Kirtland council weighs two splash-pad designs tied to $1.5M grant, delays decision

KIRTLAND, N.M. — The Kirtland Town Council on Dec. 10 reviewed two engineering options for a proposed splash pad funded by an approximately $1.5 million grant and agreed to postpone a decision while staff returns with more detail on maintenance, bidding and budget impacts.

Mayor Alex Uhl read Engineer Dan Flack's written report outlining two alternatives. Option 1, described as a reduced-size recirculation system, would shrink the splash-pad area and remove shade structures and picnic tables but still leave the town responsible for an estimated $130,000 in construction and startup costs, the report said. Option 2, a pass-through system, would route water directly to the sewer system, would likely avoid building shower facilities and was estimated in the engineer's materials to be about $153,000 under the $1.5 million grant budget.

The engineer's proposal noted regulatory differences between the approaches: the recirculation option would require construction of showers and water sampling every four hours; the pass-through alternative would require daily washing of the splash area with chlorine and water and the town would need to seek a variance from the New Mexico Environment Department's Aquatic Division to permit a pass-through design instead of a recirculating system.

Councilors pressed several practical questions. Councilor Warner said the recirculation option's daily operational requirements would create a higher maintenance burden and likely necessitate a full-time operator, while he said the pass-through design could be handled by existing grounds staff. "Option 1 would be over budget and have an annual maintenance fee," Warner said. Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert asked specifically who would perform the daily tasks and how that cost would fit into the town's budget.

Members of the public raised operational concerns. Community member Linda Mascarenas asked whether additional maintenance would be needed in winter and whether lines could freeze; the council said the lines would be flushed for winter. Lynn Mack asked whether certified personnel would be required to test water under the recirculation option; Mayor Uhl said the aquatic center could assist with testing but that annual costs were not yet known.

Clerk Jonathan LaMone told the council that the grant funding is obligated to the splash-pad project and cannot be reallocated to unrelated items. Councilors discussed the limited pool of vendors able to perform splash-pad construction and whether line items could be rebid or negotiated. Given unanswered questions about ongoing costs and maintenance staffing, the council agreed to postpone the item to a future meeting.

Why it matters: The council is considering how to spend a sizable grant on a public amenity while weighing long-term operations costs and regulatory compliance. The choice between a recirculation design (higher upfront and ongoing operating costs) and a pass-through design (lower estimated cost but requiring a variance and different day-to-day procedures) will affect both the town's budget and maintenance needs.

What's next: Councilors asked staff and the town engineer to provide more detailed cost breakdowns, clarify who would perform daily maintenance, and confirm whether maintenance can be included as a grant-eligible line item. The splash-pad decision was deferred to the next council meeting.