Year in review: Curry County moved forward on construction projects

CLOVIS - While Seth Martin was actually appointed to the Curry County Commission at the end of December 2017, it wasn't until the new year when his presence was really felt.

Martin cast the tie-breaking vote to approve two contracts totaling over $900,000 at the county's first meeting of the year, as the road barn and water line extension were among the top stories from Curry County in 2018.

At the commission's first meeting of the year and thus Martin's first meeting as a commissioner, the two contracts that had been tabled by the commission in November came back to the board before the approximately $410,000 contract with Nick Griego & Sons Construction Inc. to build a new road barn expired.

Because the proposed road barn's location south of Clovis did not already have access to water, an approximately $525,000 water line extension agreement with EPCOR Water was being considered at the same time.

At the Jan. 11 meeting, the four veteran commissioners voted the same way they did when the agreements were considered in November, with Commissioners Angelina Baca and Robert Thornton in favor and Commissioners Ben McDaniel and Chet Spear opposed.

Martin said access to water would allow new homes or businesses to move into the area, breaking the tie and approving the projects.

"I grew up in this area and I'm familiar with the water issue. We left that area probably 25 years ago when it was an issue then; it has only increased and spread. With this extension, that opens up the opportunity for the county to grow," Martin said.

McDaniel and Spear opposed the projects due to the cost of nearly $1 million, and Spear said there was another building for sale on Swift Plant Road for $300,000, which would have met the county's needs and already had access to water.

"When I suggested this option I was told it was not budgeted for, we would be sending the wrong message to the state about purchasing a building that was not listed in our capital outlay projects," Spear said "Is this really how government works? It's OK to spend $910,000 but not OK to save the taxpayers $610,000?"

Also in 2018:

n The county began work on its long-awaited detention center addition and renovation project 10 years and multiple failed elections in the making.

The project - which includes a new housing unit, medical unit, two recreation yards and a new salleyport - was approved by the commission in April and celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony in May.

Between 2010 and 2013, three times voters rejected proposals to raise taxes in order to fund the project.

The $11.56 million project is expected to be complete in November 2019.

n In November, Roosevelt General Hospital announced the Melrose Health Clinic would be closing at the end of the year.

RGH Chief Executive Officer Kaye Green said during a townhall meeting that the facility lost money all four years it was operated by RGH.

Melrose Mayor Barry Green said he would consider raising taxes to save the health care facility.

n A new intergovernmental agreement with the city of Clovis hit a couple of roadblocks, but was eventually approved by both entities in May when the respective commission's voted on the document for a second time.

The shared services - EMS, pest control and library services provided by the city, housing for detainees arrested for violating city ordinances provided by the county - did not change.

The payments between the city and county were ultimately amended so that both entities would pay each other $1.35 million over the 10-year deal.

Commissioners McDaniel and Martin opposed the agreement both times it came before the commission.

"Maybe I'm losing it, but that sounds to me like the county's getting hosed," McDaniel said at the May 15 meeting when the agreement was approved.

n Commissioner Baca was removed from the Nov. 6 ballot due to her failure to pay a fine levied by the secretary of state's office because of the late filing of a financial disclosure.

Governor-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham will be tasked with filling the district 1 seat in the new year and Baca has already stated publicly her intention to seek the appointment, as she has since filed the financial document and paid the fine.