Council approves revised communications center agreement

At their regular meeting Tuesday, the Portales City Council approved a revised contract with the Roosevelt County Commission regarding the Portales Communications Center.

After the commission’s meeting last Tuesday, City Manager Sarah Austin said the fire chief, police chief, and sheriff met with the board to come up with new revisions.

Originally, the commission offered $125,000 worth of funding for FY23 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) for dispatch services. However, the city council requested $175,000. It was ultimately decided to keep the funding at $175,000.

Austin said the commission wanted a board, so the council offered an advisory board. The board will consist of Sheriff Javier Sanchez, Fire Chief TJ Cathey, Police Chief Chris Williams, and “one county fire chief to be appointed by all fire chiefs in the county,” according to Austin. Councilwoman Veronica Cordova said the board will be used for only “policy and procedure.”

Cordova said she and councilman Chad Heflin will present once more to the commission at their regular meeting coming up on Tuesday. “I think it’s going to go well,” she said.

Mayor Ronald Jackson agreed, saying, “If we can get this thing worked out, I’m all for it.” Jackson added that they are all residents of the same county and same community and “need to work together.”

The council also approved a nomination for county commissioner Roylee Criswell to serve as the county seat for the negotiations with the city regarding other services.

In other items of business:

• The council approved entering a contract with NovoaGlobal for traffic enforcement cameras. Williams presented and said signage would go up around town to give drivers a fair warning of the system. NovoaGlobal will take out the percentage they need from each citation to pay for the system, and the remaining amount will go to the city. Each citation will be reviewed and issued by an officer, not the computer system. The motion passed on a 5-2 vote.

• The FY 2024 Fire Protection Fund application presented by fire chief TJ Cathey was approved by the City Council for $218,920.

• The City Council approved two new Cannabis Permits, one for manufactured/industrial grow operation and one for manufacturer/industrial microgrow application.

• The Portales High School Seniors presented artwork that they will create at the airport, and it will become an annual event. The mural they presented had a ram and “Class of 2023” and would include student’s handprints. It will be a 40x66 mural.

• Employee of the Month was presented to Becky Ward for March 2023. Ward works in the solid waste department.