Curry County and the City of Clovis approve resolutions

CLOVIS (KSMX)- Many rural cities and counties are reaching out to the governor to request modifications/changes to the public health orders that are restraining local businesses. Both Curry and Clovis Commission boards are among those that acknowledge the financial determinate businesses are experiencing.

The Clovis City Commission met April 21, in a special meeting to discuss and approve the request to the Governor to reopen businesses, including non-profits closed by executive and public health orders.

Clovis City Mayor Mike Morris who presented this resolution said, “this resolution is not a discount of the seriousness of COVIDS-19. This does not seek to prioritize money or commerce over public safety or human life. Instead, it expresses a belief that with the number of cases in the county it would be safe to begin reopening businesses with public health order restrictions in place”.

At the regularly scheduled meeting for the Curry County Commission, board members approved a resolution seeking a modification of public health orders for businesses to reopen with safeguards as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

The Curry County Board of Commissioners declared Curry County to be an Emergency Area as a result of COVID-19 last month. The decision to declare the existence of a COVID-19 emergency in Curry County was the first step in response to the emergency taking the appropriate action to ensure that Curry County is able to timely respond to the pandemic at hand.

According to Curry County officials, as of Friday, March 20, Curry County has already either encountered or anticipates expending/experiencing a loss of income due to the COVID-19 virus for a total of $79,536.

On Monday, Roosevelt County approved a resolution requesting delegation of authority to local governments during the COVID-19 pandemic and to reopen businesses ordered close using safeguards currently in place. The resolution does not give any authority to the county but requests that the governor would reach out/work with the county to help make decisions more locally than blanket decisions.

Commission Chairman Hunton stated, “we are not in the same boat but we are in the same storm. What the state government thinks is the best for the state may not be best for the rural communities of Eastern New Mexico.”