At their regular meeting on Tuesday, Bernalillo County commissioners will consider taking steps to secure more than $23 million in state money that is intended for capital improvements and was approved by the New Mexico Legislature in the session earlier this year. Commissioners are asked to approve a resolution placing the money into the county’s budget for fiscal year 2025 and to authorize the county manager to execute all related grant agreements or amendments.
Commissioners will also consider an agreement with Albuquerque under which the county will contribute $525,000 toward the construction of the city’s Brillante Early Learning Center.
If the agreement passes, the center will provide childcare and early education services to more than 140 infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. The construction money was approved by county voters in 2022.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
WHEN: 5 p.m. June 11
WHERE: Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers in BernalilloCounty@Alvarado Square, 415 Silver Ave SW
VIRTUAL: GOV-TV, on the county’s website or on Bernalillo County’s YouTube channel
Carñuel water to be examined
On the consent agenda is the approval of an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey, which would perform a contaminant and nutrient study in the Carñuel area in the East Mountains.
The New Mexico Environment Department has awarded the county $245,000 to determine the extent of groundwater and surface water contamination that may be in the area, where residents use wells for drinking water and septic systems for wastewater.
According to the agenda, an increasing amount of nutrients has been
observed in Tijeras Creek, which runs parallel to Interstate 40 near Carñuel. This is particularly concerning, county staff said, because of the proximity of groundwater wells in the area to septic systems.
Another consent agenda item is a vote on finalizing the Local Government Coordinating Commission. The commission, formerly the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Government Commission, is being updated with the change in status of Albuquerque Public Schools from an advisory member to a voting member. The two bodies and the city of Albuquerque comprise the commission.