Portales adopts asset management plan

The city of Portales has unanimously approved adopting a new water asset management plan (AMP) to help manage assets to support cost-effective decisions.

City Manager Sarah Austin said the plan, approved at the Jan. 23 City Council meeting, is a document that helps utilities manage their assets long-term. The AMP will give the city a framework to manage its water system, communicate level of service commitments to customers and prepare for future financial needs.

“Asset management is a systematic process that involves developing, operating, maintaining, upgrading, and disposing of assets in a cost-effective way. This includes considering all costs, risks, and performance attributes,” Austin said.

Austin said the AMP purpose is to develop a paradigm of management practices that will be utilized by elected officials, steering committee members, administrators, and public works operators.

These management practices include, but are not limited to:

• The long-term management of water system assets.

• A level of service commensurate with community expectations.

• Proper operation of utilities for public health and safety.

• Appropriate collection of utility revenues to support maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.

• The continuous acquisition of grant funding for capital improvement projects.

“The AMP needs to be used by those responsible for maintaining and operating the water system, as well as those responsible for planning and purchasing,” Austin said.

Also on Jan. 23, in an unanimous vote, the City Council appointed Preston Elkins to fulfill the position as ward C council member. Elkins succeeds Micheal Miller, who was appointed mayor early this month.