Roads Workshop April 22, 2025

The town’s recent roads workshop, unlike its budget workshops, is fairly short at just under 30 minutes and isn’t bogged down with too much inside terminology.  It’s worth the time needed to watch if you are (a) interested in road improvements, (b) want to understand the current dynamic among the staff/governing body with regard to this issue, or (c) wonder why the chip seal machines are not being fully utilized. 

The most important takeaway from my perspective is that it illustrates how campaigning is easy; governance not so much. If a majority of town residents were induced to vote to incorporate or to petition for annexation because they wanted better roads, then it would be logical to assume that if doing so were easy we would have seen completion of many more road projects over the past 25 years. The politicians who have been running their mouths all over town for the past five years about the delays in the repaving of South Horton, may themselves, face a backlash over failing to deliver on big promises made when the chip seal machinery was purchased. 

What seems to be missing is any mention of a long-term plan on how ongoing maintenance of equipment and previously paved roads fits into the budget. The town seems more focused on getting around the obstacles to its short term goals. Hard-surfaced roads require regular maintenance, and some of the town’s earliest paving projects are past due for maintenance. The proverbial penny has finally dropped to the obvious dismay of those Town Commissioners who promised their voters way more than the town has been able to deliver. While “silly season” has not yet gotten officially underway, the pre-election maneuvering has already begun.  

Edgewood in the News: More on Campbell Ranch

A recent headline at Edgewood News reads Water Planning Committee expresses concerns about Campbell Ranch. As an illustration of the subject’s complexity, I tried to include a selection of the blog’s many existing labels; even a partial list exceeded the allowable character limit. Some of the contributors to the news story speculate that the Edgewood town government is motivated by greed in the form of adding new property taxes. 

The question is legitimate insofar as that was one of the “benefits” touted by Howard Calkins, Chuck Ring, Gary Chemistruck, Frank Lasky and their supporters when the original annexation and development agreement were under consideration. However, the general wisdom holds that residential development, especially at the densities proposed in the Campbell Ranch Master Plan, will cost the town more in providing services than the development will provide in property taxes. 

The Public Improvements District (PID) agreement with Campbell Corporation which was crafted and signed after the annexation and development agreement calls for installation of infrastructure to be paid for by the developer(s). The town will eventually become responsible for maintenance.  Edgewood already has provisions for imposing a Special Assessment District (SAD) by vote of affected property owners in specific geographic areas. The SAD mechanism or some variation of the concept may eventually need to be mandated as part of any future development within the Campbell Ranch Master Plan. 

However, given the town’s numerous lapses in development review for one “minor subdivision” which did not even address the question of infrastructure installation, skeptics would be wise to question whether or not Edgewood is willing or able to deal with complex issues. The town government appears to have other priorities at the present time. Edgewood voters continue a well-established cycle of occasionally waking up, voting some leaders out and a new group in before again going dormant. 

Formally incorporated bedroom communities are notoriously difficult to govern, and Edgewood has some added complications including its expansive territorial aspirations and its early love affair with master plan zoning. To those who have asked how our local version of the proverbial Gordian knot might be loosened, there are several ways it might be done. Although, I would add that my preferred method for doing so would be a less dramatic but more practical solution such as that described by Plutarch rather than the depictions often found in popular literature.  

Signs and More Signs

Edgewood’s territory marking exercise in Bernalillo County has been noticed and this would appear to be a response in the form of a sign contest with the theme Welcome to Sandia Park. 

Perhaps the “new” administration in Edgewood which is, in fact, now entering its fourth year, does not realize the possible consequences of allowing the town’s “swaggering braggart” contingent to anger our neighbors in Bernalillo County. What sells in Edgewood cannot be presumed to be received in the same way there. 

It is worth noting that in past years, the various communities along North 14 succeeded in showing both Walmart and a national video chain franchise the door. The Town Commission might want to consider just how much of the town’s GRT revenue comes from this area. Hint: the amount is not insignificant. 

The Commissioners might also want to consider that EMPAC is able to field an impressive grass-roots turnout while Edgewood’s town commission relies on a rotating cast of short-lived flash mobs to confer legitimacy on its actions.  

Edgewood in the News: Questions from EBWPC

More questions about water and the proposed Campbell Ranch subdivision in this story at Edgewood News. Edgewood does not currently have representation on the Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee. Why not? Perhaps a good question to ask Commissioners Brennan, Anaya and Milligan as they have been in office long enough to have answers.

2025 Capital Outlay Final Bill As Signed

NB: Links have not been integrated in order to make their origins clear.  

The Legislative and Executive Components: 

The final bill shows that Governor Lujan Grisham has approved Senator Ant Thornton’s request to fund equipment for Edgewood Police Department wellness center ($138 k), as well as his request for wastewater collection and system improvements ($167 k) although the final version does not specify a location. I think the best explanation for the change can be found on page 2 in the Governor’s letter which acts as a preface to the signed bill. Although she did not veto the Rt. 66 language, the original submission may have been flagged early enough in the process so that it could be amended. The veto process is usually reserved for last-minute changes which slip through the cracks. Legislative sessions are always incredibly busy and compressed into a very short timeline. It is always a good idea to check, double check and monitor the process for changes along the way. 

