Silver City water plan and town development (Las Cruces: utilities, taxes)

[sisterchat]

We're visiting Silver City in a few weeks and it's high on our list for a potential retirement home.

I've not yet seen a copy of the city's development plan, but recently read the "water use and wellfield service" supplement to the city's water plan and have a few questions for locals in the know.

http://www.townofsilvercity.org/util...%20Service.pdf

Given the recommended options for deepening the wellfields,developing groundwater, etc. to accommodate projected future needs, any ideas about likely scenarios? What's the outlook in terms of higher taxes and/or higher water bills to accomplish the goals? Should we worry about this as a wildcard in our budget? (worst case. . . how high could costs go?)

A second concern a former SC resident suggested we look into is air quality, given the mining in the area.

We're really excited about this beautiful area and all the terrific things we've read. Love the hiking, diversity, culture, peace & quiet. I'm not looking for downers -- just want to be well informed.

Many thanks for your generous posts to this forum.

[Six Foot Three]

Sisterchat...i'm not sure if anyone on here will answer your questions as you asked some good and tough ones. I would contact the City Gov or the Chamber of Commerce and see if someone there can answer your questions or direct you to who can

Town Hall site.
Official web site of the Town of Silver City, in sunny Grant County, New Mexico.

Chamber site.
Official Web Site for Silver City and Grant County, New Mexico, presented by the Silver City - Grant County Chamber of Commerce!

6/3

[Devin Bent]

This is a hard one, and I wish someone who knew more would reply.

A couple of general pieces of advice -- IMO.

Mining is not great for the water in general so you are wise to look into the question.

I don't think that Silver City is particularly growing and in terms of water that can be a good thing. A fixed supply of water and a rapidly growing number of people can be a problem.

The worse case can happen and you end up trucking your water in. If you are worried about the worse case, you might want to consider some of the large (in the New Mexico sense) cities that have the political and economic muscle to get the water.

6/3 is a very nice guy who trusts the town government and the chamber of commerce to tell you the truth.

You ask a question that is relevant across much of New Mexico. However, the situation is worse in other states around here -- they have a lot more people.

[silversurfer]

I think since the Town makes money from selling water it will provide water where needed. The XYZ ranch housing development was sold x number of acre feet, just like that. No begging involved. Just a little seed money from the developer to make it worth the Town's trouble.
The real issue is over the Gila River and the Arizona water settlement plan and what that will mean to the river, an important water source for Grant Co. Here's a link to a recent article in the Sun News. NM governor pledges to fight Gila River diversion - Las Cruces Sun-News (http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_8960289 - broken link)
Air quality isn't a problem. The air is very clean in Silver City. The only problems are pollen and dust that do impact many people's breathing.
I'd also like to suggest that folks interested in learning more about Silver should check out the forums at tripadvisor.com Lots of good info there too. Adios!