Commission focus on smaller projects

CLOVIS — Heeding the advice of a former city commission and current state legislator, the Clovis city commission has decided to go small or go home with its capital outlay list.

On the advice of Rep. Randy Crowder, R-Clovis, the commission voted 7-1 to prioritize small-scale projects on its Industrial Capital Improvement Plan.

The ICIP’s top three priorities are a brush fire truck, a fire rescue truck/pumper and repairs for Sugarbeet Road.

“We’re all aware of the problems financially with the state, the issues being faced by the Legislature in dealing with the deficit and next year’s budget as well,” Clovis City Manager Larry Fry said. “We met with Sen. (Pat) Woods and Rep. Crowder over the last couple of weeks and Rep. Crowder suggested our capital outlay request be focused and of a certain size.”

Items Fry originally placed before the commission for priority ranking:

• $250,000 — Brush fire truck for Clovis Fire Department

“We have six brush trucks and two of those are brush truck tankers,” Fire Chief Mike Nolen said. “As witnessed by the livestock auction on Christmas Day, we do have areas in the city that can become wildfires. Out of the six (trucks), five of them are over 20 years old. We don’t want to change just because they are 20 years old. These trucks are well worn and one new grass truck has been ordered but more are needed.”

• $240,000 — Thornton Street road improvement project between First and Seventh streets.

Fry said the project is not likely to be approved for capital outlay funds.

• $250,000 — Sugarbeet Road project to the east of Love’s Truck Stop.

“That is just a chip sealed road, so it is in bad shape,” Public Works Director Clint Bunch said. “It only came to light a couple of years ago. It was the responsibility of the city, since we do have an easement through there. It is in need of being repaved with concrete so that it will last a lot longer.”

• $179,000 — Rescue truck / pumper for Clovis Fire Department

Officials said the truck would allow for greater access to alleys while also having the capability to assist on ambulance calls. Fry said the item could be withdrawn from the priority list.

• Fry said Crowder requested consideration be given for $80,000 in funding to deepen the 801 playa located to the east of the former 801 Housing in the northeast part of the city.

“We’re just following the advice of Rep. Crowder,” Mayor David Lansford said. “I know his adamant comment was keep your requests to $200,000 to $250,000 per request. He said there’s just not any money out there for the $3 and $4 million requests.”

Commissioner Tom Martin said the firefighting equipment would be at the top of his list.

“I think one of our basic charges is the welfare and safety of our citizens, so if there is a way to prioritize those items that deal with safety, like the fire department, that would be my preference,” Martin said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Sandra Taylor-Sawyer said the playa effort would rest at the top of her list.

“Water is very important for our area,” she said. “This is $80,000. It’s a big task that we’re doing and if we are limited on money, that may be a good starting part for Rep. Crowder to look at. I would rank that first, with the Sugarbeet Road project second.”

Taylor-Sawyer made a motion in that regard, but it died for a lack of a second. She cast the lone dissenting vote on the heels of Commissioner Chris Bryant’s motion to list the brush fire truck as the commission’s first choice.

Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes said the city has an application in the playa lakes joint venture to address the 801 playa, which Burroughes described as a drainage project