Yes on bonds supports small-lot owners

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Corrales has two general obligation bonds on the ballot on March 4, both raising funds to assist property owners who choose to connect into Corrales existing Septic Tank Effluent Pumping sewer system. It is important that voters understand that the villages STEP sewer is already in place and operational, with some village properties already hooked in. The vote on the bond questions will have no impact on whether or not the village has an operating sewer system. That decision was made years ago, including yes votes on funding for the STEP system by all current village councilors and for full disclosure, by me when I was on the council.

The bond questions on the ballot are not a referendum on whether the village should have a sewer or whether the STEP system is the best option.

So, why are there G.O. bond questions on the ballot?

Because hooking in to the STEP sewer system will be the only affordable option for many small lots in Corrales to comply with New Mexico Environmental Department regulations. Lots that are 3/4 of an acre or smaller are no longer permitted to discharge on-site from a septic tank.

The village will not require properties to hook in to the STEP sewer, and NMED has accepted the villages position not requiring mandatory hook-ins. But NMED will require a permit for all septic systems for a transfer of title (a sale or inheritance), a remodel of the property, or to replace a failed system. The small lots will not be issued a permit for a conventional septic system, and owners will have few options for compliance, such as a very expensive ($17,000 -plus) individual Advanced Treatment Unit. And for some lots, a unit may not fit on the site due to the required 100-foot separation from existing wells.

The bond questions raise funds as a community to offer property owners affordable access to the village STEP sewer system by establishing a zero-interest loan fund and by extending transmission lines into neighborhoods with clusters of small lots. Many of these neighborhoods are older subdivisions established before village incorporation, and deserve community support to solve the NMED compliance issues.

A no vote on the bonds will not change the fact that someday all small lot owners will confront the costs of NMED compliance. I urge voters not to punish the small lot owners because of continuing opposition to the controversial STEP sewer decision. Clean water is a community responsibility, and together we can share the burden of keeping our ground water clean, rather than abandon those with small lots to bear the costs alone.

All of Corrales benefits by protecting the water quality in the village from contamination known to be caused by densely located leaching fields. We protect our property values by ensuring that Corrales is known for clean water, not for contaminated wells.

I will vote yes on Bonds 1 and 2.

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Yes on bonds supports small-lot owners