High water rates could force golf course to close

From KOB-TV.com - Sky-rocketing water rates could force an Albuquerque golf course to close. A group of state lawmakers and local leaders met on Wednesday to try to come up with a solution to keep Desert Greens Golf Course open, but some of the solutions could end up costing the owner even more money. Desert Greens owner Ronnie Meng said he could afford to have his rates double or even triple, but not quadruple. "I believe we're at the final hour here, I really do," said Meng. After 50 years, the Desert Greens Golf Course may close. Meng said in 2009 his water bill was about $130,000. Then the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority took over New Mexico Utilities. This year, his bill could reach $500,000. "They're one of the highest users, if not the highest of a golf course of its size in the community. The fact is that the system basically penalizes those that are high users," said Commissioner Michael Wiener. Wednesday morning's meeting was held to try and figure out a way to keep Desert Greens in business. "We're going to look at every possibility and we're going to try to work with the owner to explore those possibilities," said Wiener. Meng said he has tried to update several things including sprinkler heads, but was afraid to put too much into it if he was going to lose the course anyway. Read more