Archive for the ‘ Government Services ’ Category


City Council Candidate Forum

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
February 15th, 2016

On Feb 11, 2016 the 10 candidates for council districts 1, 4 and 6 took questions during a two-hour event at Rio Rancho High School. The forum was sponsored by the Rio Rancho Observer and the Albuquerque Journal. The video has been edited to cut the time, without (we think) losing anything significant. We hope this will provide an opportunity for Rio Rancho voters who were unable to attend this or the previous candidate forum to make an educated decision for the upcoming municipal election. Be sure to vote March 1st if you are eligible. There is a lot more on the ballot than just City Councilor choices, so even if you are not in district 1, 4 or 6, you should vote. You can find out more about the questions on the ballot at: http://rrnm.gov/2016election

Rio Rancho, NM Loma Colorado Main Library

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
December 5th, 2014

The City of Rio Rancho has two libraries, the Loma Colorado Main Library and the Esther Bone Memorial Library. Both facilities way exceed the average community library as far as facilities, programs and materials available to check out. The Rio Rancho community continues to invest in upgrades and updates to its two libraries, and thousands of patrons are reaping the rewards every month.

Let’s plant a tree… or maybe a few thousand!

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
April 19th, 2014

Sheila plants a tree
Mark & Sheila were among over 100 volunteers this weekend who, together planted several thousand pine tree seedlings within the 2011 Las Conchas Fire burn area, near Los Alamos. The planting area was near the Pajarito Trailhead, just a couple miles from the National Labs. Most volunteers used a “dibble tool” (a combination spike and shovel), to dig a wedge shaped hole deep enough t0 completely bury the seedling’s roots.

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The fun part was that even when you found the perfect location to plant the little tree, (on the North side of a fallen log; in the shade of a rock; in a patch of fallen oak leaves; or near a tiny creek bed) most times you’d find a layer of solid rock just 4 or 5 inches below the surface. The tree couldn’t be buried deeply enough and would struggle to extend its roots downward.  We dug hundreds of holes to find good spots for the 40 seedlings we planted.  After 90 minutes on site, the cool, calm morning weather turned wet. The trees probably appreciated the rain, but we were soaked as we planted the last couple sacks of seedlings.

Members of the US Forest Service were there to ride herd on everybody, and supplied the hardhats, tools and the seedlings.

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Rio Rancho NM Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum 2014

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
February 17th, 2014

Candidates for the office of Rio Rancho Mayor – Mike Williams, Jim Owen, Gregg Hull and Morgan Braden faced off to answer questions posed by the Rio Rancho Observer and the Albuquerque Journal at Cleveland High School on February 13, 2014. Nine candidates for Rio Rancho City Council handled questions for the first hour, including Darlene Collins, Dawnn Robinson and Sandra Atwood for District 2; Tamara Gutierrez and Cheryl Everett for District 3; and Shelby Smith, Paul Howell, Tim Crum and Thomas Buckner for District 5. The Municipal Election will be held March 4, 2014. Early voting is underway now.

If you did not get a chance to attend in person, we hope these videos supply additional decision-making information to all eligible voters in Rio Rancho. Local government has a bigger day-to-day impact on each of us than state or federal governments, yet voter turnout has been historically low in Rio Rancho for local elections. We hope that trend improves this year, and we’re doing our part. Each video is about one hour, so get a snack, get educated about the candidates and VOTE!

Sandoval Regional Medical Center Opens in Rio Rancho, NM!

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
July 17th, 2012

The Sandoval Regional Medical Center (SRMC) held a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration for the public the weekend of July 8 and 9, 2012. On Saturday, a dozen dignitaries spoke to the assembled crowd including Senator Jeff Bingaman, facility President and CEO Kevin Rogols, other hospital administrators, county officials, and representatives of local pueblos. Tom Swisstack, the Mayor of Rio Rancho also spoke, but what was interesting was the number of speakers who lauded the Mayor for his leadership about ten years ago (when he was a State Representative) which resulted in the new facility eventually being built in Rio Rancho.

