Clovis, Curry County to get $1.6 million from capital outlay

CMI Staff Writer

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Clovis and Curry County entities are set to receive $1.6 million in capital outlay money allocated to the region in a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Susana Martinez in Las Cruces.

Martinez signed the Capital Outlay Bill (Special Session Bill 1) approved by the New Mexico Legislature on June 8 during a Special Session in Santa Fe.

“I am delighted that Gov. Susana Martinez signed the Capital Outlay bill making funding available to the entities of my district and districts throughout the state,” said Rep. Dennis Roch.

Roch said this capital outlay allocation would be beneficial to all of the entities approved to receive money in District 67. He said rural communities in the seven counties of District 67 — Curry, Roosevelt, Quay, Harding, San Miguel, Colfax and Union Counties — are in need of funding to help maintain or improve facilities and purchase equipment.

Roch said there was an urgency in holding the Special Session in June to have enough time for legislation to be signed by Gov. Martinez to beat the July deadline for the issuing severance tax notes (bonds). He said essentially the state issues bonds that are borrowed against the revenue generated by future severance taxes the state is expected to receive.

Roch said the New Mexico State Board of Finance is expected to issue some or all of the severance tax notes (bonds) by June 29.

He sad entities receiving the money will be filling out a questionnaire in the next several days and submitting them to the Department of Finance Authority.

Roch said the questionnaire will have more detailed information about the entities intended use for the funds, the need for the projects and the current status of the project — shovel ready or design stage. He said depending on the urgency and the stage of the project some entities may receive their money in July or in December when a second issuing of severance tax notes is expected.

Clovis had five requests for capital outlay approved for $580,000. Two of the city’s requests for street improvements on Seventh Street and Wilhite Road got a line item veto by Martinez.

“The city of Clovis is thankful for the money it has received from the Capital Outlay Bill,” said Larry Fry, Clovis city manager.

Fry said he did not know why the request for the two street improvement projects was turned down. He said the city would continue to look for ways to fund the two projects in the future.

The Wilhite improvement request was $3.5 million — only $50,000 had been approved — and the Seventh Street improvement request was for $5.2 million with only $40,000 approved.

Fry said the largest allocation received from the state, $355,000, would be used for wastewater treatment system improvements. He said the money would be used to help extend a pipeline for effluent water use to Hillcrest Park, allowing the city to irrigate land and sports fields at the park and Yucca Middle School. It will also feed into a lake at the park to free up a high-performing well.

The city’s effluent reuse project allows the city to conserve drinking water by treating wastewater only enough for irrigation and construction purposes.

“I want to thank the area legislators for their assistance in securing this funding to help our city move forward,” Fry said.

The city also received $70,000 for Potter Park improvements.

The city just completed the addition of two new baseball fields at Potter Park and will use the $70,000 too add an additional restroom, said Mark Dayhoff, director of parks and recreation.

Dayhoff said a request for $63,000 was made for the new restroom and if any money is left over it will be used for improvements to the existing restroom at Potter Park.

Construction of a new Tee-ball field was completed in July of last year and construction on the minor league field was started in the spring and completed in May.

Curry County received $505,000 for county road improvements.

The original amount requested by Curry County was $1.7 million, although the county is thankful for the money it was allocated through the capital outlay bill, said Lance Pyle, county manager.

“We are very pleased to receive this funding and will begin work to find the best use of the money for the county residents,” Pyle said.

Pyle said the County’s Road Advisory Committee will review the needs for county road improvements and will present a recommendation to Curry County Commissioners. He said the committee would look at what improvements have the highest needs for completion. A recommendation for a project will be made to the commissioners, who will make the final decision.

Other allocations approved in Clovis and in Curry County:

• $55,000 for the Lyceum Theater.

• $50,000 to the Business Enterprise Center.

• $50,000 for the city Senior Center.

• $400,000 for Clovis Community College

• $125,000 for new bleachers at Melrose Public Schools.

• $50,000 for Texico Cemetery Roads.