Year in Review: Big year for county projects

2017 brought numerous changes to Curry County and the Board of Commissioners was not immune.

The commission was down to just four members for over two months after District 4 Commissioner Ben Smith announced his resignation effective Oct. 7 at the Sept. 19 commission meeting.

Smith said he accepted a position in the dairy industry in Nebraska.

“My hope is that the governor will appoint an individual with an agriculture and rural background that will continue to move the county forward, listening to the needs and wants of the county," Smith said at the Sept. 19 commission meeting.

Smith got his wish on Dec. 23 when it was announced Gov. Susanna Martinez appointed Clovis resident Seth Martin to fill the vacancy.

Martin is a sorghum and wheat farmer who runs Martin Farms, a locally-owned small business.

He said he was motivated to run to ensure his district is well-represented on the commission.

“Basically with an open seat it had me concerned who would be representing the district I live in and I just wanted to make sure fair representation was given,” Martin said.

Martin will officially be sworn-in at a public ceremony on Jan. 2 at 3 p.m. in the Curry County Commission Chambers at 417 Gidding Street.

“It’s sure to be a new challenge for the new year,” Martin said.

Other 2017 county news:

• The county suffered extensive road damage in 2017 as a result of rain storms this year. The county identified a list of over 30 roads which were damaged and requested disaster relief funding from the state.

Road Superintendent Dennis Fury said he does not know when the state will conduct an assessment of the roads but it should be soon.

The county will need to match 25 percent of whatever funds are received from the state.

• The commission moved forward with plans to renovate the Curry County Detention Center. In December the commission approved the plans and the procurement of the general contractor and began accepting bids on Dec. 4

Pyle said proposals will be accepted until Feb. 16, the contract will be awarded in April and work will begin in May, with an anticipated construction time of 17 months.

The plans call for an addition to the east that would tie into the existing facility and include an additional housing unit of 24 single cells or 48 double cells and a medical unit, as well as a new salleyport to the south which will also tie into the existing facility.

• Plans for a different county construction project did not go as smoothly. The county purchased three acres of land on Curry Road 6 behind Albert’s Irrigation for $13,000, with the intent of building a new road barn to store some of the county’s recently purchased road equipment.

The project hit a snag when the commission voted on a $525,554 water line extension agreement with EPCOR Water to provide water to the barn, when the original estimate was $378,780.

At the Nov. 16 commission meeting Commission Chairman Ben McDaniel and Commissioner Chet Spear voiced concerns about the cost of the water line agreement, before the board ultimately tabled the decision until January.

This led to a tabling of the $409,642.50 agreement with Nick Griego & Sons Construction, Inc. to build the barn as Fury said the building would need water for restrooms.

Both agreements will need to be addressed at a commission meeting before Jan. 22.

• Former Curry County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Nolen reached a plea deal following his arrest in June when he was charged with perjury, possession of a controlled substance, and tampering with public records, with the first two charges being dismissed as a result of the plea agreement.

Nolen’s actions resulted in the dismissal of more than 30 criminal cases he worked on due to credibility issues.

Nolen had worked for the county for about nine months before he was fired in April.

• Curry County Manager Lance Pyle received credentialed manager designation by the International City/County Management Association.

Pyle is the third county manager in New Mexico and the 16th public administrator from New Mexico to hold the credential, according to an ICMA release.

• Commission meetings found a new home following renovations to the meeting chambers at the Curry County Administration Complex.

Television monitors and video cameras to live stream the meetings online were added to make the meetings more accessible to the public.

The technology additions cost between $113,00 and $118,000, and are expected to last a minimum of five to eight years.

Previously county commission meetings had been held in the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library