Welcome to the Website for the Sandia Knolls Neighborhood Association. This site contains vital information on the issues we need to know about as property owners here in the Knolls.

12-08-09 63 MPH Wind Gust hits the Knolls!

Some Interesting Information

East Mountain Chamber of Commerce http://www.eastmountain.org/directory.htm

East Mountain Historical Society http://www.eastmountainhistory.org/

Thanks to all who participated in the Annual Meeting of the SKNA.

Election results are:

Mark Emery President
Kathy McCoy Vice President
Denise Turner Secretary
Sue Nuestal Treasurer

As soon as we have a copy of the minutes, they will be posted.

Latest info from NM DOT

Albuquerque (February 4, 2010) – Traffic Report

This report replaces previous report.

GRIP/ARRA/ I40 / West Central / Paseo Del Volcan Interstate/Interchange Reconstruction / This is a 330 calendar day project. Upon completion of the detours traffic will be restricted for 150 days to one lane eastbound and 2 lanes westbound through the work zone. (Loomis/ Mtn States)

· Ongoing and until further notice – The I40 westbound off ramp to Paseo Del Volcan and the Paseo Del Volcan onramp to I40 eastbound will be reduced in width during this phase to widen the ramps. Please use caution turning onto and off of the ramps.

· Ongoing through Spring of 2010 - I40 both directions from mile marker 148 to 149 (Exit 149 Paseo Del Volcan) are in the original alignment (2 Lanes each direction).

Tramway / NM313 Diversion Channel Bridge Reconstruction (A.S.Horner/Jeter.)

Ongoing and until further notice (ASH).- NM313 southbound at Roy Rd. will have the right lane closed for bridge reconstruction. Traffic over the Diversion Channel will be reduced to one lane each direction and limited to traffic under 5 tons. Heavy truck traffic should use Alameda as an alternate route. Use caution and reduce your speed through the work zone.

D3017C / I25 /Gibson to Rio Bravo Interstate Improvement Project (T.Chavez/A.S.Horner.)

· Ongoing and until further notice- This project has been suspended until spring of 2010 at which time the final paving will be placed down during warmer weather. All lanes and ramps are fully operational.

GRIP I25 / Tramway to Bernalillo Interstate Reconstruction (Loomis/FNF Const.)

· Ongoing and until further notice - I-25 both directions between Tramway and Bernalillo has the speed limit reduced to 55 mph. Double fine zone is in effect. Where barrier wall has been placed lanes are reduced to 11 feet wide. ENHANCED LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.

Paseo Del Volcan, Iris to US 550 Construction Project (Mtn. States Const.)

· Ongoing through June 2^nd, 2010 - U_S 550 both directions from mile marker 3 to 4 (in the vicinity of Sprint Blvd.) will be reduced to one lane each way for intersection improvements.

PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROJECTS

DISTRICT WIDE TRAFFIC IMPACTS

Friday 2/5 from 10am to 2pm (MDWC)- I25 northbound at Lead will have the right lane closed for utility work.

Friday 2/5 from 12pm to 12am (Fish Head Productions)- N_M 313 both directions from Sandia Lakes Road to Bosque Road will have intermittent closures for film production. Expect minor delays!

Monday 2/8 and Tuesday 2/9 from 10am to 2pm (MDWC)- I25 northbound at Central will have the right lane closed for utility work.

Monday 2/8 through Wednesday 2/10 from 9am to 3pm (TLC)- Paseo Del Norte eastbound before Jefferson will have the left lane closed and activity in the median for utility work.

REVISED!! Monday 2/15 and Tuesday 2/16 from 10am to 2pm (MDWC)- I25 northbound at Cesar Chavez will have the right lane closed for utility work.

Ongoing through Monday 3/1 from 9am to 3:30pm each weekday (Mt.West Golf Scapes).- The I40 eastbound off ramp and San Mateo both directions at the interchange and at Indian School will have various single lane closures for landscaping.

Ongoing through Wednesday 3/10 from 8am to 5pm each weekday (Star Paving).- NM313 both directions from Avenida De Bernalillo to Calle De Presidente will have various single lane closures for streetscape project.

Ongoing through March 15^th, 2010 from 9am to 5pm each day (Mtn.West Landscapes)- The intersection of NM556 (Tramway) and Central Avenue will have various lane closures and activity on the shoulders during streetscape project.

