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Thursday, March 13, 2008

Higher Water Bills May Fund Sewer Fixes

By
Telegraph Staff Report
    Moriarty residents may be hit with a higher water bill to help pay for improvements to the city's sewage treatment system.
    How much that increase may be is still up for debate.
    The Moriarty City Council discussed at its regular meeting Tuesday its options on how to proceed on $1.2 million in improvements needed for the city's wastewater treatment system.
    Mayor Adan Encinias said the city had been hoping for money to be appropriated from the state Legislature, but the cash didn't come through.
    "It's unfortunate that municipalities like Moriarty have to depend so much on the state to get these sort of projects done," Encinias said.
    The city currently has about $533,000 set aside for the project, which would improve sewer lines and the city's treatment plant. To come up with about $677,000 needed to complete the project, the city might have to take out a loan with the New Mexico Finance Authority. Repaying the loan may mean an increase in the water rates Moriarty customers pay.
    Councilors didn't have a cost estimate of what sort of rate increase might be needed. That information should be available by the council's next meeting. The council and mayor also instructed city staff to look at any available grants the city might be able to access for the project.
    Also at Tuesday's meeting:
   

The council voted to update its 40-year water plan to reflect language in a memorial passed recently by the state Legislature. The memorial, which doesn't have the force of law, encourages the State Engineer to ensure that water in the Estancia Basin remain in the basin.
   

The council agreed to have an aerial map of the city and surrounding areas done. The city has several options for getting the mapping done, including working with a Mid-Region Council of Governments contract for aerial mapping in eastern Bernalillo County.
   

The council voted to allow the city staff to consider procurements less than $15,000 to be allowed without going out to bid. The city had only allowed goods and services less than $10,000 to be purchased by the city without a bid.