The new hospital comprises about 200,000 square feet, with 72 beds for inpatient care, 48 beds for medical and surgical care, a 12 bed ICU, 12 beds for senior behavioral health and a 13 bed emergency room. The hospital is part of University of New Mexico Hospital, and will be the only teaching hospital in the county. The equipment is state of the art, including a surgical robot, imaging equipment capable of producing very fine detail, talking beds (which speak a couple dozen languages) and so much more.

When the project was begun, Sandoval County was the largest county in the western United States without a hospital. Presbyterian Rust Medical Center opened just a few months earlier a few miles south (and also in Rio Rancho), so now there are two hospitals where not long ago there were none.

Video: Paseo Del Volcan NM Road 347 Extension Opens

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
February 13th, 2011

The 3.4 mile extension of Paseo Del Vocan (now NM Road 347) between Hwy 550 and Iris Road in Rio Rancho opened Thursday. The two lane road is really a joy to drive on. (I drove the length of it 15 minutes before its official opening at noon.)  Paseo Del Volcan is projected to eventually span the distance from Hwy 550 to Hwy 40, adding a much needed North- South route to the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho Metro area.

There was a public ceremony and ribbon cutting at 11:00 am in a tent to shelter the participants from the day’s cold and wind. Debbie Moore, CEO of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce was Mistress of Ceremonies, with additional words from Rio Rancho Mayor Tom Swisstack, Darryl Madalena, Chairman of the Sandoval County Commission, and Dewey Cave, Executive Director of of Mid Region Council of Governments.  The word for the day was “cooperation”.  Without the cooperation of numerous government agencies and private organizations, the funding and construction of this piece of road would never have seen the light of day. Total funding for the project was $14 Million (which wouldn’t buy you a goat path in some parts of the country, but they did a lot with it here in New Mexico). The cost would have been much higher if the right of way had not been set aside many years ago.

Video: House Bill 110 – 2011 Eminent Domain Legislation for Rio Rancho

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
February 13th, 2011

 


 

NM House Bill 110 was introduced in the Round House on January 20, 2011. The bill proposes to amend the Metropolitan Redevelopment Act to allow the City of Rio Rancho to have limited powers of eminent domain condemnation. When Amrep Corporation first developed Rio Rancho, the entire city was platted (divided) into thousands of oddly shaped lots, including many which spanned arroyos and were nowhere close to utilities or amenities. These lots were most often sold to individual buyers from across the country.

In order to install streets, curbs, sewer and water lines to an area, it usually take development of a significant number of lots into a neighborhood. Trying to purchase even a hundred different lots from a hundred different owners can become a nightmare. Just a couple of holdouts can keep a project from moving ahead, and without a project, there is no planning. Without planning you can get chaos.

The video is of a presentation given by Mike Skolnick from Excalibur Realty at a recent meeting of the Executive Association of Greater Rio Rancho. Mike is an expert in land assemblage for development in the Rio Rancho, NM area. He gives an extensive history of the beginnings of Rio Rancho, a description of the bill now before the Legislature, and some of the difficulties the bill might solve and/or create.

Video: Rio Rancho NM Adoptable Pet of the Week

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
January 7th, 2011


This soft and cuddly kitty is available for adoption at the Rio Rancho Animal Control Shelter on Northern Blvd. He is about 1 year old, playful and pretty. His ID number is C 10 002191. If you’re looking for new best friend, call the shelter at 505 891-5075 to confirm his availability, If he’s already found a new home, they have lots of other wonderful pets there ready for adoption. (Note: The “C” in his ID # does not stand for “Cat”. It stands for “Canine”. Cats are supposed to be “F” for “Feline”. Somebody goofed… So it you really want the cat, don’t take no for an answer if they tell you it couldn’t be a cat with a C code.)

