Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
CLOVIS — The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority has known for a few years their project will cost far more than the long-standing $500 million estimate.
Early next year, they’ll have a better idea of just how much. The authority board agreed on Thursday for a $58,473.10 contract with CH2M/Jacobs Engineering to provide an updated price tag.
The project — which involved creating a delivery system for potable water from the Ute Reservoir in Quay County to authority members in Curry and Roosevelt counties — was estimated at around $500 million when it gains federal authorization in 2009. Jim Honea of CH2M/Jacobs, said the project has so many components that applying a simple inflation index was unlikely to produce an accurate update.
Clovis Mayor and Authority Chair Mike Morris, in sentiments echoed by other board members, felt an updated estimate was needed.
“As member communities,” Morris said, “we need to know what we’re going to have to come up with.”
The project has a cost share of 75% federal, 15% state and 10% authority members.
In other business at the Thursday meeting:
• John Ryan, who handles federal matters for the authority, lined up a trio of virtual meetings with federal officials to discuss the project.
Authority Administrator Orlando Ortega said he would have to put out public notices of the meetings in case a quorum of board members attended (four of six), but encouraged as many board members as possible to attend.
The meetings will be 1 p.m. Monday with the Albuquerque Bureau of Reclamation office, 4 p.m. Jan. 4 with BOR Commissioner Camille Touton and 1 p.m. Jan. 7 with representatives of the other four rural water projects funded through the recent infrastructure bill.
• Jacobs gave an update on the Finished Water 3 project, which Is building the pipeline to connect Portales and Cannon Air Force Base. Since Oct 4, Honea said, more than 25,000 feet of pipe has been installed — a little less than half of Phase A’s 11.5 miles.
• The authority approved a professional services agreement with Westt, LLC for procurement matters on an as-needed basis. Ortega said the office has full confidence in current procurement officer Jacquelyn Bowens, but the contract is an acknowledgment the workload may sometimes go beyond what the authority should expect from one person.
• The next meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Jan. 27 at the authority offices at 801 Pile St. in Clovis.
