News
PRC Approves Electric Co-op's Variance

Biomass Firm Claims Deal

A Forge-Fired Degree

School Year Starts With Buses Rolling Smoothly

'They Took My Life Savings'

Minors Work at DWI Memorial

Saddle Makes All the Difference

Moriarty Discusses New School

Trustee May Step in for Hibbs

Committee Tackles Canyon Traffic

More
News

HOME	CLASSIFIEDS	OBITUARIES	SPORTS	OPINION

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Torrance Struggling to Improve Rodeo Arena

By Beth Hahn
Mountain View Telegraph
    Who knew it would be so difficult to spend $92,000?
    More than a year after receiving a $44,000 donation from the dissolving Hope Medical Clinic board, the Torrance County Commission has yet to spend the money and a state grant to improve the Mountainair rodeo grounds.
    County commissioners did award one bid Wednesday for about $30,000 for new lights at the arena, but building an announcer booth was put off at least two weeks.
    Bleachers and coverings were delayed indefinitely.
    Sudie Teaney, the County Extension Office 4-H representative who is serving on the advisory rodeo grounds improvement committee, told commissioners Wednesday that spending the $92,000 has been "frustrating" at times.
    "It's been difficult for a number of reasons," she said. "I think the bid requirements were tough."
    Torrance County was given $44,000 in December 2005 after the Hope Medical Clinic board dissolved. The board had been created about 40 years ago to bring a health care clinic to Estancia.
    Over the years, area residents gave money to the clinic board to support the clinic and its day-to-day operations. When Torrance County, with the help of state funds, built the new Esperanza Medical Center, the clinic board decided to donate its leftover funds back to the county and another $44,000 to the town of Estancia.
    According to former board members, the money was meant to be used for the "general health and welfare of Torrance County residents."
    County commissioners, however, opted to use the funds to gain a matching grant from the state for rodeo arena improvements in Mountainair. Some private citizens also donated.
    The improvements have been delayed several times, because contractors did not bid on the project, bid estimates exceeded the $92,000 budget and the state refused to allow the county to use volunteers to work on the projects.
    During Wednesday's meeting, Teaney said the rodeo grounds improvement committee is willing to put off constructing bleachers because the lighting and announcer's booth are more needed.
    "This whole project has been very frustrating because of the bid requirements," she said. "I honestly never thought it would be so hard for a woman to spend $92,000."