Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The Clovis city commission approved a small business setup at the Potter Park Pool, and Mayor David Lansford cast the first vote of his current term during an hour-long meeting Thursday night.
As mayor, Lansford's primary commission duties are to preside over the meetings and vote only to break ties. The opportunity came up with a proposed $100,000 dedication toward median beautification. The commission unanimously supported the project, but differed on what city fund should pay for it.
City Engineer Justin Howalt said there have been numerous efforts to get financial support for median upgrades, but sponsorship and adoption programs gained little traction. Also, an application for New Mexico Department of Transportation funds resulting in the project getting a No. 5 ranking from the state, but only the top three projects received funding.
Commissioner Randy Crowder said he supported Howalt's efforts, but that he would prefer the money come from Fund 60, a general infrastructure fund, than the city staff recommendation of Fund 65, a capital outlay account.
"I'd like to see the funds left in 65 in June (when the fiscal year ends)," Crowder said, "be apportioned to the effluent reuse project."
The project would take wastewater treated to a lower quality than drinking quality, and pump it throughout the city for watering of city properties and schools. Crowder felt that since Fund 65 has always been promised to citizens as a water/roads/police/fire fund, that the effluent project would be a better way to spend the money.
City Manager Joe Thomas and Chief Financial Officer Don Clifton said they decided against Fund 60 in order to keep some cushion for upcoming expenses.
Crowder moved to approve the item with the money coming from Fund 60, and received votes from commissioners Sandra Taylor-Sawyer, Chris Bryant and Juan Garza.
Commissioners Bobby Sandoval, Fidel Madrid, Dan Stoddard and Len Vohs voted against the measure. They said after the meeting they approved the project, but preferred going with the city staff recommendation of Fund 65.
Lansford cast the tiebreaking vote, siding with Crowder and the Fund 60 voters.
The commission unanimously approved a snow cone stand, operated by Dominique and Michelle Garcia of Clovis, to operate at Potter Park during pool hours.
"The pool didn't have a concession stand," Michelle Garcia said, "and my kids didn't like it."
The couple, who also operate a snow cone stand on Main Street, offered to give the city 30 percent of sales in exchange for the right to sell on city property.
Garza was fine with the stand, but said, "I think we need to work on a standard fee; we don't want to charge 30 percent to one person and 10 percent to another."
A different snow cone vendor operated at the Hillcrest Park Zoo, but is only required to give 5 percent of sales.
The Clovis city commission met Thursday at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.
All commissioners were in attendance. All action items noted passed unanimously.
During the meeting:
Public Works Director Clint Bunch said staff said a new crane truck was needed for the plant, and that a company with one that had worked at the plant offered the truck.
"They've used it more at the wastewater plant than they have everywhere else," Bunch said.
Commissioner Randy Crowder asked City Engineer Justin Howalt to explain for the benefit of citizens why a remediation well has higher costs than normal wells. Howalt noted details including monitoring system and hundreds of feet of corresponding pipeline.
Ariel, 8, at the time of the bee, was the youngest competitor and is the first Clovis Christian student to advance to the state bee.
Daly said on May 10, the day before a small rain, city water usage was 8.6 million gallons. The next day, it was 6.8 million gallons.
Following what he measured as a half-inch of rain earlier in the week, water usage dropped to 4.8 million gallons for two consecutive days.
— Compiled by CNJ staff writer Kevin Wilson