News
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

Business Owners Had Had Enough

More
News

HOME	CLASSIFIEDS	OBITUARIES	SPORTS	OPINION

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Council Rejects Buying Lot

By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
    A controversy involving the Vista Cerritos neighborhood may have soured the town of Edgewood on work toward a potential natural area for the residents to use.
    An attempt to gain access to Section 32— a 680-acre natural area in southern Edgewood leased to the town from the State Land Office— had the town council considering the purchase of a lot, which may be priced at $49,000, in Vista Cerritos.
    Don Holle, the president of the Vista Cerritos neighborhood association, said the purchase would be an irresponsible use of taxpayer money. He also accused the town council of ignoring him and noted that the neighborhood had obtained legal council on the issue.
    Town councilor Chuck Ring commented on the resistance, from the Vista Cerritos and neighboring Los Cerritos neighborhoods.
    "The opposition to this park land is so severe that we may never be able to do anything on it," he said.
    Councilor Rita-Loy Simmons noted that the State Land Office is charged with making money off of the land it owns to fund education, such as public schools and colleges.
    The concern is that the land will be sold for that purpose. The fact that conservation of natural areas is part of the mission of the State Land Office was not mentioned.
    "I've given this a lot of thought," Councilor Brad Hill said, referring to the agenda item to approve purchase of the lot. "I'm not going to support action for access (to Section 32)."
    He said any improvements paid for by the town would only make Section 32 more appealing to a developer, and give the State Land Office a better case for selling the land.
    All four councilors voted against purchasing the lot.
    "I would like for us to look at alternatives to a single, contentious lot," said Councilor Glenn Felton.
    Prior to the meeting Felton had asked Public Works Director Raymond Dennis and Planning and Development Director Karen Mahalick to look into other ways to access Section 32.
    "The easiest way is the one you voted not to proceed," Dennis said. "There is no easy way in there ..."
    Another issue brought to the council's attention had to do with the ongoing formation of a town police department.
    Police Chief Paul Welch said negotiations are ongoing with Santa Fe to provide dispatch services and equipment such as computers, and a few other items have been ordered. Ready-to-roll police vehicles may be purchased from a Rich Ford dealership.
    The bad news is that it may take four to six weeks for Qwest Communications to provide service.
    He said Mahalick is "lighting a fire under Qwest" to speed the process.
    In addition, Welch said he still has to establish a space for the police department to work in. The New Mexico State Police have a lease on the space he is currently using, which is north and east of the intersection of N.M. 334 and Old Route 66.
    Welch wants to take half of the space, but hadn't yet worked out a lease agreement, he said.