Fairgrounds improvements next request for block grant

PORTALES — Various improvements to the fairgrounds will be the next project Roosevelt County will request completion of through its community development block grant application, officials said.

At a public hearing on Tuesday morning, Special Project Coordinator Carol Acosta-Flores said a majority of attendees at three previous public hearings — held to ascertain what projects residents felt were the most urgent — suggested fairground improvements.

The application is for $750,000 plus a $37,000 match by the county, Acosta-Flores said.

Included among the improvements will be the grading of roads in the fairgrounds, the construction of three retention ponds to hold rain water and the possible addition of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant infrastructure, according to Geographic Systems Technician Johnny Montiel.

While Montiel said making the fairgrounds ADA-compliant is a necessity, he added that making it the first priority may ultimately undo any improvements later.

“We don’t want to do any type of asphalt or any type of above-ground (work) that’s gonna get ruined by the below-ground work, so you want to make sure you get your below-ground work done before you top it,” he said.

Grading the fairgrounds and developing an area for water to drain into will prevent water from flowing onto Lime Street and accumulating at the Borden Peanut Plant, according to Montiel.

That fact gave Treasurer Layle Sanchez hope that “this would help that plant stay in business and not have to shut down because of the standing water issue.”

The $750,000 will fund a portion of the much-needed improvements, according to Acosta-Flores, but she clarified that it would take another round of CDBG funding to address all the issues at the fairgrounds.

“It’s very large, so we’ll have to reapply again to do the second piece,” she said.

The application will be brought before the Roosevelt County Commission for final approval at its June 8 meeting, Acosta-Flores said.