Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

COVID-19 guidelines remain at senior centers

The Friendship Senior Center opened its front door on Thursday for the first time since the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020, according to Barbara Riggan, director of the city of Clovis Senior Services.

Although the state has reopened 100 percent, some safety guidelines will remain in place at the Friendship Senior Center, Riggan told the Clovis city commission at its meeting on Thursday.

Based on guidelines by the New Mexico State Aging & Long Term Services Department, if 85 percent or more of the staff are vaccinated, senior centers in the state can open 100 percent, she told the commission. However, due to the staff’s vaccination level, the Friendship Center is now open at 75 percent.

Staff at the center will still routinely have to be tested for COVID-19, she said. Everyone must wear a face mask and “cleaning and disinfectant protocols will continue.”

Everyone entering the center must go through the MySeniorCenter contact tracing app, she said.

At 10 a.m. next Thursday at the Baxter-Curren Senior Center a meeting open to the general public will be held to decide “about moving forward there,” she added.

Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes said the La Casa Senior Center in Portales will continue with just the requirement to wear face coverings.

In other business:

n The commission voted to accept $9,469,289 in American Recovery Program Funds from the federal government.

The funds are related to the impact of COVID-19 in the area, Burroughes said. The funds will be used for the categories of public health & economic impacts, premium/hazard pay, lost revenue replacement and infrastructure projects.

The city has not identified any specific uses as yet but City Manager Justin Howalt said spending is limited to water, sewer and broadband projects.

City Commissioner Helen Casaus said she would like to get the community involved in making decisions about how the money is spent.

n The commission voted to approve a professional services contract between the city of Clovis and Clovis MainStreet for $40,000 for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

n The next meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. July 15 at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.