Portales water emergency continues

Jul. 29—PORTALES — As of Tuesday, conditions that brought about Portales' Stage 3 Water Emergency had not changed, and may have been getting worse.

That's what John DeSha, the city's public utilities director, told the city council at Tuesday's regular council meeting.

Despite cooperation from "99 out of 100" among city residents on conservation measures, he said, the city is still down 100 gallons per minute from the water emergency's start in late June.

"Until we can develop more production," DeSha said, "the situation won't change."

Giving some wells a rest for a few hours failed to allow water levels to rise, he said, and one well that once pumped 450 gallons per minute can now barely pump 40 gallons per minute.

"Conservation remains our best step for now," he said.

Even with conservation measures in place, the city does not seem to be gaining in available water supplies, DeSha said. Recent very hot summer weather, he said, has increased the use of evaporative coolers, which he said likely accounts for continued shrinkage in water supply.

DeSha said he has spoken to the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (OSE), which has authority over water matters in the state. The OSE advised the best next step for the city is to find new wells that can be "repuroposed, redrilled and re-permitted."

Over the longer term DeSha said city officials are working with the state Water Trust Board and the state Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund to develop new wells.

Also at the regular city council meeting, the council approved a final budget for 2023-2024 that includes more than $11 million in revenues and expenses in the city's general fund.

The commission also approved a comprehensive plan for the city, which is based on "careful and comprehensive studies of exisint conditions, future grow and citizen input."

Phyllis Taylor of Sites Southwest, the Albuquerque consulting firm that assembled the plan for the city, told the council the plan was updated recently to include commentary from three residents and city staff. She said new comments related to infrastructure, sidewalks and parks n the city.

The plan was also updated to include economic development directions related to the Local Economic Development Act.

She said city residents understand the importance of infrastructure in attracting a workforce and businesses to the city.

The decision to adopt the comprehensive plan followed a public hearing at which no one spoke either in favor of the plan or opposing it.

In other matters Tuesday, the council

— Approved an agreement with Roosevelt County and MyMar Terminals for work on Roosevelt County Road 6 to accommodate heavy truck traffic.

— Postponed a decision on whether to replace City Manage Sarah Austin with Kelly McClellan,planning and=administrator, on the Roosevelt County Economic Development Corporation's board of directors. Mayor Pro Tem Michael Miller said the city would be better represented by keeping the city manager on the board before the council voted unanimously to postpone the decision.

— Honored Marilyn Rapp, the city's finance director, who is retiring after 21 years on the job.

— Honored Katherine Johnson, supervisor of utility billing, as employee of the month.

— Heard a presentation promoting bioeconomy development opportunity (BDO) zoning from Ryan Magwood of Ecostrat. BDO zoning recognizes the use of bio-fuels.