Information on closed street on Portales agenda

PORTALES — Prompted by a discussion in a December meeting, Portales City Manager Sammy Standefer will enlighten the city council about a closed street at tonight’s meeting.

A stretch of Commercial Street between Boston Avenue and Main Street has been closed for several years at the request of commodity trading company J.D. Heiskell, according to Standefer, but Councilor Oscar Robinson requested information about how long the road has been closed.

“I think that’s what the question from the council was: Why was it closed, those things,” Standefer said.

Another informational item on the meeting’s agenda is about an open position of building inspector within the city.

Because the state must improve all city building inspectors, Portales has been asked to hire an individual that can also work in the areas of “electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or not do any of them,” according to Standefer.

“That’s kind of what I’m bringing forth to the council, is ‘This is what the state said. They really don’t want us to have an inspector unless he would do it all,’ and see how the council wants to proceed with that.”

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

• A proclamation declaring Jan. 15, 2018 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Portales.

• Recognition of the Portales Police Department for assisting the Clovis Police Department during the Clovis library shooting in August.

• A public hearing authorizing a $1 million loan agreement for the construction of Portales’ new fire substation.

• A request to purchase a new Portales Area Transit System vehicle on a state purchasing agreement.