City fire call volumes on the rise

Staff report

Portales City Coun-cil members on Tuesday approved a grant that could lead to a new substation for the city fire department.

The $25,000 De-partment of Finance and Administration grant will allow the city to begin surveying and planning for potential substation locations after it is signed by Mayor Sharon King.

Fire Chief Gary Nuckols said the project, if it moves past the planning and survey phase, will take four years to complete.

“Our call volumes are up,” Nuckols said. “We’re in need of another station on the north side of the railway.”

Councilor Leo Lovett said the grant money will not have to be returned if the project is deemed unfeasible after the surveying and planning phase.

Mayor Sharon King declared Oct. 5-11 as Fire Prevention Week in the city. Nuckols said the department aims to raise awareness of fire danger and how fires and fire injuries can be prevented.

Also on Tuesday, Council members:

• Approved a letter of support to Clovis Mayor David Lansford for the Ogallala Water Conservation Initiative. The plan, if approved by the federal government, would pay farmers to stop irrigating.

• Approved the ratification of the city finance department’s actions regarding August 2014 bills.

The city’s bills totaled $3.1 million. The largest expenditures were $1.4 million for the Water and Waste Water Fund and $305,547 for Ute Water Administration dues.

• Heard a presentation from Eastern New Mexico Food Bank Interim Director Daniel Blea. He notified the council of the food bank’s efforts to feed hungry school children in the Portales Municipal Schools as well as its goal to expand its food services to college students.

• Approved an initial application to the Water Trust Board for the 2014 funding cycle. If the application is approved, the city would renovate its water storage tanks. This includes Johnson Hill water tank 1 and 2, the water tower at Rotary Park, and the underground water storage tank on Lime Street. Director of Public Works John DeSha said if the initial application is approved, the city will be asking for $12 million to complete the project.