North Mesa residents ask for improvements 　　 　　By GEORGE SCHWARZ 　　Monitor Staff Writer 　　 　　Los Alamos County Administrator Mary McInerny said she would have a plan, with options, for lighting and sidewalk improvements, ready for County Council consideration at the panel’s last meeting in July. 　　McInerny’s promise came in response to protests and a presentation of a petition to the panel from two North Mesa residents in response to the tragic double deaths June 1 of Jing Xuan Shi and Xuming Wu. 　　The two women were killed after being hit by a car while walking along an unlighted section of North Mesa Road. 　　John G. Martinez, 41, of Los Alamos, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide in the women’s deaths. 　　Louise Janecky she already has a "couple hundred" signatures on a petition that calls for more lighting and sidewalks in the county. 　　But it wasn’t just the lights and sidewalks, added Marcee Sarracino. North Mes was overbuilt in the first place, and its entire infrastructure needs to be fixed. Last May’s Cerro Grande Fire proved the lack of fire protection on the mesa, unlike other parts of town, she said. "I didn’t really appreciate (not having fire protection)," she said. 　　North Mesa lacks infrastructure, and there’s only one way off the mesa, she said. 　　Acknowledging she was bitter toward the council and county government, Sarracino faulted the council for its lack of action. 　　"People come and go, and it’s all the same," she said. "Nothing happens." 　　Homebuilder Ted Cole agreed, but said his complaint was that changes to the county’s building code are causing problems. 　　The new code raises prices, he said, specifically citing the requirements for new surveys in the burned areas. 　　The stakes have been in place for 50 years, and he didn’t understand why the property owner should be hit with another $350 for the surveys, he said. 　　Later, Cole said he thought his concerns fell on deaf ears. 　　"I don’t think any of the councilors have heard what I said," he said, adding it goes further. "The council is just not hearing what the community is saying."Carris wrote back Nov. 29 to tell NDC that he was surprised to get a lawyer letter based on cracks that Netuschil saw in the ceiling, and that Trans-Lux had "examined the ceiling and may or may not continue operations … as we do not believe the situation presents an immediate danger … " 　　The movie firm had retained a structural engineer and would close the theater if he advised the company that "an immediate hazard to patrons" existed. Trans-Lux would also "anxiously await" the report from NDC’s engineer, he wrote. 　　The court file also contains a Dec. 11 letter from Red Mountain Engineers, Inc. to Smith noting that someone has walked directly on the plaster ceiling from above to change lights and that the ceilings show cracks. 　　"It is my opinion based on my visual observations, that the plaster ceiling is a danger to life and safety to the public," wrote Red Mountain’s James Hand. 　　Ten days later, Smith, on Dec. 21, wrote Mercer again asking Trans-Lux to close "the entire theater to the public," citing Red Mountain’s assessment. 　　Smith also wrote that the entire facility would be scrutinized, noting that NDC’s architect "has determined that replacing or repairing the ceiling throughout the theater is likely to precipitate numerous additional upgrades to electrical, heating, cooling and ventilating systems in order to comply with code requirements for alterations to existing buildings." 　　"It is only fair to advise that, depending on the scope and costs of the project, Netuschil may find it necessary to exercise its right to termination under the lease," Smith concluded. 　　Mercer replied a week later, with a Dec. 28 letter to Netuschil - the day that Netuschil admits calling Los Alamos County - "rejecting" an accusation from Netuschil on Dec. 27 that Trans-Lux was "putting an unknowing public in danger." 　　Mercer cited a study by Trans-Lux’s McCornack Engineering that found the plaster ceiling to be in "sound" condition and that the damage from roof leaks was NDC’s responsibly to fix promptly. 　　From the court file it is clear the two main issues are, first, which engineering and architectural assessment will prevail and, second, whether Netuschil or Trans-Lux is responsible for which repairs. 　　Mercer, contacted June 1, was reluctant to talk about the pending litigation but said he "would love to" in a "couple of weeks." 　　"We’re trying our best to get the theater back open," he said. 　　 　　 　　 　　 　　National News 　　Provided by iSyndicate 　　 　　 　　 2001 Los Alamos MonitorAll Rights Reserved.

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