Spur Ranch Road - Road Spraying Delay

Dear Neighbors,

One of our volunteers sprained his back, so we’re delaying our assault on the Russian thistle for a few days, probably until Friday, pending favorable weather.

Regards,

Jim

Spur Ranch Road Update 07_16_2012

Dear Neighbor,

The disturbed soil resulting from the construction along our road during the past months has resulted in an invasion of Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), known to most of us as tumbleweed. Russian thistle is a highly invasive noxious weed, first introduced into the United States in 1873 by Russian immigrants as a contaminant in flax seed. After its introduction, it spread by contaminated agricultural seeds, threshing crews, livestock railroad cars and, of course, by its unique method of windblown seed dissemination. Today, Russian thistle is estimated to infect 100 million acres in the Southwestern U.S. Unless controlled, it quickly chokes out all native plants.

 

Starting tomorrow (Tuesday), weather permitting, SRRA will be spraying Russian thistle along Spur Ranch Road in an effort to control its dissemination onto residents’ properties. The chemical used to be used is diquat dibromide and prometon. Studies from Ohio State University, North Dakota State University and the California Department of Agriculture, all of which have tested this product, indicate that it effectively controls of Russian thistle for up to a year. The spraying will be done by hand, targeting individual weed plants, in order to minimize any environmental impact on the surrounding area, and the sprayed region will be only along the road right-of-way. If you own property adjacent to the road and do not wish your segment of the road to be sprayed, then please email me or call me immediately at 466-8833.

 

Thanks very much.

Jim

 

Spur Ranch Road Update-4 July 2012

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, we completed the maintenance on the 1.5 mile segment of Spur Ranch Road between the RR tracks and Avenida de los Compadres. That part of the road was graded, watered, and compacted (at double the cost of grading), so we hope the treatment will last appreciably longer than has been our experience with grading alone. (The recent rain helped us considerably.) The segment East of Calle Junipero has noticeably less gravel on it than the rest of the road, so that portion of the road probably will develop washboarding more quickly than the rest of the road. But for now, the entire road is in very good shape and eminently drivable.

 

Additionally, we have a new SRRA board member, Susan Schoenfeld (who lives in Rosa Linda). Susie has graciously agreed to complete the term of our SRRA Secretary, Kerry Armour, who had to step down from board because of the crush of other commitments. Kerry has been a tireless worker on all our behalf, and her efforts have been greatly appreciated.

 

Finally, if you have not already done so, let me urge you to please pay your SRRA dues. We are a volunteer organization and depend on the good will of the community to keep our road in good condition. Payments can be made to our Treasurer, Bob Holzer (4 Camino San Lucas), to me (102 Spur Ranch Road), or to any of the board members (Al Webster, Ron Billingsley, and Susie Schoenfeld).

 

Many thanks and happy 4th!

Jim

West End Grading

Neighbors,

You may have noticed that grading, watering and rolling has begun on Spur Ranch Road from the tracks west. Half of the distance will be graded today and the remainder will be graded and the entire length watered and rolled tomorrow. It is anticipated that the entire project will be completed by the end of the work day on Tuesday, 3 July.   Please be aware that the grader and trucks are working on the road and drive accordingly; there is room for a single car to pass or meet the grader during the project. Drive carefully.

Please be aware that there may be rocks graded up onto the road bed and drive slowly and avoid the rocks.  There will be no large rocks on the roadbed at the completion of the project.

Following the completion of this project 30 mph signs will be erected.  If speeds can be significantly  reduced on that section of the road it is anticipated that  the recurrent wash boarding will be significantly reduced. It will take all of us to work toward that goal.

Al Webster

SRRA Board member

Spur Ranch Road Dues Collection Notice

Dear Neighbors,

I’m afraid it’s time for your road association to collect the 2012 annual dues for maintenance and improvements of our road. As you know, the Spur Ranch Road Association is a voluntary organization, but I hope you will all do your neighborly duty and contribute to the road upkeep. It’s the only fair thing to do.

Please recall that at our annual meeting, the community approved a dues schedule for the year, as follows:

Tierra Colinas homes and other homes east of the RR tracks: $200

Homes west of the RR tracks: $275

All lots: $100 (each lot)

Residents of Tierra Colinas and Rancho San Lucas have already contributed a portion of their road dues through their annual HOA assessment. If you own property in either subdivision and are current in your HOA assessment, then the additional amount owed now to the Spur Ranch Road Association is:

Tierra Colinas homeowners: $70

Tierra Colinas lot owners: $35

Rancho San Lucas homeowners:$150

Rancho San Lucas lot owners: $75

Payment can be either by check, or PayPal (or cash, if you insist). Please make checks payable to Spur Ranch Road Association, and mail them to our SRRA treasurer:

Bob Holzer

4 Camino San Lucas

Lamy, NM 87540

For PayPal, send payment to bob@bobholzer.com

Road Update: As soon as possible, we will schedule work on the portion of the road west of the RR tracks. We plan to grade, water, and compact the road, in hopes of reducing the buildup of washboard ripples. In the past, that portion of the road has only been graded, but experience shows that the improvement lasts only a few weeks at best. We also plan to install a culvert across the road just west of Calle Junipero, to facilitate water drainage and to keep the road from washing out when the monsoons arrive.

There are a few areas east of the RR tracks where the RoadPacker crew did not adequately clear out the drainage runouts and restore adequately some residents’ impacted property. We’ve been in touch with distributor Bob Sherwin, who has agreed to effect these repairs. On balance, however, the new road surface appears to be holding up very well. Of course, the crucial test will come when the rains arrive.

Let me remind you that SRRA maintains a blog site, where you can post comments, make suggestions, read the latest announcements, learn interesting information (e.g., about the proposed Tierra Bello development), and so forth. You can access this blog site at http://spurranchroad.blogspot.com/ If you forget this address, then search for the association on Google and it’ll take you to the appropriate link.

Many thanks,

Jim Garland, SRRA President

102 Spur Ranch Road

505-466-8833

SRRA Board Meeting 31-May-2012

Very quick meeting to discuss the dues collection process and make a decision on grading west end of road.

Jim to send neighborhood announcement reminding about dues. Al Webster to remind Silver Saddle. Kerry Armour to remind RSL. Jim to also remind TCHOA as Ron Billingsley was not in attendance at meeting.

Due to a lack of rain Jim proposed and Al seconded that we vote to do a complete grading, wetting and rolling of the road west of the tracks. Expected expenditure ~$3800. Unanimously carried. Kerry to contact local contractor recommended by Mary Anne Stickler.

Update on bank balance: $11,858.30 31-May-2012 presented by Bob Holzer

TIERRA BELLO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER 31, 6-4-2012

SRRA is reposting, by permission,  the newsletter managed by Michael Montgomery to track the events of Joe Miller's Tierra Bello project.

1: What is the current status of this application? 

 2: When could we view the public file? 

 3: What steps has the County taken to date regarding the depredation of certain archaeological features destroyed or threatened by Joe Miller's latest "development " activities, in any of his properties?  This demands examination. 

I include a specific geographic description, in two formats.  In both formats, at the very least, Joe Miller's land holdings identified as "Cow Springs Land & Cattle Company LLC and Cimarron New Mexico Limited," are noted in pink.  There may be more holdings to be identified later.  I remind ALL that Santa Fe County has remaining substantial legal exposure regarding this issue, despite mediation.  This deserves escalation. 

Additionally, the Eldorado Area Water and Sanitation District (EAWSD) is implicated in the transfer of water rights, as well as the re-classification of certain areas as "state-optional" water delivery to "state-required" water delivery status.  This demands escalation. 

Michael F. Montgomery