Taos County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Summary July 2, 2013
From the Desk of Tom Blankenhorn
Presentations
Tri-State Transmission Project
Representatives from Tri State Electric informed the Board of their plans to build a transmission line through Taos County to serve the San Luis Valley, which does not currently have sufficient electrical power to serve its population. Tri State is a non-profit electrical generation and transmission company serving Kit Carson and numerous other Rural Electric Coops throughout western United States.
The timeline for completion of the project extends to 2021. The steps to completion include site choice, environmental assessments, Taos County permitting, and construction. Due to the topography, the site choice will probably include the western most portion of the recently designated Upper Rio Grande National Monument, which will require approval from the BLM. There will be numerous opportunities for public comment on the project over the next few years during the planning stages
Southwest Neighborhood Housing Services
Bob Garcia, Executive Director of the above named non-profit made a proposal for the construction of 60 affordable housing rental units on a 5 acre site owned by Taos County, located on the west side of Paseo del Pueblo Sur across from Walgreens. The site is currently being used by the Taos County Public Works Department, housing its offices and to store materials and equipment. The project would include 20 units for Veterans, 20 for Seniors, and 20 for low to moderate income families. The project design would include energy and water usage efficiencies.
Taos County has a great need for low cost housing as evidenced by the long waiting lists to get into our Housing Authority’s and Section 8 units. The proposed site is very well suited for low cost housing as the infrastructure is in place, it is centrally located, and the County could donate the property under affordable housing provisions of State Law. The Board instructed staff to further develop these proposals and bring them back to the Board for a decision on the matter.
Resolutions
Old County Courthouse
The Board voted 3-0 (Commissioners Sanchez and Duran were absent) to pass a resolution to change the usage of the Old County Courthouse from commercial rentals to in kind trades for public service. Some of the proposed uses include community art centers, groups engaged in fund raising to improve the Old Courthouse, and educational facilities utilizing computers, which will be connected to high speed fiber optic internet access provided by Kit Carson Electric. The Board also authorized staff to begin design work for a handicap ramp access on the north side of the building which would allow public access to the second story fresco paintings room.
Executive Session
Annexation Lawsuit
In executive session, County Attorney Bob Malone informed the Board that Judge McElroy’s recent ruling in favor of the County granted both the County and the El Prado Acequia standing to oppose the Town’s proposed shoestring annexation of the highway from the Town’s limits to the airport. Judge McElroy’s ruling proves false the Town Manager Oscar Rodriguez’ prior assertions that the County has no standing in the annexation matter.
The next step will be for the County to present evidence to the Judge to show that the proposed annexation does not meet the procedural requirements of State Law, and more importantly, that it violates the State Constitution. The Constitutional arguments include the assertion that the Town’s proposal to act as both the petitioner to annex in its capacity as owner of the airport and the grantor of the petition in its capacity as the municipality is patently unfair and a due process violation. Additionally, that the scheme to annex based on creating a contiguous boundary via the highway does not meet the statutory requirement of reasonableness. Mr. Malone expects the next hearing to be scheduled sometime in late summer or early fall. For its part, Taos County does not oppose the airport expansion, but we do vehemently oppose the Town’s divisive and unnecessary attempt to annex the highway through El Prado, which is widely opposed by that community.
The Board congratulated Mr. Malone on his excellent work in presenting the County’s case, and in turn, Mr. Malone properly credited former County Attorney Barbara Martinez for her fine work in drafting the successful arguments.