By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — A proposed City Council ordinance tackles two recycling gaps at once: expanding recycling access to renters in smaller apartment buildings and requiring city-owned buildings to provide recycling services. Current city code only requires apartment buildings with 25 or more units to provide recycling, leaving many renters without guaranteed service. […]
Local Government
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
Bernalillo greenlights $9M fire station project
By Rodd Cayton Bernalillo firefighters can see their new digs on the horizon. The Town Council has approved a bid for EPX New Mexico to construct a new fire station at the site of the former Roosevelt Elementary School. The bid, at just under $9.04 million, includes new living quarters, offices, training rooms and three […]
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County appoints new assessor following controversial Gallegos resignation
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County has a new Assessor. Commissioners appointed Edward Olona to the post at their July 22 meeting, filling the vacancy left by Linda Gallegos’ resignation amid a controversy over her collecting two taxpayer-funded salaries at once. Olona was sworn in on the spot. Commissioner Michael Meek brought the resolution […]
Posted inRio Rancho
District 4 gets its Mann: RRPS attorney sworn in as Rio Rancho’s new councilor after divided vote
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. David Mann is Rio Rancho’s newest District 4 councilor. The Governing Body voted 4-2 Thursday to confirm Mayor Paul Wymer’s pick, closing out a monthlong process that turned into a pointed debate over whether Mann’s day job — general counsel for Rio Rancho Public Schools — creates conflicts with a […]
Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate
Sandia Pueblo pushes to take control of Sandia Mountain forests, raising alarm from outdoor adventurer seekers
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Hikers, climbers and neighbors who use trails on Sandia Mountain’s west face could see their access change under a land transfer proposal the Sandoval County Commission endorsed last month. Now, a newly formed coalition of residents is urging lawmakers to reject the transfer, saying it could end decades of […]
Posted inMountainair
Mountainair mayor appoints Wayne Jones to fill late wife’s council seat
Mountainair’s Town Council will get a familiar face in a painful moment: Wayne Jones, husband of late Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Jones, has accepted an appointment to fill her vacant council seat, Mayor Peter Nieto announced on July 23. Nieto said filling the vacancy fell to him under municipal procedure following Gayle Jones’ death, though the […]
Posted inLocal Government, Town of Bernalillo
Bernalillo apartment proposal at center of tug of war
By Rodd Cayton A proposed apartment development in Bernalillo has been touted as key to the town’s future prosperity, and derided as a source of more traffic congestion and a stressor of water availability. The Town Council Monday formally introduced Ordinance 373 establishing a master plan for the roughly 15 acres in the Venada Plaza […]
Posted inBernalillo County
How Bernalillo County plans to add $10 million to infrastructure without raising taxes
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Bernalillo County faces a $400 million backlog of capital projects but plans to ask voters to approve just $45 million in bonds. At that rate, Commissioners Barbara Baca and Eric Olivas said the county will never catch up. To speed up the process, they gained support from the rest […]
Posted inCorrales
Securing Corrales’ water future: A 40-year roadmap
By Rodd Cayton The Village of Corrales is getting closer to protecting its water rights and holding onto any additional rights it might gain in the future. The village’s water team presented a draft 40-year water development plan to the Village Council on July 16, stressing the importance of finishing it and filing it with […]
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County rejects redistricting ruling, says current maps are legal
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. A state judge ordered Sandoval County to redraw its commission district boundaries, ruling the county’s 2021 map failed to consult tribal nations and didn’t give Native American and Hispanic voters an equal say. Now the county says the judge got it wrong — and the maps aren’t changing anytime soon. […]