Clovis votes to start taking applications for open seat

CLOVIS — The Clovis city commission voted Thursday to start taking applications for the District 1 commissioner seat, officially vacated by Leo Lovett on Wednesday.

Applications will be accepted through the city manager’s office until 5 p.m. Oct. 1. The commission is likely to fill the appointment at its Oct. 7 meeting, one day before the 30-day window to fill the vacancy expires.

Whoever the commission appoints to the seat vacated by Lovett’s resignation will serve through March.

The final two years of the term will be part of the March municipal election. Seven people filed for the open seat in 2020.

Also at the meeting, Mayor Mike Morris presented the Key to the City and an eagle plaque to Lovett for his service on the commission.

Lovett, who is moving to Las Cruces for a job promotion, shared his appreciation to the commission over nearly a year and a half at the position.

“I stand before you with much appreciation,” Lovett told the commissioners. “Every one of you have the best interests of the city at heart. You truly want to make Clovis a better place to live or play.”

Lovett said he made it a point not to wear a suit and tie at the commission meetings. “I want everyone to know that you if don’t have a suit and tie,” he said, “that doesn’t keep you from running for office in Clovis.”

“It has been a service of a lifetime to serve with you,” he said in conclusion.

In other business at the Thursday meeting:

• The commission proclaimed Saturday as a remembrance day in observance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Prior to the vote on the proclamation, Commissioner Megan Palla spoke about the Americans who lost their lives during the attacks and about those who lost their lives in the ensuing war, including her brother who was killed in action in Iraq.

• The commission voted to approve the settlement agreement with the State of New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department involving 44 plaintiffs for the “alleged misappropriation of money” that should have gone to the cities and counties, said City Attorney Jared Morris. After attorneys’ fees and taxes, Clovis will receive $339,255.19 covering 2010 to 2017.

• The commission voted to approve the Local Infrastructure and Capital Improvements Plan for 2023-2027. The top five projects highlighted for the upcoming year were funding to help complete the effluent reuse pipeline, Seventh Street improvements, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard improvements, Clovis Regional Airport terminal expansion and police dispatch base radio stations. At the request of resident Danny Jariwala, the commission placed a swimming pool on the city’s northeast side on the ICIP for 2026.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Sept. 23 at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.