Landsford, Verhines to present Ute project in Washington

CNJ STAFF REPORTS

The Clovis city commission voted at a special meeting Monday night to send Mayor David Lansford to Washington D.C. this month to request funding for the Ute Water Project.

Lansford, chairman of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority, and Project Manager Scott Verhines will make the trip, which could take place late this month.

Lansford said he and Verhines will present the project to a House and Senate subcommittee. The plan will request about $245 million in federal funding.

The subcommittee will then vote on the project perhaps before Congress recesses at this month’s end, Lansford said. If approved, the plan will be taken to the Senate and House floors for proposal as early as this fall.

Cost for the Ute project is estimated at $307 million. Lansford said according to the ENMRWA plan, 80 percent would be paid by the federal government, 10 percent by the state and 10 percent by the towns involved.

Lansford said the proposal date has not been finalized perhaps due to the recent passing of former President Ronald Reagan.

Lansford’s trip to Washington will take one day at a cost of around $400 for the flight and $290 per night in a hotel.

Also discussed at Monday’s meeting was complete overhaul of the street paving process from the “chip-seal” method to a more expensive but durable “hot mix” system.

The discussion focused on whether city crews or private contractors or a combination of both would be more economical for the overhaul. No action was taken and the matter will be discussed further at the Clovis public works committee.