Could Eddy County committee act as bridge between citizens and oil and gas?

Jeri Strong has a goal to create a strong bond between government, citizens and the oil and gas industry in Eddy County.

Strong was hired in January as Eddy County’s Public Information Officer and Oil and Gas Liaison. She has spent most of her first year with the county dedicated to forming an energy advisory board.

The Eddy County Board of County Commissioners signed a resolution June 25 officially creating the board.

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Strong said the Eddy County Energy Advisory Board was based on a model used by Garfield County, Colorado.

“Which had some very intense oil and gas growth, similar to Eddy County,” Strong said.

“Several years ago, they formed an energy advisory board for government, industry and community to come together to kind of talk about a lot of the issues with the intense oil and gas growth in Garfield County and so Eddy County thought it would be a good thing for us to do as well.”

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Strong said Eddy County worked with Stantec Engineering and Consulting to form the board.

“The board is a broader function of what I do as Oil and Gas Liaison for Eddy County,” she said.

Strong said the board has 20 members and is made up of people from every corner of Eddy County.

Strong said there are some open seats on the board and the deadline to apply is July 5.

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Interested applicants can apply online at https://www.co.eddy.nm.us/forms.aspx?FID=63.

The board’s first meeting is July 11 in Artesia at the Artesia Public Schools Administration Building, 301 Bulldog Blvd.

Strong said the meetings will rotate every few months between Artesia, Carlsbad and Loving.

“As the liaison for Eddy County, it was very important for me to create unity and inclusion among our municipalities here in Eddy County,” she said.

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Strong said growth in Eddy County’s population during the oil and gas boom “has been frustrating.”

“While that’s a good thing, I don’t think Eddy County was prepared for quite the growth we’ve experienced,” she said.

“So, this (the board) is a way to come together and deal with some of these issues and dig ourselves out of a hole as far as housing, roads, workforce and the cost of living. It goes on and on, but it’s tied together.”

Wes Hooper, Eddy County interim co-county manager, said the board acts as a bridge for everyone in Eddy County.

"This board is a public space to be proactive, host conversations on broad ranging impacts and to make connections," he said.

"Our collaboration on issues generated through rapid oil and gas growth can help us to strengthen and unite our communities to come. We are excited about this accomplishment."

Carlsbad City Administrator Michael Hernandez said the board offers a forum for everyone in Eddy County.

"We always appreciate all opportunities to communicate directly with our energy partners and other government agencies," he said. 

"Valerie Murrill is the City of Carlsbad's representative on this board, and we know she will do a great job." 

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.