Voices of Alamogordo Forum: Community and City Leaders Engage on Budget, Projects, and Future Planning

Alamogordo, NM – January 7, 2026 – On the evening of January 6, 2026, the welcoming space of Otero Arts in Alamogordo transformed into a vibrant hub of civic engagement for the second installment of the monthly “Voices of Alamogordo” forum series. This salon-style event, designed to foster direct, respectful conversations between residents and city leaders, focused on critical topics including municipal finance processes, ongoing and future infrastructure projects, and long-term planning strategies.

Hosted by local journalist Chris Edwards of 2nd Life Media, AlamogordoTownNews.org, and KALHRadio.org, the forum kicked off promptly at 7:00 p.m. Approximately 20 citizens attended in person, representing a rich cross-section of the community: active and retired Air Force personnel from nearby Holloman Air Force Base, directors of local nonprofits, small business owners, everyday concerned residents, and political activists. Simultaneously, the event was live-streamed via Facebook and other social media channels, drawing over 527 viewers in real-time, with post-event views exceeding 700 across platforms.

Edwards began with warm introductions of the distinguished panelists seated at the front:

• Sharon McDonald, Mayor of Alamogordo

• Warren Robinson, City Commissioner for District 3

• Evelyn Huff, City Finance Director

• Dave Nunnelley (also referred to as David Nunnelly), Director of Water and Wastewater Operations and Public Works

Each attendee then had the chance to introduce themselves, sharing personal backgrounds, ties to the community, and specific reasons for participating. This inclusive opening set a collaborative tone, allowing residents to connect directly with decision-makers.

Emphasizing Staff Continuity and Water Resource Management

Mayor McDonald opened the substantive discussion by underscoring the vital role of staff continuity in city operations. She highlighted how retaining technical expertise in key positions ensures high-quality, long-term infrastructure maintenance and development, preventing knowledge gaps that could hinder progress.

Commissioner Warren Robinson followed with an update on achievements from the past year, particularly inter-departmental coordination efforts related to Bonito Lake recovery and watershed management. As Alamogordo’s primary water source, Bonito Lake has faced challenges in recent years, and Robinson detailed ongoing cooperative initiatives to restore and protect these essential resources.

Deep Dive into the City Project Pipeline

City engineering staff and Public Works Director Dave Nunnelley provided a comprehensive overview of current and upcoming infrastructure initiatives. They projected an additional 5 to 7 years of widespread construction across the city, with timelines affected by variables such as unpredictable weather, precise project sequencing, contractor availability, and necessary public coordination.

Specific projects spotlighted included:

• Construction of a new landfill cell to expand waste management capacity

• Replacement of an aging water tower reservoir to enhance storage and reliability

• Reconfiguration of the busy Fairgrounds Road intersection for improved traffic flow and safety

• Extensive upgrades along the railroad corridor, encompassing water lines, sewer systems, and related utilities

• Critical connections to the brackish water desalination plant, pivotal for diversifying and securing long-term water sustainability amid regional arid conditions

• Revitalization efforts in the Downtown Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA), involving public investments to stimulate economic growth

• Additional needs such as street paving, enhanced lighting, security improvements, and upgrades to public facilities

Panelists stressed the importance of transparency, noting that the city’s comprehensive plan—last fully updated in 2018—functions as a “living document” that should be periodically revisited and revised to reflect evolving community needs. Mayor Sharon McDonald and the panel stressed the importance of an updated comprehensive plan and emphasized that the staff and commission are working on the 2026 update under the direction of Acting City Manager Dr Hernandez emphasizing its importance especially in the event of staff turnover. 

Financial Processes, Master Plans, and Funding Strategies

Finance Director Evelyn Huff elaborated on the foundational role of master plans, including the comprehensive plan, dedicated streets plan, water master plan, and parks plan. She explained funding mechanisms in detail: infrastructure upgrades are primarily financed through dedicated water and sewer enterprise funds rather than the general fund, ensuring targeted and sustainable allocation.

The discussion covered key revenue streams—gross receipts taxes, competitive grants, and state/federal allocations—and mechanisms for public fiscal transparency, such as open review periods and input sessions at city commission meetings. With preparations underway for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget (typically presented to the public in May), panelists addressed challenges like navigating the ongoing city manager search, local economic pressures, and the need for “shovel-ready” projects to quickly seize unexpected grant opportunities.

Engineering and finance experts also touched on the frequent use of outside consultants for specialized studies and the rigorous process for prioritizing projects via the multi-year Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP), which guides state funding pursuits.

Interactive Q&A and Community Engagement

The forum’s open format shone during the extended question-and-answer segment, where attendees probed deeper into prioritization criteria, consultant roles, long-term decision-making, and economic development projects supported by private partnerships.

These exchanges were marked by constructive, respectful dialogue, highlighting a shared community commitment to thoughtful progress and accountability.

The approximately 1.5-hour event wrapped up with brief closing remarks from the panel, thanking participants for their involvement.

The full recording is now available for on-demand viewing on YouTube via KALHRadio.org’s podcast section: https://youtu.be/OYnM-PbxBwU?feature=shared. 

This ongoing monthly series, held on the first Tuesday of each month at Otero Arts, continues to strengthen ties between Alamogordo’s government and its residents through informed, accessible discourse. The next forum is scheduled for the first Tuesday in February 2026—community members are warmly encouraged to attend in person or stream online.

For further details, upcoming event announcements, or additional coverage, visit AlamogordoTownNews.org or 2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news.

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