Jun. 10—Keeping an even keel seemed to be the order of the day Wednesday as the Eastern Plains Council of Governments (EPCOG) held its annual meeting in Elida.

The council board of directors re-elected Roman Garcia, the mayor of the town of Vaughn, as its chair: Cynthia Lee, clerk of the village of San Jon , as vice chair and Leona Powell, clerk-treasurer of the town of Grady, as treasurer for the next year.

Garcia faced off with Kim Summers, clerk-treasurer for the town of Elida. The board conducted a secret-ballot vote, and Garcia won the balloting. The count was not announced, but the election results were met by applause.

The board approved a budget and work plan for EPCOG which both showed little change from current programs.

The budget calls for just over $1.1 million in revenues. Funding includes $500,000 from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration , $118,000 from capital outlay funds approved by the New Mexico Legislature, $110,150 from a Ute Water fund from the state Interstate Streams Commission, and $42,881 from member government dues.

The work plan includes EPCOG's main operations in technical assistance to local government in policy, funding, acting as fiscal agent, asset management, planning and technical support, Sandy Chancey, EPCOG's executive director, said.

Also included in the work plan is assistant with organizational management operations like professional development board training and support, networking and grant administration.

EPCOG also plans to continue helping local governments with Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plans (ICIP), which form the basis of funding requests from the New Mexico Legislature every year.

The work plan also includes integrated planning initiatives that serve multiple areas in EPCOG's seven-county service area. These include partnership with other council of governments' regions, economic and tourism development and transportation issues.

Before the board conducted business Wednesday, James Johnston, Eastern New Mexico University's chancellor and president, talked to the assembly about how ENMU and communities can support each other.

Efforts to attract students to live on campus, he said, make a big contribution to local economies, so ENMU if focusing efforts on increasing resident student enrollment.

"We have room to house about 1,000 students on campus," he said. "and we're promoting resident enrollment as the most valuable education the university can offer."

"When the pandemic made remote learning the only option, you could see how important the resident student population is to the local economy," he said.

Johnston also urged communities to develop internship ideas for ENMU students.

Early enrollment figures, he said, are encouraging both in resident student and overall student totals in the first month of enrollment.

Student retention after enrollment is another focus area, Johnston said.

"We use what we call 'intrusive advising and counseling' when we see a student falling behind," he said.

To meet community needs, he said, the university is expanding its social work programs to include a master's degree program, and ENMU's school of education he said, "is always innovating" in the education of teachers.

Coming from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, Johnston said, has been made easier by similarities in the culture of New Mexico's eastern plains and the plains of west Texas.

"The culture doesn't recognize state lines," he said.

In other action at Monday's meeting:

— The board recognized Mary Gray, who has been EPCOG's office manager for 13 years, on her retirement.

— EPCOG awarded its annual Voice in the Wilderness award to Leona Powell, for her efforts on EPCOG's behalf. Last year's winner, Kim Summers, chose Powell for the award, continuing an EPCOG tradition.

EPCOG staff members gave their annual reports, as well. Here are some highlights:

— In her executive summary, Chancey noted EPCOG will be receiving $100,000 for capital outlay that was submitted for building improvements, with help from state Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview.

— Deputy Director Vincent Soule has enrolled in an advanced economic development leadership program and a leadership training program for county officials through the state Association of Counties, and will soon be "the best trained employee in the state,"

— EPCOG has had a "good year" in obtaining grants for member communities.

— In economic development, Ray Mondragon, EPCOG's government specialist, reported EPCOG's region received more than $14 million in capital outlay funds in the 2023 state legislature, succeeded in fund reauthorizations from past capital outlay allocation to the Eastern New Mexico Food Bank, and Clovis MainStreet programs, and EPCOG is helping Logan complete its comprehensive plan and assist with administering a recreation grant for Logan.

— Chancey has applied for a $100,000 grant from the state that would pay for an on-staff grant writing specialist, if approved. Mondragon added that he has learned from attending Legislative Finance Committee sessions that "much money" will again be available in the 2024 New Mexico Legislature.

— Raul Rodriguez, EPCOG's regional planner, reported that with EPCOG's help, 31 applications for a total of about $35.2 million have been submitted to the New Mexico Department of Transportation for transportation infrastructure projects in EPCOG's area.