Ongoing and until further notice (A.S.Horner / N. Belen Interchange) - I_25 both directions from mile marker 194 to 197 and Loop 13 both directions at I_25 will have various single lane closures for interchange improvements.

· Ongoing and until further notice from 9am to 3pm each weekday (Mt.West Golfscapes) - The Big I Frontage road system will see various lane closures in all directions for landscape project.

All projects scheduled weather permitting and are subject to change without notice. For more information please contact, Phil Gallegos, NM Department of Transportation at 841-2764 or 220-4153, logon to www.nmroads.com. or dial 511.

GRIP I25 / Tramway to Bernalillo Interstate Reconstruction (Loomis/FNF Const.)

New! Today Friday 2/5 from 1pm to 3pm - I_25 northbound from Tramway to Bernalillo mile markers 234 to 240 will have intermittent delays for mobile striping operation. Delays should be minimal.

New! Tonight Friday 2/5 from 9pm to 5am - I_25 both directions from Tramway to Bernalillo mile markers 234 to 240 will be reduced to one lane to place wall barriers for upcoming traffic switch scheduled for approximately 10 days from now. Traffic switch will place I_25 southbound traffic on the of I_25 northbound side while the new southbound lanes are reconstructed. More definite times and dates to follow.

9-11-09

NEWS RELEASE
 
Bernalillo County Assessor encourages caution when providing financial
information 
 
 
Bernalillo County Assessor Karen L. Montoya urges taxpayers to exercise
extreme caution when providing financial information to entities or
individuals claiming a value freeze of their property.  In recent weeks,
the Bernalillo County Assessor's Office has fielded calls from concerned
taxpayers regarding the legitimacy of this claim. 
 
"I spoke to several residents that were contacted and in each reported
case, an individual will call an elderly taxpayer and identify himself
as a representative who can obtain a value freeze on their property, or
a property tax refund. The taxpayer is then asked a series of questions
and advised to have an associate come to their home for a follow up
meeting," says Assessor Montoya.                              
 
Due to the public's interest in the recent value freeze calls that have
emerged, the Bernalillo County Assessor will be asking the Attorney
General and the District Attorney's office for a formal review in this
matter.

Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2009 4:20 PM

Subject: (no subject)

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson

   With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census
   is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country.
        Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.
        The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

        ** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their
   questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

   ** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S.. Census.

   REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW
   MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

   While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial
   information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.

        The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

   AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn
   worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

   Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

   Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email
   that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

   For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit
   www.bbb.org

6/23/2009
Bernalillo County Will Get Over $1 Million to Fix Low Income Homes

The Bernalillo County Housing Department will soon receive $1,089,950 from the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority to improve living conditions for low income residents in the unincorporated areas of the County. Housing Department director Betty Valdez says the money will make it possible to rehabilitate at least 20 single family units and encourages anyone interested in the 2009 Home Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program to fill out an application as quickly as possible. Much of the work will target bad roofs, address heating and cooling concerns, correct electrical code violations, and provide handicap accessible mechanisms. Licensed contractors will bid on the jobs—many of which are expected to be completed within 45 days. A limit of $50,000 will be placed on any one home.

“The Bernalillo County Housing Department is very fortunate to have been awarded $1,089,950 in Homeownership Rehab money from our partner – New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority,” says Valdez. “We are excited about offering this resource to low income homeowners who often do not have sufficient resources to make the need repairs on their homes.”

To apply for the aid, contact the Bernalillo County Housing Department at 314-0200, or visit its offices at 1900 Bridge Blvd. SW or online at www.bernco.gov.

Get a Free Toilet!

WATER RESOURCES PROGRAM

Bernalillo County Residential Water Use Survey and

High-Efficiency-Toilet Retrofit Assistance Program

The Bernalillo County Residential Water Use Survey and High-Efficiency-Toilet Retrofit Assistance Program are for residents of unincorporated Bernalillo County who are Not Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) water customers.

ABCWUA Customers please visit www.abcwua.org or call 768-3655 for information on toilet rebates.

To participate in the High-Efficiency-Toilet Retrofit program, residents must receive a home water use survey. The home water use survey is conducted by Bernalillo County staff and includes verification of toilet eligibility, home leak analysis, estimation of current water use, and installation of low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators. Existing toilets must be 3.5 or 5 gallon per flush toilet manufactured before 1994. If it is determined that your property has toilets that are eligible to be replaced, a plumber will be selected to install up to two 1.28 gallons per flush High Efficiency Toilets. To participate in the program you must fill out an Application and Waiver Form.

