Curry approves detention center stipend request

CLOVIS — Starting with their next paycheck, employees at the Curry County Adult Detention Center will see a small boost to reflect work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Curry County Commission unanimously approved a request during its virtual Tuesday meeting to provide a stipend of up to $100 per pay period to all detention center employee going forward.

The commission plans to review the stipend in its Dec. 15 meeting, but Commissioner Chet Spear already wants it to become permanent.

“Pretty much everything they do is on a hazardous level,” Spear said, “whether they’re dealing with people who turn violent and they have to defend themselves or fight spread of a disease.

The stipend, County Manager Lance Pyle said, will be the full $100 for employees who worked at least 80 hours onsite during the pay period. Anybody who is out on leave or doing remote work, and therefore not in the facility, will see the stipend prorated to reflect the hours they did work at the CCADC.

“In the times we’re in right now,” Detention Administrator Mark Gallegos said, “this would be a great morale boost for our employees as we continue to battle the COVID-19. I think the staff are doing an excellent job.”

The facility, like Curry County, has had recent difficulties with COVID-19. Over the last week, the county has reported 23 detainees, one of which was no longer at the facility, and one contract employee.

In other business during the Tuesday meeting:

• Commissioners approved an amendment to its management agreement with Spectra for operation of the Curry County Events Center and Fairgrounds through February.

The commission previously approved closing the facilities until March 1 due to the pandemic mostly eliminating in-person events, with the understanding a broader agreement would be made.

The management agreement will limit costs at the facility to $126,647 over the six-month closure, with Spectra giving the county back any excess funds.

While the facilities remain closed, animal stalls can be rented and events happening March 1 or later can be booked. The county recognizes Spectra may need to bring limited staff back in February to prepare for a reopening, and the parties can discuss details at that point.

Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the amendment. Martin abstained, as he did not initially find the agreement in his email and didn’t want to vote without reading the item in full.

• Commissioners heard an extension service quarterly report from Mindy Turner, a family and consumer sciences agent.

Turner reported the office has averaged 5,000 social media contacts a month of the quarter, along with hundreds of newsletters and 26 education resources online.

“We were out doing programming; we were just doing it remotely,” Turner said. “Because (New Mexico State University) had the resources, we’ve been using Zoom for a long time.”

Spear asked how the office reaches out to kids who live in the city and aren’t exposed to agriculture. Turner said without restrictions on gatherings, the office generally holds a farm safety day for all third-graders and is looking at having afterschool clubs that meet at schools.

“We talk about the animal pieces a lot because that’s the big ticket item,” Turner said, “but we have over 200 projects.”

• A report was given by the New Mexico Environment Department on statewide studies of PFAS contamination in water.

Representatives of the department and the drinking water bureau said tests are taking place throughout the state, but particular funding is set aside for Curry and Otero counties.

“The objective is to found out to what extent PFAS is an issue in the state,” Joe Martinez of the drinking water bureau said. “Sampling began in late August, and we expect it to continue into the next calendar year.”

Jill Turner of the NMED stressed the issue is completely separate from issues with the state’s Air Force bases, and that so far six water systems are targeted for sampling.

Commissioner Seth Martin asked if money could be used for cleanup efforts.

“The money that was set aside for this was for addressing the contaminants,” Turner said. “It was really pretty broad. Testing, obviously, needs to happen first so we can determine where those contaminants are. There is money that can be spent on exploring what to do if contamination is found and moving on past the testing phase.”

Turner noted the U.S. Geological Survey data will be available on a preliminary basis, but wanted to reiterate it is preliminary data.

• The commission approved in its consent agenda a pair of $10,000 CARES Act distributions to the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico for construction of a shed for contactless food distribution and to Clovis Rock Gym for assistance with rent, insurance and utility payments.

Pyle said the county has received 19 applications so far, with the two awards, three withdrawals, two that didn’t meet the requirements and the remaining 12 still under review. Pyle hopes to have more requests ready for approval in the next commission meeting.

Commissioner Bobby Sandoval continued to urge mask wearing during his commissioner report.

“The virus isn’t getting any better,” Sandoval said. “It’s getting worse every single day and we’ve got to realize we’ve all got to start working together. It’s a known fact any more that masks save lives.”

• Clovis MainStreet received permission to hold various activities and events at the recently-constructed parking lot on the 800 block of Main Street with the caveat MainStreet will promote the site and provide regular updates on such activities.

The commission approved the matter 4-0, with Spear abstaining because MainStreet Executive Director Lisa Pellegrino-Spear is his daughter-in-law.

• The commission meets again 9 a.m. Oct. 20.