Meetings watch: Clovis mayor praised for work on bill

CLOVIS — Mayor Mike Morris on Thursday was praised for his work pushing Senate Bill 49 through the recent state legislative session.

The measure allows communities of any size to use economic development dollars to incentivize retail businesses. The practice was previously only authorized for municipalities below 35,000 population.

The mayor thanked city staff and chambers of commerce across the state, most notably the Clovis/Curry County chamber. He noted the process helped him connect with mayors of other communities that also saw the legislation’s potential benefits.

“No one gets anything done by themselves,” Morris said. “We’ll always be able to say this bill was born in Clovis.”

The bill’s effective date is July 1, but Clovis must first get voter approval to change Local Economic Development Act policy.

In other business at Thursday's Clovis city commission meeting:

• Morris was appointed to serve out the remaining few months of David Lansford’s term on the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority.

The term for Lansford was expiring in June, Morris said, but Lansford chose to step down because the authority is embarking on several ventures that will extend beyond the term and he thought it best his replacement not join in the middle of those ventures.

• Commissioners approved implementation of enterprise asset management through Tyler Technologies, with a planned launch of next April.

The $290,000 program, City Manager Justin Howalt said, would help the city better track various assets, with details including air filter installation in city vehicles.

“We can get pretty far down into the weeds of the assets we’re tracking,” Howalt said.

• The commission honored Toby Lopez on his retirement after 34 years with the city as a collection driver for the sanitation department. Public Works Director Clint Bunch said Lopez has primarily worked a route in District 3.

“Mr. Lopez has been a model employee for the city of Clovis,” Bunch said. “Mr. Lopez takes pride in his district and takes pride in his work.”

• George Jones and Gail Tarson were appointed to the Economic Incentive Board as District 1 and 2 representatives.

Jones received five votes for the District 1 vacancy — Lovett, Garza, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bryant, Megan Palla and Gary Elliott. Latriece Brooks, running for reappointment, received votes from Casaus and Lauren Rowley.

Tarson took four votes to retain her District 2 position — Rowley, Bryant, Lovett and Casaus. Steve North received votes from Palla, Garza and Elliott. Jamaal Williams also ran for the position.

• The commission accepted an audit report from Integrity Accounting. Erick Robinson said the city had an unmodified opinion.

“I didn’t see anything as an auditor that would give me significant pause,” Robinson said.

• A proclamation was read for National Day of Prayer, which will be held noon May 6 on the 700 block of Main Street.

• Julia Avila, a junior at Clovis High School, joined CHS Principal Jay Brady in thanking the city for its help with the school’s recent homecoming parade and clearing the way for a May 1 prom in the CHS outdoor commons area.

“Thanks to you,” Avila said, “we will all be able to make some great memories.”

Brady said the school is also planning for a 2 p.m. May 23 graduation at Leon Williams Stadium.

• The next commission meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. May 6.