Since the TWSD board meetings have been changed to once monthly, the minutes of the meeting won’t be posted until after they are approved at the following meeting. Of course, anyone can request the draft version from the board secretary after 10 days. This is a casual recap and not intended to be an official report.
~TD
Timberon Water & Sanitation District Board Meeting Recap – March 11, 2025
The TWSD Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting on March 11 at the Timberon Community Center. Vice Chair Edward Hardesty called the meeting to order, stepping in for Chairman David Cruey, who was absent. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the salute to the New Mexico flag, honoring the state’s Zia symbol of unity and friendship. After approving the agenda with a few adjustments, the board got down to business.
Updates & Finances
There was no manager’s report this month, as General Manager Price is still in the hospital. The board sent their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Treasurer Jesse “JJ” Duckett gave the financial rundown, highlighting account balances and an update on an employee insurance payment issue. Thanks to the efforts of TWSD Administrative Assistant Wendy Case, a $33,000 debt has been reduced to around $23,000, with a payment plan in place to cover the remainder. The Budget Committee also reported progress on the upcoming fiscal budget.
An audience member raised a concern about an unpaid invoice from NewGen Strategies. Vice Chair Hardesty assured everyone he’d look into it. The board also discussed updating vendor contact lists to reflect current board members.
Old & New Business
The board approved last month’s meeting minutes before moving on to new business. The big topic of discussion was a request from TDC President Chance Guiles for TWSD to provide water service—at no charge—for the Deer Park Project. The park will feature a garden, playground, jogging trail, and picnic areas, with water used for irrigation and a community fountain. The board determined that this would be an infrastructure upgrade, not a donation, and approved the request.
A discussion on restructuring inactive water meter policies sparked interest. The proposed change would limit inactivity to six months per year, ensuring that inactive meters contribute to maintenance costs and reducing the risk of theft. This could bring in an estimated $200,000 annually. More research is needed, so expect further discussion in April’s meeting.
Community Q&A & Final Thoughts
During the public comment session, audience members raised questions about union negotiations, water quality notices, and property rules regarding livestock. Vice Chair Hardesty reassured residents that Timberon’s water is safe to drink, with recent violations being reporting-related rather than actual quality issues.
Before wrapping up, Hardesty encouraged community members to get involved in local leadership. With five board seats up for election in November, he urged residents to step up, run for office, and make a difference instead of just critiquing from the sidelines.
The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Stay tuned for next month’s updates!