Archive for March 27, 2009
Is Forward Looking The Same As Looking Forward?
by John Weckerle
In a Mountain View Telegraph Guest View this week, as well as in The Independent, Edgewood Mayor Bob Stearley outlines some of the accomplishments of the first year of his tenure as Mayor and of the current Town Council’s term. While there has certainly been progress in some areas, some of these statements bear a little closer examination.
Among the accomplishments listed are passage of a new sign ordinance, relocation of the library, some unspecified progress on the sewer, and a projection that funds will be sought for other uses in the future.
On the subject of the sewer – Mr. Stearley writes: “The sewer system, which is designed to serve the Highway 66 business corridor, is due to be constructed this year. The project was delayed by the inability of the first contractor to do the work to the specifications contained in the bid package. In the next few weeks our engineer will provide the council with proposed sewer rates. I will be working on your behalf to set rates which are comparable to the rates set by other towns within commuting distance of Albuquerque.” We point out that Mayor Stearley stated in a June 19, 2008 Mountain View Telegraph Guest View that “We are currently working on setting the costs which users of the sewer will pay for sewer hook-ups and monthly sewer rates. The sewer should be in operation in January.” We have also seen no information regarding exactly what specifications the contractor was unable to satisfy. Further, rumors have surfaced that the western branch of the sewer will have to be redesigned because the New Mexico Department of Transportation will not grant an easement in the I-40 right-of-way – a potential pitfall that should have been exposed by the work of the design engineering firm. It seems a little unrealistic to suggest that the engineer has been working on setting rates since last June without having them ready. »» Is Forward Looking The Same As Looking Forward?
Road Closures, etc.
by John Weckerle
According to NMDOT, as of 5 a.m. this morning, I-40 eastbound was still closed from Tramway to Santa Rosa (according to KOBTV, this stretch was still closed at about 6:30), and there have been closures at Santa Rosa as well. Travel is discouraged fromTramway to Santa Rosa. The Moriarty-Edgewood School District is closed for today. We encourage people to stay where they are this morning if they can, and proceed with extreme caution if they must use the roads.