Sandoval County commissioners last week compiled a wish list to give to the state, outlining their top infrastructure projects.
The commissioners voted 3-2 to approve an updated list ranking priorities on the 2026-2030 Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP), totaling $106,322,404, at the June 26 commission meeting. The top-ranked project on the list is Paseo del Volcan at $19.3 million.
“I’ve been doing this for thirty-some years sitting on ICIP boards and it always gets a lot of discussions and after the top five, it really doesn’t matter,” Commissioner Michael Meek said.
The commissioners had to vote on the top five list twice after reorganizing it. After some discussion, the second vote narrowly passed, with Commissioners David Heil and Meek dissenting.
The top five projects the commissioners approved are:
- Paseo de Volcan expansion, $19,329,018
- Judicial complex expansion, $55,287,000
- Dispatch center, $18 million
- County animal shelter, $8,671,386
- Administration building construction completion, $5,035,000
The most discussed item on the ICIP was a $15.6 million project for broadband corridor studies, originally ranked seventh.
Commissioner Jay Block asked County Manager Wayne Johnson to give details of the $15 million studies.
Johnson said that he did not know the details.
“Quite frankly, you know, government studies are less popular, probably than herpes,” Block said. “It’s just a waste of money and broadband corridor studies for $15 million and no one can even answer what the hell it is.”
After discussing broadband and under Johnson’s advisement, the commission decided to retain the project on the list, moving it to the sixth position. They also removed “corridor studies” from the project name. Johnson emphasized the importance of keeping the project on the ICIP list. This is crucial because, when seeking funding from the state or federal government, the first question often asked is whether the project is listed on the ICIP.
Paseo del Volcan, at $19.3 million, is phase two in a multiphase project designed to create a 30-mile-long two-lane highway connecting the western side of Albuquerque at Interstate 40 with U.S. 550 in Bernalillo. The first 7 miles of phase one have been completed. The second phase is intended to ease congestion and provide flood control for Rio Rancho.
In other business, the commissioners were presented with plans for the Sandoval County Regional Emergency Communication Center (SCRECC) by Sandoval County Fire Chief Eric Masterson and Jeff Steyer, the project manager from MCM Consulting Group. The consulting firm was contracted for the development of a new call center.
The firm presented the cost and timeline of the plan to remodel the building designated for the new SCRECC location. For more detailed information, refer to the Signpost’s report on the SCRECC board meeting.
Get involved
The next County Commission meeting is at 6 p.m. July 24 at the Administrative Building Commission Chambers, 1500 Idalia Road, Building D in Bernalillo.