Rio Rancho in Focus

I can't believe how the Council thinks this SAD will fly. It's pretty obvious what they're trying to do. We need to stand up and fight on this one!

You're right Jim. This is stupid, and I know I can't afford it. What are they thinking? I'll go broke trying to pay it. I'm seriously thinking of moving out of Rio Rancho - it's a one horse town.

The only way to solve this is to vote them out.

It's designed to get the area developed for free, and make it more attractive to buyers, so they can generate more income. Until RR is able to find money in other ways - this will continue to happen. What makes me so mad is that they wasted millions on the Sports Center and the nice City Hall. It's crazy. They need to go.

I'm not sure it's a bad idea. I need more information. Does anyone know who we can contact? Is it the Wilson company?

It's great to see the homeowners getting together on this. Rio Rancho has ruled over the citizens and steamrolled for too long. I'm optimistic, but I don't hold out much hope. I think a law suit is coming down the road and I hate to see that.

For what it is worth, I'd like to provide my opinion regarding this controversial issue.

I live in Unit 17, and have for the past 4 years. I have witnessed the damange from the flooding rains in 2006. When my husband and I moved here, we weren't promised dirt roads and we were aware that without a developer, improvements to the area would not take place without petitioning the city of Rio Rancho. We were also aware that those costs would be passed on to us in one form or another.

My husband and I support SAD 7, and would rather pay our share of the costs for the necessary drainage systems, roads, etc., than beg the City for money that isn't there. I hope that any of my neighbors that are interested in preventing further damage to their land, homes, streets, septic lines, etc. will step up to the plate and speak.

We are fairly sure that if nothing is done, this problem will reoccur, and our elected officials will no longer be willing to listen to us.

I agree that something needs to be done - but I don' think SAD7 is the answer for several reasons. I live on Acapulco road, and the flooding we experienced was severe. It didn't occur because our roads are not paved, it occured because the city allowed uncontrolled development up Northern. The flood waters flowed down Northern, over Saratoga Road (this would have occured with it being paved or not) and down into my neighborhood. There were no holding ponds there (something the city should have seen to before development), and as a result, drastic damage occured.

The problem is that the City is telling us that paving will fix the problem - it won't. Holding ponds, adequate arroyos, and central drainage, coupled with a little common sense and strictly enforced buidling requirments will go a long way toward helping. Paving will do little if anything to help, and I don't want to pay for improvements that won't address the issue. How about street lights, or nice park benches along the roads while were at it? Let's only do what will help.

My parents paid taxes on three lots (purchased by them in the 60's) for 50 years. I assume that the tax money went into creating Rio Rancho. These lots are still desert! If our tax money went to create the rest of the city, why is there no common tax money being used to expand the city? Should share in expenses for 50 years and then pay ALL costs when our part of the city is deemed ready for development?
Please post information regarding law suits that result from the fact that $14,000 worth of value will not be added to these desert lots by paving streets.

Many people coming here from elsewhere don't understand the dynamics of moving water in the desert. Experience and careful observance of the landscape will tell you where to build a house and where not to. IMO, most of the land east and below 528 is floodplain. I looked at those building lots and said, "no thanks". Unfortunately, the uninformed want somebody else (their neighbors) to bail them out. My once unique neighborhood under the quiet, starry and clear NM skies is slowly succumbing to the the typical urban lifestyle -barking dogs, street lights, paved roads with speeding cars. I can't say it's all the city councils fault. It will be time for some of us to move on.

SAD 7 has now been split into 2 areas (one where the people within the areas that support improvements will receive roads, gutters and draimage systems, and another area that will be reconsidered in 60 days.).

I live in Unit 17, and have a holding pond, retaining walls, but cannot address the road conditions when (and it will happen again) there are flooding rains and the roads deteriorate because they are not paved and there aren't drainage systems. My husband and I are more than willing to pay for the fees that are normally passed on by a developer for the improvements necessary to prevent impassable roads. Anyone that lives in Unit 17 should feel the same. It is either going to be necessary to pay for these improvements now or for the flood insurance that you will need to own if SAD 7 doesn't get passed in Unit 17. It may not be the complete solution to the problem, but it is better than standing still, complaining and doing nothing! The choice is clear: complain, do nothing and reap the consequences. Either way, Unit 17 home owners are going to see consequences to their choices. I would rather be proactive, not second guess engineers, and see something positive happen to our area.

I sometimes wonder why people buy a house on unpaved roads then complain that the roads aren't paved. Suggestion -if you want paved roads, street lights and all the other ammenities why didn't you buy a house in a fully developed community instead of coming in and trying to f*ck up our neighborhood? I chose to live where I do and like a majority of others, I like my semi-rural settings. I was at the 13Feb08 council meeting and listened to the pack of lies the councilmemebers put forth. Contrary to what they say and the above poster, most people would like to retain their semi-rural lifestyle. Except for the 06 flooding I've never seen the roads "impassable". Sue, you need to live in a gated community where you'll feel "safe" from the horrors of desert living.

I'll be new the RR this spring. We are in the process of buying a home that resides within Unit 17. I may be one of the few that has an easement on my property for drainage as well as paved roads.(Of course this does not eliminate me from the group) Yet I am trying to understand the issues as best as I can. I have been doing my share of reading of current and archived materials. My first concern is that $13,000 to $15,000 is not a sum to take lightly. Adding insult to the fact that if we choose a payment plan it will be at a 'low interest' rate. (And if they extend the plan to 20 years to ease our burden...well that's simply 10 more years of interest as well) Lastly one report said there will be a lien on each property until it is paid, so for anyone who decides to sell beforehand, I'm sure this will not look like an inviting proposal to a prospective buyer.
I am unable to find out where the divisions between group A and B as determined at the last meeting...is it posted anywhere online?

Hi Laura:

Yes - the plan is bad. To charge for improvements that aren't wanted is criminal. Also, there are a lot of people that don't understand that most people in these areas don't want paved roads or street lights - that's the whole problem. The CITY doesn't want to pay for general infrastructure, the same type of infrastructure that many other citizens enjoy. It's the CITY that wants to do paving, because that's an excuse to get residents to pay for the improvements, and at the same time generate a lot more cash than what's needed. It's pretty simple, but some people still don't get it.

Personally, I don't have a problem with paving, but just don't tell me that it's to solve the flooding problem, and don't tell me that I must pay for the paved road, or you'll slap a lien on my property.

It is criminal but get used to it. With billion$ going to the war effort, the treasury being looted by tax breaks for the rich and lucrative gov't contracts for the well-connected it won't get any better. RR is hopelessly Apple pie and like alot of folks they voted for their own impoverishment. Don't forget the city council is all or mostly republican. We're just startin to see the symptoms of collapse. People will get trapped in RR and they'll bled you like a Masai cattle.

i want to thank people for this article i am trying to do a editorial on paving the roads in RR so any help from others would be great.