Flood control improvements and utilities are coming to a portion of northern Rio Rancho.

City councilors voted unanimously to approve Special Assessment District 8 last Wednesday.

Six residents spoke in favor of the SAD at the council meeting, while one resident spoke in opposition. “This is not a road project, it is a public health and safety project,” Michael Huber said. “It’s really hard to describe what we have gone through over the years. Standing out in the street when our neighbors’ home is flooding, building trenches, sandbagging and working hard to protect what we have worked hard all our lives to accumulate,”

Carl Malone agreed.

“This isn’t a matter of improving the road or vanity. This is a matter of public safety and public health,” he said. “Those of us who survived the floods of 2006 on Nacelle can attest to the fact that it is an issue of public safety.”

Rio Rancho public works director Lisa Vornholt said her office received 10 comments from residents in favor of the special assessment district and four comments opposing it. There are 38 affected lots.

One resident even changed his mind at the council meeting and he let the councilors know it.

“I came here against the whole plan, not building the road, but this particular plan,” Kevin McNolte said. “But, I think after hearing my neighbors, I’m for it now.”

Elisa Balli spoke against the SAD.

“I’m here to say no to the project,” she said. “I know you heard a lot of my neighbors say how bad it is out there and a hazard and all this, but since the flood, there has been a lot of work out there. My understanding is that only 10 people out of 38 lots supported it. That’s not a majority. Other people were protesting, by not doing anything.”

There was no discussion among the city councilors.

The city council voted to give the city’s administration the authority to issue $1.68 million in bonds through the New Mexico Finance Authority. The city anticipates closing on the bonds Sept. 11 and then issuing the order to proceed to Salls Brothers with construction on the improvements on Sept. 21. The project is expected to take six months.

The improvements will include paving, storm drainage, water, sanitary sewer and private utility improvements.

Property assessments vary by lot, but the total cost of the project is $1.68 million. Affected property owners will receive assessment notices.

The property owners have the option of paying the assessment in full or by installment. If the installment method is chosen, then the property will have a lien placed against it. Payments will be semi-annual and the duration is 16-1/2 years.

Property owners will be allowed the option of making interest only payments until Jan. 1, 2011.

Final interest rates will be determined at the end of the 30-day cash pay period in collaboration with the NMFA. The cash pay period is from July 13 to Aug. 12.

A SAD is a legal mechanism that allows the city to recoup the costs of infrastructure improvements from property owners who benefit.

Landowners on Nacelle and Nagoya streets came to the city asking for infrastructure improvements because heavy rains flood their streets and create dangerous situations.