Water chair: Time to move past contention

Mike Morris wants peace with Logan and Quay County officials as they address ongoing issues with the Ute Water Pipeline.

“It is past time … to move past the contention around this project,” Morris, the chairman of the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority, told Logan Mayor Barry Bass on Thursday.

After the water authority meeting, Morris was seen talking with Bass and Eldon Merrick, an ENMWUA board member from Portales.

Asked about that conversation, Morris said, “I think we are going in the direction of a respectful and honest relationship based on truth and communication.”

Bass declined to speak with The News.

The pipeline, which officials hope to complete by 2031, would stretch from Ute lake at Logan to provide water for eastern New Mexico communities in Clovis, Portales, Elida and Texico.

Quay County leaders have voiced concerns for years that the pipeline would draw water away from the lake, negatively impacting its recreational benefits. Pipeline recipients contend the lake was created by the state for the purpose of some day supplying water to the Clovis-Portales area.

The issue has grown heated again in recent weeks when Quay County officials learned a water-treating system will likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than originally expected.

After Thursday’s ENMWUA meeting, Morris told The News: “I would prefer to hear our friends in Logan and Quay talking about enhancing the recreational benefits.

“And if they want to partner in that, they’ve got one in me and I would go and advocate. I’ve been successful in advocating for funding for our project and for other projects, for Clovis, and I would love to partner with them.”

Asked if his conversation with Bass was a step forward, Morris responded, “Absolutely.”