CITY OF TUCUMCARI

MINUTES

JANUARY 11, 2007

 

 

The Tucumcari City Commission met for their regular meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers.  Members present constituting a quorum were Christopher Maestas, Jim Lafferty, Antonio Apodaca, Mary Mayfield, and Jim Witcher.

 

City staff present were Richard Primrose, City Manager; Marty Garcia, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director; Jeannette Maddaford, City Clerk; Clara Rey, Administrative Assistant; Doug Powers, Community Development Director; Police Chief Larry Ham; Police Lt. Ron Haley; Larry Rigdon, Ambulance Director; and Howie Tucker, Golf Pro.

 

Mayor Mary Mayfield called the meeting to order.  Mayor Pro-tem Antonio Apodaca led the Pledge of Allegiance and Reverend Gay Wellborn, Pastor of the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, gave the invocation.

 

Consideration of Additions or Deletions

 

None

 

Approval of Minutes

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Witcher to approve the minutes of the December 28, 2006 regular Commission meeting.  Roll Call:

 

            Apodaca            Mayfield          Witcher            Maestas           Lafferty

               Yes                  Yes                   Yes                   Yes                 Yes

 

Approval of Vouchers

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Maestas to approve the vouchers.  Roll Call:

 

            Mayfield          Witcher            Maestas           Lafferty            Apodaca

               Yes                   Yes                 Yes                   Yes                   Yes

 

Items from Citizens

 

None

 

Ordinances and Resolutions

 

Resolution 2007-01 - CITY OF TUCUMCARI OPEN MEETINGS RESOLUTION was introduced by City Clerk Jeannette Maddaford who explained that a resolution is required annually by statute to specify what notice is necessary for regular, special, emergency, and executive sessions.  A motion was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Witcher to approve Resolution 2007-01.  Roll Call:

 

            Witcher            Maestas           Lafferty            Apodaca            Mayfield

               Yes                  Yes                  Yes                    Yes                Yes

 

Resolution 2007-02 - A RESOLUTION DECLARING A DISASTER was presented by the City Manager who noted that on December 29, 30, and 31 Tucumcari and Quay County had a snow storm which required additional resources of the City.  Since the Governor has declared Quay County as part of the disaster area, a resolution is required to be passed, so the City can apply for reimbursement for some of the emergency overtime.  Commissioner Maestas noted that this was a smart move on the part of the City Manager.  A motion was made by Commissioner Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Maestas to approve Resolution 2007-02.  Roll Call:

 

            Maestas           Lafferty            Apodaca            Mayfield          Witcher

              Yes                   Yes                  Yes                   Yes                  Yes

 

City Manager’s Report

 

City Manager Richard Primrose reminded everyone that City Offices would be closed on Monday, January 15, 2007, for Martin Luther King Day.  He reported that there would be several trips to the Santa Fe to talk with the legislators starting with Tuesday, January 23, for Quay Day, then again on January 29 and 30 for Business Day, and also on February 19 and 20 for Municipal Day.  He encouraged everyone to participate, so Quay County will be well represented and also to visit with all the legislators.  He noted that Economic Development has worked hard to organize Quay Day. 

 

Catherine Bugg of KTNM Radio Station was thanked for making announcements during the snowstorm which kept the stranded motorists informed about the road closure and also he thanked Chelle Delaney of the Quay County Sun for putting information in the paper and thanking the City employees for the work they did.  He thanked the citizens of Tucumcari for stepping up and coming to the aid of the motorists by providing meals.  He recognized Jim Witcher who manned one of the three shelters.  Notes were received thanking the City, citizens, and employees for the hospitality.  A $200 check was received from a couple to help the City with some of the expenses.  Mayor Mayfield read notes from Dick and Teresa Meagher of Illinois and another from Mickey and Lisa Pierce.  Commissioner Witcher recognized is wife, Kathy Witcher, who was his crew at the Rhodes Field House Gymnasium.  Primrose noted that when the stranded motorist heard the roads would be opened, they lined up two abreast on Route 66 Blvd. from First

Street to the West Interchange at Interstate 40.  Also Fire Chief Mike Cherry was asked to help Clayton during the snowstorm with communications.  Cherry took Kalon Lafferty, City EMS employee, who assisted in setting up the City’s mobile command unit with radios and computers to provide Union County and Clayton with communications.  Mayor Mayfield noted that their act of kindness was written up in the Union County Leader newspaper.

