Financial concerns raised at Curry meeting

CLOVIS — Melrose Senior Center Program Director Ashley Woods detailed what she said were the organization’s dire financial straits at Tuesday’s Curry County Commission meeting.

“If we have further cuts here and further cuts there, here pretty soon we’re going to be so far under we’re not going to have any choice but to close our doors,” Woods said.

Commissioners did not address Woods’ request for funding, which they had cut earlier this year.

Woods said due to cuts in county and federal funding and increases in food costs, the senior center has been unable to pay its bills since April.

Woods said the Melrose Senior Center has a bank balance of $2,513 but is behind on $5,985 worth of bills.

Woods said the senior center provides about 50 meals per day, in addition to homemaking and transportation services.

“Without these services the seniors in our community will suffer immensely,” Woods said.

Woods said the senior center has already cut some of its core services and is worried more cuts will follow.

“We’re lost over there in Melrose,” said James Townsend, secretary of the board for the Melrose senior citizens. “We’re on the other side, the west side of Curry County. I think we’re being forgotten about over there.”

Woods was present at Tuesday’s meeting to request a previously approved payment of $585.75 to the Melrose Senior Center for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, which was approved unanimously. The payment had not been made earlier because center officials had not provided a quarterly report connected to the payment, officials said.

Two unrelated payment requests before the commission met different fates.

A $1,250 payment to the Curry Residence Senior Meals Association (CRSMA) was tabled because CRSMA Director Cherisse Perez was not in attendance.

Commissioner Angelina Baca motioned to approve a $2,500 payment to the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce, but there was no second so the motion failed.

After the meeting Commissioner Chet Spear said he did not support the motion partly because nobody from the chamber was in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.

Chairman Ben McDaniel was not present.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting (all votes 4-0):

• The burn ban in the unincorporated areas of the county was renewed for another 45 days. The burn ban had been set to expire on July 23.

• The board approved an amended contract with Nick Griego & Son’s Construction Inc. extending the timeline for completion of the new county road barn to Aug. 13.

In return Griego & Son’s agreed to provide 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.

“I think it’s a win-win for both entities,” Facilities Maintenance Superintendent Ben Roberts said.

• An offer for a norteño concert at the Curry County Events Center was tabled until additional concert options are presented to the commission.

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

Because the county did not require additional bond counsel for the loan as long as it certifies the jail does not house federal inmates, the commission voted to remove county financial advisor Rob Burpo’s name from the application and took no action on a contract which would have paid Burpo $17,500 upon payment of the loan.