Portales approves improvement project change

PORTALES — The Portales City Council on Tuesday approved a change for the Johnson Hill Water Tank Improvement Project.

The order authorizes the disposal of AC pipes and the addition of transition fittings to connect to 16-inch AC pipe to complete the yard piping portion of the project, as well as adding racking panels to the chlorination building to provide the proper disinfection process to the systems.

The cost of these additions will not exceed $18,000 plus general revenue tax and will revise the total contract amount to $2,549,014.27.

Since the previous change order for the project increased the budget, each further addition must be presented to the council, according to Public Works Director John DeSha.

Other highlights from the meeting:

• Portales Mayor Ronald Jackson declared Oct. 5-13 Fire Prevention Week and October to be Manufacturing Month.

• The council ratified a release of request for the Kilgore Construction Project. This will allow the submission of proposals for the renovation of Kilgore Avenue from Highway 70 to NM 88. The deadline for submissions will be Oct. 15.

• The council approved the mayor’s signature on the Litter and Beautification Grant to match $6,150 in grant funding from the New Mexico Tourism Department to clean and improve public land.

Money from the grant has gone to the Toss No Mas highway cleanup, a Thanksgiving coat drive, three new picnic tables and two trees to be added to the community garden for Arbor day.

The matched funds will go toward salaries, building rentals and food for attendees of the cleanup projects.

• The council approved a construction contract with WWRC, Inc. for work on the fire substation building.

• The council approved the Tisthammer Subdivision No. 3, which is outside the city limits, but within the city’s three-mile jurisdiction.