Water authoirty search could stretch into 2018

CLOVIS — With over 150 pages of material across 27 applications, selecting a new Executive Director for the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority could very well take into the new year, Chairman David Lansford said Saturday.

About one fourth of the applicants are from New Mexico, while others ranged from California and Texas to Massachusetts and Canada. Many of them list experience in engineering, public works or management, but at least one licensed esthetician in Knoxville also put her name in the hat.

The applicants will be discussed in executive session this week when the water authority holds its regular meeting Thursday afternoon, Lansford said.

So far every applicant is still eligible for the position, and the board is still working to narrow down the pool for interviews – first by phone and then in person.

“We will be continuing to discuss how we’re going to reduce the number of applicants that we give more time and consideration to,” he said. “I think that will be the next phase, when we decide to make phone calls. After that we’ll probably narrow the field even smaller and then invite them for interviews.”

None of the interviews will occur in public, he added, but in closed-door executive sessions. Soon after the board first began to receive applications last month — after former Executive Director Justin Howalt left to become Clovis’ new City Manager — Lansford said he was hopeful to fill the position before year’s end, but he said Saturday that was a “pretty optimistic” goal.

Lansford did not comment as to any standout applications among those received so far.

“Under the direction of the Board, the executive director will oversee the development and operation of the (Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System),” reads the job summary.

Recommended qualifications include background knowledge of public water systems and degrees in business or public administration, utility management or engineering.

The salary is “based on qualifications.” Howalt made $110,000 annually in the job.

Recent job experiences listed by the applicants from New Mexico are as follows:

• Charlene Finley, Asset Accountability Manager for Cannon AFB since 2016.

• Jason Burns, a Clovis native working the past three years as City Projects Engineer for Carlsbad.

• Jason Felty of Clovis, Controller and Senior Accountant for Ag New Mexico since 2014.

• Waymond Dowdy, Clovis Public Housing Authority Director (1999-2014).

• Twila Rutter, of Clovis, General Manager for Interim HealthCare since 2005.

• Scott Sensanbaugher, currently the Assistant City Engineer for El Paso, worked for 15 years as Public Works and Utilities Director for Rio Rancho.

• William Himes, an executive director for Genesis Healthcare in Roswell.

• Gary Nelson of Tularosa, worked from 2009-2015 as General Manager/Developer for Akimel Travel Center in Chandler, Arizona.