Council approves HF Sinclair/Navajo installation of community benzene monitors

The Artesia City Council approved the installation of six community benzene monitors around the city as part of a voluntary settlement between HF Sinclair/Navajo Refining Co., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Mexico Environment Department.

Kavika Tupo, Environmental Projects leader, and Brett Arnsberger, Projects Execution manager at HF Sinclair/Navajo, spoke at the meeting and said the benzene monitors would benefit the environment and the community. Refinery staff will pull tests from each monitor every two weeks, send the samples to a lab, and post the results on a public website.

The six locations include private property north of the refinery, Guadalupe Park, Artesia Fire Department Station No. 2, Roselawn Elementary School, City Hall and the Eddy County Clerk’s Sub-Office. The monitors will be placed on existing light poles at nearly 10 feet high.

Tupo said the refinery currently has 16 monitors around its perimeter fence with results showing benzene levels 50% below the EPA action level over the last two years.

In other business Tuesday, after much discussion, the council did not approve Ordinance 1128 for a zone change at 601 S. 23rd St. from R1-B, Single-Family District, to C, Commercial Use. City staff will work with property owners Beverly Still and Brad Knowlton on a new classification and bring it back to the council.

The council gave its approval for the Artesia Fire Department to apply for a Fiscal Year 2025 Firefighter and EMT Recruitment Fund Grant. Fire Chief Kevin Hope said the grant would total roughly $605,000 to cover training, wages and benefits for three full-time certified positions. It would cover 100% of the cost in the first year, 50% the second year, and 25% the third year. The cost to the city would be 100% in the fourth year and beyond.

The council set a public hearing for June 11 to consider an ordinance for the vacation of 50 feet of public right-of-way on Smith Avenue of the Charley H. Smith addition to the City of Artesia. That includes .050 acres for a dedication circle and consolidation of Lots 1, 3, 5, and 7, Block 2, of the Smith addition. Property owners involved include Elvis Caudill, Rick Leaton, Heber Mendoza/Congregation of Jehovah’s Witness, the City of Artesia and Wesley Knowlton/Tiny Homes, LLC.

Just For Concrete, LLC, was granted permission to use Jaycee Park’s west shelter and bathrooms to hold their employee picnic from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.

After holding an executive session, the council upheld a staff recommendation to suspend an employee in the Infrastructure Department and took no action on a matter of pending litigation.

As part of its consent agenda, the council granted permission for:

• a bid award to, and signature authority over, a contract, purchase orders and all related documents for the installation of replacement mobile radios to Yucca Telecom.
• the reappointment of Joe Schiel to the Commission on Aging Advisory Council, term to expire in June 2027.
• the appointments of Tanya Laman and Moises Rodriguez to the Commission on Aging Advisory Council, terms to expire in June 2027.
• the hiring of Melissa Rutledge, library clerk, at a pay rate of $2,600 per month; Kristi Froman Benavidez, Facilities and Maintenance custodian, $2,600 per month; and Rhonda Davis, Solid Waste equipment operator, $2,756 per month.
• the ratification of a transfer of Angelina Davila, Human Resources generalist, at a pay rate of $4,348.16 per month.
• the ratification of the promotion of Melanie Roberts, Finance and Administration payroll administrator, at a pay rate of $3,909.43 per month.
• one police employee to attend Basic Supervisor Liability training online.
• one fire employee to attend Advanced Incident Command System, Command and General Staff Complex Incidents 400 training in Santa Fe.
• one police employee to attend Patrol Officer Drug Investigation training in Roswell.
• one finance employee to attend a notary public online course.
• one finance employee to attend Government Finance Officers Association training online.
• one fire employee to attend Type 3 All Hazards Planning Section Chief training in El Paso, Texas.
• one fire employee to attend Type 3 All Hazards Logistics Section Chief training in El Paso, Texas.
• two finance employees to attend the New Mexico Aviation Conference in Ruidoso.
• the approval of Resolution 1860 accepting and approving the Fiscal Year 2022-23 audit.
• the approval of Resolution 1861 adopting a revised ADA Transition Plan for the City of Artesia.