County communities get more than $2.1 million

Curry, De Baca and Roosevelt county communities received over $2.1 million of the nearly $180 million in capital outlay dollars approved by the New Mexico Legislature, officials announced on Thursday.

Eastern New Mexico’s largest project to receive lawmaker approval was $713,400 for Curry County road improvements.

Curry County Manager Lance Pyle said the funds will go toward

• a chip seal for Curry Road E from Curry Road 3 to Curry Road 6,

• crack seal and overlay for Curry Road 4 from U.S. 70 to Curry Road M,

• caliche for Curry Road 20 from NM 108 to NM 209

• and chip seal for Curry Road 14 from NM 268 to NM 224, in that order.

Though these requests have been approved by the Legislature, Gov. Susana Martinez still has the power to veto any capital outlay request.

When asked if he had any concerns about a potential veto, Pyle said, “these four roads along with numerous other roads in our community are in need for improvement.

“I’m sure our area legislators have relayed the need and importance to the governor for our roads. She has also been very active in our community and I know that she recognizes the need as well.”

Pyle said the capital outlay request for road improvements is unrelated to the county’s recent attempt to receive disaster relief funding from the state for road repairs, which was denied.

“These roads were prioritized back in August and have been on the county’s five-year road maintenance plan for several years,” Pyle said.

Pyle said he is excited to have about $760,000 potentially on its way to Curry County for road improvements and a new heating system at the Curry County Public Health Office.

The city of Clovis also received money for road improvements: $300,000 to go toward the Seventh Street construction project.

Clovis City Manager Justin Howalt said that money, along with matching dollars from either the general obligation bonds if they’re approved in the March election or the existing road bond cycle, will be used to complete the second phase of the project — roadway and drainage improvements from Norris to Main, which is in the design phase.

Howalt does not expect Gov. Martinez to veto the approved request.

“We fully anticipate receiving the funds,” he said.

Staff Writer Eamon Scarbrough contributed to this report.