Bayard joins water shut-off moratorium - Silver City Daily Press and Independent

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After a round of water shut-offs that impacted more than 60 households in Bayard last Friday, city officials announced in a press release Wednesday that “there will be no shut-offs of any utilities until the restrictions to contain COVID-19 are lifted and normal business resumes.” 

After calls protesting the shut-offs flooded City Hall last Friday, crews in Bayard worked into the night to restore water service to all affected households by Saturday morning, and officials were forced to rethink the city’s normal policy of cutting off service to delinquent account holders on the first of every month. Originally, during Monday’s City Council meeting, Bayard Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Ortiz and Mayor Chon Fierro had threatened another round of 16 shut-offs Wednesday if those households didn’t communicate with City Hall to explain their nonpayment.

The town of Silver City announced in March that it would be suspending late fees and water shut-offs for the duration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s public health order, which is widely expected to be extended, at least partially, beyond its current May 15 expiration. The restrictions in place under the order have forced the closing or partial closing of many businesses and resulted in massive unemployment, leaving some residents having to make the choice between “spending their last $100 on water or buying food,” as Bayard resident Arlene Wayne — whose water was shut off around 3 p.m. last Friday —  put it. 

Freeport-McMoRan, for example, recently furloughed 825 workers at its Chino Mine, and warned the community to prepare for mass layoffs in coming months.

Officials from both Santa Clara and Hurley told the Daily Press that residents in those communities won’t have their water shut off for nonpayment during the COVID-19 crisis, but emphasized that municipalities — which are anticipating major declines in revenue due to the economic repercussions of the coronavirus — count on people paying their bills in order to maintain infrastructure that delivers services like clean drinking water, water for fire hydrants, sewers and sewage treatment.

“We will go as long as we can” providing water to residents who can’t afford to pay their bills, said Santa Clara Village Clerk Sheila Hudman, who added that Santa Clara had brought its policy for delinquent accounts in line with Silver City’s. 

“We are not charging penalties,” she said. “We do notify people if their account is delinquent, and we will work with you if you have been affected by COVID-19.

 “But it can’t go too long,” Hudman continued. “We need to operate, too, and right now there are no federal relief dollars for local governments that are dealing with revenue losses. It is essential that we continue to operate, and there is nobody to lay off in order to save money.”

“It is a difficult time,” agreed Hurley Mayor Ed Stevens, who added that he sympathizes not only with the residents of Bayard but also with officials there. “The municipalities need the water income to support the infrastructure that residents rely on.” 

Stevens said he hopes that Hurley residents will pay their bills if they can, and not take advantage of the temporary grace periods now being offered by municipalities during the public health emergency. 

“Residents need to understand they will eventually need to pay for the water — but we can’t turn it off at this time,” he said. “We are not going to turn the water off, but we are expecting residents to talk to us. We will use the human element to address this.”

Stevens said he is hopeful that Hurley and the Mining District will see the COVID-19 crisis pass, in large part, within “90 to 120 days.”

“Hopefully, prosperity will come to the area again — it’s a great area — and we can all grow old here, as I have done,” he said. 

Bayard customers who are “financially impacted during this time can contact City Hall at 537-3327 to discuss payment arrangements,” according to Wednesday’s press release. To make arrangements in Hurley, call 537-2287. In Santa Clara, call 537-2443 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Hudman said.

—GEOFFREY PLANT

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