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Mayor Mayfield then called on Yvette to present Resolution 2005-05 – A RESOLUTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM LITTER AND BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM APPLICATION. Yvette advised that this grant if approved will allow them to hire youth groups to pickup litter and trash in and around our community including alleys and highways. She added that this grant will also include funding for graffiti removal. She added that she is requesting funds in the amount of Five Thousand Six Hundred Dollars for youth employment and Five Thousand Six Hundred Dollars for local government use which can be used to buy the equipment needed for weed removal such as lawn mowers and rakes. In addition paint and rollers would be purchased for use by the youth for graffiti removal. Mayor Mayfield questioned if the funds could be used to purchase some type of steam machine for removal of graffiti. Yvette advised that there is a power washer that can be purchased for removal of graffiti, however with this grant you can not spend over One Thousand Dollars per equipment item. A motion for approval of Resolution 2005-05 was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Maestas. Roll Call: Maestas Ditto Apodaca Mayfield Yes Yes Yes Yes City Managers Report City Manager Primrose thanked Marty for his presentation. He then congratulated Marty and Doug for being elected to the School Board. City Manager Primrose advised that next Monday, the City Commission is scheduled to be on the County Commission agenda to discuss the possibility of having a gross receipts tax for EMS and for the consolidated dispatch. He then invited any Commissioners that would like to attend the meeting on Monday beginning at 9:00 a.m. City Manager Primrose advised that a Regional Water Plan meeting was held on Monday, which is the five county plan for Harding, Union, Curry, Roosevelt and Quay County. He added that they are continuing on with this plan to look at our inventory, water rights and population which will be done before too long. He went on to report that they also met with the Interstate Streams Commission on Tuesday and Wednesday, and they are going to do a Joint Powers Agreement with Logan, Quay County, ISC and Tucumcari to do the Ute Lake Master Plan. City Manager Primrose announced that Max Jimenez has been appointed as the Streets & Sanitation Superintendent in conjunction with his position as Parks & Cemetery Superintendent. Mr. Primrose advised that Economic Development Director Pete Kampfer would be moving his office to the Convention Center Territorial Building. He added that the Municipal Court offices have now been moved to City Hall, with court being conducted in the City Commission chambers. City Manager Primrose advised that Doug had a meeting with Souder Miller for the two projects and also met with Versatile on the co-op. He then asked Doug to give the Commission an update on this. Doug advised that everything is coming right along on the lift station and everything has been submitted to the Construction Programs Division for their review and after their review, they will be ready to go out to bid on this project. On the wastewater treatment plant they are coming along, and Xcel Energy has gone in and installed their wiring and transformer. When the electricians are ready, they will be able to go in and switch the electrical over which will give Versatile an opportunity to pull out the other screw pumps and insert the new pumps. Commissioner Ditto questioned if we have received our permit for the new landfill. City Manager Primrose advised that we have not received the permit, however we do have specific dates and once it is deemed complete we will have public hearings in March. Items from Citizens Vicki Belisle spoke with regard to the airport hangar leases that were being proposed and advised that she felt that a sixty-three percent increase in the rent was too much and asked that the Commission consider changing the rent to $144.00 per year. She then questioned if it was FAA that was requiring the million dollar policy on the airport hangars. City Manager Primrose advised that the City was the one requiring the insurance amount. He added that other municipalities that have a similar setup also require the same amount of insurance. He added that the contract that we used was based upon a sample contract from FAA. Stanley Jennings spoke with regard to the airport hangar leases. He advised that they did not get with the insurance company as things have changed since Roycee Sorenson is having two of her hangars torn down. He added that he has contacted other airports similar in size to Tucumcari and he feels that Tucumcari charging more than all the others with the exception of Moriarty. Mr. Jennings went on to say that if the hangars are torn down, then the City will not get any property taxes on the hangars. Mr. Jennings then requested that the Commission consider tabling the hangar leases until the City can come up with a better figure. Bids & Contracts Mayor Mayfield called on Lisa to present the Engineering Services Agreement with Souder Miller & Associates for project number 04-C-NR-I-6-G-96 for the water storage facility evaluation plan. Lisa advised that the City received a planning grant in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars which requires a City match of ten percent. She added that Souder Miller & Associates has agreed to do the evaluations on the water tanks and will evaluate the older tanks first and determine which tanks require extended service and divers to determine if all tanks can be done under this grant. A motion for approval of the Engineering Services Agreement with Souder