Clovis commission votes 5-1 to send letter supporting CDC27s NHANES visit

Mayor Mike Morris and the Clovis City Commission voted to provide a letter of support for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) after a presentation by NHANES representative Alexa Ortiz.

Alexa Ortiz, who said she works with NHANES under the National Center for Health Statistics at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the commission Clovis was "one of several areas around the United States that was randomly selected for participation" and that the program uses in-home interviews and a mobile exam center to collect health data used for national guidance. Ortiz said the mobile exam center will be set up at the Clovis Civic Center from about early May to the end of June.

Commissioners asked how the letter would be used and whether NHANES would come if the city did not provide support. Ortiz said NHANES already has an agreement with the Clovis Civic Center and that the letter of support primarily helps field interviewers reassure residents; she also said the project has received letters from the Curry County Board of Commissioners and the Curry County Health Council.

After brief discussion, Commissioner Casaus moved to approve the letter of support; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Porter and carried by a vote of 5 in favor, 1 opposed. The commission noted the letter would not determine whether NHANES would operate in Clovis but would serve as a local endorsement residents could rely on when field staff contact them.

The commission asked staff to accept materials Ortiz offered (a brochure, a short video and links) so commissioners and staff could answer constituent questions about NHANES.

The vote: motion to approve letter of support carried 5-1. Next steps: NHANES will proceed with the scheduled mobile exam deployment at the Civic Center; the city will provide the letter and local points of contact for outreach.