Official raises concerns about road delays

Projects Editor

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It may not be the longest road, but as far as Curry County Commission Chairman Frank Blackburn is concerned, it’s taking way too long to get it built.

Blackburn says he is frustrated by two years of delays in trying to finish paving a 1.5 mile shortcut used by many to get to and from Cannon Air Force Base.

“I wanted to get it done this summer, but now it’s too late,” Blackburn said Monday. “It’s too cold. We needed to do this in June.”

The $350,000 project would pave a half-mile section of west 21st Street (Curry Road 11) and another mile of south Curry Road N to the overpass on U.S. 60/84. It is a route used by hundreds of motorists each day that is now a dirt road, according Blackburn.

The project was supposed to be paid for with a $350,000 Community Development Block Grant. The state agency in charge of granting that cash — the Department of Finance and Administration — gave all indications two years ago that it was a go, said Blackburn. But it’s taken almost that long to comply with all state and federal requirements, some of which Blackburn believes aren’t necessary.

Now, Blackburn said, a recent change in the state department’s management is bringing more bureaucratic red tape and more delays.

“Now,” Blackburn said, “they want do the process all over again. It’s another delay.”

Calls to the Local Government Division (LGD) of the Department of Finance and Administration weren’t returned. However, Roosevelt County Commissioner Jake Lopez sits on the LGD board and is promising support.

“That’s happening in Portales, too,” Lopez said, regarding the state agency’s push to revisit projects already given preliminary approval. “We’re having a meeting (Dec. 4) to talk about all this.”

Lopez said CDBG grants are federal money given to states for use in local government projects that benefit the community.

“They give you two years and if you don’t get on it you’re out of compliance,” Lopez said. “Once you get that grant, you need to use it. Don’t delay. They are pretty strict about that.”

Curry County’s Administrative Services Coordinator Sandy Vigil recently reported the state agency’s LGD Program Manager Ruth Lommel visited county staff Oct. 22 and toured the project site.

“The visit went well and helped both parties be on the same page,” Vigil wrote in a report to Blackburn and the other four county commissioners. “Mrs. Lommel is well informed that Curry County is awaiting her approval of the bid documents that were sent to her in September. From the October 22 visit date, LGD has 45 days to...(respond) with a letter regarding the visit.”