Estancia Pool Will Stay Closed This Summer After Town Backs Away From Donated-Water Plan

Two June meetings produced new financial policies, confirmed hires, and a fireworks plan — and aired resident complaints about water billing and road construction

ESTANCIA — A plan to fill the Estancia town pool with water donated by an anonymous resident collapsed this month, leaving the pool closed for a second consecutive summer as Estancia continues to grapple with strain on its water system.

The donated-water plan was the centerpiece of two Estancia Board of Trustees meetings this month: a regular meeting rescheduled to Thursday, June 4, 2026, and a special meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, called specifically to revisit the pool question along with budget business. Trustees also approved three financial policy resolutions, confirmed two staff hires, signed off on the town's 2026 fireworks celebration, and adopted a revised organizational chart, while residents used public comment at both meetings to raise concerns about water billing practices and an ongoing road construction project.

Mayor Runnel Riley was absent from both meetings, continuing a leave of absence previously reported by the Mountainair Dispatch. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Lovato presided over both sessions.

Pool funding plan scrapped after donation raised legal questions

Trustees opened the June 4 meeting outlining what was described as a workable path to a 30-day pool season this year: lifeguards in place, a pool manager who had accepted the town's offer, plaster and equipment repairs scheduled, and an anonymous individual willing to donate roughly 134,000 gallons of water to fill the pool, with the town covering only the cost of hauling it.

Town Clerk Veronica Navarrette presented three contractor quotes for that hauling work, ranging from roughly $16,200 to $22,400.

During the discussion of the donation proposed by the town's benefactor, the Mountainair Dispatch raised questions about whether accepting a private donation of that size could implicate state conflict-of-interest laws, including the Government Conduct Act, particularly since the donor's identity was not made public at the meeting. Lovato said he personally knew who the donor was, but he would keep that person's identity a secret and would promise to recuse himself if the benefactor ever appeared before the Board of Trustees.

Rather than vote that night, trustees tabled the pool question and scheduled the June 10 special meeting specifically to revisit it once Navarrette had researched the donation's legality and the town had more information on its well levels. "Let's revisit it next meeting with the information on the donation of the water," Trustee Amy May said, adding that with lifeguards, a manager, and plaster work already lined up, she did not want to lose momentum before the legal questions were resolved.

By the June 10 meeting, Navarrette reported New Mexico Municipal League's attorney recommended against accepting the donation. With that option off the table, and citing the strain the June 1 water main break had already put on the town's supply, trustees voted unanimously to keep the pool closed for the 2026 season and instead pursue a paid water-hauling contract with the same vendor for future use.

Trustee Martin Lucero, who said the recent main break was "a reminder of how important resources are for the public," said he could not support opening the pool this year. "I just do not think we are ready for the pool right now," he said. "We were just going to put an undue stress on our well system, and it is just not necessary." Trustee May agreed. "I want this pool more than anything," she said. "I think the residents need it, but I cannot, in good conscience, say let's keep going with everything stacked against us right now."

Trustees voted instead to keep the previously hired youth work crew and incoming pool manager employed through the summer to complete repairs, including a chemical room trustees described as being in poor condition, showers that do not shut off properly, and aging pool lines. Trustees said they had the goal of a full season starting in 2027. May noted the town intends to reapply this fall for a recreational facilities grant to eventually enclose the pool and add a splash pad, building on work already completed.

Trustees approve financial policy resolutions and a water infrastructure grant

Acting on recommendations from town staff, trustees voted by roll call (Trustee Patrick Sanchez and Trustee May voting yes, with Lovato concurring; Lucero was absent) to approve three resolutions:

• Resolution 2026-018 authorizes the town to accept a state grant — listed on the agenda at $300,000, though the staff presentation that night referenced a $100,000 figure — to construct new wells and make improvements to Estancia's water distribution system. Staff described the funding as supplemental to an existing $5 million New Mexico Water Trust Board grant already secured for the same purpose, with a spending deadline of June 30, 2029.
• Resolution 2026-019 formally adopts the town's first written procurement policy and procedures manual; staff said Estancia had previously relied only on the state procurement code without its own written policy.
• Resolution 2026-020 adopts the town's first detailed accounting and finance policies and procedures manual, which staff said incorporates new state GASB accounting and reporting standards taking effect July 1, 2026, ahead of the next fiscal year's audit.

EMS chief, pool manager hires confirmed

Trustees formally confirmed the renewal of Jonathan Barela's employment agreement, albeit in a new role as EMS Operations Chief, with Navarrette noting the position had already been posted and effectively filled. Trustees also confirmed the hire of a new pool manager, Julie Morales, effective June 5, 2026, per the agenda.

