Commission to consider letter

CLOVIS — The Curry County Board of Commissioners will look to approve a response letter to the New Mexico Department of Aging and Long-Term Services in regards to grant funding for two projects at La Casa Senior Center during its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday morning.

The department sent a letter to the county on Aug. 27 stating it did not qualify for grant funding for two projects at La Casa Senior Center, stating that outstanding issues from the county’s 2018 audit must be corrected first or the county must seek an alternative fiscal agent before proceeding.

The department’s letter went on to specify that if the county appointed an alternate fiscal agent, it would be responsible for the grant and proper use and oversight of the funds provided.

The county’s response letter assures the department that the projects would be overseen by County Manager Lance Pyle as the fiscal agent and the grant would be managed by him and his team. The letter also asserts that Treasurer Debbie Spriggs and the Treasurer’s Office, who would be responsible for the issues found in the 2018 audit, would not be involved. The letter also states the commissioners have little to no oversight over the Treasurer’s Office.

Other items on the agenda for Tuesday’s 9 a.m. meeting at the Curry County Administration Complex include:

• A request to purchase two new Dodge pickup trucks for the Road Department for $66,342 and $33,171, respectively.

• A request to enter a contract with Nick Griego and Son's Construction, Inc. to construct the Ranchvale Volunteer Fire Department building for $403,144.56.

• A request for action on Resolution #2019-72 for budgetary adjustments and revisions to increase the expense budget in the Reappraisal Fund #602 by $30,000. When the board approved the purchase of pictometry imagery software for $308,984 during their Sept. 4 meeting the appraisal department had not factored in gross revenue tax for the purchase and is seeking additional funds to ensure it can pay for it and other unforeseen expenses.

• A request by Treasurer Debbie Spriggs to authorize payment of a temporary employee who worked beyond the alotted date of employment.

• An update presentation on the renovation and additions to the Adult Detention Center by Levi Weckar.

• An action to impose the county’s 2019 tax rates. After being presented with a certificate of property tax rates from the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration on Friday, the board had five days to review the certificate before it needed to take action.

According to Curry County Assessor Candace Morrison, the new tax rates will not include any major changes on individual levies from 2018 to 2019 aside from normal budget fluctuations with slight increases.