Jimmy Currier, Observer staff writer

For residents in Unit 17 worried about floods, relief may be on the way.

The City of Rio Rancho’s Public Works Department has sent survey letters to 547 landowners in the area. Addresses were taken off the Sandoval County property tax rolls. The letters ask property owners if they are for a special assessment district or against it.

The letters with pre-paid postcard responses went out on Aug. 19. The deadline to respond is Sept. 12

Ron Meyer, whose property incurred major damage from monsoons in 2006, checked the “yes” box and has already sent his reply.

“The SAD needs to be done,” Meyer said. “Nothing will happen out here for several years. It’s up to the citizens and this group to take action and do the work that is necessary.”

Meyer has talked to his neighbors about supporting the SAD and he said meetings have been successful.

“I’ve talked to my neighbors about this and they’re tired of the stress and the potential of having a flood and washed out roads,” Meyer said. “They’re tired of hearing promises that something is going to happen from all levels of government, but the only level of government that will do anything is what city is doing right now. Even if it passes, we still have to go through another monsoon season.”

Meyer also likes how the city is getting people’s opinions before voting on the issue.

“I think the city has taken a right step by getting more involved in the process,” Meyer said. “They will be in control of the feedback so no one will be able to say the city didn’t get their response.”

Public Works Director Lisa Vornholt said her department will compile the results on a map that shows who responded and what the response was. The map also will show which lots are vacant and which lots have a home on it. This will occur from Sept. 12 to Sept. 26.

After the map is complete, the public works department will meet with District 6 councilor Kathy Colley, whose district includes Unit 17. Kristen Brown, who is leading the charge for the SAD, and other neighborhood representatives are also expected to attend the meeting to redraw the proposed SAD boundary to match the results of the survey as best as possible.

“We want to do this the right way. This will be dramatically different than SAD 7,” Colley said. “When the citizens came to us and asked us for the SAD, we will respond to the requests of the city residents to pave certain roads in Unit 17 and, to that end, determine boundaries.”

Colley wants people to know that the SAD process is still in the embryonic stages.

The City Council is expected to vote Oct. 22, on a resolution either directing staff to proceed with the SAD or not to proceed.

The SAD will help with flood control and include storm drains, detention ponds and paved roads with curb and gutter. If the SAD is approved, the cost of the mail-in survey will be added to the residents’ bill.

Currently, a SAD is the only funding mechanism for the project. So, if safety concerns are going to be assuaged then a SAD appears to be the only answer.

The city council voted 4-0 in July to postpone allowing city staff to create a SAD.

In 2006, the city council proposed a SAD that would have covered most of Unit 17, but was discontinued after heavy protest.

The city spent more than a million dollars for engineering work by Wilson and Company. City engineer Scott Sensanbraugher said most of the engineering work already completed in Unit 17 will be used.

In the meantime, several residents are crossing their fingers everyday during this monsoon season that the disaster of 2006 does not repeat itself.