Regents confirm intent to rebuild ENMU president's residence

PORTALES - The Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents on Tuesday officially confirmed its intent to build a new president's residence.

ENMU previously released a survey to the public in late November eliciting input regarding how the university should proceed after the discovery of asbestos and mold in the president's residence, located at 1600 W. Cherry St. since 1973.

Before making the motion to advance plans to build a new home in the same area, Regent Terry Othick said over 70 percent of the approximately 650 respondents to the university's survey felt the home should be remodeled or rebuilt.

"I think we need to move ahead as best we can, do the best we can for the university and take care of the problem we have at hand," Regent Dan Patterson said. "We have recognized this problem for a couple of years now. I personally think that we have kicked the can down the road and it's time for us to do something."

As part of the motion, which was unanimously approved by all five regents, the board pledged to find alternative funding sources that would not impact student tuition and fees, university reserves or other planned projects.

On Friday, Othick told The News that no timeline is set for the project. He hopes to have it addressed over the next few years, but it will depend on when and how much funding ENMU receives.

Othick said the regents have not decided what to do with the current residence should a new home be built, though they have discussed several options including potentially turning it into the ENMU Foundation and alumni office or as a guest house for campus visitors.

Regent Jane Christensen and student regent Kekoa VonSchriltz were present for the meeting in the regents room on the Portales campus while regents Othick, Patterson and Ed Tatum participated via telephone.

Following the meeting, Jeff Elwell, president of ENMU-Portales and chancellor of the three-college system, said the university "has a pretty good read" on who will be appointed as VonSchriltz' successor as student regent, anticipating that official decision from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to come within a month.

Elwell thanked Christensen and VonSchriltz for their service to the university during their six-year and four-year terms as regents, respectively.

"I've worked with both of them for 19 months now and it's been great working with them on a lot of serious and important things," Elwell said.