EPCOG reviews year

The Eastern Plains Council of Governments conducted its annual board meeting Wednesday at the Youth Recreation Building in Clovis. EPCOG Executive Director Sandy Chancey provided members with a thumbnail sketch of her annual report, which covered topics ranging from organizational structure and policy development to housing and legislative advocacy.

“We’re in pretty good shape,” she said in addressing the EPCOG membership. “We had an excellent audit for 2015, with zero findings. We’re out there all the time with direct technical assistance and we’re always more than happy to sit down with you all to develop funding packages. We also willing to intervene on your behalf at any time with regard to state agencies at your request. And we’re always looking for ways to bolster the training we offer.”

Chancey said EPCOG staff can assist in organizing and conducting public hearings, grant writing, regulatory issues and transportation - among other outreach initiatives.

“Economic development remains a priority, as we work with entities throughout the state to enhance initiatives throughout eastern New Mexico,” she said. “And of course water is key for all of us. We just wrapped up the Source Water Protection Plan for Curry and Roosevelt County and we’re hoping to locate some more money so that we can have all five of our counties covered.”

In other meeting developments, Plateau CEO Tom Phelps served as the meeting’s guest speaker.

“Bandwidth is really the key in both rural and urban communities,” he said. “Fiber optics helps us provide that high speed Internet. We have, just over the last several years, have introduced fiber optics in Clayton, Corona, Ft. Sumner, Grady, Logan and Santa Rosa. To date those areas and adjacent rural areas represent 800 miles of fiber to reach 43 percent of our customers. We want to provide fiber optics to 100 percent of our membership. That is going to require an additional 5,800 miles of fiber at an investment of $190 million.”

EPCOG officials also approved the 2016-17 budget, Cost Allocation Plan and the Annual Work Plan.