Water rates going up in Portales

PORTALES -- The City Council in Portales on Tuesday approved a schedule of rates at the council’s regular meeting that will up the cost of water, sewer and garbage services in town.

City clerk Joan Martinez-Terry said the schedule will up the rates 8% per year for the next five years.

Martinez-Terry stressed the increase is only for water, sewer and garbage. She said council asked for the rates to be reviewed annually.

Martinez-Terry said the new rates go into effect Jan. 1.

In other business council passed a resolution declaring Saturday as “Walk to end Alzheimer’s Day” in Portales.

Saturday is the day for the second annual Roosevelt/Curry Counties Eastern New Mexico Alzheimer’s walk.

The event organizes the City of Portales, in partnership with the City of Clovis, Roosevelt County and Curry County.

The Saturday walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon at Greyhound Arena.

The walk was a topic of discussion during the session in which all council members and the mayor were present.

Council approved action in which Jackson signed grant applications for a $20, 842 power stretcher for the city’s EMS department, another grant for a $36,648 medication dispenser for the fire department and a $254, 962 grant for a new ambulance for the city.

For the ambulance grant the city must provide a 25 percent match which comes to $63,740.