Please note: This is an unofficial summary provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to represent the official board meeting minutes.
The meeting was held at the Lodge at 5:00 PM. Chairman Otis Price presided, with Treasurer Josh McCurdy, Director Jesse “JJ” Duckett, and Director Derenda Robb in person. Vice Chair Caleb Flora joined by phone. GM Wendy Case and Secretary Nanette Thorell were also present.
Manager’s Report
GM Case covered a lot of ground:
Water production: Well #1 produced 3,427,740 gallons, Well #2 added 2,195,600 — over 5.6 million gallons total for the period.
Billing is delayed again this month until meter reads are completed. They are behind schedule, due to the recent office transition and ongoing billing software issues. Don’t panic if your bill is late.
A Boil Water Advisory is currently in effect following a weekend tank drain. Samples were submitted to the lab for testing, and the advisory was expected to lift Tuesday or Wednesday. Keep an eye out for announcements.
The FY2024 audit is nearly done Wendy and Josh were meeting with the auditor for the Exit Conference later that week.
The Consumer Confidence Report for 2025 is available and posted on the TWSD website.
Grant reimbursement: $31,000 of a remaining $39,000 has been recovered; about $15,000 in invoices are still pending.
New staff: Billing clerk Valerie has joined the office and is doing great. Welcome!
Treasurer’s Report
Brief. Budget was previously reviewed and has gone to NMFA for approval, with a nod to Director Duckett for helping move it forward.
Old Business: Grant Updates
$47,000 Otero County grant for solid waste and park bathroom toilets — applied, awaiting response.
$367,000 Colonias Grant for a new dump site behind the maintenance barn — approved! Joe Lewandowski is authorized to begin site prep for NMED review. The design calls for four dumpsters with steps to discourage dumping of prohibited items (furniture, appliances, etc.). Community members raised concerns about seniors navigating the steps; Chairman Price noted an attendant may assist on certain days and that details are still in early planning. A live camera feed accessible from the TWSD website is also being explored for dumpster availability and illegal dumping monitoring. Required Colonias training classes are expected in late June or early July.
$26.4 million in infrastructure grants ($2.4M engineering, $24M projects) — approved by Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Sen. Martin Heinrich and forwarded to the Appropriations Committee. Awaiting response.
New Business
Inventory & Asset Management Plan — Approved. Inventory Control Officer Leo presented the district’s system for tracking equipment, tools, and vehicles from purchase through field use. Approved unanimously.
Muni-Link Billing Software — Approved. The board voted unanimously to replace the current UB-Max system with Muni-Link. Key context: TWSD paid UB-Max $18,777 for an upgrade that was never delivered and has been ignored on refund requests attorney involvement is next. UB-Max costs $15,000/year; Muni-Link runs $30,000 upfront plus ~$4,000/month. More expensive, but brings better work orders, online payments, digital records, and consolidated customer accounts.
Heads up: The TWSD website has an email that’s not routing correctly. Use accounting@timberonwsd.com to contact the office or the GM until the issue is fixed.
Bathrooms, Cemetery & Employee Recognition. Community member Michelle Lackey raised concerns about the state of TWSD bathrooms during the Kentucky Derby event. GM Case acknowledged the ball was dropped and it’s been corrected. Suzie Simms brought up the cemetery not being mowed before Memorial Day. Chairman Price apologized and confirmed it’s on next year’s schedule. Ms. Lackey also asked the record to reflect her appreciation for TWSD employee Chris Rains, who proactively collected trash from elderly residents during a dumpster overflow. Thank you, Chris.
Delinquent Standby Fees — Approved to Proceed. Director Duckett reported over 200 properties have existing Standby liens eligible for foreclosure. The board voted unanimously to have TWSD’s attorney review the collection policy and meet with the board on next steps. Seven new Standby liens totaling $1,973.02 were also approved unanimously. This item drew pointed pushback from one audience member who argued that owners of vacant lots with no plans to connect should not be required to pay Standby fees. The board explained that Standby fees (which are set and approved by the NMPRC) exist to maintain the street-level infrastructure that benefits the entire community, not just active customers. That infrastructure also supports fire mitigation, and it’s worth noting that properties with water in the street are generally assessed at higher values by the county than those without. The exchange grew heated, with the audience member characterizing the foreclosure process as the district “stealing” properties. The board was unable to make much headway against the misinformation before the conversation wound down and the meeting moved on.
Public Q&A
Richard recommended closing the slash pits due to safety concerns. Arden of the Water Advisory Committee flagged the PRV at Pioneer and Sacramento Roads showing 140 psi on both input and output, and asked about the golf course — the board confirmed TWSD owns it, DTI manages it with TDC assistance.
Closing Remarks & Adjournment
Director Duckett suggested revisiting the DTI lease regarding golf course operations. Chairman Price noted progress on the grant front. GM Case mentioned she’s already prepared a 2025 audit folder.
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 PM.