Portales mayor talks water rates, other challenges

Editor’s Note: Portales’ Sharon King just completed her fifth year as mayor. We asked her a series of questions about city issues.

One of the major issues facing the city of Portales and eastern New Mexico is the water supply. How do you feel about the status of the regional water project and its ability to serve the people of Portales and the surrounding region? I serve as the vice chair of the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority. Although I totally support the project, I know it cannot be the one and only source of water. The city of Portales is currently constructing a wastewater treatment plant that will treat the water to the point that we can reuse it on green spaces within the city. Watering parks and schools is the largest use of our city water.

The water situation in the West is not going to get better with time, unless we get another one of those rains that last 40 days and 40 nights. I think it is time for the entire state of New Mexico to look at potable water and do whatever is necessary to make that a viable option for all communities.

link Sharon King

Diagnosed

with myeloma

There are plans to substantially raise the rates Portales residents and businesses pay for water, sewer and garbage service and wastewater treatment —possibly as much as double or even triple the current rates — to help pay the costs of the city’s wastewater treatment system. What is the status of that plan?Do you think Portales residents can realistically afford to pay that much more in this economy? One of the previous proposals that came forward from the Portales Public Works Committee asked for an increase of $30 a month. Since that time, city employees in Portales have gone back to the drawing board and have come up with a plan that will be much easier for citizens to bear. We are holding a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Building in Portales for public input.

As I mentioned earlier, the availability of water is not going to get significantly better. I believe the cost is going to increase because of the scarcity of water. I would like to say we have a choice but we really don’t. The absolute most important element to survive, physically and economically, is water.

Do you believe the citizens of Portales will have to face tax increases in order to continue financing water needs in this region? Please explain your answer, including the amount of tax increases that may be needed. At this point in time, we have not considered a tax increase to fund water. I would prefer to stay away from the tax base for water but it may come to a point that we have no choice.

As you look ahead in this new year, what do you still hope to accomplish during your term as mayor of Portales? I want the city to get more assertive in cleaning up Portales. As usual, when I was elected, I thought it would be rather easy to do that. But the way New Mexico property rights are defined, it is more difficult than I realized. We have been able to demolish two abandoned, dangerous buildings. I want us to look at the ordinances again and see if we have a way to strengthen our current ordinances and clean up the many neglected and abandoned properties in the city.

The Portales Police Department has faced a number of challenges in recent years and leadership changes. How do you feel about the current status of the department? Do you think the Portales Police Department has addressed recent concerns? I am very proud of our Portales Police Department. Under the leadership of Chief Pat Gallegos, the department is working as a well-oiled machine. Not only have they addressed critical policy and practice concerns, they have begun new programs to help citizens in the community. Most people are aware of the Santa Cop and Adopt-a-Cop programs, but this year they also began the Walk in Their Shoes program. They collect donations and buy shoes for kids who need them.

A lot of money was spent improving the downtown square area in Portales, including work on the sidewalks, planting trees and installing flower planters and benches. Then much of that work was torn up as part of the recent U.S. Highway 70 construction project through Portales. How much money was lost as a result of paying for and then tearing up so much of the improvement work downtown? What has been the response from business owners along the affected downtown square area? The original landscaping was a labor of love by the Main Street volunteers, not only financially, but blood, sweat and probably tears. I remember when the bricks were being laid in the sidewalks, you would drive through town on Sundays and see folks like Orlando Ortega, Danny Woodward and Greg Erf on their knees laying the bricks. I have no idea how much money was spent on the landscaping. I know different residents purchased the trees that were recently removed.

The decision to remove the trees and street lights was out of the city’s control. That decision was made by the New Mexico State Department of Transportation. The trees were transplanted to the cemetery, and when I last checked, all but one survived the move.

I think the business owners were mixed about the removal of the trees, but mostly happy. Although the trees were beautiful, especially when they were in bloom, they created a nasty (literally) hangout for birds. Two corners that were especially bad were by Hunton Insurance (at the corner of West Second Street and South Avenue A on the Portales downtown square) and by Pebsworth Insurance (at the corner of West Second and Main streets on the downtown square). It was impossible to walk (in those areas) without accumulating bird feces on your feet.

When the New Mexico Legislature meets in Santa Fe beginning in January, the 60-day session will allow for more legislation to be considered. What are the legislative priorities this time for the city of Portales? We have submitted our list of priorities to the state for consideration. Our top five are:

1. Fire protection/water circulation upgrade

2. New Portales Fire Department sub-station

3. Senior Center improvements

4. New loader purchase

5. Rotary Park and ballfield improvements

Keeping up with infrastructure needs, such as road conditions and drainage, poses an ongoing challenge for cities. What are the next priorities for the city of Portales when it comes to infrastructure needs? Water (obtaining, storing, and distributing) will always be one of our top priorities. We need to perform some overdue maintenance on the four water tanks. We always have streets that need repairs. We are always looking for ways to reduce expenditures and increase revenues. The list goes on and on.

Overall, what do you see as the biggest challenges ahead facing Portales? What do you see as the biggest accomplishments the city has made in recent years? Biggest challenge: Money! If we had enough money, we would not have challenges.

Biggest accomplishments: Even though it was not a city project, I am thrilled with the highway construction (along U.S. Highway 70 through Portales). I know it was a nightmare when it was going on, and it took twice as long as anticipated, but I am so proud of it now. Our downtown is outstanding. I know of no other small city downtown area that looks as nice as ours.

When you are on the administrative side of a city, you define “accomplishments” differently than if you are not in a decision-making role. I am proud of the wastewater treatment plant project. Most of us remember the horrible year we had about seven years ago when the odor was unbearable. With the new plant, we will never experience that again. I am also proud that city staff in Portales had the foresight to include the reuse facet to the project.

— Compiled by Janet Lyn Bresenham,

correspondent