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Hobbs commissioners approve liquor license, budget adjustment, lodgers-tax grants and traffic-signal contract
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Hobbs City Commission unanimously approved a wholesaler liquor license for Black Gold Distilling, adopted Resolution 77-24 (a budget adjustment that reduces the general fund reserve from 34% to 32%), approved lodgers-tax allocations for community events, and awarded a $314,514.57 contract to replace a traffic signal at Del Paso and Clinton.
The Hobbs City Commission on Tuesday approved several items affecting city finances, public safety infrastructure and business licensing.
In a public hearing, the commission voted to grant a spirits, beer and wine wholesaler liquor license to Black Gold Distilling for a proposed location at 1010 West Joe Harvey Boulevard. Owner Cody Scott testified that he had received preliminary approval from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department and confirmed the site was within 300 feet of a school. Deputy City Attorney Ayanna Estrada said correspondence from Hobbs Municipal Schools, signed by Superintendent Jean Strickland, was included in the commission packet and did not oppose issuance. The license passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.
The commission adopted Resolution 77-24, a fiscal-year adjustment that Assistant Finance Director Deb Corral said would move the city’s general fund reserve from 34% to 32%. Corral presented what she described as an increase of about $4,737,250 in revenue and roughly $6,669,005.95 in additional expenses and said the adjustment corrects the medical insurance fund cash balance. Commissioners approved the resolution unanimously by roll call.
Commissioners also approved Resolution 77-25 allocating lodgers-tax funds for fiscal 2026. Finance Director Toby Spears told the commission the lodging-tax fund is approximately $2.1 million and monthly receipts are near $157,000; total requests brought forward at the meeting summed to roughly $109,006, with CityHOPSCORE requesting $12,003.40 to host the Gus Macker event. The allocation passed unanimously.
On a separate vote the commission awarded a contract to RT Electric Inc. for $314,514.57 to replace traffic-signal equipment at Del Paso and Clinton. City Engineer Anthony Henry said the project is funded in part by an NMDOT municipal arterial program grant of about $635,000 (a 75%/25% DOT/city split) and estimated total project costs will be just over $639,000.
Votes at a glance
- Black Gold Distilling liquor license (1010 W. Joe Harvey Blvd.): motion approved, roll-call — Commissioners Smith, Mills, Fields, Penick, Girth and Mayor Senna recorded yes. - Resolution 77-24 (budget adjustment #3 FY2025/2026): adopted, roll-call unanimous. - Resolution 77-25 (lodgers-tax allocations FY2026): adopted, roll-call unanimous. - RT Electric contract (traffic signal replacement at Del Paso & Clinton): approved, roll-call unanimous.
What’s next: The approved contract will proceed to installation planning; budget adjustments and lodgers-tax allocations become effective per the city’s fiscal procedures. No items were tabled or rejected at the meeting.
