Commission approves GRO and Water Trust funding steps and to act as fiscal agent for EMWT; authorizes RFP for temporary project manager

The Commission approved a package of grant and intergovernmental actions on Sept. 11 to help Estancia Moriarty Willard Torrance (EMWT) Water Association move forward with water system purchases and design work.

Commissioners approved an IGA with the Mid‑Region Council of Governments for two GRO fund appropriations — $200,000 for Torrance County Road Department programmatic costs and $160,000 for Torrance County Sheriff’s Office resources — and a separate GRO appropriation of $320,000 for purchasing water systems and rights in the Estancia Valley (total $680,000). The Commission voted unanimously to allow Torrance County to serve as fiscal agent for EMWT on those grants and related Water Trust Board (WTB) funding for Phase I design of the McIntosh Water System project; county staff indicated the county would not charge an administrative fee to EMWT for the fiscal‑agent role.

To manage short‑term project needs and grant compliance, the Commission also authorized an RFP to procure a contract Project Manager for EMWT work with a cap of $60,000 on the contract (hourly consultant engagement). Commissioners said the Project Manager is intended as a short‑term, 1099‑style contract to help EMWT reach procurement and contracting milestones and to maintain grant compliance until EMWT can stand up its own staff.

EMWT representatives and county staff told the Commission the fiscal‑agent arrangement is intended to be temporary and focused on bringing projects under contract; the county will seek written assurances and will terminate fiscal‑agent duties if EMWT cannot meet state compliance or if the arrangement becomes a long‑term county responsibility.