Details involved in Sunland Park, NM disincorporation plan have emerged

Last month, unhappy residents filed a petition to disincorprate the city of Sunland Park after years of scandal and corruption.

Monday ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom obtained a copy of the disincorpration plan written by petitioners.

The 10 page document labeled “The Fresh Start Initiative” details how petitioners envision Sunland Park functioning if it were no longer a city.

Petitioners say if Sunland Park was only under the county’s supervision, they could still keep important services such as the fire department and police department.

They say the county could hire an administrator who would transition police officers to dona ana county sheriffs deputies and transition fire fighters to be county employees as well.

The plan also states that petitioners would ask their current water service, the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority to expand its services, such as trash pick up, in Sunland Park.

Petitioners claim the county could still maintain their sports park. They say all Colonia services such as their health care facilities would also stay intact.

But Police Chief Jaime Reyes says if they transitioned to the county, Sunland Park residents wouldn’t have consistent security like they have now.

“If we get absorbed by the sheriffs department whats going to happen is we are going to become part of a district. We could technically be in sunland park but then at the same time we would have to assist officers in la union and chamberino all away on highway 9 we won’t be a dedicated police service just to the city of sunland park,” Reyes said.

Petitioners have about a month left to collect nearly 1,200 signitures.