By ROB LARSON
Daily Press Staff Writer
The Artesia City Council discussed allocating general fund money to the water fund for the Fire Hydrant Project and the approval of the Position Classification Plan and Safety Pays Program at Tuesday’s meeting.
Councilman Jose Luis Aguilar, representing Artesia’s Second District, motioned to take $500,000 out of the city’s general fund and transfer it to the water fund in order to fix hydrants. Currently, 48 hydrants were found to be inoperable due to mechanical problems. Also, 42 hydrants have “low flow” issues. … For the rest of the story, subscribe in print and on the web.
According to Fire Chief J.D. Hummingbird, the “low flow” hydrants haven’t affected the AFD in putting out a fire, but if a bigger fire were to break out, problems could potentially arise.
Ultimately, the motion failed, with councilors J.B. Smith, Nora Sanchez, Kent Bratcher and Bill Rogers and Mayor Pro Tem Terry Hill voting no, based on the understanding that the fire hydrant problem was addressed in the audit at midyear and would be corrected in a timely manner. Councilmen Aguilar, Raul Rodriguez and Manuel Barragan voted yes on the motion.
