A new batch of Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) students got a chance to walk through the tour at Las Cruces Utilities (LCU). Organized by the City of Las Cruces (CLC), the NLA students take tours of different City departments to get a better glimpse of the inner workings of the City. With LCU, there’s plenty to explore.
The early evening class provided a deep dive into how fresh drinking water is supplied to homes and businesses, how it’s conserved, and even how wastewater is processed and cleaned for reuse. Neighborhood Leaders heard how to stay safe around gas and the piping that brings it to homes and businesses; and how solid waste and recycling is managed all across town. It’s a quick study, a few minutes at several booths spread out around the LCU Administration building on Motel Blvd.
“It’s impressive to see people who are passionate about their jobs and the work they do to benefit all the residents in our city,” noted NLA student Diane Turo.
The CLC hosts the NLA to provide first-hand information about City services and programs to residents, and to encourage greater engagement and connection with the City government and various departments.
“There is a lot more than just the trucks that come to their houses or the water to their taps,” said Utilities Director, Jorge A. Garcia, Ph.D., P.E. “This gives them a chance to see who works behind the scenes, to make sure that water is clean and ready and that there are systems in place to monitor the entire infrastructure.”
After touring the booths outside framed with the trucks, and the pipes inside the onsite well house, NLA students stepped inside the Utilities Administrative building to SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and Emergency Dispatch to see how the open well they just toured had a flashing red light indicating it was open. It’s part of the 24-hour continual monitoring for safety.
“It’s just enough information at different departments so that students can go into their communities and circles of influence - friends and family - to be able to share contact information and the right venue,” said Jamey Rickman, CLC community outreach manager and NLA coordinator. “It’s also a spark for them to pique their interest in perhaps learning more.”
Cheryl Frank is happy to go back to win a debate with her mother. “I finally got confirmation that I don’t have to make my detergent bottle spotlessly clean before I put it in the blue bin,” she laughed.
The NLA now has 88 graduates! It is free, but space is limited to the first 20 participants who enroll. The Academy is a once-a-week evening course program for a total of 15 classes. For more information please go to https://www.las-cruces.org/219/Neighborhood-Leadership-Academy
Submitted by Las Cruces Utilities at 528-3500 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Las Cruces Utilities provides GAS – WATER – WASTEWATER – SOLID WASTE services to approximately 100,000 Las Cruces residents and businesses.