By Roger Lanse

Mary Hinojosa, representing the Hanover Water Association, asked the Bayard City Council at their Monday, March 23 meeting, to reduce the cost of water supplied to Hanover residents by the City of Bayard. After some discussion, Mayor Charles Kelly suggested meeting together at a later date to discuss the matter further, to which the parties agreed.

A quote of $10,000 to install a 10-foot extension of chain-link fencing to provide a hood at the Little League Baseball Field was rejected by the council, and a decision was approved to have one constructed out of cloth netting.

The council approved a bond issue to repay a $109,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the 2015 Water System Improvement Project. Total cost for the project is $1.18 million -- $234,000 from a New Mexico legislative appropriation, $837,000 from a USDA grant, and the $109,000 loan from the USDA. The project includes automation of water meters and water line replacement.