Santa Teresa Incorporation

decision that could put santa teresa back on track to become its own municipality… with its own government services. attorney nelson goodin is questioning the court’s ruling telling abc-seven, quote: “… the court may have misapprehended the facts and, thus, misapplied or misinterpreted the law in reaching its decision.” late last year, dona ana county commissioners voted not to allow santa teresa residents to move forward with plans to form their own city government. the commissioners said santa teresa residents did not follow the proper legal requirements for incorporation. it came as its neighboring town tried to annex santa teresa and make it part of sunland park. so when the county pulled the plug on their plan back in november … … a group of santa teresa residents decided to fight back. they filed an appeal in january. and today we’ve learned a district court says the county was wrong. it’s a story our new mexico mobile newsroom crew continues to follow… ,,, with abc-seven’s darren hunt live tonight with the latest. rick/estela, this ruling means santa teresa residents can move forward with plans for incorporation. but only if it can prove sunland park can’t provide municipal services for santa teresa within the next four months … something the mayor of sunland park disputes. “we decided to go ahead and control our destiny and that started the process.” dr mary gonzalez is president of the provisional government of santa teresa … which hopes to move forward with incorporation after a favorable ruling by a new mexico judge, reading: “the provisional government of santa teresa, should be allowed by the dona ana county board of commissioners, to present its proof, by clear and convincing evidence, that sunland park cannot … ” … provide municipal services for santa teresa within the next four months. if p-g-o-s-t meets its burden of proof, then santa teresa cannot be annexed by sunland park.” “we have spoken with ever entity and they have given us letters telling us that they will not discontinue services, so can we provide services better and faster, yes, yes we can … that means we can control our destiny and we can become our own city and that’s what we always wanted.” “more than likely i do see an appeal coming forward.” javier perea is the mayor of sunland park. “i guess they’re claiming w can’t provide any of the services but in reality we already do provide some of those services.” perea says sunland park has already proven it can provide services to santa teresa. “we currently provide mutual ai to the fire department out there, they do have a volunteer fire dept … we also provide aid when it comes to emergency with police … and also the current water infrastructure we have in place is through a joint utility authority we have formed with the county and thats about 80 million of our assets and 20 million of county assets.” perea also says sunland park never indicated it was going to annex any particular area, which the ruling states. he added he thinks several clarifications need to be made to the ruling. rick/estela. in the statement sent to abc-seven this afternoon… the dona ana county attorney also said: “the county is still studying the court’s decision in view of the actual facts and the applicable law…” “… and considering its options on what action to take going forward with this matter.” abc-seven with new information tonight… …