Brumfield leaves water authority chair

CLOVIS — Gayla Brumfield, outgoing chair of the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority, declined Thursday to pursue another term representing the city after her position ends this month.

Mayor David Lansford — who served on the authority with Brumfield — and Commissioner Ladona Clayton will be Clovis’ two representatives starting next month, following a unanimous vote by commissioners.

“I am not going to put my name in,” said Brumfield, addressing city commissioners at their regular meeting Thursday evening. “I will let you move forward and I will help you in any way that I can.”

Brumfield urged commissioners to maintain professional relationships as the ENMWUA’s water pipeline project connecting Cannon Air Force Base and Clovis with the Ute Reservoir continues.

“We absolutely have a water situation,” she said. “There’s not many people in the West that do not have a water situation. But what’s important is we have a solution. We have the Ute pipeline that is going to bring us sustainable water.”

“I think things were done that helped move the project forward,” said Commissioner Juan Garza. “I understand that you did put a lot of time into this and I appreciate it.”

The commission also voted unanimously to nominate Commissioner Tom Martin as a candidate for the New Mexico Municipal League Board of Directors and to appoint Lansford as voting delegate to the NMML’s annual conference, with Martin as alternate.

Also from Thursday’s meeting:

• Lansford presented keys to the city to Miss Rodeo America, Miss Rodeo New Mexico, Miss Rodeo Mississippi and Miss Rodeo Washington, in town for the 47th Annual Pioneer Days Celebration.

• Three proclamations for special days in June were recognized: June 3 as Clovis Community Band Day, June 10 for “Let’s Blow Cancer Out of This World 2017 Relay for Life” and June 14 for Flag Day.

• Commissioners approved, by unanimous vote, the introduction of an ordinance pertaining to Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) management and disposal. The proposed ordinance would modify formulas for calculating FOG treatment costs, require sample ports installed at businesses discharging FOG waste, and clarifies the authority of city officials to perform inspection and maintenance duties on sites producing FOG waste.