Year in review: New breweries, conditional property tax mark Clovis' year

CLOVIS — The city of Clovis in 2019 said hello to small brewers, goodbye to one of its commissioners and longtime civic leaders and imposed a conditional property tax aimed at long-term water supply.

No issue filled meeting rooms for the Clovis city commission in 2019 more than a proposed property tax increase to help pay for Clovis’ share of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System.

Clovis has a 75% share in the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority, which is seeking $90 million to do an interim groundwater project that would create a functional utility while the system is eventually connected to the Ute Reservoir in Quay County.

Clovis Mayor David Lansford, who chairs the water authority, said the interim groundwater project would be paid $20 million by the authority, $30 million by the state and $40 million by the federal government. He said a local push on infrastructure proved useful on the Lewis and Clark water project.

Commissioners approved a conditional property tax increase of $52.80 annually per $100,000 of residential or commercial property. The tax will not go into effect until and unless the state and federal governments provide their $70 million share.

Should the property tax go into effect, it would go toward fire and police services, and the gross receipts taxes currently paying for those would be rededicated toward Clovis’ $15 million share of the authority money.

The measures passed with commissioners Gary Elliott and Helen Casaus voting no, as each said the matter should go to voters.

Other highlights for the city for 2019 included:

• A string of approvals for small brewers throughout the city. Four new places for craft beer were approved in Clovis in 2019, with three of them scheduled to open sometime in 2020.

The first to take residence in Clovis was Red Door Brewing of Albuquerque, which decided to expand throughout the state. It set up shop at the former Mainline Bowl, now Hook’s Alley, and has served at several small festivals.

Red Door was also approved to set up a mobile taproom at the former Levine’s building on Main Street. Managing Partner Matt Biggs said the plan is to have a part-time taproom and keep the open facility as a downtown recreational area.

Roosevelt Brewing plans to open up shop at the former Sutton’s Bakery location, and Bandolero Brewing is working on a late March opening at the corner of Fifth and Main.

Elliott was the only commissioner to vote against the various requests. He noted in the case of each Main Street location that the nearby churches didn’t want the new neighbors.

• New management of the Colonial Park Golf Course, with Touchstone Golf taking over in May.

Colonial became the 43rd course under the operation of Touchstone, founded originally as a golf consulting company to help the PGA Tour with sales and marketing.

• Jan Garrett retiring in April after 17 years on the municipal bench.

Garrett first won election in 2002, taking 36 percent of the vote in a 10-candidate race, and either ran unopposed or easily won the seat again the next four elections.

Vicki Kelley, who finished second to Garrett in that 2002 election and served as alternate municipal judge, was elevated to the interim position. The position will be on the ballot in March for the final two years of the term; Kelley said when she was appointed she planned to run for the office.

• City Attorney David Richards retiring at the end of June, and was replaced by Jared Morris when the Harmon, Morris and Barnett law firm took over the contract from Greig and Richards.

Richards served through more than 30 years, nine city managers and dozens of city commissioners over the years. Richards said while he held the title, partner Hal Greig discussed city matters almost every day at the office and deserved plenty of credit.

• The departure of District 1 Commissioner Ladona Clayton. The former superintendent for Clovis Christian Schools left in June for a job with Dallas’ Tyler Street Christian Academy.

Clayton left with nearly eight months remaining on her term. Lansford asked David Robinson, CEO for Plateau, to step in knowing that he would be dedicated in the role and that he had no desire to seek re-election to the seat.

Robinson said he agreed to the position because a person he respected asked him to, and that it was an opportunity to show his son the importance of community service.

• The selection of a new provider at Clovis Municipal Airport. Contour is scheduled to begin service in early 2020 under Alternate Essential Air Service. Eight communities currently use Alternate EAS, with the Federal Aviation Administration subsidizing those flights for annual amounts between $1.85 and $4.4 million.

Five companies bid for the services, including Boutique Airlines, which had served Clovis since 2014.

• A Clovis firefighter receiving national recognition.

Chance Chenault, a lieutenant with the Clovis Fire Department, was recognized in July as the Veterans of Foreign Wars Firefighter of the Year.

Chenault, who has been with CFD since 2012, was chosen from a field of nearly 10,000 nominees. Chief Mike Nolen said nearly the entire department contributed to the nomination.

• A stronger leash law. The commission approved amending city ordinances to require dogs be on leashes no longer than 8 feet while it is off its owner’s property. Proponents of the measure said existing law was too vague for police officers to enforce. Critics said the changes would punish responsible owners and do little about animals running loose.

• Holding their horses. Clovis was the site for a pair of applicants hoping to receive the state’s sixth and final racino license, but that seemed to come to a screeching halt mid-year.

The racino issue first came up in 2018, was thrown into limbo by a lawsuit late in the year, and faced more doubts when Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham fired and replaced the New Mexico Racing Commission in April. The commission canceled meetings until further notice in June.