Meetings watch: Portales City Council

The following were actions taken at the Portales City Council meeting Tuesday in the Memorial Building:

• Mayor Sharon King read a proclamation by the El Portal chapter of the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution naming June 14 Flag Day in Portales.

• Councilors approved the ratification of bills for May 2017.

The city spent $1.2 million in May, according to Finance Director Marilyn Rapp.

• Councilors approved the notice of open meetings and schedule of open meetings for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

• Councilors approved a request for $18,866 in economic development funds for Sweetwaters at Landall’s.

Roosevelt County Community Development Corporation Economic Development Director Orlando Ortega presented the funding application, adding that he had valued working with Sweetwaters owners Landall and Peggy Goolsby.

“I can tell you that these folks have invested a tremendous amount of their own funding and monies that they saved for many years in their businesses. They’re very committed to the community, and it’s (Sweetwaters) a great addition to the community,” he said.

• Councilors approved the appointment of Martin Sanchez and the re-appointment of Beverly Bennett and Matt Christianson to the Portales Planning Commission.

• Councilors approved a notice of intent to adopt an ordinance approving economic development projects at a July 11 city council meeting.

Economic development project recipients include Sweetwaters, RCCDC, and Ambience Hospitality, according to Ortega.

• Councilors approved a resolution approving agreement for participation in the Eastern Plains Council of Governments for fiscal year 2017-2018.

The resolution included a fee of $2,964 for annual membership to EPCOG, according to City Manager Sammy Standefer.

“EPCOG’s really proved to be a huge benefit to us in some of our grants, and it helps with the CDBG (community development block grant) and other projects, and keeping us informed,” he said.

Councilors also approved the re-appointment of councilor Oscar Robinson as the city’s representative to EPCOG and councilor Chadrick Heflin as Robinson’s alternate.

• Standefer informed councilors that the city can stay involved in Xcel Energy’s Windtower project without formally intervening.

“I believe we can still attend the meetings and the public hearings if we chose,” he said.

Councilor Michael Miller said it was possible to send a letter of support on public record, as well as speak in favor of the project.

Councilors previously tabled a request by Xcel to intervene after expressing concerns about the $4,000 fee for hiring an attorney to officially intervene.

In a previous city council meeting King said she was told by the Xcel regional community development director that the purpose of the intervention was to “guarantee that we’re kept in the loop on what’s going on” during the transfer of the project from Chicago-based Invenergy to Xcel Energy.

— Compiled by Staff Writer Eamon Scarbrough