Municipal League sets priorities at conference

More than 400 members of the New Mexico Municipal League met at Clovis' Civic Center for three days last week for their 67th annual conference.

Clovis Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes reported participants attended meetings for mayors and council/commission members, clerks and finance officers, police chiefs, judges and court clerks, librarians, for environmental quality and more.

Burroughes was appointed president of the state's City Management Association for a two-year term. 

A committee set legislative priorities for the group and many of the visitors participated in a Salvation Army project.

"We're preparing for Christmas. We have a garage sale on Sept. 7 so we're sorting clothes," Salvation Army Capt. David Shatto said of the volunteers' contributions.

Shatto also spoke of the Salvation Army looking to start up a community clothing closet with help from Clovis' Matt 25 Center.

"We're also sorting food donations from the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico," Shatto said.

Shatto said about 30 Municipal League volunteers stopped by to help.

"We've had people from Portales, Artesia, Estancia, Taos, Red River and Gallup help us today," Shatto said Tuesday.

Other notable Tuesday volunteers were Clovis Mayor Mike Morris, Clovis City Commissioners Helen Casaus, Megan Palla and Gene Porter along with Clovis-Carver Public Library Director Margaret Hinchee.

Conference goers also played golf, participated in a fun run/walk and attended a street party downtown on Wednesday evening.

Local businesses stayed open for shopping late Wednesday, Burroughes said.

"We think the city of Clovis did a terrific job of putting this event together and we've had a tremendous time," said Tucumcari Mayor Mike Cherry.