The Aztec Senior Center will get a new kitchen, along with a multipurpose room. The $650,000 project began with the closure of the facility April 17, with meals now being prepared at the VFW in Aztec.

Aztec City Manager Jeff Blackburn said a $363,000 TSD Capital Building Grant from the state of New Mexico will be used, along with other funding sources.

Blackburn said they hope they’ll be able to apply some of the $105,000 available funding from House Bill 505. Since the project is underway, Blackburn said they may not be able to use those funds for this project, but ultimately they will be used for the Senior Center.

The bill set aside $3 million to address emergency needs, including renovations and immediate code compliance, to purchase and install equipment and furnishings, to purchase and equip vehicles and meals equipment and for the purchase, delivery and installation of building systems at senior centers statewide.

The funding needed beyond the $363,000 from the TSD grant will come from the city of Aztec general fund, Blackburn said during a phone call April 25.

According to Blackburn, asbestos removal has been set for April 24-28, with demolition and construction beginning May 1. Winters Construction was awarded the project, but forecasting a completion date is very difficult, Blackburn said.

“With the current supply chain issues, etc, etc.,” Blackburn said things rarely go as planned. “We’re just blessed that we got Winters on board,” he said.

He remains cautious about setting “solid dates when you’re talking about construction projects.” These construction projects are tentative, as with the case of the East Aztec Arterial project, according to Blackburn.

Blackburn said a notice of closure was handed out to seniors beginning April 6 and they also posted the notice on their Facebook page April 10.

The administration office at the Senior Center will not be open during construction because of liability and safety issues.

Anyone with questions or concerns should call (505) 334-2881.