Three land transactions were brought to the Gallup City Council during their April 28 meeting with the intent of determining ownership and boundary lines.

The transactions include transferring two parcels of land, totaling about four acres, from Gallup Holding and Investment Corp to the City of Gallup, where Fox Run Golf Course is encroaching on the GHIC land, in exchange for two city-owned pieces of the golf course of equal size.

The second transaction is the donation to the city of a 5.55 acre parcel abutting the golf course.

The third is the donation to the city of a 27.29 acre tract in the vicinity of the golf course.

The transfers are being done to avoid complications with future subdivision lots, City Attorney Curtis Hayes said.

“I think with some more planning, the transfers are going to be a really good thing for the city,” Rick Murphy, GHIC president, said. “I’m looking forward to moving ahead with projects as soon as this COVID drama is over.”

The land transfers were approved by the council with a 5-0 vote.

Other items discussed at the city council meeting:

A Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Gallup and McKinley County for distributing the Local Liquor Excise Tax, which was previously approved by the county in April, was brought to the council for their approval. Without the Joint Powers Agreement in place, the county and city would be at risk of losing the excise tax. The agreement was approved with a 5-0 vote.

A transfer of $150,000 from Risk Management reserves to operations due to numerous unplanned expenditures as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak was approved with a 5-0 vote. The funds cover the costs of gloves, mask, goggles, hand sanitizer, thermometers, decontamination and cleaning of several facilities, and technology upgrades.

Instead of being canceled, the Best of the Best Rodeo, which was scheduled for June 23-26, was postponed from the original date to a tentative date of August 18-22. This decision was made to comply with the State of New Mexico’s restriction on mass gatherings. A further determination will be made at a city council meeting in June.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent