Los Lunas Council approves applications; tables easement agreement

LOS LUNAS — The Los Lunas Village Council approved three resolutions concerning road funding and improvement applications at its most recent meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Los Lunas Public Works Director Michael Jaramillo said the focus of the three applications was to secure extensions for existing projects and applying for new grants to address critical road segments.

The council unanimously approved a resolution, which could extend MAP (Municipal Arterial Program) funding for the design and construction of improvements on N.M. 6, or Main Street, and N.M. 263, the northern part of El Cerro Loop.

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Jaramillo explained the extension is needed due to design delays, particularly related to the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) review process. He explained the agreement with the village and NMDOT will expire in June.

“In order for us to meet the time frames, it’s best for us to plan ahead just in case,” Jaramillo said. “So I’m here before you asking for an extension through this resolution of the funding for the design and construction of those improvements for N.M. 6 and 263.”

He further explained that delays have significantly increased the cost of the project.

“(The delay) has increased the cost of the project from our original budget. Our original budget was a little less than $2 million, and now it’s about almost $3.5 million,” he emphasized, noting that the increased costs due to changes are common for state or federally funded work.

“It’s unfortunate, out of all honesty, that pretty much about 90 percent of the projects that we have that are state or federally funded are always increased by 40 percent, 50 percent. It’s not because of the cost of doing business. It’s because of the changes.”

The council also unanimously authorized the submission of an application for DOT MAP funding for a segment of North Los Lentes Road, from Taylor Road to Trujillo Street.

“As you know, we just finished a project, our first phase on North Los Lentes,” Jaramillo explained. “Our goal is to get all the way to Griego and (N.M.) 314 at some point. We’ve been pushing as many opportunities to apply for funding for our projects.

“If we are awarded this project, I will be coming back with another resolution saying that the council did approve that funding in the budget for (Fiscal Year 2027),” Jaramillo said.

The third resolution approved by the council supports an application for the Local Government Road Fund, also referred to as co-op money, which provides a smaller pot of funding ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. This funding is targeted at roads identified in the “red zone” of the village’s pavement condition index, Jaramillo explained.

Jaramillo said the current application is aimed at a section within the Artistic home neighborhood area, between Camelot and Interstate 25, and is intended to be one of the last projects in that neighborhood. He added that a small section of Camino de Rey is also planned to be addressed.

In other action:

• The council considered an easement agreement that would allow Westway LLC to run a transmission line for a new battery storage facility over the buffer zone of the old village landfill west of Interstate 25.

The proposal drew sharp questions and skepticism from council members and staff alike regarding the property’s valuation and the long-term implications for the village’s assets.

Ultimately, the councilors voted to table the resolution until staff could review and re-evaluate the agreement, particularly the proposed $5,000 yearly rental fee.