Commission rescinds fireworks ban

CLOVIS — In what certainly felt like a no-brainer based on the weather outside, Curry County commissioners decided against extending a ban on specific fireworks ahead of the July 4 weekend.

The commission, citing drought conditions, in its June 1 meeting enacted the fireworks ban, with the knowledge they’d discuss the matter again at the Tuesday meeting.

By the time commissioners arrived to the meeting, they were greeted with rain in three of the last four days and predictions of more rain throughout the week.

County Fire and Safety Director David Kube told commissioners given recent rains, “I can’t reasonably say we need to extend it.”

The fireworks mentioned in the ban, Kube said, were stocked by local firework vendors in anticipation the ban would be rescinded.

In other business covered during the three-hour meeting, which The News covered virtually:

• Commissioners approved a pay increase that, effective July 11, would move all detention officers at the Curry County Adult Detention Center to at least $15 an hour.

The move will cost the county $109,000 annually. Interim Administration Joe Alaniz said the shortage of detention officers, 27 for the facility, was part of a national trend.

“We’re very hopeful with this increase we can recruit some viable candidates and retain employees.”

Before moving for approval, Commissioner Chet Spear said he hoped it wasn’t the last raise commissioners would consider, and that he couldn’t comprehend why somebody would take a $15/hour job at the detention center when jobs without the same risks offer the same wages.

“It’s not enough,” Spear said. “I’ve been in the jail. It’s high risk, high stress. It’s dangerous. Unless you’ve worked there, you have no idea what we’re talking about.

“We have to find ways to pay these detention officers more money.”

• After some back and forth over the estimate of a judge’s bench, commissioners approved documents to enter a September bidding period for renovations at the Curry County Courthouse.

The county is holding off until September on many construction projects in hopes material prices may drop.

Spear had concerns about a $90,000 estimate on a judge’s bench, which he considered an outlandish estimate. Spear wasn’t against the project as a whole, but the bench estimate needed discussion.

“I’m not picking on names,” Spear said. “I’m picking on costs.”

Bob Calvani of NCA Architects told commissioners the estimate was a simple placeholder, and he’d hate to see the entire process held up for that reason. Pyle noted the $90,000 estimate did feel high, but it was part of a potential $7 million project that would last the county for a half century.

“Like everybody else, we thought the bid came in high,” Ninth Judicial District Administrator Kevin Spears said. “The project as a whole, we’ve worked really hard on this. I just don’t want the focus on a great project to be on this bench.”

Dave Puritz of NCA said he didn’t think it was a great option, but the county could provide the bench outside of the contract if it saw fit.

Commission Chairman Robert Thornton moved to go ahead with the documents, provided the bid process created bid alternates tied to the presence of the judge’s bench.

• Commissioners voted 4-1 to pay a $12,317 invoice to attorney Peter Nichols, who is aiding local entities in creating a land trust for water conservation surrounding Cannon Air Force Base.

Pyle told commissioners he wanted direction after the county received an opinion from County Attorney Steve Doerr, who was not present at the Tuesday meeting, that payment of the invoice could later be ruled outside of the contract and constitute an Antidonation Clause violation.

Spear and Thornton did not see an issue, and felt there was a responsibility to honor the contract.

“This benefits everyone from south Clovis to Grady,” Thornton said. “This is important to our entire community. Even if we had to go get a legal opinion, I think we’re right in what we’re doing.”

Sandoval was still concerned over the county attorney opinion, and cast the lone dissenting vote.

• Commissioners approved an application with the New Mexico Department of Finance for financial assistance to purchase a new truck for the Ranchvale Fire Department.

Spear said he had no plans to hold up the application, but asked if a shortage of firefighters could lead to the removal of state funds needed to pay the loan in future years. He noted many firefighters have aired concerns since the state eliminated qualified immunity — protection from civil liability while performing duties as a governmental employee.

Kube said he anticipated in that situation, a department would be provided an opportunity to rectify a situation and not immediately lose state funding.

• Commissioners approved a flat $5 daily fee and $12 weekly pass for the Curry County Fair, with free admission for children 12 and under. Future fairs would be $3 daily and $8 weekly for children 3-12, $7 daily and $18 weekly for adults, $6 daily and $15 weekly for senior citizens and $5 daily and $12 weekly for military members. Spear asked Events Center Manager K.C. Messick if the military rate included veterans. Messick said that hadn’t been specifically discussed.

“I don’t know why we wouldn’t,” Messick said. “I’ll start the discussion, we’ll go from there.”

• The commission honored Suzanne Zamora, who is retiring July 16 as director of the county’s RSVP and Foster Grandparent programs.

County Manager Lance Pyle said Zamora is in her second stint with the county, having left a personnel coordinator position in 2014. In 2015, the county was Having challenges with foster grandparent program. Pyle called Zamora and asked her to come back because he felt she’d do well in the position.

“She came back as a temporary employee,” Pyle said. “Within about a month, she applied for the position, got the position and turned the program around.”

• The next commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 20.