Nov. 19—The Portales City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an agreement between the city and the New Mexico Department of Transportation that provides state and local funding to operate the Portales Area Transit service for fiscal 2023, which ends on June 30, 2023.

The agreement provides $318,545 to operate the service. Of that total, $191,875 will be covered by NMDOT with the city providing the remaining $126,670, according to an agenda item.

Responding to councilors' questions, Katherine Hall, the coordinator of the transit system, said a new global positioning system, online ticketing and ride-tracking systems will produce accurate information on use of the transit system, especially by Eastern New Mexico University students.

The commission on Tuesday also approved a winery liquor license for 311 Entertainment LLC, owned by Eric Segovia of Portales. The decision followed a public hearing at which no one spoke in favor of or against the proposed business.

In an interview Wednesday, Segovia said he plans for the business, located at 311 S. Main St., to open for special events that will offer "various kinds of entertainment," where seasonal wines that his company will produce and wines from Enchantment Vineyards of Portales will be sold.

Segovia said the venue will also be available for weddings and other private events.

The venture now needs final approval from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the state Regulation and Licensing Department, Segovia said.

The council on Tuesday also approved easements on two parcels of city-owned land to make way for future construction of an Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority pipeline.

The water utility authority will pay $1,800 for use of a lot at 211 S. Roosevelt Road R, and $1,250 for use of property at 1230 N. Avon Ave. The ENMWUA will use the property for as long as it takes to bury pieces of a water line and will maintain rights to use the property for access to the pipeline after it is completed.

The properties are along the route of a water line that will carry treated water from Cannon Air Force Base to water tanks in Portales as part of the Ute Water Project, according to maps on ENMWUA's website.

In other matters Tuesday, the council:

— Approved a grant application by the Portales Fire Department for $15,000 from the state Department of Health Emergency Medical System Fund. Portales Fire and EMS Chief T.J. Cathey told the council the grant application is routine, and the city usually receives $10,000 to $15,000 from the grant to cover training, maintenance and some EMS equipment and supplies.

— Approved a resolution directing Portales Police to use body cameras to comply with state laws requiring the use of such cameras.

— Approved paying $1.8 million in bills for the month of October. City Treasurer Marilyn Rapp said the expenses are within city budgets.

— Recognized Jade Gallegos, a water service representative for the city water department, as employee of the month.

— Mayor Ron Jackson also recognized all employees of the water department for their response to a major water main break near Valencia Elementary School on Nov. 3. Working in conditions that had some employees wading in water up to their knees, employees restored water service by 3 a.m. Nov 4, but with a warning to boil water. The boil=water advisory was lifted at about 5 p.m. on Nov. 5.

— The council held an executive session to discuss limited personnel matters.