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Los Alamos utility board backs two Water Trust Board grant/loan agreements to replace aging water line and fund infrastructure
Summary
The Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously Nov. 19 to recommend County Council approve Ordinance 7-49, a $2 million Water Trust Board award (90% grant, 10% loan) to replace an aged cast-iron water line on San Ildefonso Road. Staff also briefed the board on a similar $2.5 million award under Ordinance 7-51 and on related power-line grant applications.
The Board of Public Utilities on Nov. 19 recommended County Council approve a Water Trust Board loan/grant agreement tied to Ordinance 7-49 to replace an aging 8-inch cast-iron water line on San Ildefonso Road on North Mesa. The board voted 4–0 to forward the ordinance to council for introduction and adoption.
James Allred, who presented both Ordinances 7-49 and 7-51, told the board the county received unusually favorable awards this cycle: “We got a 90% grant, 10% loan,” he said, adding the loan carries administrative fees for outstanding balances. For Ordinance 7-49 Allred said the award totals $2,000,000, of which $1,800,000 is grant and $200,000 is loan; the project would replace the pipe between the middle school and the North Mesa connector to address crumbling cast-iron pipe and salt-related trench damage. Construction is planned for next summer, Allred said, and County Council will hold a public hearing on Dec. 16 before closing and signing the loan and grant documents early next year.
Allred described Ordinance 7-51 as a similar award, around $2.5 million, and said earlier project phases were substantially complete. He told the board the county’s development agreement with Pajarito Mountain calls for the developer to be billed $1,000,000 for its share as state grant dollars are spent down. Allred also told the board the county submitted a separate $3,400,000 grant application for replacement of the EA-4 power line; he said the state review was pending.
Board members asked procedural and schedule questions; there was no additional public comment on 7-49 at the meeting. The board’s recommendation sends the ordinance to County Council for the scheduled Dec. 16 hearing, after which the county expects to finalize grant and loan documents.
Action at this meeting: the board recommended Council approval of Ordinance 7-49 and passed that recommendation by roll call vote, 4–0. The board heard but did not vote on Ordinance 7-51 at this meeting.
What’s next: County Council will hear Ordinance 7-49 on Dec. 16; staff said they plan to close grant and loan documents in January.