Organizational chart tabled June 4, approved with changes June 10

Navarrette presented the town's annual organizational chart on June 4, noting the audit requires the board to review it every six months. The draft contained several errors that trustees caught in discussion: it omitted the town's court clerk position entirely, and listed Police Chief Tom Carter's job description twice. Carter also raised a structural concern, telling the board that, as an appointed department head, his position should report directly to the mayor rather than through the town clerk, a point Navarrette and Lovato agreed needed to be corrected. Given the number of changes required, May moved to table the chart until the next meeting, and trustees agreed.

At the June 10 meeting, trustees finalized the chart, voting to make Estancia's municipal court an independent department reporting directly to the Board of Trustees rather than under the police department. The board also added a volunteer firefighter position under the fire department and a volunteer EMS position under the new EMS Operations Chief role, while leaving the town's combined code enforcement, animal control, and planning and zoning position reporting directly to the mayor.

Fireworks celebration approved; no separate local ban discussed

Navarrette told trustees that Eddie Weber, who provided discounted fireworks to the town last year, wants to continue that arrangement for 2026 if the town moves forward with a display. Trustees discussed setting the town's contribution at roughly the same dollar amount as the previous year, which Weber would then match and exceed. At the June 10 meeting, trustees formally approved the 2026 fireworks celebration, with a roughly $4,500 town contribution. Lovato said the display will likely move from its usual site at the Torrance County Fairgrounds to the town's baseball park, timed to coincide with a community baseball and softball fundraiser tournament benefiting Estancia's youth athletics programs.

The June 4 agenda had listed the fireworks item as a discussion of a potential local ban "per Executive Order 2026-026" — a reference to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's executive order declaring statewide drought and severe fire conditions and urging, though legally barred from requiring, municipalities to restrict fireworks. In practice, the discussion captured in both meetings concerned only the town's own organized display; no separate vote on banning personal or retail fireworks use occurred, as was done in Willard.

Residents allege improper water shutoffs, fees; town clerk calls practice "criminal"

During public comment at the June 4 meeting, a resident who identified herself only as Jessica told trustees the town had shut off her water exactly on its due date — the 15th of the month — on two occasions in the nearly four years she has lived in town, despite the bill itself stating a 15-day grace period before service could be disconnected. She said the town charged a $40 reconnection fee each time.

Trustee Amy May confirmed from the dais that the town had shut off her own water "exactly on the 15th" on at least one occasion. Navarrette, hearing the description of the practice, responded, "That's actually criminal." Lovato said he would review the billing language against the town's actual practice. No further action was taken on the issue at either meeting in the available recordings.

Road construction complaints prompt contractor follow-up, temporary trash fix

Also, during the June 4 public comment, Loring Avenue resident Tonya Brown told trustees that elderly residents on her street were not notified of the ongoing road construction project, since many do not use Facebook, and that town flyers or mailers would have reached them more reliably. She described construction crews damaging vehicles by improperly covering driveway cuts — including an incident where a neighbor's tire was damaged — and crews appearing idle for stretches of the workday. She also asked why the project was splitting work across the full street rather than completing one section at a time.

Lovato and Navarrette said the contractor is contractually required to deliver door-to-door notices before beginning work on a given section, and that Navarrette had already contacted the contractor requesting proof that those notices were delivered, which she had not yet received. Trustees also said the road work had disrupted residential trash pickup, since the county crew that normally assists is not on-site on the project's current schedule; the town said it would provide two roll-off dumpsters for affected residents in the interim and follow up directly with the trash contractor.

Water meter tampering prompts liens against six accounts

Navarrette told trustees that the town has six customer accounts significantly behind on payments, and that liens will now be filed against them for unpaid penalty fees. She also said the town has identified instances of residents tampering with water meters the town had shut off for nonpayment, breaking the meters open and restoring service themselves. Staff said they are preparing lien paperwork and expect to bring more such cases to the board going forward.

Affordable housing project floated for Salt Missions Park

Tim Nisly introduced himself to the board as the owner of Salt Missions Mobile Home & RV Park and a former affordable-housing executive, telling trustees he is in early discussions with Torrance County and the state Department of Finance and Administration about placing roughly 50 mobile homes on a site zoned for up to 60, for county-administered workforce, senior, or affordable housing. Lovato told him to coordinate with Navarrette on scheduling a future agenda item once the proposal is further along. No board action was taken.

Editor's note: This article addresses official actions and statements made during open, public sessions of the Estancia Board of Trustees. Descriptions of alleged improper billing or shutoff practices reflect resident accounts given during public comment and have not been independently verified.