By Steve Ramirez, Las Cruces Sun-News, a MediaNews Group Newspaper

Mesilla town government is going to “bundle” with Comcast in the hopes of saving a bundle.

Town trustees voted 4-0 Monday to approve a three-year contract with Comcast to switch telephone service at Mesilla Town Hall and the town’s Public Safety Building from CenturyLink to Comcast. The agreement is expected to save Mesilla more than 38 percent of what town government is currently spending every month on its phone bill.

“It seems like a good deal,” Mayor Pro Tem Jesus Caro Jr. said. “Let’s make sure it’s not a deal for just one year.”

Trustees directed Town Clerk Nicholas Eckert to finalize the agreement.

“We can sign for three years, but if a better deal shows up we can do that, too,” Eckert said.

Although the contract will be executed quickly, Eckert reiterated that the switch over in phone service won’t happen right away at Town Hall. To minimize the potential of telephone problems occurring, Eckert said the conversion won’t be made until after the March 6 municipal elections.

But such won’t be the case at the Mesilla Public Safety Building.

“It’s possible it could happen later this week,” said Fire Chief Kevin Hoban. “I understand the conversion is only going to take a few minutes to make.”

The switch in phone service will affect 10 telephone lines, seven at Town Hall and three at the Public Safety Building. Through Comcast, the town will be provided with Voice Over Internet Protocol service, and the contract with Comcast will provide town government with long distance service at no additional cost.

Mesilla resident Charles Bourger asked trustees if they were fully aware of the potential problems a switch in phone service could cause.

“Once you switch, you have the potential for an outage issue,” Bourger said.

But Eckert said service issues were possible with any telephone carrier the town might do business with.

Trustees also agreed to follow through on a suggestion from Mesilla resident Alexandra Nason Hall, who asked trustees to consider using recycling bins during the town’s Diez y Seis de Septembre fiesta. Public Works Director Debra Lujan told trustees that a 6-cubic-yard recycling container would cost the town $45 to use during special events, and smaller containers would cost $10 each.

Lujan added it would be difficult for town staff members to tend to the containers.

“We just don’t have the manpower,” Lujan said. “I don’t have the overtime (pay) to pick those (containers) up.”

But Mayor Nora Barraza said efforts to recycle should at least be tried.

“Let’s just see how it works out for the town and if it’s doable,” Barraza said.

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