Bernalillo announces $1.095 million federal award and multiple infrastructure updates

Town officials on Feb. 9 told the Bernalillo governing body that the town has secured a $1,095,000 congressional direct-spending award and described several infrastructure and planning activities now moving forward.

Finance Director Terri Gray said she received an email from Rep. Ben Ray Luján confirming the $1,095,000 award and emphasized that the funds are federal and therefore restricted. Gray said the town will coordinate with Rep. Luján's office to understand requirements and ensure the funds are spent according to federal rules.

Public Works Director Troy Martinez described the "streetscape four" project on the south end of Camino del Pueblo, which will add ADA-compliant sidewalks and lighting from Avenida Bernalillo to Lucero Road. Martinez said the contractor has a preconstruction meeting scheduled and that work could begin as soon as coordination with Bernalillo Public Schools on traffic-control plans is complete; he warned that, if coordination is lacking, start could be delayed and that closures on Sheriff's Posse road related to utility work could last about 60 days.

Planning and Zoning Director Rebecca Bolen said the town expects to award a bid that week to complete condemnation work at 718 Perea and introduced MCM Consulting staff. Jason Boblin of MCM said countywide GIS and addressing updates have been underway to improve address points and centerlines so computer-aided dispatch systems and mutual-aid responders can locate properties more reliably. He said the consultants will propose ordinance updates to align local addressing with the State of New Mexico addressing handbook and national standards.

Mayor Torres noted the town's ongoing capital-outlay efforts and said engineers' estimates for a proposed fire station have continued to rise; he said council members have worked with legislators to seek an additional $2,000,000 in capital-outlay funding that would bring the project to approximately $10 million, but he cautioned funding is not final until approved by the governor.

Officials also announced that early voting had begun, with 100 early votes recorded as of the fifth day of voting.

What happens next: Town staff said they will coordinate with Rep. Luján's office on the federal award, proceed with preconstruction and school coordination for the streetscape project, finalize the condemnation contract for 718 Perea and circulate proposed addressing ordinance updates for council review.