Departments present issues to council at work session


By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

The bad budget news facing the city of Rio Rancho got a more public face on Monday as four departments made presentations to the Governing Body.

Representatives from the development services, public works, police and fire departments all offered information to the council in the first of a series of workshops Mayor Tom Swisstack is planning as part of his continuing review of city government.

Though much of the material was in tiny print and often unreadable, prompting complaints from some councilors, the long-term needs of the city became clearer. And the picture isn’t pretty:

As part of the public works department presentation, acting city engineer Scott Sensanbaugher said that two major road projects are about $20 million short based on current estimated costs. He said a proposed widening to four lanes of about a two-mile Northern Boulevard from the Animal Control Center to just past Unser Boulevard is estimated at $8.6 million, but only $4 million in funding has been identified. Also, a proposed widening and alignment of Unser from Cherry to King, a $26.5 million project, is short about $15.5 million.

Sensanbaugher also discussed drainage issues the city faces, noting that drainage impact fees charged to developers aren’t enough to pay for flood control issues..

“Projects basically will be done when funding becomes available,” he said.

Water utilities director Larry Webb outlined several issues regarding water rights, wells and drilling that could cost the city millions in the future. Police chief Robert Boone and fire chief John Tobin also made presentation, citing how slow response times compared to national averages demonstrate woeful understaffing in their departments.

Other departments will make presenations Friday.

MORE TO COME ON THIS STORY.