Village of Ruidoso Receives $750,000 Community Development Grant

RUIDOSO, NM – September 29, 2020 – For the first time since 1986, the Village of Ruidoso recently applied for a Community Development Grant to improve the Town and Country Subdivision. Last week, Village management was notified that their application was ranked #1 in the state and was fully funded the maximum amount of $750,000.00. 

The total cost of the project is projected to be $1,947,000. Once the grant money has been spent, the Village of Ruidoso will use monies from the GO Bonds that were approved by voters in the last election to cover the remaining costs. The Water Infrastructure Improvement Bond Program was designed to set the mill levy rate (property tax rate) at a rate to ensure a continual approval of $3 million at each regular election. In doing this, the Village is able to get voter approval on a GO Bond every two years so that residents can continue the Water Infrastructure Improvement Program without increasing property taxes and projects such as this can continue.

“This is a big win for the Village of Ruidoso, and I am incredibly proud of everyone that worked on this project that will ultimately help us provide better water quality and utility services for our residents,” said Mayor Lynn Crawford. “Our project is ‘shovel ready’ which means that the engineering has been completed and the environmental agencies have already given their approval. So, it will be on the fast track which is great as it is currently ranked at #8 on the VOR Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan.”  

The project will require the Village of Ruidoso to furnish and install approximately 4,739 linear feet of new 6-inch PVC waterline as well as furnish and install 11 three-way fire hydrants. The project will also allow for the extension and replacement of approximately 3516 linear feet of 8” sewer main, the installation of 18 manholes, and 1.53 miles of new pavement.  

In addition, 56 homes will be connected to existing sewer services as many homes in this subdivision are currently on failing septic tanks. In 2017, the Village of Ruidoso was mandated to connect a minimum of 200 homes to the Village sewer system by the United State Environmental Protection Agency.  

Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring and is expected to last for 18 months.