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As a ham radio operator, and since I have been told that there would be no restrictions on my putting up an antenna or two on a tower, I'm sure I could stay entertained with that (as well as provide emergency communications if requested). The lovely motorcycle roads in the area and dark night sky for amaeur astronomy would likewise be sources of much pleasure.
The only real problems I have with living there are a nagging worry concerning wildfires and the distance from medical care.
As a ham radio operator, and since I have been told that there would be no restrictions on my putting up an antenna or two on a tower,
Not absolutely true throughout New Mexico, and of course it depends on the tower, height, interference with whatever like air traffic, landing patterns etc.
But I guess for most rural areas there probably not a problem...
I see ham towers, maybe 40 feet high here in Rio Rancho...
One case:
Quote:
BOSSON, Chief Justice.
{1} Plaintiff Gerald Smith applied for and received a permit to build two 130-foot amateur radio towers on his residential property in the East
Mountain area of Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The zoning ordinance did not expressly prohibit or restrict construction of the towers in that
location, and supplementary regulations specifically exempted radio towers from height restrictions. After neighbors complained, the County
changed its mind, tried unsuccessfully to stop the construction, and devised new reasons why Plaintiff's radio towers should not be allowed. The
district court agreed with the County's rationale but also adopted another reason for prohibiting the towers. On appeal, the Court of Appeals rejected
the first rationale but sided with the County on the second. Smith v. Bd. of County Comm'rs, 2004-NMCA-001, 134 N.M. 737, 82 P.3d 547. We
granted certiorari and reverse.
This page is offered as a service by SBARC to provide information to any ham who is considering installing an amateur radio antenna structure in Ruidoso or Lincoln County, New Mexico. Except where otherwise controlled by Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&R) or by deed restriction, the installation of amateur antenna structures in Ruidoso and Lincoln County is governed by the following local regulations: Amateur Antennas In Ruidoso and Lincoln County, NM
Timberon is in Otero County and there may well be county-wide restrictions on height of structures. Timberon has a landing strip for private planes so there may well be a community restriction as well.
There is a Federal limit to the height of ham radio towers of 200 feet without special dispensation. I would not wish to put up a tower anywhere near that high. Less than 100 feet, probably. And I was speaking only of Timberon, not of all NM. I wouldn't want to destroy the look of the place with it, and would make it as inconspicuous as possible. I might not even put one up; simple wire antennas in the trees might be all I would need, and they would be nearly invisible.
I was told by a local Timberon real estate seller that a tower would not be prohibited. I think Fort Worth, where I am now, limits them to 80 feet. With all the bad weather we get, if I were to set one up here, it would have to be a three-section telescoping tower which could be lowered.
So anyway, no one needs to worry about me trying to set up the Voice of New Mexico!
There is a Federal limit to the height of ham radio towers of 200 feet without special dispensation.
I believe the emphasis in Lincoln County/Ruidoso area is on ascetics. People really get upset if "ugly" transmission towers disrupt the natural beauty. Same goes for multi-storied buildings. Which, oddly, hasn't kept huge homes from being built in several stories atop every hilltop in the area! But those wealthy second home owners don't want to have to look at those "ugly" ham radio and other kinds of towers. That hasn't stopped commercial installations, of course, but it is always in spite of public outcry when a tower is sited, enlarged or modified.
So anyway, no one needs to worry about me trying to set up the Voice of New Mexico!
Hahaha! That cracked me up.
There are so many trees here, that you could easily hide an antenna, especially if it was less than 100 feet. I doubt if anybody would bother you about it anyway. Unless you were planning on planting it on Jeffrey's Peak and painting it bright pink.
Since there is no cell phone service in Timberon, a ham radio is a good idea. A few people here have CB base units, others have satellite phones.
As far as activity goes, you pretty much have to entertain yourself. If you can't do that, Timberon is not the place to be. There are some things to be involved in such as the fire dept., church, and the water dept. for social activities.
The water dept. has had some problems for the past few years because of people like Virgil Beagles that enjoys suing and Glenda Gentry that caused some problems and a union was formed. Give me a break, Timberon does not need a union. We have a receiver in now, Mike Nivison, that is doing his best to straighten the water dept. out.
As far as fire danger is concerned. Anywhere you live, there is some kind of natural disaster that happens. NM just happens to be fire. Don't let that stop you for living in NM.
As far as fire danger is concerned. Anywhere you live, there is some kind of natural disaster that happens. NM just happens to be fire. Don't let that stop you for living in NM.
You said it! Texas had a terrible fire epidemic this year, and here in North Central TX we get lots of hail and tornadoes as well. That being said, Timberon seems particularly vulnerable to fire, being surrounded by forest and having only a volunteer fire dep't (I don't mean to cast aspersions upon it by any means, but it could easily be overmatched, I would think.)
In any case, since I'm 65, the long trip to a hospital seems more of a deterrent...I certainly haven't decided yet.
Timberon seems particularly vulnerable to fire, being surrounded by forest and having only a volunteer fire dep't ...
You're overlooking the fact that the National Forest Service maintains fully staffed fire fighting crews throughout the worst of the fire danger season. The Mescalero tribe also responds to some fires when called upon and their "Red Hat" crews have long been considered one of the premiere fire suppression organizations in the nation.
That doesn't mean that the danger of fire is any less when we are in a severe drought and you live in the middle of a forested area. The most devastating wildfires are those that start on windy days and spread .... um .... like a wildfire! No matter how "ready to go" fire crews are, it takes awhile to respond and it takes the fire only minutes to roar out of control. The best deterrent for individuals is to abide by all of the published recommendations for reducing fire vulnerability on your own property.
As for medical care, the hospital in Alamogordo is an excellent facility, but finding a competent doctor is a bit of a challenge there. I go to either El Paso or Las Cruces for any problem requiring a specialist. I don't know the capability of EMS (ambulance) services in Otero County (and Timberon), but in Lincoln county it is EXCELLENT, with very fast response times in all areas of the county.
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