 

Bids and Contracts

 

Doug Powers, Community Development Director presented the Construction Contract with Versatile Construction for the Municipal Arterial Project on Estrella and Adams Streets for $290,755.25.  Powers stated that a meeting is set up with K-Bobs, McStop, McDonalds, Discovery Inn, and the other businesses in the area that will be affected by the construction.  A motion was made by Commissioner Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Apodaca to approve the contract with Versatile Construction for the construction of a paved street for Estrella and Adams.  Roll Call:

 

            Lafferty            Apodaca            Mayfield          Witcher            Maestas

               Yes                  Yes                   Yes                  Yes                  Yes

 

Billboard contracts were submitted for approval from the Lodgers’ Tax Board.  City Manager Primrose reported that the Advisory Board had traveled to see the billboards and negotiated contracts for a three-year term to expire at the same time.   Commissioner Lafferty noted that the Lodgers’ Tax Board put considerable effort in to the selection of the billboards, decreasing the number by turning back the non-lighted boards, and negotiating the vinyl replacement cost within the monthly fee.  Mayor Mayfield noted that the Lodgers’ Tax Board does a wonderful job and take their work very seriously.  A motion was made by Commissioner Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Lafferty to approve the contract with The Lamar Companies-three billboards; Sun Vista Outdoor Advertising-two billboards; Simmons-Butler Outdoor Media, LLC-one billboard; and Look Outdoor Advertising-two billboards.  Roll Call:

 

            Apodaca            Mayfield          Witcher            Maestas           Lafferty

               Yes                   Yes                  Yes                  Yes                   Yes

 

New Business

 

Larry Rigdon, Ambulance Director, presented the EMS Local Funding Program Application for the Tucumcari Fire Department for $12,500, which covers repairs and maintenance, training, travel for training, supplies, and rescue equipment.  A motion was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Maestas to approve the Application for EMS Funding for the Tucumcari Fire Department.  Roll Call.

 

            Mayfield          Witcher            Maestas           Lafferty            Apodaca

               Yes                  Yes                  Yes                   Yes                  Yes

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Lafferty to approve the EMS Local Fund Program Application for the Tucumcari Medical Services Department in the amount of $32,700.  Roll Call.

            Witcher            Maestas           Lafferty            Apodaca            Mayfield

              Yes                   Yes                  Yes                  Yes                   Yes

Executive Session

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Lafferty to go into Executive Session pursuant to the Open Meetings Act 10-15-1(H)2 for discussion of limited personnel matters.  Time noted 6:20 p.m.  Roll Call:

 

            Maestas           Lafferty            Apodaca            Mayfield          Witcher

               Yes                  Yes                   Yes                  Yes                  Yes

 

Return from Executive Session.  Time noted 7:00 p.m.  A motion was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Maestas that only limited personnel matters were discussed pursuant to the Open Meetings Act 10-15-1(H)2 and no action was taken.  Roll Call:

 

            Lafferty            Apodaca            Mayfield          Witcher            Maestas

               Yes                   Yes                   Yes                 Yes                   Yes

 

Mayor Mayfield noted that the Executive Session scheduled for Friday, January 12, is cancelled and will be rescheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2007, at the Tucumcari Police Station.

 

Items from Commissioners

 

Commissioner Lafferty stated that the Commissioners need to move forward in their effort to select a new City Manager.

 

Commissioner Witcher thanked the Police, Fire, Streets, and EMS Departments for all the work they did during the snowstorm.  He reported that the he had police officers making walk throughs frequently and it seemed like Mike Cherry and Larry Rigdon were there all the time.

 

Mayor Pro-tem was glad that the City employees were quick to respond, as he never got a phone call saying that something needed to be addressed.

 

Mayor Mayfield appreciated everyone staying home which helped keep the City from having so many accidents.  She also appreciated Tucumcari citizens for befriending the motorists by helping them in their time of need. 

She reported she received a complaint about the loud noise caused by the rumble strips on Mountain Road.  She noted that a conversation could not be carried on anywhere in the lady’s house due to the noise.  She asked the Police Chief to have officers slow down the speeders as they seemed to increase the noise.  She noted that she and Commissioner Witcher thought the strips were going to be placed on the westbound lane of Route 66 Blvd. due to the difficulty seeing the red light.

 

Adjournment

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Witcher to adjourn the regular meeting of the City Commissioners.  Time noted 7:06 p.m.  Roll Call:

 

            Apodaca            Mayfield          Witcher            Maestas           Lafferty

               Yes                  Yes                  Yes                   Yes                  Yes

 

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Mary Mayfield, Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

________________________________

Jeannette Maddaford, City Clerk