By Mary Alice Murphy

The first order of business for the Grant County Water Commission was to appoint the chairman and vice chairman. Silver City Town Manager Alex Brown was approved to remain as chairman and Hurley Mayor Edward Encinas will serve as vice chairman.

As this was the first meeting of the year for the group, the members approved the Open Meetings Act resolution.

The main topic for the meeting was to discuss further funding for the regional water project.

"We have some money, and we have some water rights," Brown said. "The preliminary engineering design is underway. It is time to identify how we will more forward and how to acquire additional funding."

Encinas said he toured the well site with Gary Berg of Engineers Inc.
"I was impressed with where the test well was drilled. Our council people want to see it, too. " He said he was surprised at how far apart the two well sites are.

Berg explained that from east to west they are about 2,400 feet apart. "We have developed a preliminary corridor from the west well to the booster station and around the airport to Hurley. We have identified two square parcels for the wells and the booster station. We had a tour with the property owner Bub Graham. We are trying to minimize disturbance and the fenced area."

He said the area of the town's water rights is about