Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Weil Construction Co. of Albuquerque will construct a 41,400-square-foot livestock pavilion at the Curry County Fairgrounds, the Curry County Commission decided on Tuesday, with a few exceptions to Weil’s proposal.
The exceptions included eliminating skylights from the plan, leaving galvanized steel walls in rest rooms, and painting over some iron construction pieces.
Commissioner Seth Martin said skylights “attract hailstones” and would be damaged. He also suggested leaving the steel walls up in the rest rooms to avoid damage that might occur if painted walls were substituted.
In addition, the commissioners adopted options for exterior improvements, $451,457.92, exterior pavement improvements, $ 672,827; a shade structure for $69,327.96; and demolition of an agricultural building, $23,078.06.
The commissioners awarded the contract on a unanimous vote, with Commissioner Brad Bender absent.
The commission on Tuesday also unanimously adopted its annual Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for 2025 to 2029.
The five top priority items in the plan include $1.5 million for road projects, $600,000 for courthouse parking lot security, fencing and pavement; $45 million for a regional behavioral health facility, $175,000 for an outdoor recreation aea and playground at the Curry County Fairgrounds; $25 million for a county recreation and sports complex.
In addition, the commission approved three ICIP projects for the La Casa Senior Center. The commission submits a special ICIP for senior centers under state law.
The La Casa projects include $200,000 for outdoor recreation space; $85,000 to purchase a passenger van with a lift to transport seniors with disabilities; and $10,000 for a range hood for the senior center’s kitchen.
ICIPs form the basis of capital outlay requests from the state legislature for local projects and help the county and senior centers qualify for state grant funds.
The commission on Tuesday also approved several items related to construction of an annex to the Curry County Courthouse to house Ninth Judicial District Court and Curry County Magistrate Court offices.
The commission on Tuesday approved:
• Documents detailing construction of the magistrate court addition to the Curry County Courthouse.
• An agreement for magistrate vourt use of the facility with the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
• Authorization for the demolition of a law library building, which required permission from th AOC, to make room for parking at the courthouse.
• An agreement with the Ninth Judicial District Court to provide security.
In other action Tuesday, the commission:
• Approved purchase of a dump truck with a snowplow attachment for $231,960.
• Approved polling places for November7 election. County Clerk Annie Hoagland emphasized that voters may cast ballots at any polling place they choose.
• Approved a final budget of $54 million for fiscal 2024, which began July 1 and ends on June 30, 2024. The fiscal 2024 budget is in excess of $10.1 million less than fiscal 2023’s $64.1 million budget due to completion of construction projects, Couty Manager Lance Pyle told the commission.
• Approved a resolution prohibiting advertising for cannabis products on county fairgrounds properties, except temporary advertising for events in the Curry County Events Center.
• Awarded completion certificates to 74 high school student participants in the county’s summer internship program. Participants worked 20 hours per week for government agencies and businesses and were paid through the county, while receiving some training on employability skills.
• Approved a proclamation of Tuesday to be Fair Housing Day in Curry County.