The Rio Rancho Animal Control Shelter is located at 3441 Northern Blvd, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. They are open Monday through Saturday from 9-5. They close from 12-1 for lunch.

Video: Rio Rancho Luminaria Tour at Haynes Park

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
December 17th, 2010

Right after the Rio Rancho Christmas Parade the Parks and Recreation Department sponsored a Luminaria Tour at Haynes Park. Over 12,000 real luminarias (a candle burning inside a paper bag with sand at the bottom) formed pathways throughout the darkened park, leading from one park shelter or band stand to the other. Snacks, drinks and music were everywhere, as were lighted holiday characters of all kinds. Santa and Mrs. Claus paid a short visit to the event, and chatted with a number of small children. At 7:00 pm, there was a wonderful fireworks display. I’ve visited Haynes park several times in past years for this event, and never get tired of the sight of the thousands of glowing luminarias lining the pathways and the curving hills of the park. Kudos to the city staff for continuing this great tradition.

Video: Rio Rancho Adoptable Pet of the Week

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
September 4th, 2010


This adorable brown and gray Shorthair Chihuahua is available for adoption at the Rio Rancho Animal Control Shelter on Northern Blvd. He is about 5 years old, very affectionate, and likes to be held, once he gets to know you. His ID number is C10-001204. If you have room in your home for this little cutie, call the shelter at 505 891-5075 to confirm his availability, If he’s already found a new home, they have lots of other wonderful pets there ready for adoption.

The Rio Rancho Animal Control Shelter is located at 3441 Northern Blvd, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. They are open Monday through Saturday from 9-5. They close from 12-1 for lunch.

Video: Albuquerque / Rio Rancho Employers Participate in a “Boss Lift”.

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
August 16th, 2010

Almost 50% of our national military force is comprised of members of the National Guard and Reserve. Most of them also have jobs outside of the military.

Did you know that there is a federal law requiring that all employers, regardless of size, must do the following 6 things –

1. Allow employees to participate in Military Service;
2. Provide prompt reinstatement back into their former job following military service;
3. Continue accumulation of seniority, including pension plan benefits during service;
4. Reinstate health insurance on return;
5. Train or retrain job skills, including accomodation for the disabled;
6. Protect against discrimination based upon Guard or Reserve status.

To educate employers about USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), a DOD agency called ESGR (Employer Support of Guard and Reserve – Don’t you just love all the military acronyms?), regularly invites employers to participate in a “Boss Lift”.

This past week myself and a couple dozen other employers from the Albuquerque / Rio Rancho NM area were invited to the New Mexico National Guard Headquarters and Training Center in Santa Fe. We received some hands-on experience, training, and exposure to a number of military training scenarios. We got up close and personal with a Blackhawk Helicopter; several Military Humvees with weapons in place; explored a FOB (Forward Operating Base) set up to acclimate outbound soldiers with their living environments in the field; experienced the inside of a Humvee Roll-Over Trainer; and a VCOT (Virtual Convoy Operations Trainer). The group probably split as to the most interesting activity of the day, between rappelling down a 50 ft vertical tower, and firing laser-equiped weapons on the Virtual Firing Range.

Frankly, I was extremely impressed with the quality and technology of the equipment the New Mexico facility utilizes to train our local citizen-soldiers. I had no idea that their “classrooms” had progressed to this degree….

Getting back to the reason for our visit on base: What I took away from the day is that we can all do our part and more, for our friends, family members and employees in the Reserve and National Guard. If you have an opening to fill, consider hiring a Reservist or a Guardsman if possible. If they get called to duty, make sure they know that their job is one less thing they’ll need to worry about when they get back from protecting all of us while deployed. I’d also like to thank Lt. Colonel Shuert, Major General Kenny Montoya, and Gary Kaiser from ESGR for their time and the hospitality they showed our group.

Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team
June 9th, 2010

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