Board recommends wastewater loan, approves communications platform and other measures; several project funding requests advanced

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — The Los Alamos County Board of Public Utilities on Aug. 20 recommended that County Council approve an ordinance to accept New Mexico Environment Department loan funds for upgrades at the Los Alamos Wastewater Treatment Plant, approved a services agreement for a civic engagement video platform and forwarded several water and administrative items to council.

The board voted 4–0 to recommend adoption of ordinance No. 7-45 that would authorize a principal project loan of $1,750,000 and a $250,000 loan subsidy (grant) from the New Mexico Environment Department’s Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund for repairs and equipment replacement at the wastewater plant. The board also approved a companion resolution delegating signatory authority for transactions tied to the loan, as required by the department.

Separately the board voted 3–1 to recommend county approval of a services agreement with Barry Slater Inc., doing business as REPT, for a hosted civic-engagement platform that includes short video recording, a resident Q&A tool and distribution features. REPT chief operating officer Mark Fries described the product as “REPD humanizes local government to build resident trust.” The contract as presented in the staff report includes an upfront and multi-year subscription budget; the board authorized forwarding the agreement to council for final action. (One board member voted no.)

The board also recommended council approval of two submissions to the New Mexico Water Trust Board for the 2026 cycle: repainting the Parvito 4A 4.0-million-gallon tank (requested grant/loan application $1,281,280) and replacement of nearly a mile of 16-inch transmission pipe along Parvito Road (requested $1,360,000). Both requests were described as consistent with the utility’s 10‑year capital plan.

Other actions: the board recommended council approval to remove $26,255.04 in uncollectible utility accounts from the county receivable list for FY2021 and directed staff to submit the FY2026 Water Trust Board application materials (deadline Sept. 11).

Votes at a glance - Ordinance No. 7-45 (NMED loan for Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades) - Motion (as moved at the meeting): Recommend council approve Ordinance No. 7-45 authorizing a loan agreement with the New Mexico Environment Department for a $1,750,000 principal loan plus $250,000 subsidy/grant for wastewater plant upgrades. - Mover/Second: not specified in meeting audio (motion made and seconded on the record) - Vote: 4–0 in favor (Hollingsworth, Heffner, Nockley, Gibson — roll call recorded) - Outcome: recommended to County Council for introduction/adoption - Key details discussed: 21‑year-old plant equipment; cracked aeration basins requiring drain/repair/coating; replacement of fine screen and ultraviolet disinfection units; blower-building HVAC upgrades; electrical/motor-control work. Project listed in the FY2026 CIP; staff intends procurement after council approval and closing of loan agreement.

- Resolution No. 25-19 (delegation of signatory authority for NMED loan) - Motion: recommend council approve Resolution No. 25-19 to assign official representatives/authorized signatories for the NMED loan agreement. - Vote: 4–0 in favor - Outcome: recommended to County Council

- Resolution No. 25-20 (Water Trust Board application delegation) - Motion: recommend council adopt Resolution No. 25-20 authorizing the council chair or utilities manager to submit required documents for the 2026 Water Trust Board cycle. - Vote: 4–0 in favor - Outcome: recommended to County Council - Projects identified in application: repaint Parvito Tank 4A and replace ~1 mile of 16-inch transmission main along Parvito Road. Staff noted typical Water Trust structure is a mix of grant and low-interest loan and the county will provide required local match.

- Resolution No. 25-22 (remove uncollectible utility accounts, FY2021) - Motion: recommend council adopt Resolution No. 25-22 to remove $26,255.04 in uncollectible utility accounts from receivables for FY2021 (list of 74 accounts) - Vote: 4–0 in favor - Outcome: recommended to County Council - Staff note: higher balances on some accounts reflected pandemic-era disconnect moratoria and other circumstances; refuse fees handled separately at council.

- Services agreement AGR-26817 (Barry Slater Inc. / REPT civic engagement platform) - Motion: recommend council approve the services agreement for a fully hosted video/Q&A platform to support county communications; staff requested council approval to execute the agreement and fund the subscription and implementation budget presented in the staff packet. - Mover/Second: motion moved and seconded at the board meeting - Vote: 3–1 in favor (one dissenting vote) - Outcome: recommended to County Council - Discussion highlights: vendor demonstrated a browser-based teleprompter, AI-assisted script generation for staff, resident Q&A trained on county documents and website, and one-click distribution of video updates to resident lists and media outlets. Board discussion focused on contract length (vendor proposed 15 years with annual subscription), data storage and FOIA/public-records handling, termination/opt‑out provisions, and an approach to cost-sharing with county public information staff beyond the utilities department.

What happens next Staff will take the board’s recommendations to County Council for final action. For the NMED loan the county must pass the ordinance and then execute the loan documents before procurement and construction begin; staff projected construction/in‑service work to start in the 2026 calendar year for the wastewater plant tasks and 2027 for the Water Trust Board projects if awarded.

Speakers quoted in this summary are attributed to the meeting record or staff presentations as noted in the minutes.