To answer some of those questions, Robert MacLake of Wilson Engineering will be the special guest at the Chamiza Estates Neighborhood Association’s (CENA) Tuesday meeting. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Enchanted Hills Elementary School, 5400 Obregon Rd.
The city council also is expected to discuss SAD 7 at its 6 p.m. meeting on Wednesday at city hall.
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The association represents approximately 775 residents who live along mostly dirt roads in the northern part of the city.
Chamiza Estates includes all areas within Unit 17 bounded by Kim Road on the north to include Blocks 58 and 77, NM 528 on the east, Northern Blvd. to 40th Street on the south, and Idalia Road on the west.
The SAD is needed, according to District 6 councilor Marilyn Salzman, for health, safety and welfare purposes.
Salzman, along with councilor Howard Balmer, proposed the SAD after the torrential, monsoon-like downpour in 2006 caused widespread flood damage.
“This is the first step for ensuring this level of damage or degree of damage doesn’t happen again,” Salzman said. “It was an unprecedented event and there was such widespread damage lasting for over an entire summer. It does add value to the area, not just a particular home but to the whole area.”
Ron Meyer can attest to the damage. The heavy rain turned a small ditch on his property -- on a dirt road west of NM 528 between Idalia and Iris -- into a huge rift.
“I bought my property in September of 2004 and there was a little bitty ditch about 18 inches to two feet wide,” he said. “Now, on the south side of my property I have an arroyo that’s 15 to 20 feet wide and 15 to 20 feet high. In the back it’s 10 to 15 feet wide and six to eight feet deep.”
Meyer said the $14,000 assesment is a deal.
“I spent $10,000 improving my property and it was all washed away by the rains,” he said. “I’ve had contractors come out here and tell me it will cost anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 to fix my property and all the work could be washed out if the city doesn’t come in or if others don’t retain their water. There’s no guarantee that all the work won’t be washed away.”
Meyer said he is disappointed that the county, state and federal legislators have not pitched in money for the project.
“We’re paying property taxes and federal and state taxes and we aren’t seeing our money come back,” he said. “If they pitched in, then it would defray our cost.”
The SAD is estimated to cost property owners in parts of Units 10, 13, 16, 17 and 20 $14,000 each.
The payments can me made immediately up front or spread out over time with a low interest rate.
Salzman said the city is working with the New Mexico Finance Authority to find the lowest possible interest rate for the residents.
A SAD allows the city to recoup the cost of infrastructure projects such as road paving, sewers, dams and storm drains, from residents who benefit.
Rio Rancho has used the process six times at the request of city residents, but this is the first city-imposed SAD and the largest, covering 4,950 properties.
Proposed improvements include street paving, storm drainpipe, inlets, detention basins and channel work. In areas with minimal street flow, a rural street section without curb and gutter may be used. In areas of heavier storm water flow, curb and gutter is required to control storm water runoff.
Paving the streets will protect against repeated erosion caused by uncontrolled storm runoff. It also helps direct runoff into storm water channels, reduces maintenance costs and makes streets safer.
According to the city’s timeline, the bond should be closed and construction begins by Dec. 15 of 2008. The improvements are expected to be complete by June of 2010.
Affected property owners of the SAD recently received notices regarding improvements to be made as part of the district.
Property owners were provided information on how they could express comments regarding the construction of the improvements, the estimated maximum benefit of the improvements and the estimated assessment of the improvements.
Property owners may submit their comments in writing regarding SAD 7 to the Office of the City Clerk, City of Rio Rancho, 3200 Civic Center Circle, NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144. Letters must be received by Wednesday and should include specific lot(s) data.
A public hearing will be conducted where property owners will be able to express their comments in reference to SAD 7. The hearing will be on Wednesday at 6 p.m. as part of the city council meeting in the governing body Chambers of Rio Rancho City Hall at 3200 Civic Center Circle NE.
Governing body meetings can be seen live as streaming video on the city’s Web site (www.ci.rio-rancho.nm.us) or on RioVision, cable channel 15 to Rio Rancho Cable One subscribers.
Wilson and Company, Inc. is serving as the city’s engineer for this project.
Questions regarding design; construction of the District improvements; the estimated benefit and estimated assessments for individual properties; or changes in address or property ownership can be directed to Robert MacLake with Wilson and Company, Inc. at (505) 348-4000.
For a list of frequently asked questions regarding a SAD and SAD 7, information can be found on the city’s Web site under the news and highlights section which is located on the main homepage.
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