Curry expected to close juvenile jail

CLOVIS — The Curry County Commission is expected to close its juvenile detention center when it meets Tuesday morning.

The long-discussed issue is one of numerous items on the 9 a.m. meeting agenda. The meeting will be streamed at currycounty.org and on the county Facebook page.

Anybody with questions or comments can contact County Manager Lance Pyle at:

lpyle@currycounty.org

The closure request from Detention Administrator Mark Gallegos notes the county usually averages about one juvenile detainee a month and keeping the JDC open isn’t worth the $937,000 annual budget when the county has juvenile agreements in place with two counties and a third agreement is pending before the commission.

Pyle said if approved, the closure could take place as soon as May 1.

Other items on the Tuesday agenda include:

• A resolution from Commissioner Chet Spear declaring an economic emergency in the county due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution requests Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the state department of health allow non-essential businesses and non-profits to reopen and be subject to the same safeguards as essential businesses and develop rules that recognize different situations of the state’s various political subdivisions.

• A resolution authorizing a loan agreement for $1.19 million for the purchase of utility vehicles.

• Budget hearings for the detention center and the road and information technology departments.

• A $98,752 bid for roofing work at the county-owned La Casa building.

• Requests from the Ranchvale and Broadview Fire Departments on equipment purchase. The Broadview department has saved up for years to purchase a pumper/tanker apparatus for approximately $400,000 and Fire and Safety Director David Kube expects the money will be taken back if unencumbered. The Ranchvale department wishes to purchase a used truck trailer and tank trailer for $9,725.

• An emergency procurement contract with Cornerstone Detention Products for purchase and installation of security cameras at the adult detention center.

• A request to pay off the final $480,000 of the county’s loan for its Gidding Street property. The cash reserves expenditure would save the county approximately $109,000 in interest.

• Reports from Cannon Air Force Base on its COVID-19 response and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.