Portales infrastructure improvements up for approval

PORTALES — A number of infrastructure improvements will be up for approval at today’s Portales City Council meeting.

Perhaps most notably, the award of a contract for improvements to the city’s sewage lift stations to Adame Construction, Inc. will be discussed.

The improvements, which were part of the city’s 2016 community development block grant from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, totals $459,959, with a local match of $106,937, according to City Manager Sammy Standefer.

“Once the bid’s awarded, we settle down, work out those terms in a contract, as to when that would begin and end. It should be a very fast project,” he said.

Portales’ six lift stations allow sewage to flow through the city, Standefer said.

Three contracts for architecture services will be up for approval, including improvements on the city’s arterial system from Seventh Street to Dallas Avenue, remodeling services for the new Portales Police Department building on U.S. 70, and landscaping around the city’s recycling pond.

Also at today’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Building:

• Service awards will be presented Standefer, Portales Fire Department Battalion Chief Shannon Lee, and Emergency Management Director Keith Wattenbarger.

• Authorization for a $1 million loan from the New Mexico Finance Authority for the construction of a new fire substation will be discussed.

• Outside utility requests by two Portales residents will be discussed.

• A public hearing for the transfer of a dispenser-like liquor license to Farmers Country Market will be discussed.

• Officials will hear a report on a water leak that occurred Nov. 4.

• An update from the city’s finance administration committee regarding potential revenue enhancements will be heard.