Download and complete the Application and Waiver form, then call 848-1500 to schedule your home water conservation survey. You will need a copy of your tax bill to verify property ownership. If you need assistance completing the Application and Waiver Form or finding a copy of your tax bill or UPC number we can assist you.

Editors Note: I have taken advantage of this program and found it to be a pleasant experience. I called the number listed for the program and spoke with Chandra Marsh who then came to my house the next day and did a water survey. She changed all of the aerators on the sinks to low flow and gave me a new shower head for the shower. She then took a look at my toilet and determined that it was a 3.5 gallon per flush toilet which qualified me for a new 1.2 gallon per flush toilet. She set up my house for a plumber to come by and install a brand new toilet. Everybody involved showed up at the times they said they would and I now have a new efficient toilet for free from Bernalillo County.

Thanks to all!

Mark

Check out our sister site on Yahoo Groups
Here

The Plague has reared its ugly head again here in the East Mountain area;

read about the Plague here.

08/26/09

These are some very abbreviated from Commissioner Brasher's very informative meeting on Aug. 4th. Speakers were Dr. Paul Ettestad, Veterinarian and Epidemiologist for the NM Dept. of Health, Dr. Mark DiMenna, Entymologist, Supervisor of the City of Abq. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Disease Division (452-5301), Jeff Sheyka, plague specialist (452-5302) ,and George Schroeder of Environmental Health. Commissioner Brasher intends to have this taped presentation shown on government tv.

Plague first came into the US in about 1900 at the ports of Honolulu, Galveston, and San Francisco. Today plague is found mostly in the western US. Fleas are carried on rock squirrels and prairie dogs, mainly. Some types of fleas are better carriers than others. 71% of those who get plague have gotten them from flea bites.

There are 3 forms of plague: septicemic, bubonic, and pneumonic (inhaling it). Don't worry about the last kind, because there hasn't been an incidence of that kind in the US since 1925. There have been 53 cases of plague in the US between 1970 and 2008. Most of those have been in the counties of Santa Fe and Bernalillo.

Incidences of plague follow El Ninos. Most cases are in summer. The first case in the East Mtn. was 1959. There have been 46 cases in the EM from 1959 to present. 17 cases occurred in the EM between July 2005 and July 2009. (There was a total of 24 cases in all of NM during that same span of time.)

The highest risk of plague is at an altitude of 2300 m--or about 7000 feet and is associated with populations of pinon trees and juniper trees. (That's us.) Wood piles are the main habitat. Rock squirrels are the most common host, and as many as 600 fleas have been counted on one rock squirrel. They also affect deer mice, pinon mice, and wood rats (that's the packrat). Exposure for people is near their homes.

There have never been any cases of Hanta virus in Bernalillo County--ever. The recommended disinfectant for rodent droppings is a bleach and water solution.

West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. There have been no cases in NM this year to date.

Report mysteriously dead rock squirrels or prairie dogs near vacated colonies to the Health Dept.(See phone nos. above.) Handle dead rodents with care.

Christine Smith

Septic Systems

Our septic systems are going to become an issue that all home owners in the Knolls are going to have to deal with by 2015, or if you do a major upgrade to your home or you sell your home, you will have to conform to the new wastewater ordinance immediately. I am including a copy of the new ordinance here for you to read, I believe you will find it interesting if you can get through the legalese. Most of the homes that have been sold in the Knolls recently have had to have their septic systems replaced or brought up to code. The process can be devastating to your yard. Under the new ordinance nothing but grass can cover your new drain fields, and nothing can be built on top of the area, including driveways that might compact the field. Also access to the tank for pump trucks in any weather is a requirement, so plan ahead if you are thinking about building or landscaping your property. Pumping at regular intervals is also a new requirement. Property owners a supposed to keep records of all work done to the septic systems.

Bernalillo County Environmental Health Department link

PDF file of the Waste Water Ordinance use Adobe Acrobat reader to view.

Here is a 31 page document Bernalillo County prepared detailing the East Mountain Environmental Quality Profile. (This is a LARGE file 3MEG dial-up users beware!)