Governor approves near $4M for area

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Gov. Susana Martinez on Wednesday approved about $4 million worth of capital outlay projects in Curry and Roosevelt counties.

Eastern New Mexico University was among the big winners. It received more than $250,000 for construction at the new Greyhound Stadium on campus and another $135,000 for information technology labs at ENMU.

“Zero vetoes for Eastern New Mexico University,” President Steve Gamble said.

Gamble said he received an update Wednesday from stadium construction officials and learned everything is on schedule. “They ought to be done in mid-July and we’ll be ready for that first football game on the 10th of September.”

Gamble said the money from lawmakers goes into the overall funding for the $14.6 million project.

The university also on Wednesday received the state’s blessing to hold an $11 million bond election in November. If voters approve, the money would go to renovate the Golden Library as it becomes the Golden Student Success Center, a $26 million project in all.

While the governor vetoed more than 150 projects statewide that had been approved by lawmakers during the 2016 legislative session, she approved all but one proposal in Curry County. A $20,000 plan for improvements at Hillcrest Park Zoo, which had been proposed by an Albuquerque lawmaker who likes to visit, was the only local project scrapped by the governor.

“It’s a good day to be from eastern New Mexico,” said state Rep. Randal Crowder, R-Clovis, who helped bring home the capital outlay dollars.

The biggest local award was $2 million to help move Texico’s port of entry to the former state visitor’s center west of Texico, a request from Martinez herself.

Clovis’ biggest award was $285,000 for improvements to Seventh Street. That money will be used primarily to improve drainage between Main and Norris streets as part of an overall $5 million project.

Clovis City Manager Larry Fry said he hopes street repairs could get started before year’s end.

Curry County received money for two major road projects plus a new fire station.

“We are very appreciative of Gov. Martinez and our legislators,” Curry County Manager Lance Pyle said.

“We look forward to working and completing the authorized road projects later this year and starting the planning and design for the new Broadview Fire Station for the residents in Northern Curry County.”