Water authority discusses money, time constraints

CLOVIS — How fast could you spend a million dollars?

Think you could spend at least 85 percent of it in four years?

The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority has that long to spend that much, which was discussed at the ENMWUA’s monthly meeting, held Thursday afternoon at the Clovis-Carver Public Library’s North Annex.

The money and the time frame in which to spend it came up during discussion of the grant agreement between the ENMWUA and the state of New Mexico Department of Environmental Capital Appropriation Project for the ENMWUA rural water system interim pipeline. The grant is for $1 million; the water utility authority has to spend at least 85 percent of it by June 30, 2024.

The ENMWUA unanimously approved the grant agreement.

The water authority also agreed unanimously to OK the assignment of an authorized officer or officers and an agent regarding that rural water system interim pipeline project.

The ENMWUA also approved a new four-year engineering agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. The current agreement was due to expire Nov. 12.

The new agreement’s commencement date will be as soon as the last applicable agency has signed off on it. It can be terminated under any of the following circumstances: 1) with 30 days written notice due to substantial failure by either party; 2) convenience; 3) insufficient appropriations.

Though it’s a four-year deal, it gives the ENMWUA the opportunity entering the third year to consider finding another firm, opening the authority up to more options.

In other business, the water authority approved resolutions to adopt:

• The June 30, 2020, fourth quarter year-to-date financial report.

• The final budget for fiscal year 2021.

• An infrastructure capital improvement plan for the fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Aug. 27 at the ENMWUA Office at the Sitterly Professional Center.