Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Meetings watch: Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority

The following were actions taken at the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority meeting Thursday morning in the Clovis-Carver Public Library:

• Board members held an executive session to discuss limited easement matters. No action was taken.

• Executive Director Justin Howalt said results from the Integrity Accounting Independent Audit were submitted to the state.

Similar to last year, there were no findings in the audit and the board is in a good financial state, he said.

• Board members approved amendment 17 of the owner agreement between the board and engineering company CH2M Hill Engineers.

Howalt said the agreement allows the board to terminate the contract, should no funds are available for funding engineering or planning at the time.

• Ute Reservoir Caretaker Rex Stall said reservoir levels were at 84 percent capacity since Monday. Although water levels have decreased since January, Stall said it is nothing unusual during this time of year.

• Howalt reported on behalf of state lobbyist Joe Thompson on the state of both House Bill 5, which deals with capital outlay reauthorization, and House Bill 275, which addresses public/private partnership investments.

HB 5 passed the House with original language removed regarding fiscal year 2017 water trust board funding, Howalt said, with the senate passing the bill to the house with language reinstated.

HB 275 allows state municipalities to enter into public/private partnership agreements, currently in the House Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee.

• Federal Consultant John Ryan said Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke was not yet confirmed as the Federal Department of Interior secretary, causing a holding pattern within the interior.

Ryan also said progress is on hold since President Donald Trump’s budget is not yet set and there is no direction on an infrastructure bill yet.

• CH2M Hill Project Manager Wendy Christofferson said she wrapped up the 2017 water transport application.

She also reported the segment of the pipeline project covering just north to just east of Cannon Air Force Base will be submitted to the Construction Program Bureau today.

• Board Chairwoman Gayla Brumfield and Howalt reported they have been working with Marquita Russel, chief of programs for the New Mexico Finance Authority, on resolutions for the project.

For the segment of the pipeline traveling north to east of CAFB, Howalt said Russel was waiting for plans, estimates on construction plans and notifications of acquiring easements on the phase of the project.

• Howalt reported he met with the State Land Office and the Bureau of Reclamation to discuss acquiring easements for the project.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 16 in Portales.

— Compiled by Staff Writer Kurt Munz-Raper