Curry to vote on amended construction contract

CLOVIS — The Curry County Commission today is expected to vote on an amended contract with Nick Griego & Son's Construction Inc. that would push back the completion of the new county road barn.

The road barn project was originally scheduled to have a 180-day timeline and be complete by July 21. If the amended contract is approved, that timeline will be pushed back to Aug. 13.

County Manager Lance Pyle said the extension benefits the county because it does not interfere with the county's schedule to relocate the road department offices and Griego & Sons has agreed to provide additional work as result of the extension.

That work includes the installation of 10 metal bollards to protect from vehicles hitting the building, the installation of 150 tons of crushed concrete to shed water away from the building and the relocation of a liquid waste disposal field that will allow for additional traffic space behind the road barn, according to an email Pyle sent the commission on Friday.

Also on the agenda for today's meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. in the commission chambers at the Curry County Administrative Complex, 417 Gidding St.:

• The board will vote separately on requests from three agencies to waive contract requirements and make a payment for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018.

The funding totals are $585.75 to the Melrose Senior Center, $1,250 to the Curry Residence Senior Meals Association (CRSMA) and $2,500 to the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce.

The county's contracts required the organizations to submit a progress report by June 15 in order to receive funding.

In separate letters to Pyle, Melrose Senior Center Program Director Ashley Woods said she recently took over the position and was not aware of the deadline, CRSMA Director Cherisse Perez said she did not have access yet to data required for her report and Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ernie Kos said she thought the report was due July 15.

• The board will vote on a renewal of the burn ban in the unincorporated areas of the county, set to expire on July 23.

In a memo to the commission, Curry County Fire and Safety Director David Kube recommended renewing the ban due to the ongoing drought conditions in the county.

• The board will vote on an application to borrow $3.5 million from the New Mexico Finance Authority, with approximately $2.5 million to go toward the jail renovation and $1 million for courthouse renovations.

The commission previously approved proceeding with the application at its June 28 meeting.

• The board will vote on an offer for a norteño concert at the Curry County Events Center on Sept. 28 or Sept. 29.

• Eastern Plains Council of Government Transportation Planner Vincent Soule will give a presentation on transportation programs and an update on traffic studies.

• Curry County Assessor Candace Morrison will present the annual assessor report.