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Aztec obligates local match for South Aztec water transmission design, stresses coordination with Bloomfield
Summary
Commission approved budget and acceptance resolutions to obligate local match and accept NMED grant steps for the South Aztec water transmission line, noting the state requires verification of match before issuing a grant agreement; commissioners urged coordination with Bloomfield and the county.
The Aztec City Commission voted Nov. 18 to obligate local funds and accept state readiness requirements to advance the South Aztec water transmission project’s design work.
Commissioners approved Special Budget Resolution 2025-1531 to obligate the city's match and Resolution 2025-1532 to accept an NMED-related agreement, steps staff said are necessary for the Water Trust Board to issue a formal grant agreement. "The state has requested readiness-to-proceed items — verification that we're able to meet the match," Ruben (staff) said, adding the state requires either a commission resolution obligating funds or a budget document showing the match.
Staff described a multi-phase program that began with a roughly $1.5 million first phase completed in 2022, later work of about 1,300 feet, and a proposed additional 350-foot extension funded in part by ARPA and other grants. Jerick (staff) said the city received a 2022 $200,000 grant used for planning, PER preparation and initial design; only about $122,000 of that remains and additional funds will be needed for construction.
Several commissioners urged staff to coordinate closely with the City of Bloomfield and San Juan County because the transmission line crosses jurisdictions. "We need both cities to be on board with how this is coming together," one commissioner said, urging staff to ensure Bloomfield’s comments are incorporated before moving to final design.
Commissioners discussed whether tabling the obligation would prevent receipt of a grant agreement; staff said the state is unlikely to send a grant agreement until the readiness items are satisfied. The commission approved the resolutions by motion and voice vote.
Staff said engineers are revising the PER to incorporate commission comments and will submit a draft revised PER to both Aztec and Bloomfield for review before scheduling a workshop and final design steps.
The commission also discussed reallocation of ARPA funds to the 173 waterline project to ensure ARPA obligations were met before federal deadlines.
