Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Cannon aircraft fleet has tripled

The aircraft fleet at Cannon Air Force Base has tripled in the last two years.

The are 105 aircraft assigned to the base now with more coming, according to the 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group commander Col. David Piech.

There were 35 aircraft at the base in May 2010, according to a previous CNJ article.

Piech gave an update on Cannon to Local Growth Management Committee members during a monthly meeting Monday, saying the recent base inspection went well and base commander Col. Buck Elton was pleased with the results.

He said 801 base housing in Clovis will transition to civilian housing on Aug. 14. Some base personnel will be able to continue renting their homes while most have chosen to buy homes or move on base, he said.

Piech said there are nine construction projects in the works on base, valued at a total of $155 million.

He said personnel is still at 5,300, but is expected to reach 6,400 by the end of next year.

Piech said the commander replacing Chief Master Sgt. Matt Caruso, 27th Special Operations Wing command chief, has arrived at the base and will be taken to meet local city and county officials within the next two weeks.

Other items discussed during the meeting were the following:

  • A presentation by Monterey, Calif., city manager Fred Meurer on a military-community collaboration.

Meurer told committee members about how by offering certain services to its local Army base, Presidio of Monterey, such as firefighting services, trash services and landscaping, the city of Monterey has saved the base thousands of dollars. Muerer said the city's revenue has also increased.

Meurer encouraged committee members to discuss the possibility of having such a partnership with Cannon.

  • Committee members agreed to approve the Eastern Plains Council of Governments providing services for the committee's three areas of scope work: Health care, economic development and education.

EPCOG asked to be provided a budget of $12,500 for the services.

Ray Mondragon, EPCOG community development coordinator, presented a document on the scope of work which would be provided:

EPCOG will work with local hospitals and health care clinics to identify medical care needs and will assist in the recruitment of health care and mental health care professionals.

EPCOG will coordinate and work with the area's economic development organizations and the department of workforce solutions.

EPCOG will work with local school districts to address the need for additional classrooms and buildings associated with the growth at the base.

  • Committee members heard updates on the JLUS Partnership Committee

Roosevelt County Manager Charlene Webb said Roosevelt County commissioners chose the following community members to represent Roosevelt County: Portales city councilor Antonio Sanchez and businessmen Charles Bennett and Dennis Lopez. Businessman Mark Vigil was chosen to represent the city of Portales.

Businessmen Sid Strebeck and John Christensen and business woman Gayla Brumfield will serve as Curry County representatives on the JLUS committee with businessman Kent Carruthers as the city of Clovis representative.