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2011 News Archive
Rio Rancho-Sandoval County Recycling Center Holiday Closures and Special Hours
Sandoval County, New Mexico
December 23, 2011
The Rio Rancho-Sandoval Recycling Center will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, and Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011.
The recycling center will be open with special hours on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, and Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
for more information click Here
Placitas Taxpayers Receiving Corrected Bills
Sandoval County, New Mexico
December 16, 2011
Placitas taxpayers who were charged the wrong amount for the Eastern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority (ESCAFCA) on their initial 2011 property tax bills will soon be receiving corrected bills.
Commissioner Chapman Hosting Town Hall Meeting
Sandoval County, New Mexico
December 1, 2011
Sandoval County Commissioner Don Chapman will host a Town Hall Meeting for residents in his district on Saturday, December 17.
Commissioner Chapman represents District 3, which lies on the west side of Hwy 528 from approximately Enchanted Hills Blvd to
Southern Blvd. (See map.)
Anyone who is unsure of whether they live in District 3 can check their voter registration card or contact the Sandoval County
Bureau of Elections at 505-867-7577.
At the Town Hall, district residents will have the opportunity speak directly with Commissioner Chapman about any questions or
concerns they may have about county business.
"Being accessible to my constituents is a promise made during my campaign; now I want to make good on that promise," Chapman said.
"Scheduling this Town Hall meeting on Saturday, I hope enables folks to come."
The meeting will take place from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday December 17, on the third floor of the County Administration
Building, 1500 Idalia Road in Bernalillo.
For more information, contact Commissioner Chapman at (505) 414-6247.
December Planning & Zoning Meeting Cancelled
Sandoval County, New Mexico
November 29, 2011
NOTICE: The Sandoval County Planning & Zoning Commission meeting scheduled for December 8, 2011 has been cancelled.
The next regularly scheduled meetings will be held on:
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2012 - 6:00 P.M.
and
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012 - 6:00 P.M.
El Zocalo Launches New Web Site
Sandoval County, New Mexico
November 10, 2011
Sandoval County's premier meeting and event center, El Zocalo Plaza, has a new Web site.
"To better exhibit the beauty and utility of El Zocalo, we wanted to incorporate more visual representations of the property. We achieved that by making images of the property the foundation of the site's design," says Donna Wylie, director of the Sandoval County Economic Development and Tourism Department, which operates El Zocalo Plaza.
Read More....
Sandoval County Development Division Planning and Zoning Commission
The regularly scheduled P & Z Meeting for Thursday, November 10, 2011 has been cancelled.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on:
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 6 pm
In the Commission Chambers
Sandoval County Administration Building
1500 Idalia Rd Building D
Bernalillo, NM 87004
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AMEND THE SANDOVAL COUNTY PERSONNEL ORDINANCE RELATING TO CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES
Notice is hereby given of the title and general subject matter of the Personnel Ordinance and of amendments to Section 6 and Section 7 of the Ordinance relating to the adoption of definitions of certain positions as classified positions, which the Board of Commissioners of Sandoval County, New Mexico, the governing body of the County, will consider for adoption at their regular meeting on November 17, 2011, at the hour of 6 p.m., at the County Commission Chambers, 1500 Idalia Rd, Building D, Bernalillo, New Mexico. The title of the Ordinance is: SANDOVAL COUNTY, NEW MEXICO PERSONNEL ORDINANCE NO. 09-02-05.14A - AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 02-17-88-I, AND ORDINANCE NO. 03-12-18.13 AS AMENDED OR REVISED BY PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS. A general summary of the amended Ordinance includes: 1. TITLE and PURPOSE 2. USE OF PRONOUNS 3. PROHIBITED ACTS 4. EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS 5. VIOLATIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE 6. CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED POSITIONS 7. ADMINISTRATION 8. SELECTION FOR EMPLOYMENT, RETENTION AND COMPENSATION 9. PERSONNEL RECORDS 10. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS 11. RULES AND REGULATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 12. HEARING OFFICER 13. COUNTY PROPERTY 14. EFFECTIVE DATE
Download copies of the proposed Ordinance.
County Officials Attending Career Fair at Cuba High School
Sandoval County, NM
October 20, 2011
Patricia Miller, the county director of human resources, will be joined by representatives from Public Works, the Sheriff's Office and the Fire Department at a Career Fair at Cuba High School on Friday, November 4.
"We will be talking with students about what it takes to get into different career fields," Miller said. "Sandoval County has a public works facility in Cuba, and there are always firefighting opportunities in the area. So, we thought it made sense for us to be at this event."
The Career Fair is scheduled from 8:15 AM to 12:00 PM on Friday, November 4 at Cuba High School. Registration will take place from 8:15 AM to 9:00 AM, with students visiting with college representatives and potential employers until noon.
Phil Rios Named Sandoval County Manager
Sandoval County, NM
October 20, 2011
The Sandoval County Commission has appointed Phil Rios as the county's full-time chief executive.
