Substation in the works

Staff report

The City of Portales and the Portales Fire Department have taken the first steps towards the creation of a PFD substation on the north side of Portales.

The city councilors approved the acceptance of a warranty deed for property donated by La Casa de Buena Salud, Inc. during Tuesday’s monthly council meeting at the Memorial Building.

The property donated is located at the intersection of West Ivy Street and North Avenue L and will be used by the PFD for a substation to serve the area of Portales north of the railroad tracks.

Nuckols said the department’s response times can increase due to train traffic cutting off the roadways between the north and south sides of Portales.

Portales Fire Chief Gary Nuckols said the deed is a step towards the eventual construction of a fire substation.

Nuckols said the donated property has gained approval of the New Mexico fire marshal’s office which allows the city to move forward with a request for proposal for the planning and design phase of the substation.

Nuckols said he plans for the substation to have a minimum of one fire engine, one brush truck, an ambulance and a command vehicle.

When the design plans for the substation are final, Nuckols said he hopes to begin construction within three years.

“My goal is to have construction started in 2018.” Nuckols said.

Nuckols said the project will require more funding once design plans are finalized, a problem the department plans to remedy by applying for federal and state grants as well as loans.

Nuckols said the substation would improve the department’s emergency response times and eliminate the possibility of trains blocking access to the north side of the city.

“It (the substation) will allow us to cover the city of Portales more effectively,” Nuckols said.

According to Nuckols, the substation could increase the departments Fire Protection Fund distribution by $80,000 per year.

“I feel like this is something we need desperately on that side of town,” Portales City Councilor Keith Thomas said.