City Offices

Welcome to the City of Lovington. Below you will find a brief summary for each of our offices and departments. For more information on any specific department, click on the department name.

CITY MANAGER – Michael Leighton

The City Manager bears the duties and responsibilities of the day-to-day administration and management of the City’s functions and services for the citizens. The Manager works under the framework of a Manager/Commission form of government; wherein the Commission acts as a policy development body that provides general direction to the Manager. All Departments report to the Manager and receive guidance and direction from him/her on day-to-day operations, future planning, financing, personnel, procurement, grants management, risk management, economic development, special projects and other duties as assigned or accepted.

MUNICIPAL COURT – Barbara Campbell, Municipal Judge

The Municipal Court is headed by an elected Municipal Judge. The Court is responsible for the hearing and disposition of City Ordinance violation cases brought forward by the City’s Code Enforcement and Law Enforcement Departments.

Motor Vehicle Department – Director, Maria Hernandez

The City of Lovington provides this service to citizens in a quasi partnership with the State of New Mexico. It is directly connected to MVD headquarters in Santa Fe. It has several functions, but is not limited to:

• Issues new and renews drivers licenses commensurate with required testing
• Registers motor vehicles, trailers and performs VIN inspections
• Processes dealership work and issues temporary tags
• Issues identification documents
• Issues handicap placards

Code Enforcement – Officer, Kevin Elliott

The Code Enforcement Office has the duties and responsibilities of enforcing nuisance and other City Codes related to dilapidated structures, weeds and vegetation overgrowth and removal of trash and junk through a warning and citation process. It is integral for the maintenance of property values within the City limits and removal of nuisance irritants and threats in neighborhoods, residential, commercial and industrial. It is also integral for the maintenance of beauty.

Finance Department – Rhonda Jones, CFO

The Finance Department has several roles including accounts payable/receivable, accounting, payroll, budget preparation, administration, and reporting. The Department also directs the utility payments, handles the telephone system and receives the public. It works closely with the City Manager.

Parks Department – Jimmy Ortega, Director

The Parks Department responsibilities lie in the areas of maintenance and improvement of the City parks and facilities. This includes the irrigation and feeding of park vegetation, mowing and the minor repairs of the various buildings the City owns.

Recreation Department – Jessie Munoz, Director

The Recreation Department is responsible for providing and managing a variety of team and individual sports and games opportunities for area citizens. The department manages the aqua center. It keeps the fields of play ready.

Senior Center – Norma Vejil, Director

The Billy McKibben Senior Center is a municipal facility providing services to senior citizens. It is the mission of the Cente to know the needs of the community’s elders and to utilize all available resources in order to address those needs. It is the goal of the Center to insuer community elders have the ability to preserve their independent living, promote good health programs and to encourage seniors to enjoy their aging years. The Center provides the following:

• Transportation
• Congregate and home delivered meals
• Recreation programs
• Physical Fitness/Wellness programs

Library – Turedia McBride, Director

The Lovington Public Library, through its collections, programs and outreach activities, supports and encourages reading and learning, intellectual curioustity, personal growth and development. LPL is a member of the Estacado Library Information Network offering services to the citizens of SE New Mexico a wide variety of benefits including member libraries collections, shared database expense and Internet access.

Fire Department

Police Department

Street and Solid Waste Department – Carl Weaver, Director

The Lovington Street/Solid Waste Department is responsible for the majority of construction, maintenance and repair of the City’s surface streets, alleys, curbs, gutters, signage, striping and right-of-ways owned by the City. It works with NMDOT on the signage and roadways that NMDOT is responsible for. It also assists with facility repair and construction on an as needed basis. It also performs nuisance remediation, as assigned, in cooperation with Code Enforcement. It also works with closely with the City’s utility departments and recreation departments in repair and replacements efforts.

Museum – Jim Harris, Curator

The City of Lovington supports the Lea County Museum in its efforts to preserve the areas cultural heritage. The Museum in a seminal visiting place for the citizens and for tourists who come to the region.

Water Department – Kurt Porter, Director

The Lovington Water Department is proud to state that it provides “quality on tap”. It pumps and distributes safe and clean water to approximately 10,000 City residents, commercial concerns and manufacturing businesses. It source water comes from 17 water wells, 2 booster pump stations, 3 water towers, 4 underground storage reservoirs and a distribution system of approximately 30 miles. The Department is in constant upgrade and modernization mode.

Waste Water Department – Miguel De La Cruz, Director

The Lovington Waste Water Department Maintains and operates a new SBR activated sludge sewage plant with as capacity of 2 MGD with and average daily flow of 8 MGD. The collection system approximates 65 miles of piping with 21 lift pumping stations. This department markets approved soil enhancement product.