Water authority talks pipeline details at meeting

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority learned at its Thursday meeting that securing an easement for a pipeline from Cannon Air Force Base to Portales may prove costly.

CAFB Water Quality Project Manager John Rebman told members in the public input portion of the meeting that three parcels of land where the pipeline from Ute Lake is set to be constructed require an undetermined cost for the 5,400 feet of land.

“It’s not gonna be an in-kind consideration like it was on the northern portion of the pipeline running from Cannon to Clovis, but it’s gonna be deemed a non in-kind consideration, in which the Air Force is gonna have to charge for that easement,” he said.

The cost, which will be determined by an appraisal of the parcels, wasn’t the only news Rebman brought — he said the Air Force also requires an “environmental baseline survey” for the easement.

“Basically, Cannon doesn’t have the money to have that environmental baseline prepared, and it doesn’t look like our headquarters is gonna be able to support that either,” he said.

Based on past surveys, Rebman estimated a cost of $35,000.

In response to a question by ENMWUA Executive Director Justin Howalt, Rebman said the authority could conduct its own survey.

Chairman David Lansford noted that the survey should be included as an action item on a future agenda to develop a scope of work.

Also at Thursday’s meeting:

n Authority members voted to advertise the position of ENMWUA executive director in trade publications for the American Water Works Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers, as well as continue advertising the position on online job sites.

Office Director Maggie Chapman reported the authority had received 11 applicants for the position.

Members agreed to review applications at the authority’s Oct. 26 meeting at 1 p.m. in Grady.

Howalt, the outgoing director, will resign from the position effective Oct. 1.