The commission voted unanimously to name Rios to the post at its regular meeting on Thursday October 20.
As a result of the vote, Rios will sign a contract that calls for him to serve as Sandoval County Manager through June 2013.
Rios had been serving as Interim County Manager since April. Before that, he was the county's Director of Public Works.
After approving his appointment, the commissioners complimented Rios on his performance during his six months as Interim County Manager and said they looked forward to continuing a positive working relationship.
Rios, in turn, thanked the commissioner for showing confidence in him with the appointment. He also thanked county staff for supporting him during the interim period and said he expects to continue a positive relationship with both the commission and the county staff going forward.
Frank Marquez is New Probate Judge
The Sandoval County Commission has appointed Frank Marquez, a former county manager, to fill the remaining term of the recently deceased Probate Judge Mary Kwapich.
The Commissioners selected Marquez by a 3-2 vote from a field of 11 candidates. Marquez will serve as probate judge through 2012. To retain the seat, he will have to run for the office in November 2012.
The Probate Judge processes and approves uncontested probate estates within the county.
As Sandoval County Manager from 1982 to 1985, Marquez helped enact the County Personnel Ordinance. From 1990 to 2002, he was director of the county's Community Services and Public Works Departments. He also held management positions in state government.
Marquez retired from public service in 2010, following a stint as Director of Capital Improvement Projects for Bernalillo County.
"I look forward to serving the citizens of Sandoval County in this important position of probate judge," Marquez said. "I appreciate the opportunity to once again work with the all of the employees of Sandoval County. For me, this is almost like coming home."
Wear a Red Ribbon this Week to Fight Drug Abuse
From October 24 through 28, Sandoval County residents are encouraged to wear red ribbons in support of the nation's largest and oldest drug prevention effort.
Red Ribbon Week was established in 1988 to raise awareness of the need combat drug use. The concept was inspired by the 1985 death of DEA Special Agent Enriqué "Kiki" Camarena, who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by Mexican drug traffickers.
That tragedy opened the eyes of many Americans to the dangers of drugs and the international scope of the drug trade. Three years later, the National Family Partnership (NFP) coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week with then-President and First Lady Nancy and Ronald Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons.
The County Commission has issued a proclamation declaring this Red Ribbon Week in Sandoval County.
Throughout week, staff from the Sandoval County DWI and Prevention Program will be conducting drug & alcohol awareness programs and middle schools and high schools in Bernalillo, Cuba and Rio Rancho. Visitors-especially those wearing red ribbons-are welcome at all events.
See the event schedule.
After a Single Day's Work, Bernalillo will have a Multigenerational Playground
The Town of Bernalillo will come together to create a unique, new space for people of all generations to play. This multigenerational playground will be built completely by volunteers-in just six hours.
A local agency, PB&J Family Services is joining forces with two national organizations-Humana, Inc., and KaBOOM!-on this project. The playground will occupy space shared by PB&J Family Services and the Sandoval County Bernalillo Senior Center.
The Senior Center and PB&J have been longtime neighbors on Camino Del Pueblo, next to Loretto Park, in Bernalillo, making their backyards the ideal place to locate a multigenerational playground.
The playground actually will be located in Loretto Park, and will be open for use by the public. Thursday, November 3 is the scheduled build date. The work will begin with a 9:00 a.m. kickoff ceremony, with a ribbon cutting scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Roughly 300 volunteers are expected to participate in the playground construction. This unique playground will have adult and senior-focused elements such as walking paths and fitness stations to promote good posture, balance and flexibility-as well as more traditional child-friendly equipment to form a truly multigenerational space.
Humana, a leading healthcare company, provided the bulk of the funding for the playground, while KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play, was instrumental in creating the playground's design. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has used its innovate community-build model to bring together business and community groups to construct more than 2,000 new places to play across North America.
As it typically does, KaBOOM! gathered input from local community members-from children to seniors-in creating the design for the Bernalillo playground.
For more information about this project, contact Dina Ma'ayan PB&J Development Director at 505-877-7060.
County to Honor Las Conchas Firefighters
Sandoval County, NM
October 18, 2011
All Sandoval County personnel who responded to the Las Conchas Fire this past summer will be honored at this week's County Commission meeting.
Read More....
Eleven Apply for Probate Judge
Sandoval County, NM
October 17, 2011
A town councilor from Bernalillo and a Rio Rancho city councilor are among 11 people who've expressed formal interest in the vacant Sandoval County Probate Judge position.
Read More....
Visit the County Building, Get a Free Flu Shot
Sandoval County residents can get free flu shots. They just have to make a trip to the County Administration Building.
The UNM Sandoval County Primary Care center is sponsoring the Free Flu Shot Clinic from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM on Wednesday October, 19 2011.
Shots will be given on the second floor of the Sandoval County Administration Building, 1500 Idalia Road, Bernalillo, NM 87004.
For more information, contact UNM Primary Care at (505) 272-4010.
