January 11, 2006

McKinley County Commissioners Chambers

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Paulene McCabe Manuelito Chapter

Sherry Botkin Thoreau Water & Sanitation District

Loline Hathaway Yah-ta-hey Water & Sanitation District

facilitators/staff:

Evan Williams Northwest NM Council of Governments

Larry Winn McKinley County Soil & Water Conservation District

I. OPENING & INTRODUCTIONS. Board facilitator Larry Winn opened the meeting at 10:13 AM.

II. CDBG Planning Grant Update.

Evan Williams asked if this report had been approved by the clients: Mike Daly and Loline Hathaway. Evan Williams commented that Mike Daly had some concerns with the report and the cost associated with some of the improvements. Loline Hathaway needed more time to review the plan, and would relay concerns if any back to Evan Williams.

III. Legislative Strategies.

The Water Board discussed McKinley County’s water and wastewater priority list for 2006. Evan Williams and Larry Winn discussed legislative strategies and the do’s and don’t’s regarding lobbying. Evan Williams stated that it is important for community members and small system representatives to go to Santa Fe in person to lobby for projects. It shows Legislators that it is a real priority, if a representative can take a day off work and drive six (6) hours “door-to-door” to advocate on behalf of a project. It also helps to go to Santa Fe to testify on our project. Proposals and written materials need to be short and too the point, and pictures are worth a thousand words.

IV. Cibola Water Rights Update.

Evan Williams gave a quick update of the proposal from Joe Diaz regarding the old ARCO water rights in Cibola County and the possibilities of entering into a joint governmental water bank with Cibola and McKinley County governments.

Evan Williams told the group an interesting story of a phone call he received from Jay Stein, a Santa Fe Water Attorney. Jay Stein stated that he saw an article in the Gallup Independent regarding McKinley County’ s interest in attaining water rights in Cibola County. He felt that the water rights being discussed and proposed by Joe Diaz, were in reality, his client’s. He explained that his client owned the right on all of the old ARCO water rights, and that Joe Diaz at one time did have an option on those rights, but that Joe Diaz never did exercise his option.

Evan Williams told Jay Stein that the Board and County Commission had just begun their own investigation on these “so-called” rights and that he was glad for Jay Stein’s call. Evan suggested that Jay contact Joe to find out just what rights each entity claimed control of, and Evan asked that Jay Stein update the Board on any results that came from those conversations.

The Board discussed this new complexity in the Cibola County Water Rights Purchase project, and felt the State Engineer’s Office should have a proof of ownership for those water rights that could be researched.

V. Small System Report Out.

Board Elections:

Loline Hathaway and Sherry Botkin reported that they have trouble getting voter turnout for Board elections.

Public’s Lack of General Knowledge:

Loline discussed the Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) and how they make no sense to the common person. “No one has the time to read them, and no one can understand them anyway”. She described that the general public in Yah-ta-hey does not know about water issues or water testing.

Regulations:

Loline discussed her disgust with State and Federal regulations, and how agencies “read-into” or create regulations that do not exist in statute. For example, that systems with lagoons, must have them lined with clay-lining. She said that after Mike Daly’s research into this matter, there was no such regulation, but a staffer at NMED, who interpreted that as regulation. Paulene McCabe and Sherry Botkin agreed with this example, describing their run in with these myths of regulation. Loline also told the Board about the supposed regulations for reverse-osmosis systems, which according to the NMED should only be used as a last resort.

Larry Winn interjected on the issue of RO and gave an update that a pilot test system wil be brought to the City of Gallup to do a real life test on our water, which should translate to all our small systems in the County.

Education:

The Board discussed how the County could start to educate its citizenry about water, its real price, and conservation.

Loline asked if we could spearhead an education program in the schools.

Things that are happening:

· Sherry Botkin discussed what Thoreau did to create awareness in schools. Thoreau reps created a cartoon poster that outlined the water life cycle and infrastructure involved.

· Larry Winn mentioned that a Water Festival will be taking place on May 2^nd.

· The City of Gallup hired a coordinator, Liz Barriga, as a water conservation and education coordinator.

o She is doing water audits with local businesses.

· Loline mentioned the possibility of doing school tours of the water/wastewater infrastructure. Sherry added – have a “Know your water system day” at each MDWUAs and WSDs.

· Larry Winn mentioned using the Gallup Water Board model to educate the citizens – use their experience as an example of raising rates and the cost of water.

· Larry Winn mentioned producing a informational sheet regarding the system and the water status in Southwest.

· Paulene McCabe said she to needed to educate Chapter residents who mess with the water pump on a regular basis, which wastes water. Even though only 5% of her residents have running water – she would like to educate in advance of getting hooked up. She talked about a billboard with a faucet that was leaking water and a running number of what that costs citizens.

· Paulene McCabe also mentioned putting together a checklist of stuff that needs to be checked or replaced to reduce water waste, for those with systems or those getting systems. Having a public training at the Chapter to explain how to do this yourself. (Larry Winn – or pay a plumber to do all houses, once a year.)

· Larry Winn also mentioned getting information about how much it will cost to connect to the Gallup Regional System? If we don’t raise rates, how do we pay for using City water? What happens if we do not pay our bills?

· Use NTUA water rate increase as an example. (26%)

ACTION: Larry Winn will ask her to present to our Board, and see how we can use her skills and resources.

VI. OTHER ISSUES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

VII. ADJOURNMENT: Loline Hathaway moved, and Sherry Botkin seconded to adjourn; the Board meeting adjourned at 12:07 PM. Next meeting will be at the McKinley County conference room at 10 AM on Wednesday February 22^nd 2006.

Respectfully submitted,

Evan Williams, Associate Planner

Northwest NM Council of Governments