Clovis to host conference of counties

For the second time in six years, Curry County will host the New Mexico Association of Counties Annual Conference.

Curry County, which last welcomed the event in 2013, will serve as headquarters for the 2019 Annual Conference.

Held each June in rotating host counties, the conference is a weeklong event drawing elected county officials, department heads and staff to discuss county government.

According to NMAC, the location — chosen by the Board of Directors — varies based on proposals submitted from each county. For each conference, affiliate chairs are to submit agendas including conducting of affiliate business, decisions on legislative resolutions and educational speakers.

At its meeting in Hidalgo County on Friday, the NMAC Board of Directors selected Curry County to be the host of the 2019 conference after hearing a presentation by Curry County Commission Chairman Wendell Bostwick.

Curry County Interim Administrative Services Coordinator Doria Rey contributed to creating the county’s proposal.

“One of the things we had that, in my opinion, made us stand out was we had a lot of letters of support from neighboring counties, local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, the city of Clovis, and towns in the county,” Rey said. “I think the board was really impressed by the amount of support we had.”

Though no location is booked, Rey said the various conference events will most likely be held at the Curry County Events Center, the Clovis Civic Center and Clovis Community College.

She also expects 10 Clovis hotels to be impacted by the influx of attendees.

The event historically attracts between 600 and 750 people and contributes at least $215,000 in direct spending, according to a press release by Curry County Manager Lance Pyle.