Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Roads topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge repairs to Ranchito's Road after emergency-response delays
Summary
Residents told the Torrance County commission that washouts on Ranchito's Road are making it difficult and dangerous for emergency vehicles to reach homes; commissioners agreed to ask staff to investigate and prioritize repairs to make sections passable.
At the Oct. 23 Torrance County commission meeting, resident Chad Hamelton told officials that Ranchito's Road is severely washed out and is impeding emergency response, saying a paramedic unit recently took 15 minutes to travel one mile.
"What's going to happen when [the gas lines] get hit and explode?" Hamelton asked, warning that school buses and emergency vehicles have already struggled on the route. Commissioner Samuel Schropp and Vice Chair Kevin McCall agreed to have county staff — including road supervisor Leonard Lujan if the chairman concurs — inspect targeted patches and begin repairs to restore passability for ambulances and other emergency responders.
Resident David Sibley supported those concerns, noting his recent quadruple bypass surgery and the need for reliable ambulance access. The board did not set a specific repair timeline during the meeting but directed staff to investigate the road's condition and report back.