“As I mentioned last year in House Executive Message No. 17, the capital outlay process mainly exists to fund intelligent investments into critical infrastructure, and relatively small projects should not be addressed by capital outlay funds…Lastly I have exercised my authority under Article IV, Section 22 to veto unnecessarily restrictive language concerning decisions properly within executive agency discretion….”

https://www.sos.nm.gov/legislation-and-lobbying/signed-chaptered-bills/2025-legislation/

The Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) Component:

It appears that the Town’s original request was for Liberty Square Circle, and so the change would allow the Governing Body to exercise discretion as to the best use of the funds. If the original proposal adds residential customers it may be a good choice. I will add this: The Governor’s policy on removing unnecessarily restrictive language also closes the door on possible attempts to justify questionable requests on the basis of  “The State Made Us Do It.” The change opens the door to using the funds elsewhere if the governing body wishes to do so.  

https://www.nmdfa.state.nm.us/dfa-dashboards/infrastructure-capital-improvement-plan-icip-dashboard/

2025 Capital Outlay Overview

See this post for the version signed by the Governor. 

Update: It appears that a lack of discipline by the governing body is nothing new as shown in this Edgewood News story from January 11, 2024.  

Edgewood’s governing body has long faced difficulties in crafting its yearly ICIP (Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan) submission to the state legislature. There are three underlying problems it faces: lack of awareness about town how government functions among the general public, seemingly unresolvable differences over what programs should be funded, and Edgewood’s perennially toxic elections. The governing body can’t please everyone, and the ICIP is where Edgewood’s many sub-groups which give the town its unique character become a liability.  What the town gained by changing the timing of elections in the area of budget preparation, it lost with the timing of the ICIP so don’t expect improvements this fall.* The terms of Commissioners Brennan and Anaya expire this year, and as appointees, Commissioners Murillo and Raridan will stand for election should they wish to continue to the end of the term for those seats. 

The Commission Manager government seems to have thrown in the towel last fall and sent a very long wish list for consideration. The search parameters at the state legislature’s website can be adjusted to show Edgewood’s requests as well as those from towns of similar size elsewhere in the state. When compared to neighboring towns, Edgewood comes off as greedy.  What the wish list suggests is that the Commission gave heed to several pet projects and failed to make any effort at prioritizing requests. State legislators are busy during sessions. It is possible for towns to slip questionable projects through without disclosing all the relevant facts, but any victories thus gained usually end up being a one-off deal. Burn a legislator once and you’re done with that person until someone new takes the seat.   

Planning for the town’s requests for Capital Outlay funds usually begins in late summer after the budget has been approved and accepted by the State. The usual process is to hold a series of public hearings and then have an on the record discussion among the governing body about which projects should be at the top of the list and why they should be chosen. The final product, usually consisting of the top two or three items, is placed into the ICIP report. Submissions are expected to be received no later than October for consideration in the following year’s legislative session. 

Ideally, a town’s lists remain relatively stable over time, and as the top choices are funded others move to the top. Edgewood’s political instability has made this difficult, but until recently it was able to make a credible showing during most (but certainly not all) legislative sessions.

2025 Requests for projects which have received previous Capital Outlay funding:

1. 1.8 million  Church Street
2. 900 k trails
3. 12 million Drinking Water
4. 850 k Wastewater
5. 1.890 million trails 
6. 200 k upgrade road equipment 

2025 Requests for projects which had not received previous Capital Outlay funding:

1. 465 k BMX Park
2. 617 k Rt. 66 sewer line design 
3. 1.2 million wellness center PD 
4. 4.1 million Horton Road 
5. 1.2 million Steeplechase 
6. 450 k various roads 
7. 1.64 million Section 16 development projects
8. 975 k  Community Center
9. 310 k motor grader 
10. 800 k WiFi expansion 

Funding to Edgewood sent for the Governor’s signature as part of the complete Capital Outlay legislation:

1. 617 k Rt. 66 sewer line design (full funding included in final bill; Senator Thornton)
2. 138 k Wellness center PD (partial funding included in final bill; Senator Thornton)

The Town Commission’s failure to prioritize means that none of the requests which have received previous funding received additional help this year.  Community Wellness Centers appear to have been popular requests this year, and partial funding for Edgewood’s Police Department center will likely be put to good use. 

The Rt. 66 Sewer line design item is interesting and deserves a closer look. The Rt. 66 corridor is already well served with wastewater lines. The problems encountered by the wastewater plant led to a change in priorities for extending the service area beginning in 2014-15 after it became obvious that the system needs more residential customers to balance Walmart and the commercial customers along Rt. 66.   

* One of the most important benefits of the town’s decision to move elections away from local control and onto the general elections calendar run by County Clerks is that newly sworn-in members of the governing body have a breathing space before what is far and away its most important function: budget preparation. The old March election calendar meant that newly elected town officials were thrown into the deep end with regard to budget preparation. Even the best prepared candidates from past years have found the experience difficult. The ICIP is important, and the timing in election years is difficult, but the budget process is the more important consideration. [One additional benefit to the change is that town-run elections are expensive, they create distractions to day to day operations, and they place an undue burden on employees. That is especially true when races are hotly contested or the subject of legal challenges.] 

New page added

In response to reader questions about the different types of public hearings, I have added a new Public Hearing FAQs page. I have relied extensively on old notes and fairly limited new research. Corrections and suggestions are welcome via the email address on the profile page.