Officials exploring fiber options in Clovis

CLOVIS — Efforts to get fiber connection to more residents are being explored in ways that are efficient and cost-effective.

Plateau Wireless Engineering Projects Manager Regan Williams presented on micro-trenching during Wednesday morning’s Public Works Committee meeting.

Williams said micro-trenching is a cost-effective process of installing fiber in areas it is not currently available without interfering with infrastructure. Fiber is installed 12 inches deep in a trench about three-quarters of an inch wide, with trenches going around corners of streets.

Williams said streets would not have to close during installation with cones and flags indicating work areas.

Williams proposed working around Crescent Drive, with a goal to minimize disturbance. To make areas with trenches safer, trenches would be filled in as the work was being done.

Chief Operations Officer Vince Tyson said in new sub-developments, there would be no need to deal with established utilities and it would be less expensive.

Williams said if micro-trenching was done in roads that needed to be repaired eventually, there would be no impact on Plateau.

City Attorney David Richards said the city has authority to regulate the kind of excavation and what kind of installation is needed where residents live and where utility companies have cables installed.

“I think that’s something the city can work through if the committee and the (city) commission are comfortable with this modernization of implementation,” said Richards.

The following were other actions taken during the Public Works Committee meeting at City Hall:

• Officials with the New Mexico Department of Transportation presented to the committee goals for installing a roundabout on the State Highway 523 and Humphrey Road intersection.

District Two District Engineer Francisco Sanchez said it would be a “viable project” to improve traffic flow, but asked it be a joint venture with the city due to other project obligations and finances, including in-depth on Highway 209, on Prince Street and on Highway 60/84 west of Mabry Drive.

Sanchez said the DOT would do a full design of the project, with the plans half-way done, and asked if the city would be able to fund the project.

The project would cost $900,000 including the roundabout and additional lighting for safety measures.

Mayor David Lansford said he was not sure where the project would fit with the city’s infrastructure priorities. The item will be placed on the agenda for the next city commission meeting.

• Clovis Police Department Chief Doug Ford presented an update on a traffic study along Ash Street.

Police observed the area for speeding after Clovis resident Susan Hubby addressed speeding concerns in areas near East 10th Street during a September meeting.

“Our only concern was speeding in the excess of 50 to 60 mph,” said Ford.

Ford added 44 vehicles traveled at 30-35 mph, 13 vehicles traveled at 35-40 mph and only two vehicles traveled over 40 mph.

• Assistant Director of Public Works Bill Kshir presented an update on city projects.

Ongoing projects include 90 percent completion of the Seventh Street design, 98 percent completion on phase 1B of the waste water reuse project, 76 percent completion on Wilhite Road from Prince Street to Norris Street and full completion of Main Street sidewalk work.

Future projects include phase 1C of the waste water reuse project and construction of the airport turnaround, expected to commence around March 1.

Other future projects include roadway, sidewalk and drainage improvements on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from Seventh to 21st Street, improvements on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from the railroad tracks to Seventh Street, improvements on County Road I and Seventh Street and concrete between R&D Service Center and Love’s Truck Center.

• Clovis Municipal Schools representative John King presented updates on current projects.

Future projects include work on the Zia Elementary School and Cameo/Freshman Academy parking lots, phase two of the Barry Elementary School parking lot, upgrades on the Los Ninos Preschool and Lincoln Jackson Elementary School playgrounds, and construction at Highland Elementary and Parkview Elementary.

King also said 75 percent of roofing and HVAC installation at Cameo Elementary was completed while the Sandia Elementary bus loop and front entrance “reached substantial completion.”