Portales council promotes MLK events

PORTALES - Mayor Ron Jackson on Tuesday night read a proclamation declaring Jan. 21 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Portales. He called on citizens "to join us in our efforts to follow in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream towards equality for all."

Councilor Oscar Robinson encouraged people to attend several upcoming events in the city held in honor of the slain civil rights leader.

Robinson said Jeff Elwell, president of Eastern New Mexico University, will host a breakfast for 150 by invitation at 8 a.m. on the morning of Jan. 21 at the Campus Union Ballroom.

In the evening the city's Cultural Affairs Committee will host a commemorative march beginning at 5 p.m. in the Memorial Building.

That will be followed by a 6 p.m. program in the ENMU campus union, which Robinson said would include speakers, musical performances and the awarding of scholarships to high school students.

Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Miller and Councilor Jessica Smith were absent.

Also at Tuesday's meeting:

• The council approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a DWI grant and distribution funding for fiscal year 2020.

DWI Program Director Darla Reed said for the current fiscal year Portales received about $1,000 in distribution funds, a percentage of the liquor excise tax for alcohol sales in the city, and $25,000 in grant funding.

Reed said she expects the city will receive similar amounts in the coming fiscal year.

• The council approved the city to begin negotiations for engineering services to monitor wells related to the city's landfill closure. The city received four responses to its Request for Proposal.

City Manager Sammy Standefer said the city is working on changing its RFP process, which would allow the council to authorize the city to go out for the RFP and begin negotiations at one time, eliminating this middle step for beginning negotiations.

• The council approved a resolution adopting a water asset management policy.