Portales officials hope to have pool open in May

PORTALES — The city of Portales hopes to have its pool back open again in May, but public works officials have their fingers crossed due to supply chain issues.

The city council on Tuesday approved a pair of items totaling roughly $375,000 for the pool, which was closed in 2020 for COVID-19 concerns and stayed closed this year with repairs needed.

The first, totaling $336.530.63, was for refinishing. The work from WWRC, Inc. will include sand blasting, joint sealant removal and new pool coating in both the main pool and kiddie pool, along with pool deck grinding and sealing.

The second, totaling $38,96454, will focus on the chemical storage room. Work includes replacement of doors, frames and conduits and installation of a new exhaust system and will also be through WWRC, Inc.

The city still has work pending on grates and a pool pump. Public Works Director John DeSha felt confident the jobs could get done for a May reopening, provided supply chain issues don’t arise.

The Tuesday meeting went just over an hour. Although none of the agenda items garnered much debate or discussion, there were 19 of them with 11 presented by DeSha.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• The council authorized Mayor Ron Jackson to sign a grant agreement with the Department of Transportation for $1.3 million in Kilgore Street improvements. DeSha said there may be a few delays, as the engineer working on the project has left for another job and his supervisor took over the project. There is no match requirement for the city.

• The council gave Jackson similar authorization for a $55,000 award from the state to make improvements on 18th Street between Avenues D and I. The grant requires a 5% local match.

• The council approved the Blackwater Well Field drilling project at a cost of $1.431 million. The project will include six test wells and six replacement wells.

• The Portales Police Department elevated Anthony Sanford to the position of deputy chief, with the official pinning taking place at the meeting.

“He’s been a very distinguished employee,” Chief Chris Williams said, “and a leader in the department.”

• The council approved the PPD accepting $27,999 for a trio of law enforcement grants — $8,323 in federal dollars for DWI checkpoints and patrols, $6,492 for the state for seatbelt and child restrains/booster seat promotion activities and $12,984 in state funds for Selective Traffic Enforcement Program participation.

• The council approved a pair of change orders, adding about $15,650 to demolition of a condemned building at 201 N. Ave. I, to cover debris and footings found after the original quote guarantee expired Sept. 21.

• In a quick mention because neither could attend the meeting, the council recognized Human Resources Officer Shelley Johnson and Planning and Zoning Director Donna Rutherford on 30 years of service.

• The council approved an amended schedule of council meetings for the remainder of the fiscal year, moving the next three council meetings back one week each to Oct. 26, Nov. 9 and Nov. 25.