County Development to Hear Block Grant Proposals
Sandoval County, NM
October 13, 2011
Organizations with projects they believe would be eligible for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding can make their case to the County Development staff on Thursday October 20.
Read More....
County Commissioners Approve Library Bonds
Sandoval County, NM
October 11, 2011
The Sandoval County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the sale of $3.2 million in general obligation bonds to fund the purchase of books and other materials for the 14 libraries located within the county.
Voters approved the issuance of the bonds in November 2010. The commission voted to proceed with the sale at its regular meeting on October 6, 2011. The sale is scheduled for October 20.
The county does not operate any libraries, so once funds from the bond sale are collected they will be distributed to libraries operated by local communities across the county.
County staff already has consulted with local library officials to work out a formula for allocating funds to individual libraries. The allocation schedule can be viewed here.
The libraries are expected to use half of the funds to purchase computers and software and the other half for books and other library equipment.
County Official to Review Water Quality Studies with Placitas Residents
Sandoval County, NM
October 5, 2011
Guy Bralley, Sandoval County's Water Resource Administrator, will be among the featured speakers at a meeting of the Las Placitas Association on Saturday, October 8, 2011.
This meeting is third program in the Las Placitas Association's 2011 Water Series. The series is designed to help Placitas residents understood issues related to water-and the need to manage it now and in the future, according to Zane Dohner, the event's organizer.
The October 8 program is geared to explaining the location, abundance and quality of groundwater in Placitas.
Bralley was invited to speak because of his thorough knowledge of various studies related to the availability and quality of water in Placitas the county has funded over the years. His presentation is expected to focus on a 2000 study conducted by the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources.
That study, formally titled Hydrogeologic and Water Resource Assessment for the Placitas Development Area, is widely known as the Peggy Johnson study, after its principal author. It's also recognized as the most comprehensive evaluation of the water situation in Placitas.
Other speakers will include hydrologists from the U.S. Geological Survey-New Mexico Water Science Center in Albuquerque and AGW Consultants, an Albuquerque-based groundwater, exploration, development and management firm.
The event is scheduled for 1:00 - 3:30 PM at the Placitas Community/Senior Center, 41 Camino de Las Huertas, on Saturday October 8, 2011.
Services for Probate Judge Mary Kwapich will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 301 Camino del Pueblo, Bernalillo, NM on October 20, 2011 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, if so desired, make a donation to your favorite charity.
County Commissioners Send Condolences to the Family of Probate Judge Mary Kwapich
The entire Sandoval County family - the Commissioners as well as the staff - is deeply affected by the passing of Judge Kwapich.
We have lost a truly dedicated public servant, a trusted colleague and a valuable friend.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who knew and loved Judge Kwapich - and especially to her family in this extremely difficult time.
Sincerely,
Chairman Darryl Madalena
On Behalf of the Sandoval County Board of Commissioners
The Volatile Real Estate Market is Affecting Property Tax Rates
Sandoval County, NM
September 19, 2011
The real estate market turmoil is starting to affect property tax rates. That was apparent when the Sandoval County Commission met on Monday to impose rates for the 2011 tax year.
Read More.....
Public Meetings on Redistricting Continue
Sandoval County residents will have three remaining chances to gain valuable insight into the process of drawing new districts.
Representatives from Research and Polling will explain the guidelines that must be followed when creating new district boundaries. They also will discuss plans to be considered by the Sandoval County Commission.
Meetings are scheduled for the following times and locations:
| Tuesday September 20, 2011 | 6:00 PM |
Cochiti Pueblo Community Center Auditorium 225 Cochiti Street Cochiti Pueblo, NM 87041 |
| Wednesday September 21, 2011 | 6:00 PM | Rio Rancho City Council Chambers 3200 Civic Center Circle, NE Rio Rancho, NM 87144 |
| Wednesday September 28, 2011 | 6:00 PM | Sandoval County Administration Building Commission Chambers (3rd Floor) 1500 Idalia Road, Building D Bernalillo, NM 87004 |
For further information, contact the Sandoval County Public Affairs Office at 505-867-7640. You also can download the county
Redistricting Report, which contains proposed redistricting maps.
Please Note: There has been a modification to the Plan A maps.See link below for updated information.
Plan A Maps
County Commissioners Proclaim Detention Center Staff Appreciation Week
Recognizing the vital work they do under challenging circumstances, the Sandoval County Commission designated September 19 through 23, 2011 as Sandoval County Detention Center Officer and Employee Appreciation Week.
"Officer/Employee Appreciation Week is to honor the men and women of the Sandoval County Detention Center who are expected to do a difficult job with professionalism, integrity, dedication, compassion, intelligence, perseverance, sensitivity, a thick skin, a strong back, a quick and agile mind, a warm heart and an unfailing sense of humor," Dentition Center Director Al Casamento said in presenting the proclamation to county commissioners.
The commission unanimously approved the proclamation at its September 15 meeting.