Portales approves phone system purchase

PORTALES — The Portales City Council on Tuesday approved purchase of a new phone system that is currently unbudgeted by regarded as necessary by information technology staff.

Public Works Director John DeSha told councilors in the brief meeting that the current Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is about 15 years old, and it is showing its age to the point various departments have resorted to shopping for replacement parts on eBay.

“I find that a little disconcerting,” DeSha said.

DeSha presented two options to councilors, one for outright purchase of the system from Real Time Networks and another for a lease. The purchase option includes a first-year cost of $84,000, while the lease option had an annual equipment cost of $21,000. A fiscal impact summary factoring in annual support fees showed a 63-month cost of about $185,000 to purchase the system and $214,000 to rent, with rental costs outpacing ownership costs in the fifth year.

The money is not currently identified in the city budget, but DeSha said he’d bring a budget adjustment request that splits the cost between city reserves and the city water department.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• An amended memorandum of understanding with Roosevelt County was approved regarding a ballot box that would be located at the Memorial Building during elections. City Attorney Steve Doerr raised concerns at the Aug. 24 meeting about whether the city or county would bear liability if Internet service failed at the city-owned Memorial Building. The Roosevelt County Commission on Tuesday morning approved the MOU that designated the county as the responsible party to act in that instance.

• The city’s Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan was approved. The top five projects on the plan include wellfield improvements, work on the 100 block of Avenue A, a street sweeper, work on Lime Street between North Avenue O and Chicago and purchase of new emulsion tanks.

• The council approved a pair of grant applications by the Portales Fire Department.

The first grant for $40,440.18 would cover two power stretchers for ambulances, and require no local match. Fire Chief T.J. Cathey said the purchase would replace stretchers that are 10 to 15 years old and difficult to maintain because the manufacturer went out of business.

The second grant of $37,451 for an auxiliary command vehicle would require a 25% match if awarded.

• An agenda item regarding a bid for Blackwater Well field test holes and supply wall drilling was tabled at the request of DeSha, with financing agency concurrence still pending.

• During the public comment portion, Steven Robertson of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9515 said he was seeking volunteers for an Oct. 2 cemetery project. The intent is to spruce up gravestones of World War II veterans, many of which have sunk into the ground, and reinforce them with pavers. Work would start at 8 a.m., with lunch provided 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

“We’re going to go until we get 80 done,” Robertson said, while noting future work days would follow.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21.