Wing commander receives key to the city of Clovis

May 20—Cannon Air Force Base's Wing Commander, Colonel Terence G. Taylor, received a key to the city of Clovis from Mayor Mike Morris Thursday in advance of his leaving for his new command.

Taylor spoke as his wife Maria and daughters Ella and Zoli stood by his side. Taylor spoke to Clovis city commissioners, mayor and audience at the regular session of the city commission.

After the session, Taylor said he will be leaving Cannon Wednesday for his new command of the 380th Expeditionary Wing based out of Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates.

According to a news release from the Cannon Public Affairs office a change of command ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at Cannon.

In other business, the commission approved a preliminary budget for the city for fiscal year 2024 of $69.05 million after a presentation of the 200-page work by Clovis Finance Director LeighAnn Melancon.

After the meeting, Melancon said last year's preliminary budget was close to $73.39 million.

"Last year (2023 fiscal year) we budgeted $9 million in (federal) American Recovery grants. This year we budgeted what we know about American Recovery grants which is $4.2 million for Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard improvements and $1.1 million for our airport terminal," Melancon said after the meeting.

Melancon reported to the commissioners the preliminary budget is now ready to send on to Santa Fe and that must be done by midnight, June 1.

A new airport terminal building design was approved by commissioners. After the meeting, City Manager Justin Howalt said with the floor plan approved the plans for architecture and engineering will be drawn up.

Noah Knisely, Regional Vice President for Presbyterian Healthcare, parent company of Clovis' Plains Regional Medical Center spoke at length to city commission about the most recent developments at the hospital.

Hospital Administrator Jorge Cruz's last day is Friday. Knisely will be the interim chief executive.

Knisely described rural and regional health care as "difficult" in terms of recruiting health care personnel to locate and stay in the area. He pointed out it's difficult to get health care professionals to locate even to Albuquerque.

He did report Presbyterian has received applications for the hospital chief executive position.

Knisely and Morris talked about improvements to health care in the area.

"Our health care access has to improve," Morris said. Knisely agreed.

PRMC Hospital Board President Lonnie Leslie addressed commissioners, telling them the interest by Presbyterian is great "to make Clovis's hospital the best hospital."

Longtime city employee Garry Johnson was introduced to the mayor and commissioners as the new director of the city's bus service, Clovis Area Transit System. Johnson started with the city as an accountant in 2007.

Stephanie Chavez was introduced to the mayor and commissioners as the Hillcrest Park Zoo's new curator. Chavez moved to Clovis from El Paso, Texas.

Senior Services Director Barbara Riggan got approval from commission for art to go in the new Hillcrest Senior Center courtesy of $70,000 in state grant money.

The centerpiece of the collection will be a large "horned lizard" or "horny toad" 25 inches tall, 40 inches wide and 5 feet long valued at $30,000. Various other original artworks by New Mexico artists will be on display.

Among the proclamations read by Morris was one for Emergency Medical Services Week which is this week.

Clovis Fire Department Chief Mike Nolen and several first responders were on hand for the reading of that proclamation.

The mayor also acknowledged events scheduled for Memorial Day weekend: The placing of American flags Saturday on the Lawn Haven and Mission Gardens graves of those who served in the armed forces and a Memorial Day service at Lawn Haven Cemetery May 29 at noon.

Elks Lodge president Valentino Martinez addressed the meeting saying a free meal will be served from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for veterans Monday at the lodge at 218 Sycamore Street.