News
Test

Residents Evaluate Fire Damage

Fire Camp Is Its Own Little Village

Red Cross Coordinating Aid for Fire Victims

Say Bye To Bella Vista Eyesore

Newborn Filly Recovering After Attack

Defense: Sobriety Tests Fumbled

Death Penalty Showdown

Deputy May Have Taken Evidence

A Beeline From the Trigo Fire

More
News

HOME	CLASSIFIEDS	OBITUARIES	SPORTS	OPINION

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Residents Voice Community Ideas

By Lee Ross /
Mountain View Telegraph
      Roads and activities for local youths might be what East Mountain residents want most.
       Around 50 people attended a meeting at Los Vecinos Community Center to voice their opinions on what a bond package that could be $18 million should be spent on.
       The old bonds will be paid off through property taxes, and more money can be borrowed for capital improvements throughout the county. The bond issue will be voted on in November, after Bernalillo County staff and commissioners collect suggestions from residents and look at how they might fit in to the county’s long-term plans.
       “(These meetings) give us an indication of what the problems and the needs are,” said Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Brasher.
       One idea the county has looked at is a $10 million swimming pool. Brasher said part of the bond money might be used to work on planning for the pool, but he said that may be more of a long-term goal.
       “We’re not even close to having all the funds (for that project),” he said.
       Some of the money might be used to build a substation for the Bernalillo County Fire Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, which is planned to be built near Roosevelt Middle School.
       Residents were concerned with paving projects and trails as well, according to Bernalillo County Public Information Officer Liz Hamm.
       “People have submitted things like playground equipment or bicycle trails,” Hamm said. “In terms of urgency … some things may have a public safety element.”
       There were requests by residents to pave McCall Loop and Rider Road, but residents also spoke out against paving those roads, according to Kala Naranjo, an administrative officer with Bernalillo County.
       She added that there were good arguments both for paving the roads and against.
       Those in favor of paving the roads said they can’t take their children out in strollers on the dirt roads and others complained about the dust, Naranjo said. On the other side, one of the arguments was that the dirt roads help maintain a rural atmosphere in the area.
       The next informational meeting will be held today at 7:30 p.m. Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Community Center, 501 Elizabeth St. SE in Albuquerque.
       Those interested in suggesting a project can go to www.bernco.gov and click on “neighborhood request form,” in the first article under Hot News. The deadline for submissions is May 2.
   

---