ABQJOURNAL BIZ: AROUND N.M.

Friday, March 12, 2010

AROUND N.M.

Journal and Wire Reports
          Pojoaque Tribal Land Tax-Exempt
        SANTA FE — New Mexico's taxation agency has ordered Santa Fe County to exempt property taxes on land that was part of the original Pojoaque Pueblo land grant, removing $10 million worth of property from the county tax rolls.
        The property includes the 139-acre La Mesita Ranch bought by the pueblo in 2008.
        The pueblo sought exemptions, saying the area was once part of its original land grant and should be treated like other pueblo-owned land within the grant's boundaries.
        The county originally denied the request because the land had been out of pueblo hands for nearly 100 years.
        The pueblo protested, and the assessor asked the state Taxation and Revenue Department for a decision.
        Taxation Secretary Rick Homans says federal law prohibits state and local governments from taxing tribal property.
        2 Electric Co-Ops In Line for Loans
        Two rural New Mexico electric cooperatives have been selected to receive federal loans that can be used to build or repair distribution and transmission lines and to make other improvements to their systems.
        The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the loans this week. In all, 29 rural utilities and cooperatives in 16 states will benefit.
        The loan amount for the Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative nears $29 million, while the Farmers' Electric Cooperative loan is just over $28 million.
        Federal officials say funding for each cooperative is contingent upon them meeting the conditions of the loan agreement.
        The funding is being provided under the USDA Rural Development's Electric Loan Program.
        3 Million Gallons Lost to Water Leak
        SILVER CITY — Silver City's utilities director says a leak in a transmission line cost the southwestern New Mexico community 3 million gallons of water.
        But Robert Esqueda tells the Town Council measures have been taken so crews can respond faster to such leaks in the future.
        Esqueda says that when the city's new control system found that water tanks were full Saturday, it shut down a valve to them, causing a shock wave that slammed back through the pipe.
        He says there was a weak point in the line over an open pit where the water blew out a coupling.
        Downtown Silver City residents began complaining about low water pressure, and water crews discovered three 1-million-gallon tanks were suddenly low on water.
        Esqueda says crews then found and repaired the leak.
        Summit Promotes Indian Businesses
        FARMINGTON — The recently completed American Indian Business Forum in Farmington focused on encouraging new business development and support for native-owned companies.
        Sponsored by the Farmington Intertribal Indian Organization, the meeting drew more than 60 participants and detailed business resources available to take a business from an idea to an opportunity.
        Organizers of the event held at the Farmington Civic Center maintained that community support must come first.

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