County tables water line extension

CLOVIS - The Curry County Board of Commissioners debated the proposed county road barn and water line extension agreement with EPCOR Water to provide water to the barn at a special meeting on Tuesday.

They ultimately decided to table the items until a meeting scheduled Jan. 22.

The proposed agreements call for the county to pay $409,642.50 to Nick Griego & Sons Construction, Inc. for the construction of the barn, $525,554 for the water line extension and a nonrefundable $5,716 for a fire hydrant to EPCOR Water. Terms also call for the county to receive a refund equal 10 percent of EPCOR's revenue from the extension for 10 years after the completion of the project, excluding taxes.

County Manager Lance Pyle said the cost of the water line extension could be covered by the county's environmental fund, currently over $1.9 million.

But Commission Chairman Ben McDaniel and Commissioner Chet Spear both voiced concerns about the cost of the water line extension.

"I think for me we have enough going on considering these costs with the detention center and the courthouse that I feel this should be put on hold as it is. I'm just not comfortable spending that amount of money right now," McDaniel said.

"My opinion is that the water company isn't putting enough skin in the game, where they're going to profit from these people south of town," Spear said. "They're asking us to pay the brunt of the installation of this pipeline when all we wanted to begin with was an 8-inch pipeline for water for the barn."

Pyle said in July the board budgeted $363,314 for the construction of the road barn, of which so far $27,000 has been used to provide fencing for the property. The original estimate for the water line extension was $378,780.

A motion to table the water line extension agreement repeatedly failed before the board unanimously decided to table the item but bring it back to the board before the road barn bid expires on Jan. 22. Spear expressed concern with bringing the item back before the board if no changes are made to the agreement.

Pyle said he believes there are four commission meetings before Jan. 22 where it could be placed back on the agenda, or a special meeting could be called to address it.

After tabling the water line extension agreement, the board addressed the road barn contract. A motion to table the contract failed before more discussion with Curry County Road Superintendent Dennis Fury about the need for water at the property occurred.

Fury said, "if we don't have water there's no sense in putting a building out there because you're going to have to have restrooms; it's a public building."

After a motion to approve the barn contract before securing the water line extension failed, the board ultimately decided to table the contract until another meeting before Jan. 22, with Spear casting the lone opposing vote.

Also at Wednesday's commission meeting:

• The board unanimously accepted the plans and instructed management to proceed with issuing a request for proposal for a general contractor for the detention center addition and renovation project.

The board also approved a contract with SDV Construction, Inc. to provide construction project management services for the project and approved a resolution giving Pyle the authority to negotiate change orders $50,000 and below with a cap of $300,000 for the detention center project.

Pyle said the county will begin accepting bids on Dec. 4 and it will go back in front of the board in March.

The plans call for an addition that would include a housing unit of 24 single cells or 48 double cells and a medical unit, as well as the construction of a new salleyport.

• The board voted to accept a late report from Clovis MainStreet for the first quarter and make a $1,250 payment to Clovis MainStreet.

Spear abstained from the vote because Clovis MainStreet Executive Director Lisa Pellegrino-Spear is his daughter-in-law.

• Correct Care Solutions Regional Manager Donna Christy gave a presentation on the company's medical contract with Curry County Detention Center.

Christy said Correct Care Solutions cannot retain nurses at the detention center because they are being paid below market value and requested an amendment to the contract to raise wages.

Christy said the fair market value in the area for nurses is between $30 and $35 an hour and at Curry County Detention Center nurses are paid $26 an hour.

Pyle said the county will try to put an amended contract before the board at its Dec. 5 meeting and the contract would include an annual increase of $101,709.

Pyle said the county pays Correct Care Solutions over $1.1 million each year to provide medical services at Curry County Detention Center.