RR council hears updates on election, new fire stations

RIO RANCHO — Voter turnout in the Rio Rancho municipal election is up this year compared to 2022, except for absentee voting, according to figures recently compiled by the City Clerk's Office.

The first week of early voting, which began Feb. 3, saw 343 voters this year compared to just 143 in 2022; expanded early voting, which began Feb. 14, saw 404 voters compared to 285 in 2022; and absentee voting saw 248 ballots cast so far this year compared to 714 in 2022, according to City Clerk Noel Davis, who presented those figures Tuesday during a Rio Rancho Governing Body work session. The meeting also included an update on two fire stations.

Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull described turnout as "not too bad" but expressed a desire for the city to "spruce that up" ahead of Election Day on March 3.

"We'll continue to push out information and try to get people to the polls," said Hull, who added that he cast his vote Tuesday.

Davis' presentation came in the midst of early voting, which continues at almost a dozen locations until Feb. 28. Her remarks also came on the last day for voters to request an absentee ballot.

A deeper look at voter turnout figures provided by Davis shows that since opening for early voting, the Broadmoor Senior Center (clerk's annex) saw 692 voters — an increase over 2022, according to Davis. 

The expanded early voting locations saw 126 voters (Loma Colorado Library), 113 voters (The Hub at Enchanted Hills), 69 voters (Southern Boulevard), and 49 voters (Sabana Grande). 

Davis blamed the sharp downturn in absentee voting, in part, on the fact that this year's election is not being held in the middle of the pandemic and some voter confusion over being on the Permanent Absentee List, which Davis said only applies to statewide elections.

Updates on Fire Stations 3 and 8 were presented to the governing body by Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Jake Bailey. 

District 6 Councilor Nicole List praised the city's fire and rescue division, adding it was "impressive to have this many (projects) come forward."

The contractor bid for Fire Station 8, to be located near Cabezon Boulevard and Veranda Road — south of Maggie Cordova Elementary School — is expected to close March 26, according to Bailey. The bid award is expected to be considered and potentially approved by the governing body at its April 9 meeting, he said, and groundbreaking on the project is expected in mid- to late April.

The station is expected to be more than 15,000 square feet, including 10 bunk rooms, four apparatus bays, two officer suites, and a community gathering space to support public meetings and voting, according to a previous Observer article . Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Chief James Wenzel, who did not attend Tuesday's meeting, announced the project via social media on Jan. 28.

The Fire Station 3 project is anticipated to cost $1.3 million, according to Bailey. It is funded with $800,000 in state funds and an additional $500,000 from the 2025 New Mexico fire protection grant, he said.

RRF&R Deputy Chief Brian Dolan, who provided more information about the project in an email, said Fire Station 3, built in 1990, will get its first significant upgrades since 2004 - an additional fire apparatus bay and office for current and future staffing.

The department is in the process of securing an architect for design work, which will go to bid for a contractor once the plans have been finalized, Dolan wrote.

A ground-breaking and construction timeline have not been determined.