Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Sewer service request prompts policy discussion

PORTALES — A request for sewer services by a county resident was approved by the Portales City Council on Tuesday after being denied once before.

The decision also prompted councilors to begin the process for establishing policy for sewer/water services among county residents.

Property owner Randolph McGee was denied his request in August because city residents are required to have both sewer and water services with the city — a policy not always enforced when county residents seek city services, according to City Manager Sammy Standefer.

Problems arise, he said, when county residents who only have sewer services don’t pay their bills.

“We have no way, sometimes, to ensure payment. We can’t legally cut off valves for sewer services, so that’s the issue. Most of our in-town stuff, it’s all tied to one bill, and it’s linked together,” he said, adding that the city has no policy in place for county residents using city water and sewer services.

Public Works Director John DeSha presented the item, and told the council that the city’s public works committee recommended McGee’s request be denied again.

While a majority of the council was in favor of granting McGee’s request, some councilors were apprehensive.

“If we approve this, we make an exception to our policies, so I disagree, respectfully,” said Councilor Oscar Robinson. “We do have a policy. We should not just have water excluded from this issue. It should be sewer and water.”

Councilor Jim Lucero shared Standefer’s concerns that a resident could decide to stop paying.

“The whole issue is, if he stops paying, the service still continues. It’s not like you can turn off his water or anything like that,” he said.

Others, however, saw McGee as an innocent bystander caught up in a larger issue.

“I think it’s really unfair to crucify one person over a rule that we haven’t clarified or published notice of or anything like that,” said Councilor Jessica Smith.

Councilor Chad Heflin agreed with Smith.

“I think if we had a certain policy, that would be something different, but as far as we know, we don’t have any policy, right? I don’t feel like you should make policies based on something that comes up like this. You should make policies after the fact.”

DeSha said his department would have a policy drafted by the end of the year to present to the council.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting in the Memorial Building:

• The council issued service awards to three city employees: Portales Fire Department Battalion Chief Shannon Lee for 20 years of service, Emergency Management Director Keith Wattenbarger for 20 years of service, and Standefer for 25 years of service.

• Councilors approved the transfer of a liquor license to grocery store Farmers Country market.

• Councilors approved design contracts for a municipal arterial program project on Seventh Street from Dallas Avenue to Elgin Avenue ($52,974) and a remodeling project for the new police station ($23,044).

• Councilors approved the upcoming election for March 6.

• DeSha updated the council on a water leak that occurred Nov. 4 on the south side of Portales.

The department was able to isolate the leak and restore water to affected areas within 30 minutes, according to DeSha.

 
 
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