By Rodd Cayton On the advice of an attorney — and against the wishes of dozens of residents who packed their chamber — Sandoval County Commissioners approved an application from parties seeking to erect a communications tower in Placitas. The planning and zoning commission in May denied the conditional use permit that would have allowed […]
Rodd Cayton
Rodd Cayton is a senior reporter with nm.news covering local news and government as a local reporting fellow with NM Reports.
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
Interim chief gets Bernalillo Fire job
By Rodd Cayton In a decision free of fanfare, the Bernalillo Town Council has named Bryan Picchione as the next fire chief. The unanimous vote makes permanent the position for Picchione, a lieutenant who had been serving as interim chief since the spring, when Chief AJ Bonnett’s term wasn’t extended. The 12-year department veteran has […]
Posted inEdgewood
Cleaning up the books: Edgewood manager says leadership fixing town’s accounting
By Rodd Cayton The Town of Edgewood is righting its fiscal ship, according to Town Manager Kelly Hamilton, with finance manager Amber Sanchez at the helm. She’s turning the Titanic away from the iceberg,” Hamilton told the Route 66 Independent. “She’s working diligently on getting us a clean set of books, so we have a […]
Posted inEast Mountains
Fun in the sun: Route 66 celebration brings revelry, music to Tijeras
By Rodd Cayton The Aug. 22 Route 66 Centennial celebration is an obvious reason for Tijeras to party, Mayor Jake Bruton said. “It’s always been in the village,” Bruton said. “It’s ingrained in us. It’s who we are.” Bruton said that while the Village of Tijeras was officially incorporated in 1973, the community has been […]
Posted inCorrales
New Corrales architect out to protect ‘gem’
By Rodd Cayton The selection of Siegel Design Architects LLC to provide professional services to Corrales was approved by the Village Council, but only after discussion of whether the spirit of the rules was being followed. Councilors OK’d the one-year professional services agreement, under which Siegel Design is to be paid $49,999.99 — a penny […]
Posted inCorrales
The plan is in place: Corrales to send water outline to state engineer’s office
By Rodd Cayton The Village of Corrales has a 40-year water plan. The document, required by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and crucial to the village’s water future, was approved at the Aug. 18 Village Council meeting. It projects Corrales’ long-term water supply needs and identifies conservation protocols for the village. Before […]
Posted inCorrales
New road rules to be mapped out
By Rodd Cayton The $10 fine for not having reflectors on one’s bicycle in Corrales is probably going away. The Village Council next month will review changes to its uniform traffic code, and one item to be considered is updating the fee schedule. Some fines haven’t been increased in decades, and Police Chief Victor Mangiacapra […]
Posted inCorrales
Rooted in Corrales: New council member brings farming perspective to local government
By Rodd Cayton Potatoes grow very well in New Mexico, Lisa Brown says. Brown, recently appointed to the Corrales Village Council, knows that firsthand, having been raised there, farmed there and sought solutions there. She served on the village’s farmland preservation commission. Brown sat with the Corrales Comment to discuss her connection to the village […]
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
Bridging the gap: Legislators and educators unite for childcare reform
By Rodd Cayton What happens when several state legislators and childcare advocates gather in one room in Bernalillo? “Great success and great fun,” says Kate Noble, president and CEO of Growing Up New Mexico. Her organization focuses on strategies for improving the lives of children from the prenatal stage to age 5. Growing Up New […]
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
Bernalillo Town Council approves controversial apartment master plan
By Rodd Cayton A controversial apartment development will be moving forward after town councilors in Bernalillo voted to approve an ordinance allowing it. The 258-unit complex will be built within the Venada Plaza subdivision. “This is not a request to invent a new land use policy for this property,” Angela Piarowski, representing the applicant, developer […]