Curry tables events center scoreboard issue

CLOVIS — The scoreboard that hangs above the center of the Curry County Events Center was highlighted at Tuesday’s county commission meeting as a true symbol of technology.

The only issue, Fairgrounds Director Justin Gregory said, is that it’s a symbol of 2009 technology, when the events center was just starting up.

Commissioners seemed willing to change that technology out, but tabled an item on potential scoreboard replacement because vendors hadn’t responded to inquiries and Gregory couldn’t give commissioners any price estimates.

The current scoreboard often sits dormant during an average equine event, Gregory said, because it doesn’t connect into the timing systems event organizers bring themselves.

The county, Gregory said, had three primary options when it came to replacing the current scoreboard:

• Get a scoreboard that is up to current technology, likely including a video board

• A LED sign that could display event sponsors and competitor information.

• Replace the scoreboard with banners

Commissioners asked if event organizers would abandon their own timing systems if the events center had a state-of-the-art scoreboard. Gregory said that was unlikely.

Still, commissioners seemed in favor of upgrading a scoreboard the center rarely uses to one it would.

“You have to spend money to make money sometimes,” Commissioner Bobby Sandoval said. “I think the scoreboard is one thing preventing us from making money at the events center.”

Commissioners asked Gregory to provide some price ranges for each option when they meet again Nov. 5.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• Commissioners received an overview of construction at the Curry County Adult Detention Center from HB Construction.

Officials with HB anticipated being done with most inspections in the next three weeks, and after that would start to test servers and systems in preparation to complete the project. President Matt Mulligan expected the construction fences would come down in the next few weeks, though much internal work remains.

Mulligan anticipated a completion date of Jan. 22, a month later than earlier projections. He noted a few issues, including problems with the fire alarm system.

On a question of HB’s troubles on construction of the Lea County Detention Center, Mulligan said that has been a challenging project, but said HB is financially sound.

“That will be worked out,” Mulligan said. “It’s not going to impact what we’re doing here in Curry.”

Commissioners took a tour of the facility Tuesday afternoon following the meeting.

• Detention Center Administrator Mark Gallegos told commissioners the jail had eight new hires. The center is still understaffed by eight, but it’s better than being understaffed by 16.

“Detention’s not for everybody,” Gallegos said, “but with a good platform for training you can do a lot.”

The jail, as of Tuesday, had 188 inmates — 148 male, 40 female.

Sandoval asked what the recidivism rate at the center was. Gallegos said nationally, seven of 10 jail inmates usually end up at the facility again within 90 days, and Curry inmates fell pretty close to those numbers.

• Gregory gave details about attendance and revenues for the August Curry County Fair.

The fair had 29,353 attend and income was about $92,000.

Commissioners asked Gregory if he could provide a more detailed breakdown in a future meeting, as they were wondering how well themed nights did compared to past years. Commissioners also wanted Gregory to look into an earlier scheduling for future fairs.

“I think we’re missing a lot of revenue because a lot of kids can’t go to the fair,” Chairman Chet Spear said. “They’re busy with school.”

• The commission appointed a road viewing committee for Curry Road 38 between Curry roads F and G. Pat Woods of Broadview has notified the county he owns the property surrounding the road, and county staff noted no addresses would need to be changed if the section of road was closed.

• Proclamations were read for national 4-H week, red ribbon week for drug awareness next week and Oct. 26 as national prescription drug take back day.

Tanya Henderson, a substance abuse preventionist for the county, said Roden-Smith Pharmacy and Walgreens were participating locally. Henderson noted that in addition to prescription drugs, the facilities could also take back e-cigarettes as long as they had removable batteries.

Spear said many people simply flushed their unused medications down the toilet, but he advised against that because it made treating water more difficult for treatment plants.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 5.