City rec director gives notice

At the Portales City Council meeting Tuesday night at City Hall, councilors:

• learned that Recreation Center Director Andi Copenhaver has given two-week’s notice of resignation and center staff member Sharianita Robinson would take over as interim director.

Community Affairs Coordinator Nicole Thornton said Copenhaver was taking a job in her hometown until her husband was discharged from the U.S. Air Force.

Robinson has worked at the center for 1 1/2 years. She said she planned to keep the structure already in place and institute more adult activity classes, including yoga in January.

• authorized the mayor to sign a grant application to the state Department of Health for $22,400 to buy two air-assist lift stretchers for Portales Fire Department emergency medical services.

Fire Chief Gary Nuckols said if the department received the grant, the city would need to provide a match of $2,400.

Nuckols said the stretchers have a lift mechanism powered by an air tank so ambulance personnel don’t have to lift patients once they’re on the gurney. With the air-assist lift stretchers the department already has, he said, back injuries to emergency medical personnel have gone from five in 2008 to none last year.

• ratified the treasurer’s actions in paying almost $1.18 million in monthly bills for September.

• heard an overview presentation of the city website, http://www.portalesnm.org. The website has 200 pages, including a citizens’ action request form, resources for military personnel moving to the area and employment opportunities.