Miller & Associates was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Maestas. Roll Call: Ditto Apodaca Mayfield Maestas Yes Yes Yes Yes Mayor Mayfield then called on Interim Police Chief Radosevich to present the Sub-grant Agreement with the State of New Mexico Department of Public Safety. Interim Chief Radosevich advised that he requested and received an award from the State of New Mexico Criminal Justice Records Improvement. Total amount of the award of Ten Thousand Ninety-five Dollars with a city in-kind match of Three Thousand Three Hundred Sixty-five Dollars. The purpose is to expand the use of the Sleuth Records Management System and will allow them to purchase two additional licenses. In addition the grant will allow for contract training in the amount of Four Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars along with the cost of per diem for the training in the amount of Two Thousand Three Hundred Dollars. When this program is fully implemented, it will enhance the capabilities that they currently have with municipal court, dispatch system and officers and will reduce the duplication of reports. He added that they will be able to bring their evidence system online and they will be able to track calls as they come in. A motion for approval of the sub-grant agreement with the State of New Mexico Department of Public Safety Grants Management Bureau was made by Commissioner Maestas and seconded by Commissioner Apodaca. Roll Call: Apodaca Mayfield Maestas Ditto Yes Yes Yes Yes Mayor Mayfield called on City Manager Primrose to present the Consultant/Engineer for Ute Lake Master Plan. City Manager Primrose advised that this is the Ute Lake Master Plan project, which involves the Interstate Streams Commission, Tucumcari, Logan, San Jon and Quay County. He advised that the group met and rated and ranked the engineers who submitted proposals to develop the master plan. City Manager Primrose advised that he received a letter from ISC recommending that the Bohannan Houston be selected as the Engineer for this project. He added that with this master plan, they would review all documents associated with the lake to help protect the lake. They will review all items from subdivisions, boat docks, quality of the lake and sediment in the lake. A motion to approve Bohannan Houston as the engineer for the master plan project was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Maestas. Roll Call: Mayfield Maestas Ditto Apodaca Yes Yes Yes Yes Mayor Mayfield then called on City Manager Primrose to present the Airport Hangar Lease Agreements. City Manager Primrose advised that all but one of the airport hangar leases expired in July and need to be updated. Persons who have an airport hangar were paying One Hundred Twenty Dollars per year for the hangar space. Under the proposed contract, this fee would be raised to Two Hundred Dollars per year, which breaks down to Seventeen Dollars per month. In addition, the City is requiring One Million Dollars of liability insurance. He added that two work sessions have been held to discuss the airport hangars. City Manager Primrose went on to say that he has checked around and the other municipalities he has checked with also require the One Million Dollar liability insurance. Mayor Mayfield advised that the lease agreement was changed from one year to ten years. In addition discussion of the contract was extended to a second work session to see if they could find somebody to do an umbrella insurance policy for the One Million Dollars. Commissioner Maestas commented that we should listen to the people. We asked Mr. Jennings to be on the committee and we should give these people a chance to be heard. Dr. Evetts commented that if the Commission plans on appointing an airport committee and you jump ahead on the issue of the airport hangars he thinks that the Commission is making a mistake. He went on to say that he thinks that the Commission should do away with the idea of forming a committee to inform and advise the Commission unless you let that committee work with you on finding a solution to this problem. He added that the airport has much more importance to the City than just the hangars and insurance, and there are a lot of problems with the airport that need to be looked at as there is a lot of liability there except for the hangars. Commissioner Apodaca stated that he listened to what the Doctor said and he makes sense and we need to listen to the airport committee when it is formed. He added that the Commission should wait and listen to the persons who use the airport. Commissioner Apodaca made a motion to table the airport hangar lease agreements until the Board has had a chance to organize and advise this Commission. Commissioner Maestas seconded the motion. Roll Call: Maestas Ditto Apodaca Mayfield Yes Yes Yes Yes Old Business Mayor Mayfield acknowledged receipt of the Planning Commission Board minutes. Items from Commissioners Commissioner Ditto advised that at the Work Force Investment Board meeting that was held in Roswell, it was pointed out that Governor Richardson wants every community to have a one stop career service where they provide training. She added that she feels that Tucumcari is remiss in not asking for additional help. She commented that our youth department is in a deplorable location and there is now funding available for us to have a better location, however this money has to be spent before June 1st and a plan has to be submitted. She then said that the College might have a location for this. Commissioner Ditto advised that she received a call from Max Zimmerman and asked who from New Mexico would be attending the legislative session in Washington. She added that if we want this leg of Highway 54 to be a four