Socorro City Council quits discussions on Coker Road property acquisitions

Socorro City Council held a meeting Thursday evening to discuss the appraisal process for certain properties on or near Coker Road.

The meeting comes after city officials announced in February they would direct the city manager to develop a long-term plan to acquire certain properties on or near Coker Road, to construct drainage improvements in the area and authorize the use of the power of eminent domain for the acquisition.

The plan is expected to cover a six-year span.

Residents in the area have been desperately asking city officials for help after their neighborhood has been devastated by floods time and time again.

“This has been happening for 11 years,” said Coker Road resident Rick Avalos.

He blames the construction and new development north of his neighborhood.

“This wasn’t a flood zone. It was made a flood zone,” Avalos said.

In February Avalos and other residents living on Coker Road received a letter from the city letting them know their houses were condemned and they had three months to move.

At-large representative Rene Rodriguez expects the city’s long-term plan to be completed soon.

If approved the city would grant residents an extension, but it is not clear how long.

During the meeting council members were advised to discuss the item in executive session.

When the members came out they voted to delete the item from the agenda.

When council members were asked for comment ABC-7 was told they would not be accepting interviews and would send a statement at a later time.

Rick Avalos, a resident who lives on Coker Road, told ABC-7 he feels the council is not working in the best interest of the people.

“At the end they don’t want to help us because they already decided what they are going to do. They not only want to take us off of the property but they want to charge us for the destruction of our own property,” Avalos said.