The SAD is a $70-million flood control project that is estimated to cost property owners $14,000 each.
Robert MacLake of Wilson Engineering answered questions from the crowd, some pertaining to engineering, while others related to why the SAD is needed, the finances and why people can’t opt out.
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“Overall, it was a productive meeting,” MacLake said. “It would be nice if this were a month or two earlier. This is not an easy process, but with more communication there is a lot that we learn.”
Wilson Engineering is doing design analysis and design mapping for the construction of the SAD.
More than 60 percent of the audience expressed dismay with the SAD. Some said it was simply unnecessary, some argued it was too expensive and some argued it is not being done correctly.
More than 100 property owners filed official protest letters with the city.
The city conducted a benefit hearing on Wednesday during its council meeting, where comments and protests were heard. The meeting was held after press time and an article will appear on The Observer’s Web site around noon on Thursday.
However, there could be more protest letters looming. Several residents said they never received an assessment letter from the city and without the assessment letter, they cannot properly write a protest letter.
CENA president Don Chapman advised residents to go to the city clerk’s office and pick up the assessment letter.
Other residents said the timing of the letters was bad. Many residents received the letters during the Christmas season, while many were on vacation.
Regarding the Tuesday meeting, Chapman was not pleased.
“I don’t think I had any of my questions answered,” he said. “There was a couple of questions asked tonight that were quite interesting, but overall it was pretty much what I thought it would be. I didn’t learn anything too enlightening tonight.”
Chapman, who has been following the SAD 7 process intently for the past year-and-a-half, told the crowd that the neighborhood association has the power to sway elections and the people need to get involved.
“We have 700 folks that live in this neighborhood and we can swing the election,” Chapman said. “We can become so strong that the city has to deal with us. We can endorse candidates.”
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 are 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.
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 that caused widespread flood damage.
According to the city’s timeline, the bond should be closed and construction started by Dec. 15, 2008. The improvements are expected to be complete by June of 2010.
The Chamiza Estates Neighborhood 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 Boulevard to 40th Street on the south, and Idalia Road on the west.
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