Water authority approves office lease agreement

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority will soon have a new office space to call home.

The board on Thursday approved an office lease agreement that will move the ENMWUA’s offices to the Sitterly Professional Center, located at 801 Pile Street in Clovis.

Administrator Orlando Ortega said the authority’s current Clovis office has multiple rooms that were not being used and the ENMWUA would save money by downsizing.

“I just want to recognize Mr. Ortega because from the time you hit the ground, you hit the ground running and I notice at every turn you’re making steps for greater efficiency for this board and it has not gone unnoticed,” member Ladona Clayton said.

Ortega said ENMWUA’s agreement with its current location, 809 Parkland Drive, Suite A, is set to expire at the end of the month.

Member Wesley Shafer was not present.

Also at Thursday’s meeting (all votes 6-0):

• The board discussed the potential procurement of engineering services for project management once construction on Finished Water 2 begins, taking no action.

Member Robert Thornton said the authority should seek efficiency when paying for project management services in order to devote as much money to the project’s infrastructure as possible.

The board tasked Ortega with exploring the ENMWUA’s options for project management services.

• The board approved a pair of annual housekeeping items, its Open Meetings Act resolution and meeting schedule for fiscal year 2019.

• In his report to the board Ortega said the Request for Proposal schedule has been altered for Finished Water 2, with bids now due on July 12.

Ortega also said the ENMWUA receive $2,493,379 from the New Mexico Finance Authority in May, consisting of a 90 percent grant ($2,244,041) and 10 percent loan ($249,338).

• The board selected July 24 from 8 a.m. to noon at the ENMWUA’s new office space for a workshop to discuss the authority’s current activities and direction for the future.