lane, then we need to provide a group of citizens to go forward and meet with this group. She questioned if we could advertise for such a group to go to Washington. She added that Mr. Zimmerman questioned if we could extend an invitation to them to attend the New Mexico Legislative Session. Commissioner Ditto commented that we need to go forward and try and get on the Legislative agenda. Commissioner Ditto advised that she received information in her box about President Bush’s purpose strengthening Americans communities’ initiative. According to the information there are 3.71 billion dollars in a unified grant making program that will better target assistance and achieve results for low-income persons in economically distressed areas. She suggested that our grants department gets busy and does something about this to try and get some of the money available. Commissioner Ditto advised that she had a request from Margie Barnett who currently has a contract for lease of the Conchas Dam South Dock and campground. She added that Ms. Barnett has met with some serious problems and has written letters to Governor Richardson along with our Senators and Representatives in Washington and New Mexico. Ms. Barnett has asked that the City of Tucumcari send a letter supporting her status on her contract. Commissioner Ditto read a letter that she had drafted and would be sending and asked if there were any of the Commissioners that would like to join her in signing the letter. Commissioner’s Maestas and Apodaca advised that they would sign the letter. Commissioner Maestas commented that people are putting large articles in the alleys and dumpsters. He suggested that an ad be placed in the paper advising everyone what can and cannot be placed in the dumpsters and alleys. Commissioner Apodaca advised that when he sees the Tucumcari Tonight signs, its purpose is to invite people into our community. When you see graffiti with the Sureno 13 and West Side Crips across from the Middle School, he questions if both advertisements serve the same purpose to recruit or entice, with one of the advertisements being good and one bad. He then asked Interim Chief Radosevich to speak with regard to the gangs in Tucumcari and whether there is a serious problem. Interim Chief Radosevich advised that graffiti is of concern and he has spoken to the City Manager and staff regarding this problem. Work orders are being done and property owners are being contacted to cleanup this graffiti. He added that part of this is to document the type of graffiti and the changes. Some of graffiti that we see are just wannabes and people just wanting to damage private property, however mixed in with this are some organizations that they are interested in. He added that he has invited the N.M. State Police Crime Lab Group to make a presentation on meth labs at the first Thursday of March. He advised that this involves the community as it can affect people who own rental property or hotels as the cost to cleanup after a meth lab is very substantial. Commissioner Apodaca advised that Dollar General has been at it’s location for less than one year and already has graffiti on the back of the building. He asked what the City could do to help that property owner with the removal of the graffiti. Commissioner Apodaca stated that a while ago the Finance Officer mentioned, and he does not know if it was a put down for those that go out there almost every day and uncover the sewer lines. For that guy that doesn’t work as I do mentally because he can go home and drink a beer. He added that he thinks it was in poor taste what was said because those people too have families. He added that he resented what was said because they have families too and have dreams that someday they will send their kids to college or higher education. They have dreams also, not just those on top only. Mayor Mayfield advised that she attended the Eastern Plains Council of Governments meeting that was held yesterday where they handed out the information from President Bush on the funding that was available. Mayor Mayfield then asked City Manager Primrose to have staff schedule a meeting between the people from the SPIRIT Committee and the State Legislature to meet with them and testify as to how bad our Highway 54 is as we keep loosing our people on that highway. She added that to get the highway paved from Tularosa to Santa Rosa and forget from Tucumcari to the state line is unconscionable. She added that the way they got this done was a group of private citizens attended every Highway Commission meeting and mentioned expanding Highway 54 to a four lane. Mayor Mayfield advised that Region IV Housing Authority would be meeting with EPCOG on February 24th. Mayor Mayfield congratulated Doug and Marty for their win on the School Board. She then thanked City Manager Primrose and staff for the prompt attention in cleaning up the graffiti at a local park. Mayor Mayfield advised Commissioner Ditto that at the meeting that was held with EPCOG, the Workforce Investment Act and TANIF announced that they are going to put a full time person in the Department of Labor office starting next month. Commissioner Ditto reported that the City has not had anyone on the Workforce Investment Board and had been attempting to find someone to replace Will Cantrell on this board. She advised that she contacted Patsy Gresham and Patsy advised that she would be delighted to serve. Mayor Mayfield commented that she shares Commissioner Apodaca comment on the remarks that were made and offered her personal as well as the apology of the City for the remark and added that we will move on from there. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.
Attest: Mary Mayfield, Mayor
Rachel Hicklin, City Clerk |