By The Santa Fe New Mexican
Feb. 9--City expands water-savings rebate
City water utility customers can earn heftier rebates on water-saving washing machines, toilets and cisterns under the city of Santa Fe's latest conservation program.
City residents with old top-loading washing machines can receive a $480 rebate when they buy a new "tier 3" front-loading machine with a water rating of 4.5 or less. Residents can trade in old residential toilets for new low-flow commodes and receive a $175 rebate, while commercial high-efficiency toilets bring a $504 rebate.
Water-free urinals, water-harvesting cisterns and rain barrels also qualify for rebates under the city's newest program. The rebates are applied to a resident's city utility bill as a credit.
The city received $425,000 from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the New Mexico Finance Authority to fund the expanded rebate program.
Residents have to replace old, existing washers and toilets to qualify for the program and must have purchased and installed the new equipment on or after Jan. 1, 2010. The new washers and toilets must meet certain criteria to qualify. For complete information, visit www.water2conserve.com or call 955-4225.
Man held in stabbing at city park
State police arrested a 28-year-old Santa Fe man Monday and charged him with stabbing another man during an altercation at a local park.
City police were initially called to the scene Sunday night at Torreon Park, 1515 W. Alameda St., to investigate the stabbing, state police spokesman Lt. Eric Garcia said. However, state police investigators were called after it became clear that the son of a Santa Fe police officer was involved, he said.
Thomas Wiggins was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and booked into the Santa Fe County jail Monday evening, according to online jail records. His father is Lt. Tom Wiggins, who supervises investigations at the Santa Fe Police Department.
The altercation involved two groups of men and may have had to do with a girlfriend or ex-girlfriend, Garcia said. Garcia didn't have other details of the incident and didn't know the condition of the man who was stabbed, though he said wounds were not life-threatening. Garcia also said a handgun may have figured into the confrontation.
County Commission sets budget session
Those interested in how Santa Fe County plans to spend tax dollars can attend a 1 p.m. meeting today.
The County Commission is scheduled to discuss its approximately $200 million budget and plans for fiscal year 2011 during the meeting, which will be held in the Commission Chambers at the County Administration Building, 102 Grant Ave.
Shows benefit Valley's humane society
This Valentine's Day, you can give your love to the dogs.
Vanessie restaurant, 434 W. San Francisco St., will host a Sweetheart Serenade with James Onstad, and a percentage of sales will be donated to the Espanola Valley Humane Society.
Onstad, a tenor, will croon romantic songs from such composers as Cole Porter, Noel Coward and George Gershwin. Onstad will be accompanied by Kirt Pavitt, director of the Young Voices program of the Santa Fe Opera.
Onstad's mother, Vicki, is an avid volunteer and supporter of the humane society; this is the second time Onstad has partnered with the organization for a benefit concert.
Thursday's concert at 5:45 p.m. will include full dining and bar. Friday's concert, also at 5:45 p.m., is piano bar only. Cover for each show is $10. For more information, visit www.evalleyshelter.org.
Comment deadline on water study nears
The public has until Feb. 16 to comment on a study assessing contaminants in the watersheds of the Pajarito Plateau that drain through Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The state Environment Department reviewed test data compiled by the Surface Water Quality Bureau, the U.S. Department of Energy and the lab on storm-water runoff between 2004 and 2008. The study found levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, adjusted gross alpha particles, aluminum and other minerals at levels exceeding state standards. The study included data collected from 78 stations around the plateau, but didn't look at the origins of the contaminants.
Levels of PCBs exceeded the standard for wildlife habitat during stormwater runoff in Pajarito, Los Alamos, Pueblo and Sandia canyons. Levels of radioactive adjusted gross alpha exceeded the standard for livestock watering. The stormwater tested with high levels of aluminum, which could be from natural sources. Some streams had levels of copper, mercury and zinc that exceeded standards.
The draft 2010-2012 Integrated List is open for public comment until Feb. 16. For more information, go to www.nmenv.state.nm.us/SWQB.
Water group to quiz city candidates
City election candidates have agreed to attend a public forum of Santa Fe's "water security" from 7 to 9 tonight, according to a group called Semi-Arid Guild.
A news release issued Monday said sponsors of the event at the Inn of the Governors, 101 W. Alameda St., are "a group of citizens interested in growing our local economy with green jobs in the fields of water conservation, rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment.
Each candidate will answer the questions provided in advance, the announcement said, and "other water-related questions from the audience will also be asked should time allow."
Polo group seeks payment of fees
A lawyer for Charles Kokesh is trying to block the United States Polo Administration from collecting an unpaid debt for umpiring at the Santa Fe Horse Park.
Los Alamos National Bank is moving toward foreclosure on a $2.25 million mortgage on the 35-acre equestrian center southwest of town that Kokesh bought in 1998.
The foreclosure is one in a string of financial troubles for the venture capitalist, including charges of defrauding investors of more than $45 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
More than a year ago, the United States Polo Administration obtained an order from a Kentucky court to collect about $19,500 from the Santa Fe Horse Park Polo Club for the unpaid umpiring fees, interest and other fees.
On Thursday, lawyer Robert Strumor asked a Santa Fe judge to set aside the judgment. The club is "an unincorporated association of polo players in New Mexico which does not own any facilities at the Santa Fe Horse Park or anywhere else," Strumor wrote.
Bandstand option studied for Plaza box
The city Public Works Committee wants to know what it would cost to move the big, green electrical box installed last year on the Santa Fe Plaza and put it beneath the Plaza bandstand.
The committee balked last month at the estimated $80,000 cost to replace the box with a smaller version or the estimated $800,000 cost to move it across the street.
Chip Lilienthal, an engineer with the Public Works Department, said relocating the box beneath what is formally known as the Plaza Community Stage would be possible, but would require digging down at least 6 feet so that a technician could work on the box without bending over.
Committee members then voted to have Lilienthal come up with an estimate for the job and report back at their first meeting in March.
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